Wesley Corpus

Wed. 9.--I rode over to a neighbouring town, to wait upon a justice of peace, a man of candour and understanding ; before whom (I was informed) their angry neighbours had carried a whole wagon load of these new heretics. But when he asked what they had done, there was a deep silence ; for that was a point their conductors had forgot. At length one said, ‘ Why, they pretended to be better than other people : and Lesides they prayed from morning to night.” Mr. S. asked, “ But have they done nothing besides?” “ Yes, sir,” said an old man : “ An’t ‘please your worship, they have convarted my wife. Till she went among them, she had such a tongue! And now she is as quiet as a lamb.” ‘“« Carry them back, carry them back,” replied the justice, “and let them conyert all the scolds in the town.” I went from hence to Belton, to H F r’s, a young man who did once run well; but now said, he saw the devil in every corner of the church, and in the face of every one who had been there. But he was easily brought to a better mind. I preached under a shady oak, on, “ The Son of Man hath power upon earth to forgive sins.” At Epworth, in the evening I explained the story of the Pharisee and the Publican. And I believe many began in that hour to cry out, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner !” Thur. 10.--I spoke severally with all who desired it. In the evening I explained, *‘ Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again unto fear, but the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” I had afterward an hour’s calm conversation with Samuel Meggot and James ° Herbury. What good did God do by these fora time! O let not their latter end be worse than the first! rz. 11.--I visited the sick, and 7 ine,. 1742. ] REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. 257