Wesley Corpus

The English gave him a cask of strong liquor. The next morning he called his friends together, and, setting it in the midst of them, said, “These white men have given us poison. This man” (calling him by his name) “was a wise man, and would hurt none but his enemies; but as soon as he had drunk of this, he was mad, and would have killed his own brother. We will not be poisoned.” He then broke the cask, and poured the liquor upon the sand. 6. On what motive do you thus poison yourself? only for the pleasure of doing it? What I will you make yourself a beast, or rather a devil? Will you run the hazard of com mitting all manner of villanies; and this only for the poor pleasure of a few moments, while the poison is running down your throat? O never call yourself a Christian : Never call yourself a man You are sunk beneath the greater part of the beasts that perish. 7. Do you not rather drink for the sake of company? Do you not do it to oblige your friends? “For company,” do you say? How is this? Will you take a dose of ratsbane for company? If twenty men were to do so before you, would not you desire to be excused ? How much more may you desire to be excused from going to hell for company? But, “to oblige your friends:” What manner of friends are they who would be obliged by your destroying yourself? who would suffer, may, entice you so to do? They are villains. They are your worst enemies. They are just such friends, as a man that would smile in your face, and stab you to the heart. 8. O do not aim at any excuse ! Say not, as many do, “I am no one’s enemy but my own.” If it were so, what a poor saying is this, “I give none but my own soul to the devil.” Alas! is not that too much? Why shouldest thou give him thy own soul? Do it not. Rather give it to God. But it is not so. You are an enemy to your King, whom you rob hereby of an useful subject.