Wesley Corpus

The behaviour of two or three patients there had done unspeakable good. Deep prejudice was torn up by the roots, and much good-will to the truth had succeeded it. O what may not a single believer do, who seeks nothing but the glory of God? Mon. 23.--I went to Canterbury. The congregations were larger than I ever remember; and many found a deeper work of God in their hearts than ever they had known before. Thursday, 26. I was desired to read part of Bishop Pontopidan's “Natural History of Norway.” I soon found he was a man of sense, yet credulous to an extreme; and therefore I was the less surprised when I came to his craken and sea-serpent. Of the former (an animal a mile round, to which a poor whale is no more than a gudgeon) he gives no proof, or shadow of proof; nothing but vague, uncertain hearsays. “Two sailors,” he says, “made oath of seeing part of the latter, seven or eight folds of his back. But I did not talk with them myself; so I can lay little stress on their evidence.” They might be weak men; they might be frighted; yea, they were, by their own confession: Or they might be men of no conscience: On any of which suppositions their testimony is nothing worth. Sat. 28.--We returned to London. Sunday, 29. We had a comfortable lovefeast, at which several declared the blessings they had found lately. We need not be careful by what name to call them, while the thing is beyond dispute. Many have, and many do daily experience an unspeakable change. After being deeply convinced of inbred sin, particularly of pride, anger, self-will, and unbelief, in a moment they feel all faith and love; no pride, no self-will, or anger: And from that moment they have continual fellowship with God, always rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks. Whoever ascribes such a change to the devil, I ascribe it to the Spirit of God: And I say, let whoever feels it wrought, cry to God that it may continue; which it will, if he walks closely with God; otherwise it will not. Preaching at Deptford, Welling, and Sevenoaks, in my way, on Thursday, DECEMBER 3, I came to Shoreham. There I read the celebrated “Life of St. Katherine, of Genoa.” Mr.