Monday 21, I left Limerick, and about noon preached at Shronill, near a great house which a gentleman built many years ago: but he cannot yet afford to finish it, having only thirty thousand pounds a year, and some hundreds of thousands in ready money! "The beggars but a common lot deplore: The rich-poor man's emphatically poor." At six I preached at the camp near Caire, to a large and serious congregation of soldiers. Thence we rode on to Clonmell, where I preached near the barracks at eight in the morning, to a wild, staring people; but quiet perforce: for the soldiers kept them in awe. We rode in the afternoon to Waterford, where our friends had procured a commodious place, inclosed on all sides. I preached there three evenings, with great hope of doing good. Our large room was full every morning. O why should we despair of any souls whom God hath made? Thursday 24, I looked over that well-written book, Mr. Smith's "State of the County and City of Waterford." He plainly shews, that twelve hundred years ago, Ireland was a flourishing kingdom. It seems to have been declining almost ever since; especially after it was torn into several independent kingdoms. Thenceforward it grew more and more wild and barbarous, for several hundreds of years. In Queen Elizabeth's time it began to revive. And it increased greatly both in trade and inhabitants, till the deadly blow, which commenced on October 23, 1641. Three hundred thousand Protestants, by a moderate computation, were then destroyed in less than a year: and more than twice as many Papists, within a few years following. Most of these were adults: and this was a loss, which the nation has not recovered yet: nay, it will probably require another century, to restore the number of inhabitants it had before. Friday 25, I preached once more near the barracks in Clonmell, and the next morning took horse at four. About eleven the sun was scorchingly hot, till a little cloud rose and covered us till we were near Rathcormuck. Here we rested two hours, and then rode on (mostly shaded by flying clouds) to Cork. Sunday 27, the house was well filled but I expect small increase of the work of God till we preach abroad. Thursday 31, I rode to Bandon: but my good old friend, Mrs. Jones, did not stay for my coming. She was released out of life some weeks ago, in the seventy-second year of her age. I preached as usual in the main street, to a large and attentive congregation; and they were nearly doubled the next evening; yet all behaved with the utmost decency. The market obliged me to preach in the house on Saturday in the afternoon, a very neat and lightsome building. Having spent the time I proposed here, with much satisfaction, in the evening I returned to Cork. Sunday, August 3, I had written to the Commanding-officer for leave to preach near the barracks: but he was just gone out of town: so I was obliged once more to coop myself up in the room. Monday 4, Knowing by the experiment I made two years since, that it was an entertainment above the taste of our evening congregation, I read some select letters at five in the morning, to those who desired to hear them: and many of them were not a little comforted, and established in the ways of God. Thursday 7, In the afternoon I set out for Kingsale. In the way a violent storm drove us into a little hut, where a poor woman was very thankful for physical advice, and another for a little money to buy her food. The sky then clearing, we soon reached Kingsale, where I preached at six in the Exchange, to a multitude of soldiers, and not a few of the dull, careless town's-folk. At five in the morning, it being a field-day, the soldiers could not attend: but, I had a large and serious congregation notwithstanding. Surely good might be done here also, would our preachers always preach in the Exchange, as they may without any molestation, instead of a little, ugly dirty garret. About nine, a sharp storm having put an end to their exercise, I went to the soldiers in the field. I stood so near the intrenchments of the fort, that they could hear within as well as without. The sun indeed shone extremely hot on my head; but presently a cloud interposed and when I began to be chill (for the wind was high and sharp) it removed, till I wanted it again. How easily may we see the hand of God, in small things as well as great! And why should a little, pointless raillery make us ashamed to acknowledge it? In the evening I preached to the usual congregation in the main street at Bandon, on Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. The congregation was nearly twice as large at five in the morning, as it was last week, when I preached an hour later. Sunday 10, after preaching at seven, in a house crowded within and without, I left this comfortable place, and went back to Cork. I had a desire to preach abroad in the evening; but the weather would not permit. When the Society met, a person hugely daubed with gold, thrust violently in: by his appearance I should have judged ed him to be some nobleman: but I was afterwards informed it was Dr. Taylor. On Monday and Tuesday I took an