DEAR ADAM, LETTER XI. London, Nov. 26, 1790. THE account you send me of the continuance of the great work of God in Jersey, gives me great satisfaction. To retain the grace of God, is much more than to gain it: hardly one in three does this. And this should be strongly and explicitly urged on all who have tasted of perfect love. If we can prove that any of our local preachers or leaders either directly or indirectly speak against it, let him be a local preacher or leader no longer. I doubt whether he should continue in the society. Because he that could speak thus in our congregations, cannot be an honest man. I wish Sister Clarke to do what she can, but no more than she can. Betsy Ritchie, Miss Johnson, and M. Clarke are women after my own heart. Last week I had an excellent letter from Mrs. Pawson, (a glorious witness of full salvation,) showing how impossible it is to retain pure love without growing therein. Wishing every blessing to you and all the family, I am, dear Adam, your affectionate Friend and Brother, LETTER XII. DEAR ADAM, London, Feb. 9, 1791. YOU have great reason to bless God for giving you strength according to your day. He has, indeed, supported you in a wonderful manner under these complicated afflictions. You may well say, I will put my trust in thee as long as I live. I will desire Dr. Whitehead to consider your case, and give you his thoughts upon it. I am not afraid of your doing too little, but too much. I am in imminent danger of this. Do a little at a time, that you may do the more. My love to Sisters Cookman and Boyle: but it is a doubt with me, whether I shall cross the seas any more. What preacher was it who first omitted meeting the Select Society? I wonder it did not destroy the work! You have done right in setting up the Strangers' [friend? Society. It is an excellent institution; I am quite at a loss concerning Mr. Maddan. I know not what to think of him. Send me your best thoughts concerning him. At any rate, write, and send me your thoughts on Animal Magnetism. I set my face against this device of Satan. I know its principles full well. With much love to your wife, I am, my dear Adam, Your affectionate Brother, J. WESLEY. [This was the last letter I had from Mr. Wesley; and was written, as the date shows, about three weeks before his death. I was then, apparently, in a dying state at Dublin. A. C.] LETTERS TO MR. DOWNES. LETTER I. MY DEAR BROTHER, London, Nov. 7, 1751. YOUR first hinderance is easily removed. Most of the preachers have now all they want. So might you have had, if you had spoken to the stewards, or (in case of their neglect) to me. As to your second, bodily weakness is a good reason for a temporary retirement. Your third observation, that the people, in general, do not practise what they hear, is a melancholy truth. But what then? Is this a sufficient cause why either you or I should leave them? Why we should give them up to their own heart's lusts, and let them follow their own imaginations? In nowise. Especially, while there are some among them whose conversation is worthy of the gospel of Christ. I grant also, some of the preachers themselves do not adorn the gospel. Therefore we have been constrained to lay some of them aside, and some others are departed of themselves. Let us that remain be doubly in earnest. You should make an excursion (as to Alnwick) now and then. Is not John Fenwick a proper person to relieve James Tucker at Whitehaven? If you think he is, pray send him thither forthwith. My love to your father and mother. I entreat you, tell me without reserve, what you think of C. Skelton? Is his heart with us or is it not? Peace be with you. Adieu ! J. WESLEY. LETTER II. MY DEAR BROTHER, London, Nov. 28, 1751. I THINK you write to me, as if you did not care to write. am glad you went to Alnwick. The method you took of talking with each person in the society apart, I hear has been greatly blest to them. I do not see how you could have dealt more favourably with TG than you did. If he will leave the society, he must leave it. But if he does, you are clear. I know not what to do more for poor Jenny Keith. Alas, from what a height is she fallen! What a burning and shining light was she six or seven years ago! But thus it ever was. Many of the first shall be last, and many of the last first. How are you employed? From five in the morning till nine at night? (For I suppose you want eight hours' sleep?) What becomes of Logic and Latin? Is your soul alive and more athirst for God? I am, your affectionate Friend and Brother. J. WESLEY MY DEAR BROTHER, LETTER III. London, Dec. 10, 1751. I THANK C. Errington for his letter. write, whenever he sees occasion. If you are straitened for preachers, could not you make use of George Atchinson (from Stockton) for a time? I suppose Jas. Tucker also is now with you. He is (I verily believe) honest of heart: but a little too wise in his own eyes. Speak plainly to him, if you should ever hear, that any thing is amiss in his preaching or conversation. Brother Reeves will be here in a day or two. But he cannot return into the North yet. I wish you would regulate a little at a time, as you find your health would permit. But you must carefully guard against any irregularity, either as to food, sleep, or labour. Your water should be neither quite warm (for fear of relaxing the tone of your stomach) nor quite cold. Of all flesh, mutton is the best for you; of all vegetables, turnips, potatoes, and apples (roasted, boiled, or baked,) if you can bear them. Take care you do not lose any thing you have learned already, whether you learn more or not. You must needs be here (if alive) the first of March, at our Conference. None will be present but those we invite. How apt is the corruptible body to press down the soul! But all shall work together for good. Now you can sympathize a little with me. We must expect no thanks from man. Evil for good will be our constant portion here. But it is well. The Lord is at hand. I am, Your