Wesley Corpus

Mon. 6.--I dined at Studley, where a poor man was swearing almost at every sentence. I asked him, if he thought that was well done ; and began to tell him how God loved him. He got up as in amaze, made many bows, said, “I ask pardon, sir, of God and you, and hope it will be a warning to me all the days of my life.” In the evening I preached at Evesham. The next day Mr. Taylor, of Quinton, came, who, on Wednesday, 8, rode with us to Oxford. I cannot spend one day here, without heaviness in my heart, for my brethren’s sake. O God, when wilt thou show these, who say they are rich, that they are poor, and miserable, and blind, and naked? Fri. 10.--I preached at High Wycomb, in an open place, to a mixed multitude ; some of whom were as rude as they dared to be, having none of the great vulgar to set them on. Sat. 11.--I came to London. The sower of tares, I found, had not been idle, but shaken many, and moved some from their steadfastness, who once seemed to be pillars. The next week, finding no other way to convince some who were hugely in love with that solemn trifle, my brother and I were at the pains of reading over Robert Barclay’s “ Apology” with them. Being willing to receive the light, their eyes were opened. They saw his nakedness, and were ashamed. Thur. 23.--We had one more conversation with one that had often strengthened our hands ; but now earnestly exhorted us (what is man!) to return to the Church; to renounce all our lay assistants ; to dissolve our societies ; to leave off field preaching, and to accept of honourable preferment. Wed. 29.--I talked at large with Howel Harris, not yet carried away by the torrent of Antinomianism. But how long will he be able to stand? Only till he consents to stand neuter. When he is brought not to oppose, he will quickly yield. I would wish all to observe, that the points in question between us and either the German or English Antinomians, are not points of opi- 336 REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. [ May, 1745.