so little sorrow, or anxious careP
WESLEY'S JOURNAL
Jonz 1788 of any decay in writing sermons; which I do as readily, and I believe as correctly, as ever.
To what cause can I impute this, that Iam as I am?
First, doubtless, to the power of God, fitting me for the work to which I am called, as long as he pleases to continue me therein; and, next, subordinately to this, to the prayers of his children.
May we not impute it as inferior means, 1. To my constant exercise and change of air?
2. To my never having lost a night's sleep, sick or well, at land or at sea, since I was born ?
3. To my having sleep at command; so that whenever I feel myself almost worn out, I call it, and it comes, day or night ?
4. To my having constantly, for above sixty years, risen at four in the morning ?
5. To my constant preaching at five inthe morning, for above fifty years ?
6. To my having had so little pain in my life; and so little sorrow, or anxious care P Even now, though I find pain daily in my eye, or temple, or arm; yet it is never violent, and seldom lasts many minutes at a time.
Whether or not this is sent to give me warning that I arn shortly to quit this tabernacle, I donot know; but be it one way or the other, I have only to say,
My remnant of days I spend to his praise Who died the whole world to redeem 3 Be they many or few, My days are-his due, And they all are devoted to Him!
I preached in the morning on Psalm xc. 12; in the evening on Acts xiii, 40, 41; and endeavoured to im. prove the hours between to the best advantage.
Jury 1788
WESLEY'S PERPLEXITY
Sun. 29.—At eight I preached at Misterton, as usual ; about one to a numerous congregation at Newby, near
Haxey; and about four at my old stand in Epworth market-place, to the great congregation.
Sun. July 6.—I came to Epworth before the church service began; and was glad to observe the seriousness with which Mr. Gibson read prayers, and preached a plain useful sermon ; but was sorry to see scarce twenty communicants, half of whom came on my account.
I was informed likewise, that scarce fifty persons used to attend the Sunday service.
What can be done to remedy this sore evil?
"What is to be Done?"
I fain would prevent the members here from leaving the Church; but I cannot do it.
As Mr. G. is not a pious man, but rather an enemy to piety, who frequently preaches against the truth, and those that hold and love it, I cannot with all my influence persuade them either to hear him, or to attend the sacrament administered by him.
If I cannot carry this point even while I live, who then can do it whenI die?
And the case of Epworth is the case of every church where the minister neither loves nor preach the Gospel.
The Methodists will not attend his ministrations, What then is to be done?
At four I preached in the market-place, on Rom. vi.
23; and vehemently exhorted the listening multitude to choose the better part.
Mon. 7.—Having taken leave of this affectionate people, probably for the last time, I went over to Finningley ; and preached at eleven, on that verse in the second lesson, Luke xix. 42.
After dinner we walked over Mr. H.'s domain, the like to which I never saw in