Wesley Corpus

Not by contributing a penny a week, (the usual contribution in our societies,) and letting that alone when they please, when there is any shadow of reason to suppose they cannot afford it. You will not say any are brought to beggary by this. Not by gifts to me; for I receive none; save (sometimes) the food I eat. And public collections are nothing to me. That it may evidently appear they are not, when any such collection is made, to clothe the poor, or for any other determinate purpose, the money is both received and expended before many witnesses, without ever going through my hands at all. And then, likewise, all possi ble regard is had to the circumstances of those who contribute anything. And they are told over and over, “If there be a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath.” But where are all these families that have been brought to beggary? How is it that none of them is forthcoming? Are they all out of town Then, indeed, I am in no danger of clearing myself from their indictment. It is the easiest thing of a thousand, for one at Newcastle to say that I have beggared him and all his kindred. If one of the long-bearded men on Tyne-Bridge were to say so just now, I could not readily con fute him. But why will you not bring a few of these to tell me so to my face? I have not found one that would do this yet. They pray you would have them excused. I remember a man coming to me with a doleful countenance, putting himself into many lamentable postures, gaping as wide as he could, and pointing to his mouth, as though he would say he could not speak. I inquired of his companion, what was the matter; and was informed, he had fallen into the hands of the Turks, who had used him in a barbarous manner, and cut out his tongue by the roots. I believed him. But when the man had had a cheerful cup, he could find his tongue as well as ano ther. I reflected, How is it that I could so readily believe that tale? The answer was easy: “Because it was told of a Turk.” My friend, take knowledge of your own case.