Wesley Corpus

Here I met with another curious book, " Sketches of the [June, 1774. History of Man. " Undoubtedly, the author is aman of strong understanding, lively imagination, and considerable learning ; and his book contains some useful truths. Yet some things in it gave me pain : 1. His affirming things that are not true ; as that all Negro children turn black the ninth or tenth day from their birth. No : most ofthem turn partly black on the second day, entirely so on the third. That all the Americans are of a copper colour. Not so : Some of them are as fair as we are. Many more such assertions I observed, which I impute not to design but credulity. 2. His flatly contradicting himself; many times within a page or two. 3. His asserting, and labouring to prove, that man is a mere piece ofclock-work : And, lastly, his losing no opportunity of vilifying the Bible, to which he appears to bear amost cordial hatred. I marvel if any but his brother Infidels will give two guineas for such a work as this ! Sun. 29.-At seven the congregation was large. In the evening the people were ready to tread upon each other. I scarce ever saw people so squeezed together. And they seemed to be all ear, while I exhorted them, with strong and pointed words, not to receive " the grace ofGod in vain." Mon. 30.-I set out early from Aberdeen, and preached at Arbroath in the evening. I know no people in England, who aremore loving, andmore simple of heart, than these. Tuesday, 31. I preached at Easthaven, asmall town, inhabited by fish- ermen. I suppose all the inhabitants were present ; and all were ready to devour the word. In the evening I preached at Dun- dee, and had great hope that brotherly love would continue. In my way hither, I read Dr. Reid's ingenious Essay. With the former part ofit I was greatly delighted : But afterwards I was much disappointed. I doubt whether the sentiments are just: But I am sure his language is so obscure, that to most readers it must be mere Arabic. But I have a greater objection than this ; namely, his exquisite want ofjudgment, in so admir- ing that prodigy of self-conceit, Rousseau,-a shallow, yet supercilious Infidel, two degrees below Voltaire ! Is it possible,