affectionate friend and brother, J. WESLEY. LETTER IV. MY DEAR BROTHER, London, Dec. 28, 1751. YOUR letter is the picture of your heart. It is honest and upright. I believe a journey to London will do you good. If you could borrow a horse to Leeds, you may take my mare from thence, which is in C. Shent's keeping. As you ride slow, and not many miles a day, I suppose she would bring you hither very well; and when you are here, we can easily find means to supply your other wants. I think it is ill husbandry, for you to work with your hands, in order to get money because you may be better employed. But, if you will work, come and superintend my printing. I will give you forty pounds for the first year, and it will cost me nothing so to do. Afterwards, if need be, I will increase your salary; and still you may preach, as often as you can preach. However, come, whether you print, or preach, or not. Peace be with your spirit. Your affectionate friend and brother, J. WESLEY. I am, LETTERS TO MISS FURLY. LETTER I. Dec. 22, 1756. IT is a happy thing, if we can learn obedience by the things which we suffer. Weakness of body, and heaviness of mind will, I trust, have this good effect upon you. The particular lesson which you have now to learn is, To be faithful in (comparatively) little things: particularly in conversation. God hath given you a tongue : why? That you may praise him therewith: that all your conversation may be, for the time to come, meet to minister grace to the hearers. Such conversation, and private prayer, exceedingly assist each other. By resolutely persisting (according to your little strength) in all works of piety, and mercy, you are waiting on God in the old scriptural way. And therein he will come and save you. Do not think he is afar off. He is nigh that justifieth, that sanctifieth. Beware you do not thrust him away from you. Rather say, My heart would now receive thee, Lord! Come in, my Lord, come in! Write as often, and as freely, and fully as you please to Your affectionate brother and servant, LETTER II. J. WESLEY, Bristol, May 18, 1757. THE great point is, to pick out in Bristol (as in all places) such acquaintance as have a deep fear of God, a continual consciousness of his presence, and a strong thirst after his whole image. Such I take most of the leaders of bands to be; and such are many of the poor, in the society. But extremely few of the rich or honourable Methodists are of that number. My dear Sister, I have been in pain for you, on their account. When I talked with you last, you could relish the simplicity of the gospel. You were athirst for all the mind that was in Christ, and wanted to walk just as he walked. O let none persuade you (either by example or advice) to make any, the least, deviation from that good way. Make no abatement: Do not soften the plain, rough gospel. Do not "Measure back your steps to earth again." Be not, either inwardly or outwardly, conformed to this world, but be a Christian altogether. Health you shall have, if health be best. And he that gives it, will give a blessing with it: An increase of spiritual, as well as of bodily strength: but it is strength to labour, not to sit still. And this strength will either increase or decrease, in the same proportion with your sense of his love. You may lose this sense either, 1. By committing sin; or 2. By omitting duty; or 3. By giving way to pride, anger, or any other inward sin; or 4. By not watching unto prayer, by yielding to indolence or spiritual sloth. But it is no more necessary that we should ever lose it, than it is necessary we should omit duty or commit sin. Mr. Law, therefore speaking on this head, betrays deep ignorance, both of the Scripture and the inward work of God. You are more liable to receive hurt from his late writings, than from any others which I know. I shall write to Sammy this morning: it would not have been amiss, if you had spoken freely to me concerning him. Why should not you (now you have, in some measure, broke that natural shyness) speak all that is in your heart to, Dear Miss Furly, Your truly affectionate friend and brother, LETTER III. J. WESLEY. Newcastle-upon-Tyne, June 14, 1757. YOU have reason to praise God for what he has done, and to expect all that he has promised. Indeed, if it were required, that you should work this in yourself, your impotence might be a bar to your expectations and so might your unworthiness, if God required any merit of yours in order to his working in you. But what impotence in you can be a bar to the almighty power of God? And what unworthiness can hinder the free love of God? His love in and through Christ Jesus? So that all the promises lie fair before you. The land flowing with milk and honey, the Canaan of his perfect love is open. Believe and enter in! It is an observation of one of the ancients, That it is far easier not to desire praise than not to be pleased with it. A bare conviction, that it is (generally speaking) deadly poison, may prevent our desiring it. But nothing less than humble love filling the heart, will prevent our being pleased with it. For the sense of honour is as natural to man as the sense of tasting or feeling. But when that which is spiritual is fully come, this which is corruptly natural shall be done away. Whatever enemies you have, it is enough that you have a friend who is mightier than them all. O let him reign in your heart alone! Do not spare to speak with all freedom to, Dear Miss Furly, Your affectionate brother and servant, LETTER IV, J. WESLEY. June 18, 1757. I AM the more jealous over you, because I know you are liable to be much influenced by fair words: especially when they are spoken by persons of sense, and in an agreeable manner. And flesh and blood are powerful advocates for conformity to the world, particularly in little things. But, blessed be God, we have an unction from the Holy One, ready to teach us all of things. O, let us attend to this inward teaching, which indeed is always consonant with the |