Wesley Corpus

days by labouring for the poor beyond her strength. But her endwas peace. She now rests from her labours, and her works follow her. Tues. 31. We concluded the year with solemn praise to God for continuing his great work in our land. It has never been intermitted one year or one month, since the year 1738 ; in which my brother and I began to preach that strange doctrine ofsalvation by faith. Wed. JANUARY 1, 1777.-We met, as usual, to renew our covenant with God. It was a solemn season, wherein many found his power present to heal, and were enabled to urge their waywith strength renewed. Thur. 2.-I began expounding, in order, the book of Eccle- siastes. I never before had so clear a sight either of the mean- ing or the beauties of it. Neither did I imagine thatthe several parts of it were in so exquisite a manner connected together ; all tending to prove that grand truth, that there is no happiness out ofGod. Wed. 8.-I looked over the manuscripts of that great and goodman, Charles Perronet. I did not think he had so deep communion with God. I know exceeding few that equal him ; and hadhe had an University education, there would have been few finer writers in England. Mon. 13. I took the opportunity of spending an hour every 92 REV. J. WESLEY'S [Jan. 1777. morning with the Preachers, as I did withmy pupils at Oxford. And we endeavoured not only to increase each other's know ledge, but " to provoke one another to love and to good works." Wed. 15.-I began visiting those of our society who lived in Bethnal-Green hamlet. Many ofthem I foundin such poverty as few can conceive without seeing it. O why do not all the rich that fear God constantly visit the poor? Can they spend part of their spare-time better ? Certainly not. So they will find in that day when " every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour." Such another scene I saw the next day, in visiting another part of the society. I have not found any such distress, no, not in the prison ofNewgate. One poor manwasjust creeping out of his sick-bed, to his ragged wife and three little children ; who were morethan halfnaked, and thevery picture of famine ;