Wesley Corpus

I found, 4. That their minds had been as variously affected as their bodies. Of this some could give scarce any account at all, which also I impute to that wise spirit, purposely stunning and confounding as many as he could, that they might not be able to bewray his devices. Others gave a very clear and particular account, from the beginning to the end. The word of God pierced their souls, and convinced them of inward as well as outward sin. They saw and felt the wrath of God abiding on them, and were afraid of his judgments. And here the accuser came with great power, telling-them, there was no hope, they were lost for ever. The pains of body then seized them in a moment, and extorted those loud and bitter cries. As to the latter, I observed, the number of those who had left the ociety, since December 30, was seventy-six : fourteen of these (chiefly 282 REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. [ March, 1743. dissenters) said they left it, because otherwise their ministers would not give them the sacrament. Nine more, because their husbands or wives were not willing they should stay in it. Twelve, because their parents were not willing. Five, because their master and mistress. would not let them come. Seven, because their acquaintance persuaded them to leave it. Five, because people said such bad things of the society. Nine, because they would not be laughed at. Three. because they would not lose the poor’s allowance. Three more, because'they could not spare time to come. Two, because it was too far off. One, because she was afraid of falling into fits. One, because people were so rude in the street. ‘Two, because Thomas Naisbit was in the society. One, because he would not turn his back on his baptism. One, because We were mere Church of England men. And, one, because it was time enough to serve God yet. The number of those who were expelled the society was sixty-four : two for cursing and swearing. Two for habitual Sabbath breaking. Seventeen for drunkenness. Two for retailing spirituous liquors. Three for quarrelling and brawling. One for beating his wife. Three for habitual, wilful lying. Four for railing and evil speaking. One for idleness and laziness. And, nine-and-twenty for lightness and carelessness.