Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

Retaining a due sense of your friendly offices, and praying for a blessing on all your labours,

I remain, Rev. and dear Sir,

Your affectionate brother and servant,

JOHN WESLEY.

DEAR BROTHER,

TO MR. S. AT ARMAGH.

April 24, 1769.

I SHALL now tell you the things which have been more or less upon my mind, ever since I have been in the North of Ireland. If you forget them, you will be a sufferer, and so will the people: if you observe them, it will be good for both.

1. To begin with little things. If you regard your health, Touch no supper, but a little milk, or water-gruel. This will entirely, by the blessing of God, secure you from nervous disorders; especially if you rise early every morning, whether you preach or not.

2. Be steadily serious. There is no country upon earth where this is more necessary than Ireland: as you are generally encompassed with those who, with a little encouragement, would laugh, or trifle from morning to night.

3. In every town visit all you can from house to house. I say, all you can; for there will be some whom you cannot visit: and if you examine, instruct, reprove, exhort, as need requires, you will have no time hanging on your hands. It is by this means that the societies are increased wherever T. R. goes; he is preaching from morning to night. Warning every one, that he may present every one perfect in Christ Jesus.

4. But on this, and every other occasion, avoid all familiarity with women. This is deadly poison both to them and you. You cannot be too wary in this respect. Therefore begin from this hour.

5. The chief matter of your conversation, as well as your preaching, should doubtless be, The weightier matters of the law. Yet there are several (comparatively) little things which you should earnestly inculcate from time to time, (for "He that despiseth small things, shall fall by little and little.") Such are,

1. Be active, be diligent: avoid all laziness, sloth, indolence. Flee from every degree, every appearance of it; else you will never be more than half a Christian.

2. Be cleanly. In this let the Methodists take pattern by the Quakers. Avoid all nastiness, dirt, slovenliness, both in your person, clothes, house, and all about you. Use all diligence to be clean, as

one says,

"Let thy mind's sweetness have its operation,
Upon thy person, clothes, and habitation."

3. Whatever clothes you have, let them be whole: no rents,

no tatters, no rags. These are a scandal to either man or woman; being another fruit of vile laziness. Mend your clothes, or I shall never expect you to mend your lives. Let none ever see a ragged Methodist.

6. Use no tobacco, unless prescribed by a physician. It is an uncleanly, and an unwholesome self-indulgence: and the more customary it is, the more resolutely should you break off from every degree of that evil custom.

7. Use no snuff, unless prescribed by a physician. I suppose no other nation in Europe is in such vile bondage to this silly, nasty, dirty custom, as the Irish are; but let Christians be in this bondage no longer. Assert your liberty, and that all at once: nothing will be done by degrees. But just now you may break loose through Christ strengthening you.

8. Touch no dram. It is a liquid fire. It is a sure, though slow poison. It saps the very springs of life. In Ireland, above all countries in the world, I would sacredly abstain from this, because the evil is so general and to this, and snuff, and smoky cabins, I impute the blindness which is so exceedingly common throughout the nation.. I am, your affectionate Brother,

ΤΟ

J. WESLEY..

DEAR SIR,

1770.

I BLESS God that you are not disgusted at the great plainness with which I wrote. Indeed I know not but it might be termed roughness, which was owing partly to the pressure of mind I then felt, and partly to my being straitened for time; otherwise I might have found softer expressions. I am thankful likewise for your openness, which obliges me to be open and unreserved, and to say all I mean, and that in the most simple manner, on each of the articles that lie before us.

I must do this, even with regard to my fellow-labourers, lest I should seem to mean more than do. But I am sensible this is a tender point, and one so extremely difficult to treat upon, that I should not venture to say one word, did I not know to whom I speak. What I mean is this: from many little circumstances that have occurred, I have been afraid (just so far I went) that those clergymen with whom you are most acquainted, were jealous of your being acquainted with me. I was the more afraid, when I heard the sudden exclamation of one, whom you well know. "Good God! Mr. Wesley is always speaking well of these Gentlemen, and they can never speak well of him. But I am entirely satisfied by that full declaration which you make, "I do not know of any impression that has been made upon me to your disadvantage."

I had once the opportunity of speaking a few minutes to you, on

the head of Christian Perfection. And I believe you had not much objection to any thing which was then spoken. When I spoke nearly to the same effect to one of the late bishops of London, Bishop Gibson, he said earnestly, "Why, Mr. Wesley, if this is what you mean by perfection, who can be against it?" I believe verily, there would need no more than a single hour, spent in free and open conversation, to convince you, that none can rationally or scripturally say any thing against the perfection I have preached for thirty years.

The union which I desire among the persons I mentioned, is an entire union of heart, constraining them to labour together as one man, in spreading vital religion through the nation. But this I do not hope for, though I know a few who would cordially rejoice therein. The union which I proposed is of a lower kind: I proposed that they should love as brethren, and behave as such. And I particularized what I think is implied in this: I imagined, in so plain a manner, as was hardly possible, without great skill, to be either. misunderstood, or misrepresented. I really do not conceive, what ambiguity there can be in any part of this proposal? Or what objection can lie against our going thus far, whether we go farther

or not.

