Wesley Corpus

“I visited a poor old woman. Her trials had been uncommon; inexpressible agonies of mind, joined with all sorts of bodily pain; not, it seemed, from any natural cause, but the direct operation of Satan.” (Page 130.) Neither do any of those quotations prove that I lay claim to any miraculous gift. “Such was the evangelic state of things when Mr. Wesley first entered on this ministry; who, seeing himself surrounded with subjects so harmoniously disposed, thus triumphantly exults.” To illustrate this, let us add the date: “Such was the evangelic state of things, August 9, 1750; ” (on that day, I preached that sermon;) “when Mr. Wesley first entered on this ministry.” Nay, that was in the year 1738. So I triumphed, because I saw what would be twelve years after. Let us see what the ten next quotations prove. 1. “In applying these words, ‘I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance, my soul was so enlarged, that me thought I could have cried out, (in another sense than poor vain Archimedes,) ‘Give me where to stand, and I will shake the earth.’” (Page 130.) I meant neither more nor less (though I will not justify the use of so strong an expression) than, I was so deeply penetrated with a sense of the love of God to sinners, that it seemed, if I could have declared it to all the world, they could not but be moved thereby. “Here then was a scene well prepared for a good actor, and excellently fitted up for the part he was to play.” (Page 131.) But how came so good an actor to begin playing the part twelve years before the scene was fitted up? “He sets out with declaring his mission. 2. ‘I cried aloud, All things are ready : come ye to the marriage. I then delivered my message.’” And does not every Minister do the same whenever he preaches? But how is this? “He sets out with declaring his mis sion.” Nay, but this was ten years after my setting out. 3. “My heart was not wholly resigned. Yet I know he heard my voice.” (Page 132.) 4. “The longer I spoke, the more strength I had; till at twelve, I was as one refreshed with wine.” (Page 133.) 5.