believers about you, to press on to this mark. Some will gladly receive the word of exhortation, and surely a few witnesses will be raised up. I cannot tell you how much I am your's, LETTER VI. J. WESLEY. Macclesfield, March 31, 1787. NOW you give me a proof, my dear Miss Cooke, that you have not forgotten me. But considering that I am usually obliged to write in haste, I often doubt whether my correspondence is worth having. When the witness and the fruit of the Spirit meet together, there can be no stronger proof that we are of God. But still you may relapse into doubts, if you do not steadily watch against evil reasonings; and were you to substitute the deductions of reason, for the witness of the Spirit, you never would be established. That all trials are for good, you cannot always see, (at least for the present ;) but you may always believe. You have doubtless reason to be thankful to God, that you feel love in your heart. Nay, indeed, thankfulness, gratitude, and love, for benefits received, are almost, if not quite the same. Accordingly, in this world, (whatever be the case in the next,) we love him, because he hath first loved us. This love is undoubtedly the spring of all inward and outward obedience. But we delight to do what he has commanded, and for that very reason, because he has commanded it. So, "Obedience is our pure delight, To do the pleasure of our Lord." I was a good deal refreshed with the company of you and your dear sisters, when we last met. The more so, because I trust you are all going forward in the good way. Peace be multiplied unto you. My dear Friend adieu ! J. WESLEY. MY DEAR SISTER, LETTER VII. London, Dec. 21, 1787. YOU have unspeakable reason to praise God for his late manifestations to you. And you will generally observe, that large consolations are preceded by deep exercises of soul. And we all have reason to praise him, for the many tokens we see of his approaching kingdom. It is plain Satan, the murderer and the deceiver of mankind, is in a great measure bound already: he is not now permitted to deceive the nations, as in the past ages. And even in the Romish countries scarce any are now called to resist unto blood. If two or three of you continue instant in prayer, the work will revive at Trowbridge also. When you are met together, boldly lay hold on the promise: His word will speak, and will not lie! Peace be with all your spirits. I am, my dear Sister, your's, most affectionately, J. WESLEY. MY DEAR SISTER, LETTER VIII. Dumfries, June 1, 1790. THE great question is, What can be done for Adam Clarke? Now will you save his life? Look round; consider if there be any circuit where he can have much rest, and little work? Or shall he and you spend September in my rooms at Kingswood, on condition that he shall preach but twice a week, and ride to the Hot Wells every day? I think he must do this, or die. And I do not want him (neither do you) to run away from us in haste. You need not be told, that this will be attended with some expense: if it be, we can make it easy. I am apt to think this will be the best away. In the mean time, let him do as much as he can, and no more. It is probable I shall stay with you a little longer, as my strength does not much decline. I travelled yesterday nearly eighty miles, and preached in the evening, without any pain. The Lord does what pleases him. Peace be with all your spirits. I am, my dear Sister, yours, most affectionately, J. WESLEY. LETTERS TO MR. A. CLARKE. LETTER I. MY DEAR BROTHER, London, Feb. 3, 1786. YOU do well in insisting upon full and present salvation, whether men will hear or forbear. As also in preaching abroad, (when the weather permits,) and recommending fasting, both by precept and example. But you need not wonder that all these are opposed, not only by formalists, but by half-Methodists. You should not forget French, or any thing you have learned. I do not know whether I have read the book you speak of: you may send your translation at your leisure. Be all in earnest, and you shall see greater things than these. I am, my dear Adam, your affectionate Brother, J. WESLEY. LETTER IL MY DEAR BROTHER, London, Feb. 21, 1786. I LIKE the extract from Mr. Brittaine's well. Probably it may have a place in the Magazine. It is well you have broken into Stonehouse. Now enlarge your borders, while I am with you: probably you will have rougher weather when I am gone. You may come to the Conference: you and your fellow-labourers should spend some time in consulting together, how you may enlarge your borders. This mild weather is almost as good as summer: I preached abroad last Monday. O let us snatch every means of redeeming the time! Eternity is at hand! I am, dear Adam, your affectionate Brother, J. WESLEY. In a few days I shall set out for Bristol. DEAR ADAM, LETTER III. Near London, Jan. 3, 1787. YOU see none that trust in him, are confounded. When God is for us, who can be against us? Discipline is the great want in Guernsey; without which, the work of God cannot prosper. You did well to set upon it without delay, and to be as exact as possible. It is a true saying, "the soul and the body make the man, and the spirit and discipline make a Christian." We heard of a remarkable awakening.in some part of the island. I hope those who were then awakened, are not all fallen asleep again. Preaching in the morning, is one excellent means of keeping their souls awake. If you desire to have any health, you must never pass one day without walking, at least, an hour: and take care not to speak too loud, or too long. Never exceed an hour at a time. Grace be with all your spirits. I am, dear Adam, your's affectionately, J. WESLEY. LETTER IV. DEAR ADAM, Plymouth-Dock, March 3, 1787. AFTER staying a few days in Bristol, I am engaged to visit the intermediate Societies between Stroud and Chester. I must then hasten to Dublin, or I shall not have time to go through the four provinces of Ireland. I shall not, therefore, have a day to spare before the Conference. Possibly, after the Conference, I may be able to stay two or three weeks. And if so, I shall pass away to Southampton, in order to spend