Wesley Corpus

Thur. 14.--I went with Mr. Whitefield to Blackheath, where were, [ believe, twelve or fourteen thousand people. He a little surprised me, by desiring me to preach in his stead; which I did (though nature recoiled) on my favourite subject, “Jesus Christ, who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.” I was greatly moved with compassion for the rich that were there, to whom I made a particular application. Some of them seemed to attend, while others drove away their coaches from so uncouth a preacher. Fri. 15.--I had much talk with one who is called a Quaker ; but he could not receive my saying. I was too strict for him, and talked of such a perfection as he could not think necessary ; being persuaded, there was no harm in costly apparel, provided it was plain and grave ; nor in putting scarlet or gold upon our houses, so it were not upon our clothes. In the evening I went to a society at Wapping, weary in body and faint in spirit. I intended to speak on Romans iii, 19, but could not tell how to open my mouth: and all the time we were singing, my mind was full of some place, I knew not where, in the Epistle to the Hebrews. I begged God to direct, and opened the book on Hebrews x, 19: “ Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest, by the blood of Jesus ; by a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh,--let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith; laving our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” While I was earnestly inviting all sinners to “ enter into the holiest” 140 REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. [June, 1739.