Wesley Corpus

My own soul, and I trust many others, were refreshed, while I was describing our fellowship with the Father and the Son. After visiting the other neighbouring places, on Saturday, 28, at noon, I preached at Bath: But I had only the poor to hear; there being service at the same time in Lady H.’s chapel. So I was just in my element. I have scarce ever found such liberty at Bath before. Monday, 30, and the two following days, I examined the society at Bristol, and was surprised to find fifty members fewer than I left in it last October. One reason is, Christian Perfection has been little insisted on; and wherever this is not done, be the Preachers ever so eloquent, there is little increase, either in the number or the grace of the hearers. Sat. OcToBER 5.--I spent some time with the children at Kingswood. They are all in health: They behave well: They learn well: But, alas ! (two or three excepted) there is no life in them | About this time, the oldest Preacher in our connexion, Alex ander Coats, rested from his labours. A little account of his death, one who was in the house sent me, in these words: “Newcastle, October 7, 1765. “I HAD an opportunity, the last evening, of seeing our dear, aged brother Coats. A few days before, he was sore tempted by the enemy; but near the close he had perfect peace. His faith was clear, and he found Christ precious, his portion, and his eternal all. I asked him, a little before he died, if he had ‘followed cunningly devised fables. He answered, ‘No, no, no.’ I then asked him whether he saw land. He said, ‘Yes, I do;’ and, after waiting a few moments at anchor, he put into the quiet harbour.” Wed. 9.-I read Mr. Jones’s ingenious “Essay on the 238 REv. J. wesLEY’s [Dec. 1765. Principles of Natural Philosophy.” He seems to have totally overthrown the Newtonian principles; but whether he can establish the Hutchinsonian is another question. Friday, 11, we observed as a day of fasting and prayer. Sunday, 13. We met in the evening jointly to renew our covenant with God. It was, as usual, a time of remarkable blessing. Mon. 14.--In the evening I preached at Shaftesbury; and on Tuesday, at Wincanton.