Wesley Corpus

Sun. 16.--I was much grieved at St. Peter’s church at such a sight as I never’saw in England, communicants as well as others, behaving in a manner that shocked common sense as well as religion. O who has the courage to speak plain to these rich and honourable sinners! If they perish in their iniquity, will not their blood be on the watchman’s head? Mon. 17.--We met in the evening to renew our covenant with God. It was a glorious season. I believe all that were present found that God was there. Tues. 18.--Among the letters I read in public last week, was one from Mr. Gillies, giving an account of a society lately formed at Glasgow, for promoting Christian knowledge among the poor, chiefly by distributing Bibles among them, and other religious books. I could not then help expressing my amazement, that nothing of this kind had been attempted in Ireland; and inquiring if it was not high time that such a society should be formed in Dublin. This morning Dr. Tisdale showed me a paper, which the archbishop had just sent to each of his clergy ; exhorting them to erect a society for the distribution of books ee 1 ‘ April, 1758. | REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. 653 among the poor. Thanks be to God for this! Whether we or they, it is all one, so God be known, loved, and obeyed. Thur. 20.--In the evening I met all the married men and women of the society. I believe it was high time. For many of them seemed to know very little of relative duties: so that I brought strange things to their ears, when I enlarged on the duties of husbands, and wives, and parents. Fri. 21.--I dined at Lady ’s. We need great grace to converse with great people! From which, therefore, (unless in some rare instances,) Iam glad to be excused. Hore fugiunt et imputantur ! [The moments fly away, and must be accounted for!] Of these two hours I can give no good account.