Wesley Corpus

At eleven we drank coffee (the custom in Holland) at Mr. J 's, a merchant, whose dining-room is covered, both walls and ceiling, with the most beautiful paintings. He and his lady walked with us in the afternoon to the Stadt House; perhaps the grandest buildings of the kind in Europe. The great hall is a noble room indeed, near as large as that of Christ-Church in Oxford. But I have neither time nor inclimation to describe particularly this amazing structure. At five in the evening we drank tea at another merchant’s, Mr. G 's, where I had a long conversation with Mr. de H.; one of the most learned as well as popular Ministers in the city; and (I believe, what is far more important) he is truly alive to God. He spoke Latin well, and seemed to be one of a strong understanding, as well as of an excellent spirit. In returning to our inn, we called at a stationer's; and though we spent but a few minutes, it was enough to convince us of his strong affec tion, even to strangers. What a change does the grace of God make in the heart! Shyness and stiffness are now no more Sat. 21.--We breakfasted with a very extraordinary woman, who lamented that she could not talk to us but by an interpre ter. However, she made us understand, that she had a little child some years since, three or four years old, that was pray ing continually: That one morning, having just dressed her, she said, “Will you go kiss your sister?” She said, “Yes, mamma; and I will kiss you too;” and threw her arms about her mother’s neck; who said, “My dear, where will you go now?” She said, “I will go to Jesus;” and died. At eleven I spent an hour with a woman of large fortune, who appeared to be as much devoted to God as her. We were immediately as well acquainted with each other, as if we had known each other for many years. But indeed an easy good-breeding (such as I never expected to see here) runs through all the genteeler people of Amsterdam. And there is such a child-like simplicity in all that love God, as does honour to the religion they profess. About two we called upon Mr. V n, and immediately fell into close conversation.