Wesley Corpus

Sun. 8.--In the fulness of my heart, I wrote the following words :- ‘« By the most infallible of proofs, inward feeling, I am convinced, “1. Of unbelief; having no such faith in Christ as will prevent my heart from being troubled; which it could not be, if I believed in God, and rightly believed also in him: “©2. Of pride, throughout my life past; inasmuch as I thought I had what I find I have not : “¢3. Of gross irrecollection; inasmuch as in a storm I cry to God every moment; in a calm, not: “¢4, Of levity and luxuriancy of spirit, recurring whenever the pressure is taken off, and appearing by my speaking words not tending to edify ; but most, by my manner of speaking of my enemies. ‘‘ Lord save, or [ perish! Save me, “1. By such a faith as implies peace in life and in death: “©2. By such humility, as may fill my heart from this hour for ever, with a piercing uninterrupted sense, JVihil est quod hactenus fect ; (I have done nothing hitherto ;) having evidently built without a foundation : “3, By such a recollection as may cry to thee every moment, especially when all is calm: Give me faith or I die; give me a lowly spirit; otherwise, mihi non sit suave vivere: (let lite be a burden to me : 4, By steadiness, seriousness, dguvolns, sobriety of spirit; avoiding, as fire, every word that tendeth not to edifying ; and never speak b4 ; REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. [Jan. 1738 ing of any who oppose me, or sin against God, without all my own sins set in array before my face.” This morning, after explaining these words of St. Paul, “I beseech you brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God,” I exhorted my fellow travellers with all my might, to comply with the apostle’s direction. But “leaving them afterward to themselves,” the seriousness they showed at first, soon vanished away. On Monday, 9, and the following days, I reflected much on that vain desire, which had pursued me for so many years, of being in solitude, in order to be a Christian. I have now, thought I, solitude enough.