Wesley Corpus

Astolpho's shield and horn, and voyage to the moon, the lance that unhorses every one, the all-penetrating sword, and I know not how many impenetrable helmets and coats of mail, leaves transformed into ships, and into leaves again,_stones turned into horses, and again into stones, are such monstrous fictions as never appeared in the world before, and, one would hope, never will again. O who, that is not himself out of his senses, can compare Ariosto with Tasso ! Mon. MARCH 1.-I went to Newbury, and preached in the evening to a large and deeply affected congregation. Tuesday, 2, and Wednesday, 3, I preached at Bath, and on Thursday, 4, went on to Bristol. Friday, 5. I talked at large with our Masters in Kingswood School, who are now just such as I wished for. At length the Rules of the House are punctually observed, and the children are all in good order. March, 1784.] JOURNAL. 267 Sat. 6.--I spent a few melancholy minutes at Mr. Hender son's with the lost Louisa. She is now in a far more deplorable case than ever. She used to be mild, though silly : But now she is quite furious. I doubt the poor machine cannot be repaired in this life.- The next week I visited the classes at Bristol. Friday, 12, being at Samuel Rayner's, in Bradford, I was convinced of two vulgar errors; the one, that nightingales will not live in cages; the other that they only sing a month or two in the year. He has now three nightingales in cages; and they sing almost all day long, from November to August. Saturday, 13. About nine I preached at Trowbridge, where a large congregation quietly attended. Returning to Bristol, I lodged once more at E J--'s, a genuine old Methodist. God has lately taken away her only brother, as well as her beloved sister. But she was still able to say, “It is the Lord : Let him do what seemeth him good.” Mon. 15.--Leaving Bristol after preaching at five, in the evening I preached at Stroud; where, to my surprise, I found the morning preaching was given up, as also in the neighbour ing places. If this be the case while I am alive, what must it be when I am gone?