Wesley Corpus

Saturday, 29, and several times in the following week, I had much conversation with Ralph Mather, a devoted young man, but almost driven out of his senses by Mystic Divinity. If he escapes out of this specious snare of the devil, he will be an instrument ofmuch good. Thur. FEBRUARY 10.-I was desired by that affectionate man, Mr. P , to give him a sermon at Chelsea. Every corner of the room was throughly crowded ; and all but two or three gentlewomen (so called) were deeply serious, while I strongly enforced, " Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leadeth unto life ." [March, 1774. Mon. 14. In mywayto Dorking, I gave another reading to the " Life of Anna Maria Schurman : " Perhaps awoman of the strongest understanding that the world ever saw. And she was likewise deeply devoted to God. So was also Antoinette Bour- ignon, nearly her equal in sense, though not in learning ; and equally devoted to God. In manythings there was a surprising resemblance between them, particularly in severity of temper, leading them to separate from all the world, whom they seemed to give up to the devil without remorse ; only with this differ- ence, Madame Bourignon believed there were absolutely no children of God, but her and her three or four associates : Anna Schurman believed there were almost none, but her and her little community. Nowonder that the world returned their love, by persecuting them in every country. Thur. MARCH 3.-I preached at L-. But O what a change is there ! The society is shrunk to five or six members, and probably will soon shrink into nothing. And the family is not even a shadow of that which was for some years a pattern to all the kingdom ! Sun. 6. In the evening I went to Brentford, and on Mon- day to Newbury. Tuesday, 8. Coming to Chippenham, I was informed that the floods had made the road by Marshfield impassable. So I went round by Bath, and came to Bristol just as my brother was giving out the hymn ; and in time to beseech a crowded audience, not to receive " the grace of God invain." Sat. 12.-I went over to Kingswood, and put an end to some little misunderstandings which had crept into the family. At