Wesley Corpus

I wonder it is not more known, as there is nothing on the head like it in the English tongue. I still think he has proved to a demon stration, that no marriages are forbidden, either by the law of God or of England, but those of brothers and sisters, and those in the ascending and descending line. The contrary supposition seems to be built wholly in a misinterpretation of that expression in Lev. xviii., “Thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.” But this, he clearly shows, does not mean to marry a woman, but to deflower her. Sun. 20.--I preached in Bethnal-Green church, and spoke as plain as I possibly could, on “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” And this I judged to be 324 REv. J. WESLEY’s [Dec. 1785. far more suitable to such a congregation, than talking of justification by faith. Having promised our friends at Winchester to come and open their preaching-house when it was ready, I set out on Thursday, 24, and preached there in the evening to a numerous congre gation; but I have not seen a people less affected: They seemed to be mere stocks and stones. However, I have cast my bread upon the water: Possibly it may be found again after many days. On Friday evening we went into the mail-coach, and reached London at eight in the morning. Sun. 27.-As soon as I had concluded my sermon at the aew chapel, I hastened away to preach at St. Luke's, one of the largest parish churches in London. It was thoroughly filled, as it was seven years ago, when I preached there before. God enabled me to speak strong words on the epistle for the day; and I believe some felt that it was now high “time to awake out of sleep.” Mon. 28.-I went to Canterbury: The chapel was more than filled. On Tuesday I found at Dover also a considerable increase of the work of God. Wednesday, 30. I went on to Margate. Some years since we had a small society here; but a Local Preacher took them to himself: Only two or three remained, who from time to time pressed our Preachers to come again; and, to remove the objection, that there was no place to preach in, with the help of a few friends they built a convenient preaching-house.