Wesley Corpus

Fri. 19.--William Fenwick rode with me to L d; the minister of which had told him again and again, “ Be sure to bring Mr. Wesley with you, when he comes. It is for my soul; for the good of my poor soul.” When we were alone, he told me, “Sir, I have read your writings ; but I could not believe them till very lately. Now I know you doctrine is true. God himself has shown it tome. A few days since I was in a great agony of soul, praying to God to forgive my sins ; and there was such a light about me as I cannot express; and I knew God had heard my prayer ; and my heart was filled with the love of God ; and ever since I pray and praise him all day long.” I asked if he had told this to any one else. He said, “I began to _ Apmil, 1745.] REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. _ 333 tell it one I thought a very good Christian; but he seemed to think 1 was distracted: so I spoke no more. And indeed I don’t know any that would hear me.” I told him, “ You will meet with many such trials as this, and with many others which you are not yet aware of.” He answered, “I know that I cannot bear them of myself. I have no strength, unless I watch and pray always. But I do pray always: and what are trials to me? Iam not in the world. LIlive in eternity. I cannot turn any way, but I see God. He is with me continually, and on every side.” I found much comfort from this strong instance of the mercy of God. And so F did also from a letter wrote by one of our preachers, concerning whom I often feared I had laboured in vain. It ran in these words :-- ““ Dear Sir,--I am fully convinced your fear concerning me, proceeds entirely from your love to my soul; therefore I should think myself guilty of the greatest ingratitude, if I did not endeavour to make a proper use of your kind reproof.