Wesley Corpus

_ Jan. 1743.] REV. J. WESLEY'S JOURNAL. 277 from my father’s tomb, on Heb. viii, 11. Many from the neighbouring towns asked, if it would not be well, as it was sacrament Sunday, for them to receive it. I told them, “ by all means: but it would be more respectful first to ask Mr. Romley, the curate’s leave.” One did so, in the name of the rest; to whom he said, “ Pray tell Mr. Wesley, I shall not give him the sacrament; for he is not fit.” How wise a God is our God! There could not have been so fit a place under heaven, where this should befall me first, as my father’s house, the place of my nativity, and the very place where, ‘‘ according to the straitest sect of our religion,” I had so long “lived a Pharisee!” It was also fit, in the highest degree, that he who repelled me from that very table, where I had myself so often distributed the bread of life, should be one who owed his all in this world to the tender love which my father had shown to his, as well as personally to himself.