Wesley Corpus

We had a useful practical sermon at St. Nicholas's church i the morning, and another at St. Andrew's in the afternoon. At five I preached to a willing multitude, on the prodigal son. How many of these were lost, and now are found? In the following week I endeavoured to speak severally to each member of the society.. The numbers I found neither to rise nor fall; but many had increased in the knowledge and love of God. Sunday, 13, and the following days, I preached and regulated the societies at Painsher, Tanfield, and Horsley. I preached at the Spen, on, Christ Jesus our " wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption." I have seldom seen an audience so greatly moved, since the time of my first preaching at Bristol. Men, women, and children wept and groaned, and trembled exceedingly : many could not contain themselves in these bounds; but cried with a loud and bitter cry. It was the same at the meeting of the society ; and likewise in the morning, while I was showing the happiness of those "whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered." afterward spake with twelve or fourteen of them severally; and found good ground to believe, that God had given them to "taste of the good word, and of the powers of the world to come." After preaching at Newcastle morning and evening, I earnestly exhorted the society to beware of speaking evil of each other, and of censuring those who followed not with us. Monday, 21. I besought them in my farewell sermon to "forget the things which are behind, and press on to the prize of their high calling." I preached at Norton, five miles from Ferry-bridge, and in the evening at Sykehouse. Here I received a full account of poor David Taylor, once a workman that needed not to be ashamed. Three years since, he knew all we preached to be true: then Mr. I. brought him over to German stillness. When I talked with him at Sheffield, he was thoroughly sensible of his mistake: but Mr. Simpson soon drew him into it again. A third time he was deeply convinced by my bro- 4 o ' aire 304 REV. J. WESLEY'S JOURNAL. Jan. 1744