Wesley Corpus

Ill. Whether, upon the considerations above mentioned, we may not try to do good to those that are hungry, naked, or sick? In particular, whether, if we know any necessitous family, we may not give them a little food, clothes, or physic, as they want ? Whether we may not give them, if they can read, a Bible, Common-Prayer Book, or Whole Duty of Man. Whether we may not, now and then, inquire how they have used them; explain what they do not understand, and enforce what they do? Whether we may not enforce upon them, more especially, the necessity of private prayer, and of frequenting the church and sacrament ? ether we may not contribute, what little we are able, toward having their children clothed and taught to read 2 Whether we may not take care that they be taught their catechism and short prayers for morning and evening ? IV. Lastly, Whether, upon the considerations above mentioned, we may not try todo good to those that are in prison? In particular, Whether we may not release such well-disposed persons as remain in prison for small sums ? Whether we may not lend smaller sums to those that are of any trade, that they may procure themselves tools and materials to work with? Whether we may not give to them who appear to want it most, a little money, or clothes, or physic ? Whether we may not supply as many as are serious enough to read, with a Bible, and Whole Duty of Man ? Whether we may not, as we have opportunity, explain and enforce these upon them, especially with respect to public and private prayer and the blessed sacrament ? I do not remember that we met with any person who answered any of these questions in the negative ; or who even doubted, whether it were not lawful to apply to this use that time and money which we should else have spent in other diversions. But several we met with who increased our little stock of money for the prisoners and the poor, by subscribing something quarterly to it; so that the more persons we proposed our designs to, the more we were confirmed in the belief of their innocency, and the more determined to pursue them, in spite of the ridicule, which increased fast upon us during the winter. How-