Wesley Corpus

The same rule I follow now, both at London, Bristol, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne; concluding the service at every place, winter and summer, before six in the morning; and not ordinarily beginning to preach till near seven in the evening. Now, do you who make this objection work longer, through out the year, than from six to six? Do you desire that the generality of people should? or can you count them idle that work so long? Some few are indeed accustomed to work longer. These I advise not to come on week-days; and it is apparent, that they take this advice, unless on some rare and extraordinary occasion. But I hope none of you who turn them out of their employ ment have the confidence to talk of my making them idle ! Do you (as the homely phrase is) cry wh-- first? I admire your cunning, but not your modesty. So far am I from either causing or encouraging idleness, that an idle person, known to be such, is not suffered to remain in any of our societies; we drive him out, as we would a thief or a murderer. “To show all possible diligence,” (as well as frugal ity) is one of our standing rules; and one, concerning the observance of which we continually make the strictest inquiry. 11. “But you drive them out of their senses. You make them mad.” Nay, then they are idle with a vengeance. This objection, therefore, being of the utmost importance, deserves our deepest consideration. And, First, I grant, it is my earnest desire to drive all the world into what you probably call madness; (I mean, inward religion;) to make them just as mad as Paul when he was so accounted by Festus.