Wesley Corpus

Some being of opinion it would not be difficult to procure a pardon for him, S. Peters, though she never mentioned this to him, resolved to leave no means unattempted. She procured several petitions to be drawn, and went herself to Westminster, to Kensington, and to every part of the town where any one lived who might possibly assist therein. In the mean time she went constantly to Newgate, sometimes alone, sometimes witb one or two others, visited all that were condemned in their cells, exhorted them, prayed with them, and had the comfort of finding them, every time, more athirst for God than before; and of being followed, whenever she went away, with abundance of prayers and blessings. After a time, she and her companions believed it would be of use to examine each.closeiy as to the state of his soul. They spoke to John Lancaster first. He lifted up his eyes and hands, and, after pausing a while, said, “I thank God, I do feel that he has forgiven me my sins: I do know it.” They asked, how, and when, he knew it first. He replied, ‘“‘T was in great fear and heaviness, till the very morning you came hither first. That morning I was in earnest prayer ; and just as St. Paul’s clock struck five. the Lord poured into my soul such peace as I had never felt ; so that I was scarce able to bear it. From that hour J have never been afraid to die; for I know, and am sure, as soon as my soul departs from the body, the Lord Jesus will stand ready to carry it into glory.” The next who was spoken to was Thomas Atkins, nineteen years of age. When he was asked (after many other questions, in answering which he expressed the clearest and deepest conviction of all his sins, as well as that for which he was condemned) if he was not afraid to die; 442 REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. [Nov. 1748 he fixed his eyes upward, and said, in the most earnest and solemn man ner, “I bless God I am not afraid to die; for I have laid my soul at the feet of Jesus.” And to the last moment of his life, he gave all reason to believe that these were not vain words.