Wesley Corpus

From church I went to the Castle; where were gathered together (as some imagined) half the grown persons in the city. It was an awful sight. So vast a congregation in that solemn amphitheatre! And all silent and still, while I explained at large, and enforced, that glorious truth, " Happy are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered." I went thence to poor Mr. V: , the clergyman, lying under sentence of death. He had for some time acted the lunatic ; but I soon put him out of his play; and he appeared to have wit enough in his anger. I designed to close in with him immediately ; but two cruelly impertinent gentlemen would needs come into the room; so that I could say no more, but was obliged to leave him in their hands. The lad who was to die the next day was quite of another spirit: he appeared deeply affected while we were speaking, and yet more during our prayer; and no sooner were we gone than he broke out into a bitter cry. Who knows but he might be heard by Him that made him ? We rode forward. About sunset we were in the middle of the first great pathless moor beyond Launceston. About eight we were got quite out of the way; but we had not gone far before we heard Bodmin bell. Directed by this we turned to the left, and came to the town before nine. In the evening we reached St. Ives. At seven I invited all guilty, helpless sinners, who were conscious they "had nothing to pay," to accept of free forgiveness. The room was crowded both within and without ; but all were quiet and attentive. I spoke severally with those of the society, who were about one hundred and twenty. Near a hundred of these had found peace with God: such is the blessing of being persecuted for nghteousness' sake! As we were going to church at eleven, a large company at the market place welcomed us with a loud huzza: wit as harmless Sept. 1743. REV. J. WESLEY'S JOURNAL. 291 as the ditty sung under my window, (composed, one assured me, by a gentlewoman of their own town,) Charles Wesley is come to town,