Wesley Corpus

tude of people flocked together, many of whom were of the better sort ; and most of them appeared to be, for the present, almost persuaded to be Christians. Wednesday, 23. About eleven I preached at Tewkesbury, and in the evening at Wor- cester. Thursday, 24. I breakfasted at Mrs. Price's, a Quaker, who keeps a Boarding-School. I was much pleased with her children, so elegantly plain in their behaviour, as well as apparel. Iwas led, I know not how, to speak to them largely ; then to pray; and we were all much comforted. The society is ingreat peace, and striving together forthe hope of the Gospel. I have not seen greater earnestness and simplicity inany society, since we left London. Iwas now considering how strangely the grain of mustard- seed, planted about fifty years ago, has grown up. Ithasspread through all Great Britain and Ireland ; the Isle of Wight, and the Isle of Man; then to America, from the Leeward Islands, through the whole continent, into Canada and Newfoundland. And the societies, in all these parts, walk by one rule, knowing March, 1785. 299 religion is holy tempers ; and striving to worship God, not in form only, but likewise " in spirit and in truth." MARCH 25.-(Being Good-Friday.) I hastened to reach Birmingham before the Church Service began. Asharper frost I never knew : But indeed our House was hot enough in the evening ; and I have not seen a more earnest people. Such an advantage it is to be fully employed. In every place we find labouringmen most susceptible of religion. Such a blessing results from that curse, " In the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eatbread." -I had designed to rest ; but notice had been given ofmy preaching at Quinton at noon. As the House would not hold the people, I was constrained, cold as it was, to preach abroad; and they all seemed to feel that solemn question, " How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation ? " In the evening myheart was enlarged in such amanner as I have seldom known ; so that I detained the congregation consi- derably longer than I am accustomed to ; and all the people seemed determined to " glorify God with their body and their spirit." MARCH 27.-(Being Easter-day.) I preached at seven, on,