The work of God goes on mightily here, both in conviction and conversion. This morning I have spoken with four or five who seem to have been set at liberty within this month. I believe, within five weeks, six, in one class, have received remission of sins, and five, in one band, received a second blessing. Peace be with you all! I am your affectionate Brother, J. WESLEY.

LETTER III.

MY DEAR SISTER,

Kingswood, Oct. 5, 1765. YOU oblige me much by speaking so freely. What an admirable teacher is experience! You have great reason to praise God for what he has taught you hereby, and to expect that he will teach you all things. But whatever you find now, beware you do not deny what you had once received. I do not say "a divine assurance

that you should never sin, or sustain any spiritual loss." I know not that ever you received this. But you certainly were saved from sin : and that as clearly, and in as high a'degree as ever Sally Ryan was. And if you have sustained any loss in this, believe, and be made whole.

I never doubted, but would recover her strength, though she has long walked in a thorny way.

A general temptation now, is the denying what God had wrought. Guard all whom you converse with from this: and from fancying great grace can be preserved without great watchfulness and self-denial. I am, your affectionate Brother, J. WESLEY.

LETTER IV.

Sligo, May 2, 1766.

MY DEAR SISTER,

IT is a long time since I heard either of you or from you. I hope you think of me oftener than you write to me. Let us but continue in prayer,

"And mountains rise and oceans roll,

To sever us, in vain."

I frequently find profit in thinking of you, and should be glad if we had more opportunities of conversing together. If a contrary thought arises, take knowledge from whom it comes. You may judge, by the fruit of it. For it weakens your hands, and slackens you from being instant in prayer. I am inclined to think I found the effect of your prayer at my very entrance into this kingdom. And here, especially, we have need of every help: for snares are on every side. Who would not, if it could be done with a clear conscience, run out of the world? Wherein the very gifts of God, the work of God, yea, his grace itself, in some sense, are all the occasion of temptation?

I hope your little family remains in peace and love, and that your own soul prospers. I doubt only whether you are so useful as you

might be. But herein look to the anointing which you have of God, being willing to follow wherever he leads, and it shall teach you of all things.

There is an amazing increase of the work of God within these few months in the north of Ireland. And no wonder; for the five preachers, who have laboured there, are all men devoted to God: men of a single eye, whose whole heart is in the work, and who "constantly trample on pleasure and pain."

Do they gain ground in London? I am afraid [Christian] Perfection should be forgotten. Encourage Richard Blackwell and Mr. Colley to speak plainly, and to press believers to the constant pursuit and earnest expectation of it. A general faintness, in this respect, is fallen upon this whole kingdom. Sometimes I seem almost weary of striving against the stream both of preachers and people. See that you all strengthen the hands of,

My dear Sisters, your affectionate Brother, J. WESLEY.

LETTER V.

MY DEAR SISTER,

Chester, March 18, 1769.

THE westerly winds detain me here, I care not how long: good is the will of the Lord. When I am in Ireland, you have only to direct to Dublin, and the letter will find me.

I advise you, as I did Grace Walton formerly, 1. Pray in private or public, as much as you can. 2. Even in public, you may properly enough intermix short exhortations with prayer. But keep as far from what is called preaching, as you can. Therefore never take a text. Never speak in a continued discourse, without some break, above four or five minutes. Tell the people, "We shall have another prayer-meeting, at such a time and place." If Hannah Harrison had followed these few directions, she might have been as useful now as ever.

As soon as you have time, write more particularly and circumstantially; and let S. Bosanquet do the same. There is now no hinderance in the way; nothing to hinder your speaking as freely as you please to,

Dear Sally, your affectionate Brother,

J. WESLEY.

LETTER VI.

MY DEAR SISTER,

Londonderry, June 13, 1771.

I THINK, the strength of the cause rests there; on your having an extraordinary call. So, I am persuaded, has every one of our laypreachers otherwise I could not countenance his preaching at all. It is plain to me, that the whole work of God, termed Methodism, is an extraordinary dispensation of his Providence. Therefore, I do not wonder, if several things occur therein, which do not fall under ordinary rules of discipline. St. Paul's ordinary rule was, "I permit not

a woman to speak in the congregation." Yet, in extraordinary cases, he made a few exceptions; at Corinth in particular.

I am, my dear Sister, Your affectionate Brother,

J. WESLEY.

MY DEAR SISTER,

LETTER VII.

Newcastle, May 11.

NEITHER must the witness supersede the fruit, nor the fruit the witness of the Spirit. Let other men talk this way, or that, the word of the Lord shall stand.

I believe your spending a little time at P. may be of use. Probably it will remove their prejudice against (Christian) perfection. But if Mr. T. has a mind to marry our friend, I think neither you nor I shall forward it. She is far happier, since she is free, so to abide.

Do you never find any tendency to pride? Do you find nothing like anger? Is your mind never ruffled, put out of tune? Do you never feel any useless desire? Any desire of pleasure-of ease-of approbation or increase of fortune? Do you find no stubbornness, sloth, or self-will? No unbelief?

Certainly the more freely you speak to me, the better. I found what you said in your last, helpful. It is of great use, to have our minds stirred up by way of remembrance, even of the things which we know already. I speak of myself very little to any one, were it only for fear of hurting them. I have found exceeding few that could bear it. So I am constrained to repress my natural openness. I find scarcely any temptation, from any thing in the world: my danger is from persons.

