Wesley Corpus

Sat. 29.--I spent another hour with one I had twice conversed with before ; and with much the same effect. He asked wherein the doctrine I preached differed from the doctrine preached by other ministers of the Church. I told him, “I hope not at all from that which is preached by many other ministers. _ But from that which is preached by some, it differs thus: I preach the doctrine of the Church, and they do not.” After he had long and zealously laboured to prove, that all ministers preached as I did, and there was no difference of doctrine at all; I was obliged to leave him abruptly ; and should indeed have feared, that my time had been spent to small purpose, but for one piece of history which I then learned, viz. that he had gone to the bishop, before his lordship left Bristol, and informed him that I said in the public congregation, I had had a conference with the bishop and twelve clergymen, and had put them all to silence. Was his lordship so informed? And could ne believe even this? O Joseph Chandler, Joseph Chandler ! I think it was about this time that the soldier was executed. For some time I had visited him every day. But when the love of God was shed abroad in his heart, I told him, “ Do not expect to see me any more. He who has now begun a good work in your soul, will, I aS Orie Bel Dee > 4: aS 180 REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. -- [Apni, 1740. doubt not, preserve you to the end. But I believe Satan will separate us for a season.” Accordingly, the next day, I was informed that the commanding officer had given strict orde.'s, neither Mr. Wesley, nor any of his people, should be admitted ; for they were all Atheists. But did that man die like an Atheist? Let my last end be like his!