Wesley Corpus

Those who were without home, without money, without food for themselves and families? Or those who drove them to this extremity? In the evening I preached to a numerous congregation in the new market-house, but trifling enough. Yet by degrees they sunk into seriousness. The greater part of them came again in the morning; and their behaviour was then remarkably decent. There was a lovely congregation at the Shire 500 REv. J. Wesley's June, 1773. Hall in Carrickfergus, very large and very serious. Nor was it much smaller at five in the morning. I added several to the society, and could not but hope that there was seed sown here that will never be rooted up. I went to Ballymena, and read a strange tract, that professes to discover "the inmost recesses of Free masonry;" said to be "translated from the French original, lately published at Berlin." I incline to think it is a genuine account. Only if it be, I wonder the author is suffered to live. If it be, what an amazing banter upon all mankind is reemasonry ! And what a secret is it which so many concur to keep ! From what motive? Through fear, -or shame to own it? In the evening the Minister offered me the use of the church. I feared it would not contain the people, who ran together so eagerly, that it was with difficulty I could get to the door. But after we had stowed them close together, almost all could get in. I dealt exceeding plainly with them, and they had ears to hear. I declared to a loving people at Ballinderry, "the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ." Many of them experienced this; and many felt their wants; several children in particular. In the evening I preached at Lisburn, and on the two following days. Monday, 21. I met a gentleman, who looked hard, and asked me if I did not know him. Indeed I did not, though I had been at his house some years ago, in Londonderry. Mr. Sampson was then one of the Ministers there, a lively, sensible man; very fat, and of a fresh, ruddy complexion. But he was now, after a long and severe melancholy, so thin, pale, and wan, that I did not recollect one feature of his face. I spent an hour with him very agreeably.