Wesley Corpus

I read over Mr. Fry’s “Case of Marriage between Near Relations, Considered.” It is the best tract I ever read upon the subject: I suppose the best that is extant. And two points, I think, he has fully proved: 1. That many marriages, commonly supposed to be unlawful, are neither contrary to the law of nature, nor the revealed Law of God, nor the law of the land: 2. That ecclesiastical courts have no right to meddle with any case of this kind. Thur. 16.--I walked over to Bishop Bonner’s, and preached to a large and serious congregation. I found some faintness, the sun being extremely hot ; but more in walking from thence to Westminster, where I preached at seven. In the night my old disorder returned, and gradually increased, in spite of all medicines. However, on Sunday and Monday it was so far suspended, that I abated nothing of my usual employment. Wed. 22.--I was considering, I had not yet asked help of the Great Physician; and I resolved to delay no longer. In that hour I felt a change. I slept sound that night, and was well the next day. Sun. October 3.--My disorder returned as violent as ever: but I ‘regarded it not while I was performing the service at Snowsfields in the morning, or afterward at Spitalfields ; till 1 went to the Lord’s table in order to administer. A thought then came into my mind, “ Why do I not apply to God in the beginning, rather than the end, of an illness ?”’ ‘I did so, and found immediate relief; so that I needed no further medi- cines. Tues. 5.--I wrote a second letter to the authors of the “ Monthly Review ;”--ingenious men, but no friends to the Godhead of Christ. Yet, upon further consideration, I judged it best to drop the controversy. it is enough that I have delivered my own soul: if they scorn, they alone shall bear it. Sun. 10.--I preached to a huge multitude in Moorfields, on, ‘‘ Why will ye die, O house of Israel?” It is field preaching which does the execution still: for usefulness there is none comparable to it.