Wesley Corpus

Wednesday, 6. I answered my letters; and on Thursday, 7, set out for Bristol. In the evening I preached at Newbury. It rained and blew vehemently; yet the House was throughly filled; and I found uncommon liberty in pushing the inquiry, “Who of you are building on the sand, and who upon a rock P” Friday, 8. In the evening I preached at Bath, to a more numerous congregation than I expected; and more serious, for I do not find there were any careless or inattentive hearers. Saturday, 9. We had a good congregation at five; although the weather continued stormy. Afterward I searched to the bottom a story I had heard in part; and found it another tale of real woe:--Two of our society had lived together in uncommon harmony; when one who met in Band with E. F., to whom she had mentioned that she had found a temptation toward Dr. F., went and told her husband she was in love with him, and that she had it from her own mouth. The spirit of jealousy seized him in a moment, and utterly took away his reason; and some one telling him his wife was at 350 REv. J. Wesley’s [Sept. 1786, Dr. F.'s, (on whom she had called that afternoon,) he took a great stick and ran away; and meeting her in the street, called out, “Strumpet, strumpet !” and struck her twice or thrice. He is now throughly convinced of her innocence; but the water cannot be gathered up again He sticks there, “I do throughly forgive you; but I can never love you more.” Sun. 10.--Our service began at ten. Mr. Creighton (whose health is a little recovered by rest, and drinking the mineral waters) read Prayers and assisted at the sacrament.