Wesley Corpus

Some time after, he died, rejoicing in God, and praising him with his latest breath.” Fri. 19.-I preached in Bengeworth church about noon, and about six in Pebworth church. Saturday, 20. I went on to Birmingham. Sunday, 21. Just at the time of preaching, at Bromwich-Heath, began such a storm as that which ushered in the year. Yet as no house could contain the people, I was constrained to stand in the court-yard. For a moment I was afraid of the tiles falling on the people; but they regarded nothing but the word. As I concluded, we had a furious shower of hail: Hitherto could the prince of the power of the air go; but no farther. After preaching at Wednesbury, Darlaston, Dudley, and Wolverhampton, on Wednesday, 24, I went on to Madeley. In the way I finished a celebrated “Essay on Taste.” And is this the treatise that gained the premium ? It is lively and pretty; but neither deep nor strong. Scarce any of the terms are accurately defined : Indeed, defining is not this author's talent. He has not by any means a clear apprehension; and it is through this capital defect, that he jumbles together true and false propositions, in every chapter and in every page. To this Essay three extracts are subjoined. The first is much to the purpose. The second is a superficial, empty thing. Is this a specimen of the great M. D'Alembert? But I was most surprised at the third. What l is this extracted from the famous Montesquieu' It has neither strength, nor clearness, nor justness of thought ! And is this the writer so admired all over Europe? He is no more to be compared to Lord Forbes, or Dr. Beattie, than a mouse to an elephant. Thur. 25.-I preached in the new House which Mr. 146 REv. J. WESLEY’s [April, 1779. Fletcher has built in Madeley wood. The people here exactly resemble those at Kingswood; only they are more simple and teachable. But for want of discipline, the immense pains which he has taken with them has not done the good which might have been expected. I preached at Shrewsbury in the evening, and on Friday, 26, about noon, in the assembly-room at Broseley. It was well we were in the shade; for the sun shone as hot as it usually does at Midsummer.