two or three days at Guernsey, and as many in Jersey. This will we do, if God permit. I am glad you are minded to make a trial at Alderney. If God send you, he will make a way for you. The hearts of all men are in his hands. To his care I commend you, and I am, My dear Adam, your affectionate Brother, J. WESLEY. LETTER V. DEAR ADAM, Birmingham, March 26, 1787. YOU have reason to praise God for giving you such favour in the eyes of the poor people of Alderney. And I am in hopes, our brother de Queteville will meet with a blessing in watering the seed which is already sown. But I observe, in the map, the name of another island, not very far from Alderney. Are there none that understand English in the Isle of Sark? If there are, I cannot tell whether you are not a debtor to those poor souls also. If confinement hurts you, do not submit to it. Spread yourself abroad through all the four islands. But I doubt, speaking loud hurts you more, if not speaking long too! Beware of this for conscience' sake. Do not offer murder for sacrifice! But before it be too late, take the advice of, Dear Adam, your affectionate Brother, J. WESLEY. DEAR ADAM, LETTER VI. Near London, Nov. 9, 1787. I AM glad to hear that there is a prospect of a good work in the Isle of Alderney, as well as in the Isles of Jersey and Guernsey. I do not despair of seeing our Jersey, and Guernsey friends once more, if it should please God to prolong my life. I love them dearly; particularly the family at Mount Plaisir, in Guernsey; and I. B. in Jersey. I would take some pains, and undergo some fatigue, were it only to spend two or three days with them. One would wonder, that the prince of this world was so slow, and that he did not sooner fight, lest his kingdom should be delivered up. He will at length do what he can. But if you continue instant in prayer, God will put the bridle in his mouth. It is well we should be convinced that we have need of him. Our safety will we ascribe to him alone. As the case of sister H. is too singular to be credited without the fullest evidence, I think you would do well, to write the account fair, and have it formally attested by Mrs. J. Mr. A. and three or four more who were eye-witnesses of the whole. You must not believe all you hear, concerning the circumstances of Mr. L.'s marriage. Indeed, you should believe nothing about them, till you have told it to themselves. Envy will invent a thousand things, and with the most plausible circumstances. (Love them, if it be possible, which can never be done by harshness; but love will "break the bone.") The bailiff was talking of building you a house at St. Peter's: I think it may be done by and by. Be exact in every point of discipline. Keep our rules, and they will keep you. I am, dear Adam, Your affectionate Friend and Brother, J. WESLEY. LETTER VII. DEAR ADAM, Bristol, March 9, 1789. IF I should live to see you another Conference, I should be glad to have sister Clarke and you here, rather than at most other places; because I spend more time here myself, than at any other place, except London. I am glad to hear that God has raised up so able a preacher from the islands: but certainly you should spare no pains in teaching him to read and write English. And I do not doubt but if he learned with a single eye, he would be largely strengthened by the blessed God. It would be a reason for being very wary in choosing names for our children, if that old remark were true, "That our first tempers from example flow, And borrow that example from our names." Peace be with you and your's. I am, dear Adam, Your affectionate Friend and Brother, J. WESLEY, LETTER IX. DEAR ADAM, Near Dublin, June 25, 1789. YOU send me good news with regard to the islands. Who can hurt us, if God is on our side? Trials may come, but they are all good. I have not been so tried, for many years. Every week, and almost every day, I am bespattered in the public papers. Many are in tears on the occasion, many terribly frightened, and crying out, “O what will the end be?" What will it be? why-Glory to God in the highest, and peace and good will among men. But, mean time, what is to be done? What will be the most effectual means to stem this furious torrent? I have just visited the classes; and find still in the society upwards of a thousand members; and among them, many as deep Christians as any I have met with in Europe. But who is able to watch over these, that they may not be moved from their steadfastness? I know none more proper than Adam Clarke and his wife. Indeed it may seem hard for them to go into a strange land again. Well, you may come to me at Leeds, the latter end of next month: and if you can show me any that arc more proper, I will send them instead, that God may be glorified in all that is designed by, Dear Adam, your affectionate Friend and Brother, J. WESLEY DEAR ADAM, LETTER X. Bristol, Sept. 9, 1790. DID not the terrible weather that you had at sea, make you forget your fatigue by land? Come, set one against the other, and you have no great reason to complain of your journey. You will have need of all the courage and prudence which God has given you. Indeed you will want constant supplies of both. Very gently, and very steadily, you should proceed between the rocks on either hand. In the great revival at London, my first difficulty was, to bring in temper those who opposed the work; and my next, to check and regulate the extravagancies of those that promoted it. And this was far the hardest part of the work: for many of them would bear no check at all. But I followed one rule, though with all calmness. You must either bend or break. Meantime, while you act exactly right, expect to be blamed by both sides. I will give you a few directions. 1. See that no prayer-meeting continue later than nine at night, particularly on Sunday. Let the house be emptied before the clock strikes nine. 2. Let there be no exhortation at any prayer-meeting. 3. Beware of jealousy or judging one another. 4. Never think a man is an enemy to the work, because he reproves irregularities. Peace be with you and your's. I am, dear Adam, your affectionate Friend and Brother, |