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TESTIMONY OF THE REV. JOHN WESLEY. 137
and integrity, who afterwards became one of the first
ministers in our church. Having heard a curious anec
dote, said to rest on his authority, I wrote (says Mr.
Noble,) to Mr. J. I. Hawkins, the well-known engineer,
who had been intimately acquainted with Mr. Smith, to
request an exact account of it. The following (a little
abbreviated) is his answer ; it is dated February 6th,
1826:
" DEAR SIR,
" In answer to your inquiries, I am able to state, that
I have a clear recollection of having repeatedly heard the
Rev. Samuel Smith say, about the year 1787 or 1788,
that in the latter end of February, 1772, he, with some
other preachers, was in attendance upon the Rev. John
Wesley, taking instructions and assisting him in the
preparations for his great circuit, which Mr. Wesley was
about to commence ; that while thus in attendance, a letter
came to Mr. Wesley, which he perused with evident
astonishment ; that, after a pause, he read the letter to
the company ; and that it was couched in nearly the
following words :+
- 1772.
’Great Bath-street, Coldbath Fields, Feb.
Sir, I have been informed in the world of spirits that
you have strong desire to converse with me ; I shall be
happy to see you if you will favour me with a visit.—I |
am, Sir, your humble Servant,
EMAN. SWEDENBORG .’
"Mr. Wesley frankly acknowledged to the company,
that he had been very strongly impressed with a desire to
see and converse with Swedenborg, and that he had never
mentioned that desire to any one.
"Mr. Wesley wrote for answer, that he was then
closely occupied in preparing for a six months’ journey,
but would do himself the pleasure of waiting upon Mr.
Swedenborg soon after his return to London.
" Mr. Smith further informed me, that he afterwards
learned that Swedenborg wrote in reply, that the visit
"
The letter was most probably in Latin ; but Mr. Wesley, no
doubt, would read it in English.
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