Wesley Corpus

Bespham, many years Master of a man-of-war. From the time he received 114 REv. J. WESLEY’s [Jan. 1778. the truth in love, he was a pattern to all that believe. His faith was full of mercy and good fruits: His works shall praise him in the gates. Sat. 27.--A few days since, my Assistant, Mr. Baynes, by far the strongest person in our family, was taken ill of a fever. He was immediately attended both by an Apothecary and a Physician; but their labour was in vain : This morning God called him into the world of spirits. I had no desire to part with him; but God knew what was best both for him and me. Wed. 31.--We concluded the old year, and began the new, with prayer and thanksgiving. Four or five of the Local Preachers assisted me. I was agreeably surprised; their manner of praying being so artless and unlaboured, and yet rational and scriptural, both as to sense and expression. Thur. JANUARY 1, 1778-We had a very solemn oppor tunity of renewing our covenant with God. Tuesday, 6. I spent an agreeable and a profitable hour with three German gentlemen, two of them Lutheran Ministers, and the third, Professor of Divinity at Leipsig. I admired both their good sense, seriousness, and good breeding. How few of our Clergy exceed or equal them 1 Mon. 19.--I went over to Tunbridge-Wells, and preached in the large Dissenting meeting, to a numerous congrega tion; and deep attention sat on every face. Tuesday, 20. I went on, through miserable roads, to Robertsbridge ; where an unusually large congregation was waiting. Thence we went on to Rye, where the House was sufficiently crowded, as usual. How large a society would be here, could we but spare them in one thing ! Nay, but then all our labour would be in vain. One sin allowed would intercept the whole blessing. Mr. Holman’s widow being extremely desirous I should lodge at Carborough, two miles from Rye, I ordered my chaise to take me up at the preaching-house immediately after the service. She had sent a servant to show me the way; which was a road dirty and slippery enough, cast up between two impassable marshes. The man waited a while, and then went home, leav ing us to guide ourselves.