Wesley Corpus

Tues. NoveMBER 1.--I preached at Weedon, and at five in the morning; about eleven at Towcester; and in the evening to many more than the House would hold at Northampton. Friday, 4. James Glasbrook (who had a fit of an ague at Whittlebury) undertook to conduct me to Bedford; but he was taken ill on the road. I preached there at seven, on, “Awake, thou that sleepest:” And never was more need; for a more sleepy audience I have not often seen. Sat. 5.--About noon I preached at Hertford, in the new Room, to a large and serious congregation. The Mayor’s usage of Mr. Colley for preaching in the market-place, with Mr. Colley’s firm and calm behaviour, was the means of convincing Mr. Andrews, who built this Room at his own expense. Mon. 7.--I set out for Oxfordshire; preached at Wycombe in the evening, and on Tuesday and Wednesday at Witney. On Thursday, in my return, I was desired to preach at Oxford. The Room was throughly filled, and not with curious, but deeply serious hearers. Many of these desired that our travelling Preachers would take them in their turn, with which I willingly complied. In the evening I preached in the chapel at Henley, to a considerable number of serious people. One or two of the baser sort made some noise; but I reproved them, and, for once, they were ashamed. Fri. 11.--I returned to London. The next week I visited the classes, and at intervals read Mr. Boswell’s “Account of Corsica.” But what a scene is opened therein How little did we know of that brave people! How much less were we acquainted with the character of their General, Pascal 348 REv. J. wesLEY’s [Dec. 1768. Paoli; as great a lover of his country as Epaminondas, and as great a General as Hannibal! Sat. 19.--I read Dr. Nowell's answer to Mr. Hill, concerning the expulsion of the Students at Oxford. He has said all that could be said for that stretch of power, that instance of summum jus;* and he says quite enough, to clear the Church of England from the charge of Predes tination: A doctrine which he proves to be utterly inconsistent with the Common Prayer, the Communion Service, the Office of Baptism, the Articles, the Homilies, and the other writings of those that compiled them. Mon.