Wesley Corpus

Mon. October 11.--I had designed to leave London: but Mr. Richards being taken ill, I put off my journey. He was much better on Tuesday ; so I set out the next morning; and before seven in the evening reached the half-way house, four miles short of Hungerford. I now found it was well I did not set out on Monday, in order to be at Bristol on Tuesday night, as usual. For all the travellers who went that way on Tuesday, were robbed. But on Thursday the road was clear; so that I came safe to Kingswood in the afternoon, and in the evening preached at Bristol. My chief business now was, to examine throughly the society in Kingswood. This found me full employment for several days. On Wednesday, 27, having finished my work, I set out very early, and (though my horse fell lame) on Thursday evening came to London. Fri. 29.--I largely explained, ‘“ Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty :’--Namely, liberty to obey the whole will of God; to be and do whatsoever he hath commanded: in a word, to love God with all our heart, and to serve him with all our strength. Sun. 31.--Several of the leaders desired to have an hour’s conversation with me. I found they were greatly perplexed about “ want of management, ill husbandry, encouraging idleness, improper distribution of money,” “being imposed upon by fair pretences,” and “ men who talked well, but had no grace in their hearts.” I asked, who those men were: but that they could-not tell. Who encouraged idleness: when and how: what money had been improperly distributed: by whom, and to whom: in what instances I had been imposed on; (as I presumed they meant me;) and what were the particulars of that ill husbandry and mismanagement of which they complained. They stared at one another as men in amaze. I began to be amazed too, not being able to imagine what was the matter, till one dropped a word, by which all came out. They had been talking with Mr. Hall, who, had started so many objections against ail I said or did, that they were in the utmost consternation, till the fire thus broke out, which then at once vanished away.