Wesley Corpus

I have reco vered thereby that healthy state of the whole nervous system, which I had in a great degree, and I almost thought irre coverably, lost for considerably more than twenty years. I have been enabled hereby to assist, in one year, above fifty poor with food or raiment, whom I must otherwise have left (for I had before begged for them all I could) as hungry and maked as I found them. You may see the good effects in above thirty poor people just now before you, who have been restored to health, through the medicines bought by that money which a single person has saved in this article. And a thousand more good effects you will not fail to see, when her example is more generally followed. 27. Neither is there any need that conversation should be unedifying, even when it turns upon eating and drinking. Nay, from such a conversation, if duly improved, numberless good effects may flow. For how few understand, “Whether ye eat or drink, or whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God l” And how glad ought you to be of a fair occasion to observe, that though the kingdom of God does not consist in “meats and drinks,” yet, without exact temperance in these, we cannot have either “righteousness, or peace, or joy in the Holy Ghost !” It may therefore have a very happy effect, if, whenever people introduce the subject, you directly close in, and push it home, that they may understand a little more of this important truth. 28. But “I find at present very little desire to change either my thoughts or practice.” Shall I speak plain? I fear, by not standing your ground, by easiness, cowardice, and false shame, you have grieved the Spirit of God, and thereby lost your conviction and desire at once. Yet you add: “I advise every one to leave off tea, if it hurts their health, or is inconsistent with frugality; as I advise every one to avoid dainties in meat, and vanity in dress, from the same principle.” Enough, enough ! Let this only be well pursued, and it will secure all that I contend for.