Wesley Corpus

Thur. 9.--In speaking on those words, “Set thy house in order; for thou shalt die and not live,” I took occasion to exhort all who had not done it already, to settle their temporal affairs without delay. Let not any man who reads these words put it off a day longer Mon. 13.--I retired to Lewisham, and settled the society book. Fifty-seven members of the society have died this year; and none of them “as a fool dieth.” An hundred and seventy have left the society. Such are the fruits of senseless prejudice. Sat. 25.--We began the service at the new chapel, as usual, at four in the morning. Afterwards Iread prayers and preached and administered the Lord's Supper at West-Street. In the afternoon I preached at the new chapel again; then met the society; and afterwards, the married men and women. But after this I was no more tired than when I rose in the morning. Wed. 29.--Mr. Hatton, lately come from America, gave us an account of his strange deliverance. He was Collector of the Customs for the eastern ports of Maryland, and zealous for King George. Therefore the rebels resolved to dispatch him ; and a party was sent for that purpose under one Simpson, who owed Dec. 1779.] JOURNAL. 173 him five hundred pounds. But first he sent him the following note :-- “WE are resolved to have you dead or alive. So we advise you to give yourself up, that you may give us no more to able. “I am, Sir, “Your obedient servant.” Mr. Hatton not complying with this civil advice, a party of rifle-men were sent to take him. He was just going out, when a child told him they were at hand, and had only time to run and get into a hollow which was under the house. The maid clapped to the trap-door, and covered it over with flax. They searched the house from top to bottom, opened all the closets, turned up the beds, and, finding nothing, went away. He was scarce come out, when another party beset the house, and came so quick, that he had but just time to get in again; and the maid, not having flax enough at hand, covered the door with foul linen.