At Bristol, in 1772, he was told that highwaymen were on the road, and had robbed all the coaches that passed, some just previously.  But Wesley felt no uneasiness, “knowing,” as he writes, “that God would take care of us; and He did so, for before we came to the spot all the highwaymen were taken, and so we went on unmolested, and came safe to Bristol”.

This immense labour had no ill effect upon his health.  In June, 1786, when he was entering his eighty-fourth year, he writes:  “I am a wonder to myself.  It is now twelve years since I have felt such a sensation as weariness.  I am never tired either with writing, preaching, or travelling.”

When Wesley was on his death-bed he wrote to Wilberforce cheering him in his struggle against the slave trade.

“Unless God has raised you up for this very thing,” writes Wesley, “you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils, but if God be for you who can be against you?...  Go on in the name of God and in the power of His might till even American slavery, the vilest that ever saw the sun, shall vanish away before it.”

Wesley died, at the ripe age of eighty-eight, in the year 1791.  He had saved no money, so had none to leave behind; but he was one of those “poor” persons who “make many rich”.

Amongst his few small gifts and bequests was “L6 to be divided among the six poor men named by the assistant who shall carry my body to the grave; for I particularly desire that there be no hearse, no coach, no escutcheon, no pomp”.

SOME CHILDREN OF THE KINGDOM.

Shortly after Mwanga, King of Uganda, came to the throne, reports were made to that weak-minded monarch that Mr. Mackay, the missionary, was sending messages to Usoga, a neighbouring State, to collect an army for the purpose of invading Uganda.  His mind having thus become inflamed with suspicion, he was ready to believe anything against the missionaries, or to invent something if necessary.  Thus he complained that his pages, who received instruction from the missionaries, had adopted Jesus as their King, and regarded himself as little better than a brother.

Not long after, six boys were sent to prison; and, though every effort was made to obtain their release, it was for a time of no avail.  At length three were given up, and three were ordered to be executed.

These latter were first tortured, then their arms were cut off; afterwards they were placed on a scaffold, under which a fire was made, and burned to death.

As they were passing through their agony, they were laughed at by the people, who asked them if Jesus Christ could do anything to help them.

But the boys were undaunted; and, in spite of all their pain and suffering, sang hymns of praise till their tongues could utter no more.  This was one of their hymns:—­

  Daily, daily, sing to Jesus,
  Sing my soul His praises due,
  All He does deserves our praises,
  And our deep devotion too.