Wesley Corpus

Mon. MARCH 7.--I took the machine for Norwich ; and after spending a few quiet, comfortable days in Norwich, Yarmouth, and Colchester, without any jar or contention, on Saturday, 19, returned to London. Mon. 28.--I retired to Lewisham, and wrote the sermon on “Sin in Believers,” in order to remove a mistake which some were labouring to propagate, -that there is no sin in any that are justified. Mon. APRIL 11.--Leaving things, as it seemed, pretty well settled in London, I took the machine for Bristol, where, on Tuesday, 19, I paid the last office of love to Nicholas Gilbert, who was a good man, and an excellent Preacher; and likely to have been of great use. But God saw it best to snatch him hence by a fever, in the dawn of his usefulness. Sat. 23.--I returned to London. On Thursday, 28, I was at Westminster, where I had appointed to preach, when word was brought me, about five in the afternoon, that Mr. M d would not preach at the Foundery. So the breach is made; but I am clear, I have done all I possibly could to prevent it. I walked immediately away, and preached myself, on, “If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” That I may conclude this melancholy subject at once, and have no need to resume it any more, I add a letter which I wrote some time after, for the information of a friend:-- “AT your instance I undertake the irksome task of looking back upon things which I wish to forget for ever. I have had innumerable proofs (though such as it would now be an endless task to collect together) of all the facts which I recite. And I recite them as briefly as possible, because I do not desire to aggravate any thing, but barely to place it in a true light. April, 1763.] JOURNAL. 131 “1. Mr. Maxfield was justified while I was praying with bim in Baldwin-Street, Bristol. “2. Not long after he was employed by me as a Preacher in London. “3. Hereby he had access to Mrs. Maxfield, whom other wise he was never likely to see, much less to marry; from whence all his outward prosperity had its rise. “4.