Wesley Corpus

Indeed some of them seemed at first disposed to mirth; but they were soon as serious as death. And truly the power of the Lord was present to heal those that were willing to come to the throne of grace. Thursday, 18. I read, with great expectation, Dr. Watts’s “Essay on Liberty;” but I was much disappointed. It is abstruse and metaphysical. Surely he wrote it either when he was very young or very old. In the evening I endeavoured to preach to the hearts of a large congregation at Edinburgh. We have cast much “bread upon the waters” here. Shall we not “find it again,” at least “after many days?” Fri. 19.--I preached at Joppa, a settlement of colliers, three miles from Edinburgh. Some months ago, as some of them were cursing and swearing, one of our Local Preachers going by, reproved them. One of them followed after him, and begged he would give them a sermon. He did so several times. Afterwards the Travelling Preachers went, and a few quickly agreed to meet together. Some of these now know in whom they have believed, and walk worthy of their profession. Sat. 20.--I took one more walk through Holyrood House, the mansion of ancient Kings. But how melancholy an appearance does it make now ! The stately rooms are dirty as stables; the colours of the tapestry are quite faded; several of the pictures are cut and defaced. The roof of the royal chapel is fallen in ; and the bones of James the Fifth, and the once beautiful Lord Darnley, are scattered about like those of sheep or oxen. Such is human greatness | Is not “a living dog better than a dead lion ?” 182 REv. J. WESLEY’s [May, 1780. Sun. 21.--The rain hindered me from preaching at noon upon the Castle-Hill. In the evening the House was well filled, and I was enabled to speak strong words. But I am not a Preacher for the people of Edinburgh. Hugh Saunderson and Michael Fenwick are more to their taste. Tues. 23.−A gentleman took me to see Roslyn Castle, eight miles from Edinburgh. It is now all in ruins, only a small dwelling-house is built on one part of it.