1765. Tues. January 1.—This week I wrote an
Jan. 1765
WESLEY AND BACHELORS
assisting the Society for the Reformation of Manners | with regard to their heavy debt.
One of them asked, | " Ought we not to pay our own debt first?"
After some | consultations, it was agreed to attempt it.
The general | debt of the society in London occasioned chiefly by repairing the Foundery and chapels, and by building at | Wapping and Snowsfields, was about nine hundred | pounds.
This I laid before the society in the evening, | and desired them all to set their stroulders to the work,
either by a present contribution, or by subscribing what | they could pay, on the rst of January, February or March.
| Mon.
5 (London).—My scraps of time this week I employed in setting down my present thoughts upon a | single life, which indeed, are just the same they have
been these thirty years; and the same they must be, | unless I give up my Bible.
Wesley's Experiments with Lions Mon. Dec. 31.—I thought it would be worth while to make an odd experiment.
Remembering how surprisingly | fond of music the lion at Edinburgh was, I determined to try whether this was the case with all animals of the same kind. I accordingly went to the Tower with one
_ who plays on the German flute.
He began playing near - four or five lions; only one of these (the rest not seeming to regard it at all) rose up, came to the front of his den, and seemed to be all attention.
Meantime, a tiger in the same den started up, leaped over the lion's back, turned and ran under his belly, leaped over him again,
_and so to and fro incessantly.
Can we account for this by any principle of mechanism?
Can we account for it at all?
1765.
Tues. January 1.—This week I wrote an
WESLEY'S JOURNAL _—_ Nov. 1765
answer to a warm letter, published in the '" London Magazine," the author whereof is much displeased that I presume to doubt of the modern astronomy.
I cannot help it.
Nay, the more I consider, the more my doubts increase: so that, at present, I doubt whether any man on earth knows either the distance or magnitude, I will not say of a fixed star, but of Saturn, or Jupiter; yea, of the sun or moon.
Sun. 20.—I employed all my leisure hours this week in revising my letters and papers.
Abundance of them 1 committed to the flames.
Perhaps some of the rest may see the light when I am gone.
Breakfast with Mr. Whitefield Mon.
October 21.—I went in the coach from Bristol to Salisbury, and on Thursday, 24, came to London.
Mon. 28.—I breakfasted with Mr. Whitefield, who seemed to be an old, old man, being fairly worn out in his Master's service, though he has hardly seen fifty years, and yet it pleases God that I, who am now in my sixty-third year, find no disorder, no weakness, no decay, no difference from what I was at five-andtwenty; only that I have fewer teeth, and more grey hairs.
Sun. November 24.—I preached on those words in the lesson for the day, " The Lord our righteousness."
I said not one thing which I have not said, at least, fifty times within this twelvemonth ; yet it appeared to many entirely new, who much importuned me to print my sermon, supposing it would stop the mouths of all gainsayers.
Alas, for their simplicity!
In spite of all I can print, say, or do, will not those who seek occasion of offence find occasion ?
Dec.1765
WESLEY'S HORSE FALLS
Tues. December 3.—I rode to Dover, and found a little company more united together than they have been for many years, Whilst several of them continued to rob the King, we seemed to be ploughing upon the sand; but since they have cut off the right hand, the word of God sinks deep into their hearts.
Thur. 5.—I rode back to Feversham.
Here I was quickly informed that the mob and the magistrates had agreed together to drive Methodism, so called, out of the town.
After preaching, I told them what we had been constrained to do by the magistrate at Rolvenden; who perhaps would have been richer, by some hundred pounds, had he never meddled with the Methodists ; concluding, ''Since we have both God and the law on our side, if we can have peace by fair means, we had much rather ; we should be exceeding glad; but if not, we will have peace."
Wed. 18.—Riding through the Borough, all my mare's feet flew up, and she fell with my leg under her.
A gentleman, stepping out, lifted me up, and helped me into his shop.
I was exceeding sick, but was presently relieved by a little hartshorn and water.
After resting a few minutes, I took a coach; but when I was cold, found myself much worse; being bruised on my right arm, my breast, my knee, leg, and ankle, which swelled exceedingly.
However, I went on to Shoreham; where by applying treacle twice a day, all the soreness was removed, and I recovered some strength, so as to be able to walk a littleon plain ground.
The word of God does at length bear fruit here also, and Mr. P. is comforted over all his trouble.
Saturday, 21.
Being not yet able to ride, I returned in a chariot to London.
Sun. 22.—I was ill able to go through the service at West Street; but God provided for this also.
Mr.