Wesley historians frequently talk about the extensive writings of John Wesley. Almost in a joking way, Wesley referred to himself as a “homo unius libri,” a man of one book, referring of course to the Bible. Yet between 1725 and 1734, this man of one book read a list of books extending to 14 pages; he wrote countless books himself; wrote a journal in four volumes; three volumes of sermons; two volumes of letters; a diary in code; five grammars; 50 volumes of the “Christian Library, a Compendium of Logic”; a “History of England”; a “Dictionary”; a “Compendium of Natural Philosophy”; countless religious treatises; and occasional papers on slavery, pronunciation, popular medicine, dew on coaches, and hundred of other topics. I will forever be amazed at his remarkable ability to read and write so much even as he continued his torrid schedule of preaching and traveling.
Because of his prolific writings it is not difficult to recognize periods of time when he may not have been feeling his best or was unusually weary from his travels. As an indication of Wesley's weakened state, one can observe the brevity of the entries into his journal. From March 10, 1754, until May 22, he wrote scarcely 600 words. During that same span the year before he wrote more than 3,400 words. During earlier years it was his habit to write rather lengthy entries, at least once a week, usually three or four times a week and often every day. 
On April 1, Wesley arrived back in London. He had been away nearly five months.  Clearly he was road weary.  After spending a few days taking care of some business matters, he retreated to Paddington, four miles from the center of London, yet a place where he could still have quiet and privacy. There he rested, and as his strength returned he continued to read and write.