Wesley Corpus

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? 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. 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 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. 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. 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.