Wesley Corpus

I come now to what you expatiate upon at large, as the two grand instances of my enthusiasm. The first is plainly this: At some rare times, when I have been in great distress of soul, or in utter uncertainty how to act in an important case which required a speedy determination, after using all other means that occurred, I have cast lots, or opened the Bible. And by this means I have been relieved from that distress, or directed in that uncertainty. Instances of this kind occur in pages 12, 14, 15, 28, and 88 of the third Journal; as also in pages 27, 28, and 80 of the last Journal.” I desire any who would understand this matter throughly, to read those passages as they stand at length. As to the particular instances, I would observe, (1.) That with regard to my first journey to Bristol, you should, in any wise, have set down those words that preface the scriptures there recited: “I was entreated, in the most pressing manner, to come to Bristol without delay. This I was not at all forward to do; and perhaps a little the less inclined to it, because of the remarkable scriptures which offered, as often as we inquired, touching the consequence of this removal; though whether this was permitted only for the trial of our faith, God knoweth, and the event will show.” From the scriptures afterwards recited, some inferred that the event they apprehended was yet afar off. I infer nothing at all. I still know not how to judge; but leave the whole to God. This only I know, that the continual expectation of death was then an unspeakable blessing to me; that I did not dare, knowingly, to waste a moment, neither to throw away one desire on earthly things; those words being ever uppermost in my thoughts, and indeed frequently on my tongue: Ere long, when sovereign wisdom wills, My soul an unknown path shall tread, Shall strangely leave, who strangely fills This frame, and waft me to the dead. O, what is death? 'Tis life's last shore, Where vanities are vain no more; Where all pursuits their goal obtain, And life is all re-touch'd again. I observe, (2.) That in two other of those instances, (Vol * Vol. I. pp. 163, 165, 176,231, 264, 307, of the present Edition.--EDIT. I. pp.