REV. S. WESLEY.――The Rev. Samuel Wesley, rector of Epworth, and father
of the celebrated John Wesley, once went into a coffee-house in London
for some refreshment. There were several gentlemen in a box at the
other end of the room, one of whom, an officer of the guards, swore
dreadfully. The rector saw that he could not speak to him without much
difficulty; he therefore desired the waiter to give him a glass of
water. When it was brought, he said aloud, “Carry it to your gentleman
in the red coat, and desire him to wash his mouth after his oaths.” The
officer rose up in a fury; but the gentlemen in the box laid hold of
him, one of them crying out, “Nay, colonel, you gave the first offence;
you see the gentleman is a clergyman; you know it is an affront to
swear in his presence.” The officer was thus restrained, and Mr. Wesley
departed.
Some years after, being again in London, and walking in St. James’s
Park, a gentleman joined him, who, after some conversation, inquired
if he recollected having seen him before. Mr. Wesley replied in the
negative. The gentleman then recalled to his mind the scene in the
coffee-house; and added, “Since that time, sir, I thank God, I have
feared an oath; and as I have a perfect recollection of you, I rejoiced
at seeing you, and could not refrain from expressing my gratitude to
God and to you.”
* * * * *
JOHN FOX.――When Fox, the well known author of the “Book of Martyrs,”
was once leaving the palace of Aylmer, the Bishop of London, a
company of poor people begged him to relieve their wants with great
importunity. Fox, having no money, returned to the bishop, and asked
the loan of five pounds, which was readily granted; he immediately
distributed it among the poor, by whom he was surrounded. Some months
after, Aylmer asked Fox for the money he had borrowed. “I have laid
it out for you,” was the answer, “and paid it where you owed it――to
the poor people who lay at your gate.” Far from being offended, Aylmer
thanked Fox for thus being his steward.
* * * * *
INTEMPERANCE.――A TEMPERATE MAN. A man of temperate habits was once
dining at the house of a free drinker. No sooner was the cloth removed
from the dinner table, than wine and spirits were produced, and he was
asked to take a glass of spirits and water. “No, thank you,” said he,
“I am not ill.” “Take a glass of wine then,” said his host, “or a glass
of ale.” “No, thank you,” said he, “I am not thirsty.” These answers
produced a loud burst of laughter.
Soon after this, the temperate man took a piece of bread from the
sideboard, and handed it to his host, who refused it, saying he was not
hungry. At this, the temperate man laughed in his turn. “Surely,” said
he, “I have as much reason to laugh at you for not eating when you are
not hungry, as you have to laugh at me for declining medicine when not
ill, and drink when I am not thirsty.”
[Illustration: _The Western Hemisphere._]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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