Wesley Corpus

Tues. 15.--After comforting the little flock at Naren I rode the shortest way to Birstal. Here I found our brethren partly mourning, and partly rejoicing, on account of John Nelson. On Friday, the 4th instant, (they informed me,) the constables took him, just as be had e1ded his sermon at Adwalton; and the next day carried him before the commissioners at Halifax; the most active of whom was Mr. Coleby, vicar of Birstal. Many were ready to testify, that he was in no respect such a person as the act of parliament specified. But they were not heard. He was a preacher: that was enough. So he was sent for a soldier at once.* At seven I preached on the Hill ; no man interrupting me. Afterward I inquired into the state of the society ; and found great cause to bless God, whose grace, even in these trying times, was sufficient for them. Wed. 16.--I talked at large with Mr. Viney. He said, his first perplexity arose, from reading and reflecting upon some writings, which the Count published in Pennsylvania; and that the more deeply he considered the whole affair, the more thoroughly he was convinced, 1. That the Count was at least as much the head of theirs, as the Pope of the Roman Church. 2. That he had cruelly and unjustly broke up the congregation at Pilger-ruh, in Holstein, because (in obedience to the king of Denmark, their lawful prince) they had disclaimed his superiority over them. 3. That the labourers among the brethren, were absolutely arbitrary in their government of the people; and, lastly, That they grossly abused the lot, in support of their arbitrary power.