"O for a heart to praise my God,

A heart from sin set free!"

Dear Sally, Adieu!

J. WESLEY.

LETTER VII.

MY DEAR SISTER,

London, Nov. 7, 1784.

TO those who know the world, hardly any thing that is wrong or foolish in it, appears strange. Otherwise we should have thought it strange, that so good a woman should take such a step. One would not have expected her to marry at all: at least, none but an eminent Christian. I am more and more inclined to think, that there are none living so established in grace, but that they may possibly fall.

The case of Hetty Rogers was widely different. I know more of it, (beginning, middle, and ending,) than most people in England. And I am clear, that first to last, she acted in all good conscience toward God and man. As things stood, it was not a sin for her to marry, but a duty: and to marry when she did. And never was any one woman so owned of God in Dublin, as she has been already.

T. Brisco, I am persuaded, will do some good. But his wife will do much more, if you encourage her, and strengthen her hands. Peace be with all your spirits!

I am your affectionate Brother, VOL. 10.-0 o

J. WESLEY.

LETTERS TO A YOUNG DISCIPLE.

LETTER I.

London, February 25, 1769.

YOU have no need to take thought for the morrow: as your day, so your strength shall be. With regard to little compliances, I should be of's mind: only if we begin, we know not where we shall stop. If you plead your conscience for not complying with any thing, you must use the most mild and respectful expressions you possibly can, and God will order all things well. You will want no help which is in the power of, J. WESLEY.

Your's affectionately,

LETTER II.

January 25, 1771.

AS you desire a few directions with regard to the improvement of your mind, I will set down just what occur to me at present. Only as my business is great, and my time is short, I cannot stay to explain them at large.

All the knowledge you want, is comprised in one book-the Bible. When you understand this, you will know enough. I advise you, therefore, to begin every day (before or after private prayer) with reading a portion, more or less, of the Old or New Testament, or of both, if you have time, together with the Notes, which may lead you by the hand into suitable meditation. After breakfast, you may read, in order, the Volumes of Sermons, and the other practical books which we have published; more or less at a time, (as other business permits,) with meditation and prayer. Young, Milton, and the Moral and Sacred Poems, you may read chiefly in the afternoons. Whatever you write, you should write in the forenoons. Take care never to read or write too long at a time. That is not conducive either to bodily or spiritual health. If I can be of use to you in any thing else, tell me you know you may speak freely to, Your's affectionately, J. WESLEY.

LETTER III.

Dublin, March 30, 1771.

SO poor, tempted, disconsolate was sent to London for your sake also! She was sent to you among others, to quicken your expectation of the great salvation. And what is it our Lord calls you to now? Whereunto thou hast attained, hold fast! You may undoubtedly lose what God has given; but you never need. Is not his grace sufficient for you? Is not his strength made perfect in weakness? Indeed you shall pass through the fire: but lean upon him, and the flames shall not kindle upon you. You shall go through the waters but keep hold on him, and the floods shall not run over you. Suffer all, and conquer all

"In every temptation, He keeps you to prove,

His utmost salvation, His fulness of love!"

Be exceeding wary in your conversation, that it may be worthy of the gospel of Christ. Let not the liveliness of your spirit lead you into levity; cheerful seriousness is the point you are to aim at. And be willing to suffer with him, that you may reign with him. yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow him!

I am, yours, affectionately,

LETTER IV.

Deny

J. WESLEY.

Bandon, May 2, 1771.

THERE is no fear I should forget you, especially at this time, when all the powers of hell are engaged against you but let them come about you like bees, they shall be extinct as the fire among the thorns. Tempted you are and will be: otherwise you could not know your own weakness, and the strength of your Master. But all temptations will work together for good:" all are for your profit, that you may be partaker of his holiness. You may always have an evidence, both of God's love to you, and of yours to him. And, at some times, the former may be more dear, at other times, the latter. It is enough if, in one case, or the other, you simply stay your soul upon him. S. Harper's is the ordinary experience of those who are renewed in love. S. Jackson's experience is quite extraordinary, and what very few of them have yet attained.

There is a danger of every believer's mistaking the voice of the enemy, or of their own imagination, for the voice of God. And you can distinguish one from the other, not by any written rule, but only by the unction of the Holy One. This only teaches Christian prudence, consistent with simplicity and godly sincerity. The four volumes of Sermons, the Appeals, the Notes, and the Extracts from Mr. Law's works, and from Dr. Young, might best suit you now: meddle with nothing that does not suit your present temper. Meet with them that meet on a Friday, and speak in God's name, without fear or shame. The general rule," not to correspond but with those who have both grace and understanding," admits of several exceptions, in favour of a few, who want one of them, or the other, or both. Be not afraid of writing too long letters to me. The longer, the more agreeable to, My dear

Yours, affectionately,

J. WESLEY.

LETTER V.

Galway, May 20, 1771.

YOUR concern is with the present moment; your business is, to live to-day. In every sense, let the morrow take thought for the things of itself. It is true, the full assurance of hope excludes all doubt of our final salvation: but it does not, and cannot continue any longer, than we walk closely with God. And it does not