Wesley Corpus

In all the years that he has laboured with us, I do not remember that he ever gave me occasion to find fault with him in any thing. He was a man of unwearied diligence and patience, and “his works do follow him.” Tues. 17.--I wrote “A Serious Address to the Inhabitants of England,” with regard to the present state of the nation,- so strangely misrepresented both by ignorant and designing men, to remove, if possible, the apprehensions which have been so diligently spread, as if it were on the brink of ruin. Thur. 26.--I committed to the earth the remains of George Parsons. He has left very few like him ; so zea 116 REv. J. wesley’s [March, 1778. lously, so humbly, so unreservedly devoted to God. For some time his profiting has appeared to all men. He ripened apace for eternity. He was as a flame of fire, wherever he went ; losing no occasion of speaking or work ing for God. So he finished his course in the midst of his years, and was quickly removed into the garner. Friday, 27, was the day appointed for the national fast; and it was observed with due solemnity. All shops were shut up; all was quiet in the streets; all places of public worship were crowded; no food was served up in the King's house till five o'clock in the evening. Thus far, at least, we acknowledge God may direct our paths. Sun. MARCH 1.-I preached at Brentford in the evening; Monday, 2, at Newbury; and the next evening at Bath. Wednesday, 4, I went on to Bristol. I found the panic had spread hither also, as if the mation were on the brink of ruin. Strange that those who love God should be so frightened at shadows ' I can compare this only to the alarm which spread through the nation in King William's time, that on that very night the Irish Papists were to cut the throats of all the Protestants in England. Mon. 9.--On this and the following days I visited the society, and found a good increase. This year I myself (which I have seldom done) chose the Preachers for Bristol; and these were plain men; and likely to do more good than has been done in one year, for these twenty years. Fri.