account of the Society, and was grieved, though not surprised, to find such a declension. I left two hundred and ninety members: I find only two hundred and thirty-three. And what will the end be, unless those that remain, learn to bear one another's burdens? Adding to those in the other provinces, about six hundred who are in Munster, the whole number is a little above two thousand. Our evening congregations this week were smaller than usual; as the gentry were engaged in a more important affair. A company of players were in town. However, many of them came on Friday; for a watch-night was newer to them than a comedy. Monday 18, Being advised from Dublin, that Captain Dansey (with whom I desired to sail) would sail on the 19th or 20th, I took horse early, and reached Clonmell between five and six in the evening. I took my usual stand near the barrack-gate; but had abundantly more than my usual congregation, as it was the assize week, so that the town was extremely full of gentry as well as common people. VOL. 3.-B Tuesday 19, We had many light showers, which cooled the air, and laid the dust. We dined at Kilkenny, noble in ruins: I see no such remains of magnificience in the kingdom. The late Duke of Ormond's house, on the top of a rock, hanging over the river, the ancient Cathedral, and what is left of many grand buildings, yield a melancholy pleasure:-Thus, "A little power, a little sway, A sun-beam in a winter's day, Is all the great and mighty have We lodged at Castle-dermot, and reached Dublin on Wednesday 20, but Captain Dansey was not to sail this week. I then inquired for a Chester ship, and found one, which was expected to sail on Friday morning but on Friday morning, the Captain sent us word, "He must wait for General Montague.' So in the afternoon I rode over to Skerries, where the packet lay: but before I came thither, the wind, which was fair before, shifted to the east, and blew a storm. I saw the hand of God, and after resting a while, rode cheerfully back to Dublin. It being the Watch-night, I came just in time, to spend a comfortable hour with the congregation. O how good it is, to have no choice of our own, but to leave all things to the will of God! Saturday 23, The Captain of the Chester ship sent word, "The General would not go, and he would sail the next morning." So we have one day more to spend in Ireland. Let us "live this day as if it were our last!" Sunday 24, At seven I took leave of my friends, and about noon embarked in the Nonpareil for Chester. We had forty or fifty passengers on board, half of whom were cabin passengers. I was afraid we should have an uneasy time, in the midst of such a crowd of gentry. We sailed out with a fair wind, but at four in the afternoon it failed, and left us in a dead calm. I then made the gentlemen an offer of preaching, which they thankfully accepted. While I was preaching the wind sprung up fair: but the next day we were becalmed again. In the afternoon they desired me to give them another sermon, and again the wind sprung up while I was speaking, and continued till about noon on Tuesday, we landed at Parkgate. Being in haste, I would not stay for my own horse, which I found could not land till low water. So I bought one, and having hired another, set forward without delay. We reached Whitchurch that evening. Wednesday 27, we breakfasted at Newport, where, finding our horses begin to fail, we thought it best to take the Birmingham road, that, if they should fail us altogether, we might stay among our friends. But they would go no farther than Wolverhampton; so we hired fresh horses there, and immediately set out for Worcester: but one of them soon after fell, and gave me such a shock, (though I did not quit my seat) that I was seized with a violent bleeding at the nose, which nothing we could apply would stop, so we were obliged to go a foot-pace for two miles, and then stay at Broadwater. Thursday 28, Soon after we set out, the other horse fell lame. A honest man at Worcester found this was caused by a bad shoe. A smith cured this by a new shoe: but at the same time, by paring the hoof too closely, he effectually lamed the other foot, so that we had hard work to reach Gloucester. After resting here a while, we pushed on to Newport: where I took a chaise, and reached Bristol before eleven. I spent the two following days with the Preachers, who had been waiting for me all the week. And their love and unanimity were such as soon made me forget all my labour. Monday, September 1, I set out for Cornwall, preaching at Shepton, Middlesea, and Tiverton in the way. Wednesday 3, I reached Launceston, and found the small remains of a dead, scattered Society. And no wonder, as they have had scarcely any discipline, and only one sermon in a fortnight. On Friday 6, I found just such another Society at Camelford: but their deadness here was owing to bitterness against each other; in the morning I heard the contending parties face to face: and they resolved and promised on all sides, to let past things be forgotten. O how few have learned to forgive one another, as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven