Wesley Corpus

Mon. 8.--I took a walk in the Charter House. I wondered that all the squares and buildings, and especially the schocl boys, looked so little. But this is easily accounted for. I was little myself when I was at school, and measured all about me by myself. Accordingly, the upper boys being then bigger than myself, seemed to me very big and ‘el; quite contrary to what they appear now when I am taller and a a ee . s Sept. 1757. | REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. 641 bigger than them. I question if this is not the real ground of the common imagination, that our forefathers, and in general men in past ages, were much larger than now: an imagination current in the world eighteen hundred years ago. So Virgil supposes his warrior to throw a stone that could scarce be wielded by twelve men,-- Qualia nunc hominum preducit corpora tellus. [Such men as the earth now produces.] So Homer, long before :-- Ovor vv Booro evot. [Such as men now are.] Whereas, in reality, men have been, at least ever since the deluge, very nearly the same as we find them now, both for stature and understanding. Mon. 22.--I set out in the machine, and the next evening reacherl Bristol. Fri. 26.--I preached at nine to a small congregation cf earnest people at Clutton; and in the evening at Middlesey. On Saturday, 27, we rode on to Tiverton. Sun. 28.--I preached in the market house to as large a congregation as ever I saw here. And all were quiet. So can God make, when it is best, all our enemies to be at peace with us. Jon. 29.--We rode through vehement wind, and many hard showers, to Launceston. ‘This gave me a violent fit of the toothache, which, however, did not hinder my preaching. Such a night I never remember to have passed before ; but all is good which lies in the way to glory. Tues. 30.--We rode to Camelford, where my toothache was cured, by rubbing treacle upon my cheek. At six I preached in the market place. How are the lions in this town also become lambs! Wed. 31.--I preached about noon at Trewalder, and in the evening at Port Isaac. This was long a barren soil; but is at length likely to bring forth much fruit.