Wesley Corpus

Now, if every Christian family, while in health, would thus far deny themselves, would twice a week dine on the cheapest food, drink in general herb-tea, faithfully calculate the money saved thereby, and give it to the poor over and above their usual donations, we should then hear no complaining in our streets, but the poor would eat and be satisfied. He that gathered much would have nothing over, and he that gathered little would have no lack. O how happy should we all be, if this was the case with us ! I mentioned this some time ago in a meeting at London, when a brother said, ‘These are but little things.” As I went home, I thought of his words: ‘Little things!’ Is the want of fire, in frost and snow, a little thing? Or the want of food, in a distressed, helpless family? Gracious God! “Feed me with food convenient for me! Give me not poverty; lest I steal, and take the name of my God in vain l’ “Dear Sir, I know what you feel for the poor, and I also sympathize with you. Here is a hard season coming on, and everything very dear; thousands of poor souls, yea, Christians, dread the approaching calamities. O that God would stir up the hearts of all that believe themselves his children, to evidence it by showing mercy to the poor, as God has shown them mercy! Surely the real children of God will do it of themselves; for it is the natural fruit of a branch in Christ. I would not desire them to lose one meal in a week, but to use as cheap food, clothes, &c., as possible. And I think the poor themselves ought to be questioned, with regard to drinking tea and beer. For I cannot think it right for them to indulge themselves in those things which I refrain from, to help them. My earnest prayers shall accompany yours, that God would give us all, in this our day, to know the things which belong unto our peace, and to acknowledge the blessings which are freely given to us of God!” Mon. 23.--I went to Canterbury. Here I met with the Life of Mahomet, wrote, I suppose, by the Count de Boulanvilliers.