Wesley Corpus

Sun. February 5.--Mr. Manning being dangerously ill, I was desired to ride over to Hayes. I knew not how the warm people would behave, considering the stories which passed current among them; Mrs. B. having averred to Mr. M. himself, that Mr. Wesley was unquestionably aJesuit. Just such a Jesuit in principle (and desirous to be such in practice) as Sir Nathaniel Barnardiston was. But God made all things easy. Far from any tumult or rudeness, I observed deep attention in almost the whole congregation. Sun. 12.--Mr. M. having had a relapse, I rode over again; and again I observed the same decency of behaviour in a much larger congregation. Tues. 14.--I rode with my brother to Oxford, and preached to a small company in the evening. Thur. 16.--We rode to Ross, and on Friday to Garth. Sun. 19.--My brother preached at Maesmennys in the morning. I preached at Builth in the afternoon, and at Garth in the evening. Twuesday, 21.--I rode to Ragland, and the next day to Kingswood. Thur. 23.--My design was to have as many of our preachers here, during the Lent, as could possibly be spared; and to read lectures to them every day, as I did to my pupils in Oxford. I had seventeen of them in all. These I divided into two Giasses ; and read to one, Bishop Pearson on the Creed; to the other, Aldrich’s Logic; and to both, “ Rules for Action and Utterance.” Fri. March 3.--I corrected the extract of John Arndt, designed for part of the * Christian Library.” But who can tell, whether that and a hundred other designs will be executed or no? “ When the breath of man goeth forth, he turneth again to his dust, and then all his thoughts perish.” Sat. 11.--I rode to Freshford, three or four miles from Bath. The house not containing the people, I was obliged to preach out of doors. It was dark when I began, and rained all the time I preached ; but, I believe, none went away. Sun. 12.--After preaching at five, I rode to Bearfield, and preached there between eight and nine, and about one at Seend. Mrs. Andrews, the wite of a neighbouring clergyman, afterward invited me, in her husband’s name, to his house: there I found A hoary, reverend, and religious man ; April, 1749. | REV. J. WESLEY’S JOURNAL. 447