Wesley Corpus

FEBRUARY6.--I spent an hour with avenerable woman, near ninety years of age, who retains her health, her senses, her understanding, and even her memory, to a good degree. In the last century she belonged to my grandfather Annesley's congre gation, at whose house her father and she used to dine every Thursday; and whom she remembers to have frequently seen in his study, at the top of the house, with his window open, and without any fire, winter or summer. He lived seventy-seven * It is a shame to take much pains about trifles. Feb. 1769.] JOURNAL, 353 years, and would probably have lived longer, had he not began water drinking at seventy. Fri. 10.--I went to Deptford, on purpose to see honest William Brown, worn out with age and pain, and long con fined to his bed, without the use of either hand or foot. But he has the use of his understanding and his tongue, and testifies that God does all things well; that he has no doubt or fear, but is cheerfully waiting till his change shall come. Mon. 13.--I rode to Colchester, and had the satisfaction of seeing such a congregation, both this evening and the following, as I never saw in that House before. Wednes day, 15. I rode to Bury, and found not only an attentive audience, but a little society athirst for God. Thursday, 16. Supposing we had but five-and-forty miles to Yarmouth, I did not set out till near seven: But it proved threescore; likewise it rained all day, and part of the road was very bad. However, God strengthened both man and beast : So we reached it before six in the evening. As we were both throughly wet, I was a little afraid for my companion, who was much older than me, though he had not lived so many years. But neither of us was any worse. The congregation was the largest I ever saw at Yarmouth; and I spoke far more plainly (if not roughly) than ever I did before. But I doubt, if, after all the stumbling-blocks laid in their way, any thing will sink into their hearts. Fri. 17.--I abridged Dr. Watts's pretty “Treatise on the Passions.” His hundred and seventy-seven pages will make an useful tract of four-and-twenty. Why do persons who treat the same subjects with me, write so much larger books?