Wesley Corpus

At his earnest request, I began examining those that are called W. D.'s societies. At three I preached at Great Harding; mn the evening at Roughlee, where there was a large society. But since the men of smooth tongue broke in upon them, they are every man afraid of his brother ; half of them ringing continually in the ears of the rest, " No works, no law, no bondage." However, we gathered above forty of the scattered sheep, who are still minded to stand in the old paths. I preached at Roughlee at five ; about eleven at Hinden, and about three at Widdap, a little village in the midst of huge, barren May, 1747. REV. J. WESLEY'S JOURNAL. 397 mountains, where also there was a society. But Mr. B. had effectually dispersed them, so that I found but three members left. We rode thence about five miles to Stonesey-gate, which lies in a far more fruitful country. Here was a larger congregation at six o'clock than I had seen since my leaving Birstal. They filled both the yard and the road to a considerable distance, and many were seated on a long wall adjoinmg, which, being built of loose:stones, in the middle of the sermon, all fell down at once. I never saw, heard, nor read of such a thing before. The whole wall, and the persons sitting upon it, sunk down together, none of them screaming out, and very few altering their posture: and not one was hurt at all; but they appeared sitting at the bottom just as they sat at the top. Nor was there any interruption either of my speaking, or of the attention of the hearers. I rode to Shore, four miles south from Stonesey, lying about half way down a huge, steep mountain. Here I preached at - twelve to a loving, simple-hearted people. We then climbed up to Todmorden Edge, the brow of a long chain of mountains, where I called a serious people to "repent and believe the Gospel." wWe left the mountains, and came down to the fruitful valley of Rosendale. Here I preached to a large congregation of wild men; but it pleased God'to hold them in chains. So that even when I had done, none offered any rudeness, but all went quietly away.