Wesley Corpus

Wed. 2.--I spent some time with T. Prosser, who had filled the society with vain janglings. I found the fault lay in his head, rather than his heart. He is an honest, well-meaning man; but no more qualified, either by nature or grace, 1o expound Scripture, than to read _lectures in logic or algebra. Yet even men of sense have taken this dull, mystical man, to be far deeper than he is: and it is very natural so todo. If we look into a dark pit, it seems deep; but the darkness only makes it seem so. Bring the light, and we shall see it is very shallow. In the evening I preached at Fonmon; but, the congregation being larger than the chapel would contain, I was obliged to preach in the court. I was myself much comforted, in comforting the weary and heavy laden. Ct Oe ae 408 REV J WESLEY’S JOURNAL. [ Oct. 1747. Fra. 4.--There was a very large congregation at Cardiff Castle yard, in the evening. I afterward met the society, spoke plain to them, and left them once more in peace. Sat. 5.--In my road to Bristol, I read over Q. Curtius, a fine writer, both as to thought and language. But what a hero does he describe! whose murder of his old friend and companion, Clitus, (though not done of a sudden, as is commonly supposed; but deliberately, after some hours’ consideration,) was a virtuous act, in comparison of his butchering poor Philotas, and his good old father, Parmenio. Yet even this was a little thing, compared to the thousands and ten thousands he slaughtered, both in battle, and in, and after, taking cities, for no other crime than defending their wives and children. I doubt whether Judas claims so hot a place in hell as Alexander the Great. Thur. 10.--I preached at Bath about noon, and in the evening at Bearfield. Friday, 11.--We rode to Reading. Mr. Richards, a tradesman in the town, came to our inn, and entreated me to preach at a room which he had built for that purpose. I did so, at six in the morning, and then rode on. It rained all the way till we came to London.