Wesley Corpus

February 27. (Being Ash Wednesday.) After the public prayers, the little church in our house met together. _Misunderstandings were cleared up, and we all agreed to set out anew, hand in hand, and, by 'the grace of God, to forward one another in running the race which is set before us. Sun. March 3. As I was walking up Pilgrim-street, aearing a man call after me, I stood still. He came up and used much abusive language, intermixed with many oaths and curses. Several people came cut to see what was the matter; on which he pushed me twice or thrice, and went away. Upon inquiry, I found this man had signalized himself of a long season, by abusing and throwing stones at any of our family who went that way: Tcherefore I would not lose the opportunity, but on Monday 4, sent him the following note : " Rosert Youne, I expect to see you, between this and Friday, and to hear from you, that you are sensible of your fault; otherwise, in pity to your soul, I shall be obliged to inform the magistrates of your assaulting me yesturday in thestreet. Iam, your real friend, Joun WeEsLEY." Wthin two or three hours, Robert Young came, and promised a quite different behaviour. So did this gentle reproof, if not save a soul from death, yet prevent a multitude of sins. We had a useful sermon at All Saints in the morning, and another at our own church in the afternoon. 1 was much refreshed by both, and united in love both to the two preachers, and to the clergy in general. 'The next day I wrote to a friend as follows : Newcastle-upon-Tyne, March 11, 1745 '"' have been drawing up this morning a short state of the case between the clergy and us; I leave you to make any such use of it, as -'ou believe will be to the glory of God. : Dh ae 300 REV. J. WESLEY'S JOURNAL. March, 1745. "1, About seven years since, we began preaching inward, present sa!- vation, as attainable by faith alone. 2. For preaching this doctrine, we were forbidden to preach in the churches. 3. We then preached in private houses, as occasion offered: and when the houses could not contain the people, in the open air. 4. For this, many of the clergy preached or »°