Wesley Corpus

451 ence; my heart was quite open; his seemed to be the same; and we conversed just as we did in 1738, when we met in Fetter-Lane. Monday, 23, and so all the following days, when I was not particularly engaged, I spent an hour in the morning with our Preachers, as I used to do with my pupils at Oxford. Wednesday, 25. I preached early at the Foundery; morning and afternoon, at the chapel. In returning thence at night, a coach ran full against my chaise, and broke one of the shafts and the traces in pieces. I was thankful that this was all; that neither man nor beast received the least hurt. Mon. 30.--At my brother's request, I sat again for my picture. This melancholy employment always reminds me of that natural reflection,-- Behold, what frailty we in man may see : His shadow is less given to change than he. Wed. JANUARY 1, 1772.--We met, as usual, in the evening, in order solemnly and explicitly to renew our covenant with God. Sunday, 5. I buried the remains of Elizabeth Hart land, an Israelite indeed! I know not that in thirty years she has ever dishonoured her profession, either by word or deed. Some of her last words were, “I have fought the good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith.” Tues. 14.--I spent an agreeable hour with Dr. S , the oldest acquaintance I now have. He is the greatest genius in little things, that ever fell under my notice. Almost every thing about him is of his own invention, either in whole or in part. Even his fire-screen, his lamps of various sorts, his ink-horn, his very save-all. I really believe, were he seriously to set about it, he could invent the best mouse-trap that ever was in the world. Thur. 16.--I set out for Luton. The snow lay so deep on the road, that it was not without much difficulty, and some danger, we at last reached the town. I was offered the use of the church: The frost was exceeding sharp, and the glass was taken out of the windows. However, for the sake of the people, I accepted the offer, though I might just as well have preached in the open air.