Wesley Corpus

8.--I began visiting the classes; in many of which we had hot spirits to deal with. Some were vehement for, some against, the meetings for prayer, which were in several parts of the town. I said little, being afraid of taking any step which I might afterwards repent of One I heard of on Friday, and five on Saturday, who, if I did not act as they thought best, would leave the society. I cannot help it. I must still be guided by my own conscience. Tues. 16.--I preached at Deptford and Welling, and Wednesday, 17, rode on to Sevenoaks. But it was with much difficulty; for it was a sharp frost, and our horses could very hardly keep their feet. Here, likewise, I found several who believed that God had cleansed them from all sin; and all of them (except perhaps one) lived so that one might. believe them. Fri. 19.--I called upon Jane Cooper, praising God in the fires. The next day I saw her for the last time, in every thing giving thanks, and overcoming all by the blood of the Lamb. A day or two after she fell asleep. From Monday, 22, to Friday, 26, I was employed in answering the Bishop of Gloucester's book. Wednesday, 24. Being determined to hear for myself, I stood where I could hear and see, without being seen. George Bell prayed, in the whole pretty near an hour. His fervour of spirit I could not but admire. I afterwards told him what I did not admire; namely, 1. His screaming, every now and then, in so strange a manner, that one could scarce tell what he said: 2. His thinking he had the miraculous discernment of spirits: And, 3. His sharply condemning his opposers. Thur. 25.--I buried the remains of Jane Cooper, a pattern of all holiness, and of the wisdom which is from above; who was snatched hence before she had lived five-and-twenty years. In good time ! God, who knew the tenderness of her spirit, took her away “from the evil to come.” Mon. 29.--I retired, to transcribe my answer to Bishop Dec. 1762.] JOURNAL. 123 Warburton. My fragments of time I employed in reading, and carefully considering, the lives of Magdalen de Pazzi, and some other eminent Romish saints. I could not but observe, 1. That many things related therein are highly improbable.