With regard to you, I have frequently observed that there are two very different ranks of Christians, both of whom may be in the favour of God; a higher and a lower rank. The latter avoid all known sin, do much good, use all the means of grace, but have little of the life of God in their souls, but are much conformed to the world. The former make the Bible their whole rule, and their sole aim is the will and the image of God. This they steadily and uniformly pursue, through honour and dishonour, denying themselves, and taking up their cross daily; considering one point only, "How may I attain most of the mind that was in Christ, and how may I please him most?" Now I verily believe, never was a person of rank more prepared for this state, than you were, the first time I had the pleasure of seeing you. Nay, I doubt not but you pant after it now your soul is athirst to be all devoted to God. But who will press you forward to this? Rather, who will not draw you back? It is in this respect that I think one that uses plain dealing is needful for you in the highest degree: so needful, that without this help you will inevitably stop short. I do not mean, stop short of heaven; but of that degree of holiness, and consequently of happiness both in time and eternity, which is now offered to your acceptance.

It is herein that I am jealous over you. I am afraid of your sinking beneath your calling, degenerating into a common Christian, who shall indeed be saved, but saved as by fire. I long to see both you and your lady a little more than common Christians: Christians of the first rank in the kingdom of God, full of goodness and truth. I want you to be living witnesses of all gospel-holiness! And what shall hinder, if you seek it by faith? Are not all things ready? The Lord God give you to experience, That all things are possible to them that believe!

O God, let all their life declare,
How happy these thy servants are;

How far above these earthly things,
How pure when wash'd in Jesu's blood!
How intimately one with God,

A heav'n-born race of priests and kings.

I am, honoured Sir, your friend and servant,

J. WESLEY,

TO THE REV. MR. L

DEAR BROTHER,

Lewisham, Dec. 14, 1771. FOR some time I have been in doubt, whether it was best for me to write, or to leave you to your own reflections. But at length love turns the scale. I cannot be silent any longer, without being wanting in affection. I will therefore state the case as impartially as I can, and may God give you a right judgment in all things!

It has pleased God to intrust you with several talents: a measure of his grace, of natural understanding, improved by reading and conversation; and a tolerable utterance. And what are you doing with these talents? You are well-nigh burying them in the earth. A dispensation of the Gospel is committed to you and yet you preach not the Gospel, or but now and then; instead of continually stirring up the gift of God that is in you. Is this inactivity, this losing so many precious opportunities, owing to any temporal views? Do you expect to get more money by delay? I hope not. Do you want to avoid labour, shame, or censure? I would fain think better things of you. Surely you have not so learned Christ!

But you have promised (not indeed to man, but) before God, that you will not leave the Church. What do you mean by this? What ideas do you affix to that confused expression? In what sense can the officiating at West-street or Spitalfields chapels (both of them consecrated places, if that avails any thing) be called leaving the Church? Does Mr. Dodd, one of the king's chaplains, leave the Church, by officiating at Charlotte-street chapel? Although this was never consecrated yet, neither is it under any episcopal jurisdiction?

But if you had made that promise ten times, still I ask, Would it not be "more honoured in the breach, than in the observance ?" For what was it you promised? To wait for dead men's shoes? Was not this a foolish promise? To bury your talent in the earth? Was not this a sinful promise? To incur the wo of not preaching the Gospel? Is not this both foolish and sinful? "But you do not intend to stand in the vineyard all the day idle. You will but wait awhile longer." Well, how long will you be as a dumb dog? Twenty years? Or ten? Or one and a half? If you have a lease of your life, well: but what if you are called in one year to give an account of your stewardship? O live to-day! Do all the good you can

while it is called to-day! Now stir up the gift of God which is in you! Now, save as many souls as you can; and do all you can to ease the labour, and prolong the life of,

Your affectionate friend and brother,

TO MISS A

JOHN WESLEY.

DEAR MISS A,

London, Aug. 21, 1766. YOUR letters will always be agreeable to me, and the more largely and freely you write, the better. I am deeply concerned for your happiness; and a measure of happiness you may enjoy, as long as you feel any love in your heart to God, though it be but in a small degree. Be thankful for what you have; and in peace and love wait for the whole promise. God has not only promised, but confirmed that promise by an oath, that "being delivered from all your enemies, you shall serve him in righteousness and holiness, all the days of your life." By what art can this be made to mean, the last day, or the last moment of your life? Look for it Now! To-day hear his voice! Do not reason against God, against yourself: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with ALL thy heart. The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it,

I advise you, 1st, Get all the opportunities you can, of hearing the preaching, and conversing with the children of God. 2dly, Avoid disputing, with your might. 3dly, Spend some time every day in private prayer, in meditation, and in reading the Notes on the New Testament, the first volume of Sermons, and the Appeals. 4thly, When you may be free, use it rather. Peace be with your spirit. I am, &c. J. W.

LETTER II. TO MISS A

DEAR MISS A

London, Jan. 15, 1767. TIME changes thought, especially in youth, and amidst variety of company. So that it would be nothing strange, if you should forget those for whom you once had a regard; but you need not. Every reasonable affection is intended to last to eternity. And the true affection for our friends is, as Milton says,

-"A scale

Whereby to heav'nly love thou mayst ascend." For the present, you seem to be in your place, the place which the wisdom of God has assigned you; and the crosses you now meet with, as they are not of your own choosing, will surely work together for good. Your want of more public opportunities may, in a good measure, be supplied by private exercises. Let no day pass without

« EdellinenJatka »