Wesley Corpus

Others could just remem ber, they were in fear, but could not tell what they were in fear of Several said they were afraid of the devil; and this was all they knew. But a few gave a more intelligible account of the piercing sense they then had of their sins, both inward and out ward, which were set in array against them round about; of the dreadthey werein of the wrath of God, and the punishment they had deserved, into which they seemed to be justfalling, without any way to escape. One of them told me, ‘I was as if I was just falling down from the highest place I had ever seen. I thought BISHOP OF GLoUCESTER. 137 the devil was pushing me off, and that God had forsaken me.’ Another said, ‘I felt the very fire of hell already kindled in my breast; and all my body was in as much pain, as if I had been in a burning fiery furnace. What wisdom is this which rebuketh these, that they should hold their peace? Nay, let such an one cry after Jesus of Nazareth, till he saith, ‘Thy faith hath made thee whole.’” (Journal, Vol. I. p. 407.) Now follow the proofs of my driving men mad: (1) “Ano ther of Dr. Monro's patients came to ask my advice. I found no reason to believe she had been any otherwise mad, than every one that is deeply convinced of sin.” (Tract, p. 208.) Let this prove all that it can prove. (2) “A middle-aged woman was really distracted.” Yes, before I ever saw her, or she me. (3.) “I could not but be under some concern with regard to one or two persons, who were tormented in an un accountable manner, and seemed to be indeed lunatic, as well as sore vexed.” True; for a time. But the deliverance of one of them is related in the very next paragraph. (4.) “Two or three are gone quite distracted; that is, they mourn and refuse to be comforted till they have redemption.” (Page 209.) (5.) “I desired one to visit Mrs. G. in Bedlam, put in by her husband, as a madwoman.” But she never was mad in any degree, as he himself afterwards acknowledged.