Wesley Corpus

She looked at me, and desired I would preach her funeral sermon on those words, “I have fought the good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me at that day.” “She talked to all round about her in as scriptural and rational a manner as if she had been in her full strength, (only now and then catching a little for breath,) with all the smiles of heaven in her countenance. Indeed several times she seemed to be quite gone; but in a little while the taper lit up again, and she began to preach, with divine power, to all that stood near her. She knew every person, and if any came into the room whom she knew to be careless about religion, she directly called them by name, and charged them to seek the Lord while he might be found. At last she cried out, ‘I see the heavens opened; I see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, with numbers of the glorified throng, coming nearer and nearer. They are just come !’ At that word, her soul took its flight, to mingle with the heavenly host. We looked after her, as Elisha after Elijah; and I trust some of us have catched her mantle.” After making a little tour through Carmarthenshire, Pem brokeshire, and Glamorganshire, on Monday, 28, setting out early from Cardiff, I reached Newport about eight; and soon after preached to a large and serious congregation. I believe it is five-and-thirty years since I preached here before, to a people who were then wild as bears. How amazingly is the scene changed 1 O what is too hard for God! We came to the New-Passage just as the boat was putting off; so I went in immediately. Some friends were waiting for me on the other side, who received me as one risen from the dead. The Room at Bristol was throughly filled in the even ing; and we rejoiced in Him that heareth the prayer. Having finished my present business here, on Wednesday, 30, I set out at three, and at twelve preached in the great Presbyterian meeting-house in Taunton; and indeed with such freedom and openness of spirit as I did not expect in so brilliant a congre gation.