us! Saturday 6, We had an exceeding lively congregation in the evening at Trewalder. Indeed all the Society stands well, and adorns the doctrine of God our Saviour. Sunday 7, at eight I preached again, and was much comforted. I then rode to Port-Isaac Church, and had the satisfaction of hearing an excellent sermon. After service I preached at a small distance from the Church, to a numerous congregation and to a far more numerous one in the town, at five in the afternoon. In examining this Society, I found much reason to bless God on their behalf. They diligently observe all the Rules of the Society, with or without a Preacher. They constantly attend the Church and sacrament, and meet together at the times appointed. The consequence is, that thirty out of thirty-five, their whole number, continue to walk in the light of God's countenance. Monday 8, A gentleman followed me to my Inn at St. Colomb's, and carried me to his house, where were three or four more as friendly as himself. One of them rode with me seven or eight miles, and gave me a pleasing account, of two young Clergymen, Mr. C and Mr. Phelps, who had the care of three adjoining parishes. Surely God has a favour for the people of these parts! he gives them such serious, zealous, lively Preachers. By these, and the Methodists together, the line is now laid, with no inconsiderable interruption, all along the north sea, from the eastern point of Cornwall to the Land's-end. In a while I trust, there will be no more cause on these coasts, to accuse Britannos hospitibus feros. The congregation at St. Agnes, in the evening was, I suppose, double to that at Port Isaac. We had nearly as many, Tuesday 9, at five in the morning, as the Preaching-house could contain. Afterwards I examined the Society, and was surprised and grieved to find, that out of ninety-eight persons, all but three or four had forsaker. the Lord's table. I told them my thoughts very plainly: they seem ed convinced, and promised no more to give place to the devil. Wednesday 10, I had much conversation with Mr. Phelps, a man of a humble, loving, tender spirit. Between him, on the one hand, and the Methodists, on the other, most in the parish are now awakened. Let but our brethren have zeal according to knowledge, and few will escape them both. When I came to St. Ives, I was determined to preach abroad: but the wind was so high I could not stand where I had intended. But we found a little inclosure near it, one end of which was native rock, rising ten or twelve feet perpendicular, from which the ground fell with an easy descent. A jetting out of the rock, about four feet from the ground, gave me a very convenient pulpit. Here well nigh the whole town, high and low, rich and poor, assembled together. Nor was there a word to be heard, or a smile to be seen, from one end of the congregation to the other. It was just the same the three following evenings. Indeed, I was afraid on Saturday, that the roaring of the sea, raised by the north wind, would have prevented their hearing. But God gave me so clear and strong a voice, that I believe scarcely one word was lost. Sunday 14, At eight I chose a large ground, the sloping side of a meadow, where the congregation stood, row above row, so that all might see as well as hear. It was a beautiful sight. Every one seemed to take to himself what was spoken. I believe every backslider in the town was there: and surely God was there, to heal their backslidings. I began at Zennor, as soon as the Church service was ended: I suppose scarcely six persons went away. Seeing many there who did once run well, I addressed myself to them in particular: the spirit of mourning was soon poured out; and some of them wept bitterly. O, that the Lord may yet return unto them, and leave a blessing behind him! At five I went once more into the ground at St. Ives, and found such a congregation, as I think was never seen in any place before (Gwenap excepted) in this County. Some of the chief of the town were now not in the skirts, but in the thickest of the people. The clear sky, the setting sun, the smooth, still water, all agreed with the state of the audience. Is any thing too hard for God? May we not well say, in every sense, "Thou dost the raging sea control, And smooth the prospect of the deep: Thou mak'st the rolling billows sleep." Monday 15, I inquired concerning the uncommon storm, which was here on March 9, the last year. It began near the Land's End, between nine and ten at night, and went eastward, not above a mile broad, over St. Just, Morva, Zennor, St. Ives, and Gwinnear, whence it turned northward, over the sea. It uncovered all the houses in its way, and was accompanied with impetuous rain. About a mile southeast from St. Ives, it tore up a rock, twelve or fourteen ton weight from the top of a rising ground, and whirled it down upon another, which it split through, and at the same time dashed itself in pieces. It broke down the pinnacles of Gwinnear Church, which forced their way through the roof. And it was remarkable, the rain which attended it, was as salt as any sea-water. |