Wesley Corpus

“ In this temper, after about six months, returned home. But asevere temptation soon following, and a severe illness in my head, made me think more and more of what is beyond the grave; this also made me exceeding diligent in prayer, till God not only restored my bodily health, but also gave me power against my inward enemy, and peace to my troubled soul. “Tn half a year after, I was called to London; where, for the first year, I had little religion left, only that I never missed church. But after I was settled, conviction began to revive, particularly for sins of omission. I prayed three times in a day, and I was uneasy if I missed once. I read all books of religion that came in my way. And now, because I prayed and read so much, and went constantly to church, and sometimes to the sacrament, I thought myself in a right good way. And yet I was continually uneasy, though I knew not why; till one day I light on Thomas & Kempis. “he more IJ read, the more I liked it. I bought one of the books and read it over and over. J was more convinced of sin than ever, and had more power against it. I forsook many things which I allowed myself in before; though I still allowed myself to see a play once a month. But the last I saw, I felt hell in my conscience, fora week after ; so that I determined, even for ease, never to go again. “JT was now well settled in the form of gedliness, and I knew a little “sf the power of it, when I was pressed by a relation to pay him a visit at 326 REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. [Jan. 1745