Wesley Corpus

We spent much time in wrestling with God, and were led, in a peculiar manner, to abandon our whole selves, our souls and bodies, into the hands of God; ready to do, and willing to suffer, whatever was well pleasing to him. “And now the time drew near, when his faith was to be called to its last grand exercise; that, eying his Lord, he might True in the fiery trial prove, And pay him back his dying love. A little before, being on his knees in prayer for light, whether he should go to London or not; the answer to him seemed to be, ‘Not to London, but to thy grave.” When he acquainted me with this, he said, with a heavenly smile, “Satan would represent it to me as something dreadful, enforcing those words: The cold gravel The cold grave 1° On the Sunday following, (I think it was the next day,) that anthem was sung in the church: ‘The Lord is my Shepherd; there fore can I lack nothing. He shall feed me in green pastures, and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort. He shall convert my soul, and bring me forth in the paths of righteous ness, for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil: For thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff shall comfort me. Thou shalt prepare a table before me, against them that trouble me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil, and my cup shall be full.” “In his return home, he observed in how uncommon a degree those words had been blessed to his soul. And from that very time I do not remember to have seen in him the least marks of temptation. He showed an unusual cheerful ness and liveliness in every part of his work; and seemed to increase in strength of body, as well as in strength of soul. Truly it was to him according to his faith: He feared no evil; and his cup was filled with ‘righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.’ “On Thursday, August 4, he was employed in the work of God from three in the afternoon till nine at night.