Wesley Corpus

The Evening lesson on Tuesday was the eleventh of the Hebrews ; in reading which I was more particularly encouraged by his example, who “chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season: esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt.” The Lesson on Wednesday began with these werds: “ Wherefore seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight,--and run with patience the race that is set befere us: looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith , who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God,” Heb. xii, 1, 2. In the Thursday lesson were these comfortable words: “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me,” Heb. xiii, 5, 6. 42 REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. [Aug. 1737. The words of St. James, read on Friday, were, * Blessed is the man that endureth temptation :” and those on Saturday, “ My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ,--with respect of persons,” James ii, 1. I was only Seth lest those who were weak, should “be turned out of the way ;” at least so far as to forsake the public “assembling of themselves together.” But I feared where no fear was. God took care of this also. So that on Sunday, the 14th, more were present at the Morning prayers than had been for some months before. Many of them observed those words in the First lesson, “Set Naboth on high among the people; and set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him.” Tues. 16.--Mrs. Williamson swore to and signed an affidavit, insinuating much more than it asserted ; but asserting, that Mr. Wesley had many times proposed marriage to her ; all which proposals she had rejected. Of this I desired a copy; Mr. Causton replied, “ Sir, you may have one from any of the newspapers in America.”