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IN DENIS DUVAL'S COUNTRY. 55
"judging most of the congregation to be awakened," he took the parable of Dives and Lazarus as the topic of his discourse. On 30th October, 1771, he walked from Rye to Win-chelsea, " said to have been once a large city, with abundance of trade and of inhabitants, the sea washing the foot of the hill on which it stands. The situation is exceeding bold, the hill being high and steep on all sides. But the town is shrunk almost into nothing, and the seven churches into half a one. I preached at eleven in the new square to a considerable number of serious people." Remembering Mr. Rudge's character, it is noteworthy that Wesley records in his diary under date November 22nd, 1773, that in Sussex he " found abundance of good people willing to hear the good word, at Rye in particular. And they do many good things gladly ; but they will not part with the accursed thing—smuggling, so I fear with regard to them our labour will be in vain." He visited Rye again 21st November, 1775, and on January 19th, 1778, he sorrowfully notes, " How large a society would be here could we but spare them in one thing. Nay, but then all our labour would be in vain. One sin allowed would intercept the whole blessing." Doubtless |
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