Wesley Corpus

“May 9, 1740. I was a little surprised at some who were buffeted of Satan in an un usual manner, by such a spirit of laughter as they could in nowise resist. I could scarce have believed the account they gave me, had I not known the same thing ten or eleven years ago, when both my brother and I were seized in the same man ner.” (If any man call this hysterics, I am not concerned: I think and let think.) 7. “May 21, 1740. In the evening such a spirit of laughter was among us, that many were much offended. But the attention of all was soon fixed on poor L S ,whom we all knew to be no dissembler. One so violently and variously torn of the evil one did I never see be fore. Sometimes she laughed till almost strangled; then broke out into cursing and blaspheming. At last she faintly called on Christ to help her; and the violence of her pangs ceased.” (Let any who please impute this likewise to hysterics: Only permit me to think otherwise.) 8. “May 17, 1740. I found more and more undeniable proofs, that we have need to watch and pray every moment. Outward trials, indeed, were now removed: But so much the more did inward trials abound; and “if one member suffered, all the members suffered with it.” So strange a sympathy did I never observe before; whatever considerable temptation fell on any one, unaccount ably spreading itself to the rest, so that exceeding few were able to escape it.” (Pages 122, 123.) I know not what these eight quotations prove, but that I believe the devil still variously tempts and troubles good men; while he “works with energy in the children of disobedience.” Certainly they do not prove that I lay claim to any of the pre ccding gifts. Let us see whether any more is proved by the ten next quotations: 1. “So many living witnesses hath God given, that his hand is still stretched out to heal,” (namely, the souls of sinners, as the whole paragraph fixes the sense,) “ and that signs and wonders are even now wrought” (page 124) (namely, in the conversion of the greatest sinners). 2. “Among the poor colliers of Placey, Jo.