Wesley Corpus

One of my parishioners, Mr. Campbell, died, leaving by will his fortune to his two daughters; and, in case of their death, a thousand pounds to the poor of the parish. His widow was extremely ill; notwithstanding which, some of the Brethren, to whom she was quite devoted, came in the depth of winter, and carried her by night several miles to their house. She died in a few days after she had made a will, wherein she made two of them executors; a third, guardian to the children; and in case of their death left the whole estate to the Brethren. They concealed her death six days. Meantime, two of them went to Dublin, and procured Letters of Administration, and of Guardianship. Soon after I was pressed to undertake the cause of the orphans. I went to Dublin, and laid the affair before the Lord Chancellor; who, after a full hearing, cancelled the second will, and ordered the first to stand.” At my leisure minutes yesterday and to-day, I read Mr. Glanvill’s Sadducismus Triumphatus. But some of his relations I cannot receive; and much less his way of account ing for them. All his talk of “aërial and astral spirits,” I take to be stark nonsense. Indeed, supposing the facts true, I wonder a man of sense should attempt to account for them. at all. For who can explain the things of the invisible world, but the inhabitants of it? Tues. 11.--I preached in the market-house in Tanderagee to one of the liveliest congregations in the kingdom. Thursday and Friday I preached at Dawson's Grove and Kilmararty; and on Saturday, 15, rode to Derry-Anvil, a little village out of all road, surrounded with bogs, just like my old parish of Wroote, in Lincolnshire. The congregation, however, was exceeding large and exceeding lively. I talked largely with several of them who believe they are saved from sin, and found no cause to disbelieve them: And I met with many more in these parts who witness the same confession. Sun. 16.--At nine I preached in a meadow near Cock-Hill to a listening multitude. I suppose we should have had twice April, 1769.] JOURNAL. 359 the number in the evening, but the rain prevented. The grass being wet, I stood in the highway, while many stood in the neighbouring houses.