Wesley Corpus

I doubt, because his own idea of it was not clear; for genius is not imagination, any more than it is invention. If we mean by it a quality of the soul, it is, in its widest acceptation, an extraor dinary capacity, either for some particular art or science, or for all; for whatever may be undertaken. So Euclid had a genius for mathematics; Tully, for oratory: Aristotle and Lord Bacon had an universal genius, applicable to everything. The congregation was, as usual, large and serious. But there is no increase in the society. So that we have profited nothing by having our service in the church-hours, which some imagined would have done wonders. I do not know that it has done more good anywhere in England; in Scotland I believe it has. Tues. 6.--I preached about noon at Mitcham. We preached here many years ago for some time; but despairing of doing any good there, totally left the place. A year or two ago a spark fell upon it, which is now kindled into a flame. So that the work of God is more lively here, than in any society near London. I found more life than I expected, in the evening, among the poor people at Wandsworth, who have been long swallowed up in the cares of this world. But as they have a little more business, so they have more ease for their souls; and seem determined to recover the ground they had lost. Fri. 9.--A friend offering to bear my expenses, I set out in the evening, and on Saturday, 10, dined at Nottingham. The preaching-house (one of the most elegant in England) was pretty well filled in the evening. Sunday, 11. At ten we had a lovely congregation; and a very numerous one in the afternoon. But, I believe, the House would hardly contain one half of those that came to it. I preached a charity sermon for the Infirmary, which was the design of my coming. This is not a County Infirmary, but is open to all England; Dec. 1787.J JOURNAL. 405 yea, to all the world; and everything about it is so meat, so convenient, and so well ordered, that I have seen none like it in the three kingdoms. Monday, 12. In the afternoon we took coach again, and on Tuesday returned to London. Thur.