Wesley Corpus

Hence I rode, on Friday, 11, to Shoreham, and buried the remains of Mrs. P., who, after a long, distressing illness, on Saturday, the 5th instant, fell asleep. Sat. 12.--I visited the classes at Snowsfields, where I was told many would go away; but the time was not come. As yet we have lost none; though some are held as by a single hair. Tues. 15.--I rode to Deptford, and found the society there united in faith and love. During the sermon in the afternoon, one poor mourner found peace with God. In the evening I preached at Welling, and on Wednesday, 16, rode on to Sevenoaks. Here I was grieved to find one who did run well quite hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. But in the evening, God looked upon him once more, and melted him into tears of love. Thur. 17.--Light from above broke into the heart of another hard-hearted sinner. At the same time many were delivered from doubts and fears, and “knew the things which were freely given them of God.” On Friday I returned to London. Mon. 21.--Observing the terror occasioned by that wonderful prophecy to spread far and wide, I endeavoured to draw some good therefrom, by strongly exhorting the congregation at Wapping, to “seek the Lord while he might be found.” But at the same time I thought it incumbent upon me to declare (as indeed I had done from the hour I heard it) that “it must be false, if the Bible be true.” The three next days I spent in the tedious work of tran scribing the names of the society. I found about thirty of those who thought they were saved from sin had separated 130 REv. J. wesley’s [April, 1763. from their brethren. But above four hundred, who witnessed the same confession, seemed more united than ever. Mon. 28.--Preaching in the evening at Spitalfields, on, “Prepare to meet thy God,” I largely showed the utter absurdity of the supposition, that the world was to end that night. But notwithstanding all I could say, many were afraid to go to bed, and some wandered about in the fields, being persuaded, that, if the world did not end, at least London would be swallowed up by an earthquake. I went to bed at my usual time, and was fast asleep about ten o’clock. Mon.