Wesley Corpus

Soon after I was sent for to one of those who was so strangely torn by the devil, that I almost wondered her relations did not say, “* Much religion hath made thee mad.” We prayed God to bruise Satan under her feet. Immediately we had the petition we asked of him. She cried out vehemently, “‘ He is gone, he is gone !” and was filled with the spirit of love, and of a sound mind. I have seen her many times since, strong in the Lord. When I asked abruptly, “ What do you desire now?” She answered, “ Heaven.” I asked, ‘* What is in your heart?” She replied, “ God.” I asked, ‘* But how is your heart when any thing provokes you”? She said, “ By the grace of God, I am not provoked at any thing. ll the things of this world pass by me as shadows.” “Ye have seen the end of the Lord.” Is he not “very pitiful and of tender mercy ?” We had a refreshing meeting at one with many of our society; who fail not to observe, as health permits, the weekly fast of our Church, and will do so, by God’s help, as long as they call themselves members of it: and would to God, all who contend for the rights and ceremonies of the Church, (perhaps with more zeal than meekness of wisdom,) would first show their own regard for her discipline, in this more important branch of it! At four I preached near the Fish Ponds, (at the desire of one who had long laboured under the apprehension of it,) on the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost; that is, according to the plain scriptural account, the openly and maliciously asserting, that the miracles of Christ were wrought by the power of the devil. Sat. 13.--I was with one who, being in deep anguish of spirit, had been the day before to ask a clergyman’s advice. He told her, her head was out of order, and she must go and take physic. In the ----\ oe -- Oct. 1739. | REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. 159