myself almost worn out, I call it, and it comes, day or night?
June, 1788.] JOURNAL.
preached at Thorne to a larger congregation than ever I saw in the House before.
Friday, 27. At nine I preached in the church, at Swinfleet, filled from end to end.
About eleven I preached at Crowle, to a large congregation ; and I am now in hope that there will be a good harvest here also, seeing the almost perpetual jars are now at an end. Thence I came once more (perhaps for the last time) to Epworth; where, by the prudence and diligence of T. Tattershall, the people have now forgot their feuds, and are at unity with each other.
Sat. 28.—I this day enter on my eighty-fifth year: And what cause have I to praise God, as for a thousand spiritual blessings, so for bodily blessings also! How little have I suffered yet by "the rush of numerous years!" It is true,
Iam not so agile as I was in times past. I do not run or walk so fast as I did; my sight is a little decayed ; my left eye is grown dim, and hardly serves me to read; I have daily some pain in the ball of my right eye, as also in my right temple, (occasioned by a blow received some months since,) and inmy right shoulder and arm, which I impute partly to a sprain, and partly to the rheumatism.
T find likewise some decay in my memory, with regard to names and things lately passed; but not at all with regard to what I have read or heard, twenty, forty, or sixty years ago ; neither do I find any decay in my hearing, smell, taste, or appetite ;
(though I want but a third part of the food I did once ;) nor do I feel any such thing as weariness, either in travelling or preaching: And I am not conscious 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 I am as Tam? 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 in the morning, forabove fifty years ?