Wesley Corpus

All is peaceable in this great city. How long it will remain so, is known only to him that knows all things. My soul seems preparing for a storm, and the Spirit of Truth is continually teaching me to divest myself of all things; that, being in readiness, that hour may not come upon me unawares. I have nothing outwardly, glory be to God, that keeps me confined to the earth; and I hope what is still in me contrary to the purity of him before whom I must shortly stand without a covering, will be taken away ' before I depart hence, to be no more seen.' "' I rode to Cirencester, and preached there in the evening ; Wednesday, 14, at Oxford; Thursday, 15, at Wycomb; and on Friday, 16, at London. I had much conversation with Mr. Simpson, an original enthusiast. That I might understand him the more throughly, I desired him, in the evening, to give an exhortation to the penitents. He did so, and spoke many good things, in a manner peculiar to himself. When he had done, I summed up what he had said, methodizing and explaining it. O what pity it is, this well-meaning man should ever speak without an interpreter ! I saw a poor man, once joined with us, who wanted nothing in this world, but the peace the world cannot give. A day or two before he had hanged himself, but was cut down before he was dead. He had been crying out ev r since, God had left him, because he had left the children of God. But he now began to have some glimmering of hope, that God wou d not hide his face for ever. Tues. September 3. Great was our joy in the. Lord at the public reading of the letters. Part of one was as follows : " Betly, near Namptwich, August 24, 1745. 'I rejoice that the Lord stirs you up more and more to labour .n his vineyard. I am persuaded it is not a small matter whether we speak or a a ae REV. J. WESLEY'S JOURNAL. _ y