Wesley Corpus

Mon. Sept. 3.--I talked largely with my mother, who told me, that, till a short time since, she had scarce heard such a thing mentioned, as the having forgiveness of sins now, or God’s Spirit bearing witness with our spirit: much less did she imagine that this was the common privilege of all true believers. ‘* Therefore,” said she, “ I never durst ask for it myself. But two or three weeks ago, while my son Hall was pronouncing those words, in delivering the cup to me, ‘ The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for thee ;? the words struck through my heart, and 1 knew God for Christ’s sake had forgiven me all my sins.” I asked, whether her father (Dr. Annesley) had not the same faith and, whether she had not heard him preachit to others. She answered, he had it himself; and declared, a little before his death, that for more than forty years he had no darkness, no fear, no doubt at all of his being “ accepted in the Beloved.” But that, nevertheless, she did not remember to have heard him preach, no not once, explicitly upon it: whence she supposed he also looked upon it as the peculiar blessing of a few; not as promised to all the people of God. Both at Mr. B ’s at six, and at Dowgate Hill at eight, were many more than the houses could contain. Several persons who were then convinced of sin came to me the next morning. One came also, who had been mourning long, and earnestly desired us to pray with her. We had scarce begun, when the enemy began to tear her, so that she screamed out, as in the pangs of death: but his time was short; for within a quarter of an hour she was full of the “ peace that passeth all understanding.” Sept. 1739. ] REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. 153