Wesley Corpus

Mon. 13.--I had a visit from Mr. S., an honest, zealous Anabaptist teacher. Finding he would dispute, I let him dispute, and held him to the point till between eleven and twelve o’clock. By that time he was willing to take breath. Perhaps he may be less fond of dispute for the time to come.. Mon. 20.--I set out for Bristol. On the road I read over Lord King’s Account of the Primitive Church. In spite of the vehement prejudice of my education, I was ready to believe that this was a fair and impartial draught; but if so, it would follow that bishops and presbyters are (essentially) of one order; and that originally every Christian congregation was a church independent on all others! Tues. 21.--I read Bishop Butler’s “ Discourse on Analogy ;” a strong and well wrote treatise ; but, I am afraid, far too deep for their understanding to whom it is primarily addressed. Monday, February 3, and the following days, I visited several of the country societies. Mon. 10.--I preached at Paulton; on Thursday noon, at Shepton Mallet; and at Oak Hill in the evening. The next morning I walked (it being scarce possible to ride, because of the frost) to Coleford. Sun. 16.--I took my leave of Bristol and Kingswood ; and Monday, 17, set out for Newcastle. I preached near Thornbury about noon; and in the evening at Wall Bridge, near Stroud. 364 REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. [ Feb. 1746. Tues. 18.--We pushed on through thick and thin, and with much difficulty got to Stanley. Thence, after an hour’s stop, we hastened on. The brooks were so swoln with the late rains, that the common roads were impassable; but our guide, knowing the country, carried us round about through the fields, so that we escaped the dangerous waters, and soon after sunset came (wet and dirty enough) to Evesham. Wed. 19.--We rode to Birmingham, where many of our brethren from several parts met us in the evening.