AN EXTRACT

OF THE

REV. MR. JOHN WESLEY'S JOURNAL.

FROM JUNE 17, 1758, TO MAY 5, 1760.

JOURNAL.-No. XI.

SATURDAY, June 17.-I met Thomas Walsh once more in Limerick, alive, and but just alive. Three of the best physicians in these parts have attended him, and all agree that it is a lost case; that by violent straining of his voice, added to frequent colds, he has contracted a pulmonary consumption, which is now in the last stage, and consequently beyond the reach of any human help. O what a man, to be snatched away in the strength of his years! Surely thy judgments are a great deep! Wed. 21.-Our little conference began, at which fourteen preachers were present. We settled all things here, which we judged would be of use to the preachers or the societies, and consulted how to remove whatever might be a hinderance to the work of God.

Fri. 23.-I rode over to Court Mattress, a colony of Germans, whose parents came out of the Palatinate, about fifty years ago. Twenty families of them settled here; twenty more at Killiheen, a mile off; fifty at Balligarane, about two miles eastward, and twenty at Pallas, four miles further. Each family had a few acres of ground, on which they built as many little houses. They are since considerably increased in number of souls, though decreased in number of families. Having no minister, they were become eminent for drunkenness, cursing, swearing, and an utter neglect of religion. But they are washed since they heard and received the truth which is able to save their souls. An oath is now rarely heard among them, or a drunkard seen in their borders. Court Mattress is built in the form of a square, in the middle of which they have placed a pretty large preaching house: but it would not contain one half of the congregation; so I stood in a large yard. The wind kept off the rain while I was preaching. As soon as I ended, it began.

Sun. 25.-About six I preached in the island in a square, green inclosure, which was formerly Oliver Cromwell's camp. I have not seen such a congregation since we left London. To how much better purpose is this ground employed than it was in the last century!

Thur. 29.-I rode to Clare, and at six preached in the street to many