Wesley Corpus

Frequently she had not bread to eat; but that did not hinder her “rejoicing ever more.” She had close trials from her poor, apostate husband, in the midst of sharp pain, and pining sickness. But she was superior to all; still seeing her Father's hand, and “in every thing giving thanks.” Her death was suitable to her life. No cloud could arise, To darken the skies, Or hide for a moment her Lord from her eyes. All was noon-day. She praised God with every breath till he took her to himself. Mon. 19.--I rode to Craidley. Here also the multitude of people obliged me to stand abroad, although the north wind whistled round my head. About one I took the field again at Stourbridge. Many of the hearers were wild as colts untamed; but the bridle was in their mouths. At six I began at Dudley. The air was as cold as I had almost ever felt. But I trust God warmed many hearts. Wed. 21.--I took my leave of Wednesbury at five; preached about ten at Bilstone; about one, at Bilbrook; and about five in the evening, at Wolverhampton. Many here were wild and stupid enough: However, the greater part were deeply attentive. I now procured an account of two remarkable children, which I think ought not to be buried in oblivion: “About three weeks before Christmas, 1768, William Cooper, at Walsal, in Staffordshire, then mine years old, was convinced of sin, and would frequently say he should go to hell, and the devil would fetch him. Sometimes he cried out, ‘I hate him.’ IBeing asked, ‘Whom?’ he answered, with great vehemence, “God.” This terrified his mother, who, not knowing what was the matter with the child, strove to keep it secret. “But in about a fortnight, it pleased God to reveal to him 390 REv. J. WESLEY’s [March, 1770. his pardoning love. His mouth was then filled with praise, declaring to all what God had done for his soul. “A few days after Billy was awakened, God was pleased to convince his sister Lucy, then eleven years old. He soon put a song of praise into her mouth also, so that they mightily rejoiced together in God their Saviour. At the same time they were both heavily afflicted in their bodies.