Wesley Corpus

“ On Sunday, August 7, last, I preached at Wrangle, at five in the morning, as usual About six two constables came, and carried me to a public house, where 1 was kept till near four in the afternoon. Then one ot them said, he would go and ask the minister, whether they might not let me go. Upon his return, they brought me out to a large mob, who carried me, and threw me into a standing water; and as often as I tried to come out, they pitched me in again. At last some of them said, I should come out, and kept the others off, till I got up the bank. I found myself very happy all the time; for I knew I was in the Lord’s hand. I got back to the house where I lodged, and went to bed. But in less than an hour the mob came again, broke open the doors of the house and the chamber, and dragged me away with them. They carried me toa great )) April, 1752.] REY. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. 529 ~ pond, which was railed round, being ten or twelve foot deep. Then four men took me up by my legs and arms. [ felt the flesh shrink a little at first ; but it was soon over, and I did not care whether I lived or died ; just as pleased the Lord. They swung me backward and forward two or three times, and then threw me as far as they could into the water. The fall took away my senses, so that I felt nothing more. But some that did not care to have me drowned, when I came above water, catching hold of my clothes with a long pole, pulled me out. I lay senseless for some time. When I came to myself, I saw many people about me: one of them helped me up, and bade me go with him. He brought me toa little house, and put me te bed; but I had not laid long, before the mob came again, pulled me out of bed, and drove me before them, almost naked, to the end of the parish, where they left me. I made shift to get on to a place three miles off, where I got to bed again and slept in peace.”