Wesley Corpus

and tell him who they were ; declaring he would fire among them, if any man struck another stroke. Upon their answering, he found they were friends, being six more deserters from the rebel army. So they gladly came on shore, and brought pro- visions with them to those who before had neither meat nor drink. After refreshing themselves, they all went into the boat, and cheerfully rowed to the English ships. Fri. 31. We concluded the year at West-Street, with a solemn watch-night. Most of the congregation stayed till the beginning of the year, and cheerfully sang together,- Glory to God, and thanks, and praise, Who kindly lengthens out our days,&c. Sun. JANUARY 2, 1780.-We had the largest congregation at the renewal of our covenant with God, which ever met upon the occasion ; and we were thoroughly convinced, that God was not departed from us. He never will, unless we firstdepart from him. Tues. 18.-Receiving more and more accounts of the increase of Popery, I believed it my duty to write a letter concerning it, which was afterwards inserted in the public papers. Manywere grievously offended; but I cannot help it : I must follow my own conscience. Sat. 22.-I spent an hour or two very agreeably in Sir Ashton Lever's museum . It does not equal the British Museum in size ; nor is it constructed on so large a plan ; as it contains nomanu- scripts, no books, no antiquities, nor any remarkable works of art. But I believe, for natural curiosities, it is not excelled by any museum in Europe ; and all the beasts, birds, reptiles, and insects, are admirably well ranged and preserved : So thatifyou saw many ofthem elsewhere, you would imagine they were alive ! The hippopotamus, in particular, looks as fierce as if he was just coming out of the river ; and the old lion appears as formidable now as when he was stalking in the Tower. Sun. 28. In the evening I retired to Lewisham, to prepare matter (who would believe it ? ) fora Monthly Magazine. Fri- day, FEBRUARY 4, being the National Fast, I preached first at the new chapel, and then at St. Peter's, Cornhill. What a difference in the congregation ! Yet out of these stones God can raise up children to Abraham. March, 1780.] 175