Wesley Corpus

hourwith that real patriot, Lord -. What an unheard-of thingit is, that even in a Court, he should retain all his sincerity ! He is, indeed, (what I doubt Secretary Craggs never was,) Statesman, yet friend to truth. Perhaps no Prince in Europe, besides King George, is served by two of the honestest, and two of the most sensible, men in his kingdom. This week I visited the society, and founda surprising differ- ence in their worldly circumstances. Five or six years ago, one inthree, among the lower ranks of people, was out of employ- ment; and the case was supposed to be nearly the same through all London and Westminster. I did not now, after all the tragical outcries of want of trade that fill the nation, find one in ten out of business ; nay, scarce one in twenty, even in Spitalfields. Sun. 15. I buried the remains ofRichard Burke, afaithful labourer in our Lord's vineyard : Amore unblamable charac- ter I have hardly known. In all the years that he has laboured with us, I do not remember that he ever gave me occasion to find fault with him in any thing. He was a man of unwearied diligence and patience, and " his works do follow him." Tues. 17. I wrote " A Serious Address to the Inhabitants ofEngland," with regard to the present state ofthe nation,-so strangely misrepresented both by ignorant and designing men,- to remove, if possible, the apprehensions which have been so diligently spread, as if it were on the brink ofruin. Thur. 26. I committed to the earth the remains of George Parsons. He has left very few like him ; so zealously, so hum- [March, 1778. bly, so unreservedly devoted to God. For some time his profit- ing has appeared to allmen. He ripened apace for eternity. Hewas as a flame of fire, wherever he went ; losing no occasion of speaking or working forGod. So he finished his course in the midst of his years, and was quickly removed into the garner. Friday, 27, was the day appointed for the national fast ; and it was observed with due solemnity. All shops were shut up ; all was quiet in the streets ; all places of public worship were crowded ; no food was served up in the King's house till five