John Wesley’s diary, 1752

While I was preaching at West Street in the afternoon, there was one of the most violent storms I ever remember. In the midst of the sermon a great part of a house…

I rode to Grimsby. The crowd was so great in the evening that the room was like an oven. The next night I preached at the end of the town, whither almost all the…

I walked over to Burnham. I had no thought of preaching there, doubting if my strength would allow of preaching always thrice a day, as I had done most days since I…

We rode by a fine seat; the owner of which (not much above fourscore years old) says he desires only to live thirty years longer: ten to hunt, ten to get money…

We rode to Durham and thence, through very rough roads and as rough weather, to Barnard Castle. I was exceedingly faint when we came in. However the time being…

My lodging was not such as I should have chosen; but what Providence chooses is always good. My bed was considerably under ground, the room serving both for a…

I had many little trials in this journey, of a kind I had not known before. I had borrowed a young, strong mare when I set out from Manchester. But she fell lame…

I rode to Chester and preached at six in the accustomed place, a little without the gates, near St. John’s church. One single man, a poor alehousekeeper, seemed…

We walked round the walls of the city, which are something more than a mile and three quarters in circumference. But there are many vacant spaces within the walls,…

I preached in the market place at Kinsale. The next morning, at eight, I walked to the fort. On the hill above it we found a large, deep hollow, capable of…

We were called early by the pilot and told we must rise and go on board. We did so and found a large number of passengers: but the wind turning, most of them went…

Finding there was no probability of sailing soon, we went up to Mr. P---‘s, near Passage. I preached there in the street about four to most of the inhabitants of…

We had another violent storm; it made Mr. P---‘s house rock to and fro, though it was a new, strong house, and covered on all sides with hills, as well as with…

I read over Pascal’s Thoughts. What could possibly induce such a creature as Voltaire to give such an author as this a good word, unless it was that he once wrote a…

We reached Cork.

In the evening I proposed to the society the building a preaching-house. The next day ten persons subscribed a hundred pounds; another hundred was subscribed in…

Sunday, 24, was a useful day to my soul. I found more than once trouble and heaviness; but I called upon the name of the Lord; and He gave me a clear, full…