Wesley Corpus

texts, so that they shall mean just nothing ; so that they shall express far less of inward religion than the writings of Plato or Hierocles. And whoever “ guards” them thus (but God forbid I should do it) will undoubtedly avoid all danger of either driving people into this despair, or leading them into this enthusiasm. Tues. 2'7.--I writ Mr. D. (according to his request) a short account of what had been done in Kingswood, and of our present undertaking there. The account was as follows :-- ‘“*Few persons have lived long in the west of England, who have not heard of the colliers of Kingswood; a people famous, from the beginning hitherto, for neither fearing God nor regarding man: so ignorant of the things of God, that they seemed but one remove from the beasts that perish ; and therefore utterly without desire of instruction, as well as without the means of it. ‘Many last winter used tauntingly to say of Mr. Whitefield, ‘If he will convert Heathens, why does not he go to the colliers of Kingswood?’ In spring he did so. And as there were thousands who resorted to no place of public worship, he went after them into their own wilderness, ‘ to seek and save that which was lost.’ When he was called away, others went into ‘the highways and hedges to compel them to come in.’ And, by the grace of God, their labour was not in vain. The scene is already changed. Kingswood does not now, as a year ago, resound with cursing _ and blasphemy. It is no more filled with drunkenness and uncleanness, and the idle diversions that naturally lead thereto. It is no longer full of wars and fightings, of clamour and bitterness, of wrath and envyings. Peace and love are there. Greatijnumbers of the peopie are mild, gentle, and easy to be intreated. They ‘do not cry, neither strive,’ and hardly is their ‘ voice heard in the streets; or indeed in their own wood; unless when they are at their usual evening diversion, singing praise unto God their Saviour.