Wesley Corpus

Many of the Durham Militia, with several of their officers, were there: And all of them seemed to receive the word, “not as the word of man; but, as it is indeed, the word of God.” Tues. 10.--We went through one of the pleasantest coun tries I ever saw, to Darlington. Before I left Newcastle, I was desired to read a strange account of a young woman, late of Darlington. But I told the person who brought it, “I can form no judgment till I talk with Margaret Barlow herself.” This morning she came to me, and again in the afternoon; and I asked her abundance of questions. I was soon convinced, that she was not only sincere, but deep in grace; and therefore incapable of deceit. I was convinced, likewise, that she had frequent intercourse with a spirit that appeared in the form of an angel. I know not how to judge of the rest. Her account was -“ For above a year, I have seen this angel, whose face is exceeding beautiful; her raiment,” so she speaks, “white as snow, and glistering like silver; her voice unspeakably soft and musical. She tells me many things before they come to pass. She foretold, I should be ill at such a time, in such a manner, and well at such an hour; and it was so exactly. She has said, such a person shall die at such a time; and he did so. Above two months ago, she told me, your brother was dead; (I did not know you had a brother;) and that he was in heaven. And some time since she told me, you will die in less than a year. But what she has most earnestly and frequently told me, is, that God will in a short time be avenged of obstinate sin ners, and will destroy them with fire from heaven.” Whether this will be so or no, I cannot tell; but when we were alone, there was a wonderful power in her words; and, as the Indian said to David Brainerd, “They did good to my heart.” It is above a year since this girl was first visited in this man 424 REv. J. WESLEY’s [June, 1788. ner, being then between fourteen and fifteen years old. But she was then quite a womanish girl, and of unblamable behaviour.