Wesley Corpus

Yet some things in it gave me pain : 1. His affirming things that are not true; as that all Negro children turn black the ninth or tenth day from their birth. No : most of them turn partly black on the second day, entirely so on the third. That all the Americans are of a copper colour. Not so : Some of them are as fair as we are. Many more such assertions I observed, which I impute not to design but credulity. 2. His flatly contradicting himself; many times within a page or two. 3. His asserting, and labouring to prove, that man is a mere piece of clock-work: And, lastly, his losing no opportunity of vilifying the Bible, to which he appears to bear a most cordial hatred. I marvel if any but his brother Infidels will give two guineas for such a work as this Sun. 29.--At seven the congregation was large. In the evening the people were ready to tread upon each other. I scarce ever saw people so squeezed together. And they seemed to be all ear, while I exhorted them, with strong and pointed words, not to receive “the grace of God in vain.” Mon. 30.--I set out early from Aberdeen, and preached at Arbroath in the evening. I know no people in England who are more loving, and more simple of heart, than these. Tuesday, 31. I preached at Easthaven, a small town, inhabited by fisher men. I suppose all the inhabitants were present; and all were ready to devour the word. In the evening I preached at Dun dee, and had great hope that brotherly love would continue. In my way hither, I read Dr. Reid's ingenious Essay. With the former part of it I was greatly delighted : But after wards I was much disappointed. I doubt whether the senti ments are just : But I am sure his language is so obscure that to most readers it must be mere Arabic. But I have a greater objection than this; namely, his exquisite want of judgment in so admiring that prodigy of self-conceit, Rousseau, La shallow, but supercilious Infidel, two degrees below Voltaire | Is it possible, that a man who admires him can admire the Bible 2 Wed. JUNE 1.--I went on to Edinburgh, and the next day examined the society one by one. I was agreeably surprised.