Wesley Corpus

Mon. January 3, 1757.--I visited a poor dying backslider, full of good resolutions. But who can tell when these imply a real change of heart? and when they do not, when they spring from fear only, what will they avail before God? Mon. 10.--I walked to Bishop Bonner’s with Mr. D , lately entered at Cambridge, full of good resolutions. May God continue him humble, and simple of heart! Then his sense and learning will do him good: but how great are the odds against him ! Sat. 22.--I called upon one who did run well for several years: but for a considerable time he had cast off the very form of religion. Yet his heart was not utterly hardened. He determined to set out once more; and since that time he has been more confirmed in walking suitably to the Gospel. Fi. 28.--Mr. Meier, chaplain to one of the Hanoverian regiments, called and spent an hour with me. I am surprised at the seriousness of all the German ministers with whom I have had occasion to converse: entirely different from that pertness and affectation of wit which is too common in our own country. The following letter (which I received two or three months after,) was dated on this day :-- “Though you and I may differ in some little things, I have long loved you and your brother, and wished and prayed for your success, as zealous revivers of experimental Christianity. If I differ from you in temper and design, or in the essentials of religion, Iam sure the error must lie on my side. Blessed be God for hearts to love one another ! “As I knew your correspondence must be very extensive, and your labours various and incessant, J intended to have kept my peculiar love for you a secret, till we arrived where seas shall no more roll between us. But your late pious charity constrains me to give you the trouble of a letter. I am confident God will attend it with his blessing, and render you useful at the distance of near four thousand miles.