creasing our holiness, or our happiness! with Bishop Ken, ་ So that we may well say, "O may angels, while we sleep, Stop every avenue of ill!" Without needing to use any other arguments, you have a clear proof in your own experience, that our blessed Lord is both able and willing to give us always, what he gives once; that there is no necessity of ever losing what we receive in the moment of justification, or sanctification. But it is his will, that all the light and love which we then receive, should increase more and more unto the perfect day. If you are employed to assist children that are brought to the birth, that groan either for the first or the pure love, happy are you! But this is not all your work. No, my Hetty, you are likewise to watch over the new-born babes. Although they have love, they have not yet either much light or much strength, so that they never had more need of your assistance, that they may neither be turned out of the way, nor hindered in running the race that is set before them. I should not have been willing that Miss Bosanquet should have been joined to any other person than Mr. Fletcher, but I trust she may be as useful with him as she was before. I fear our dear will not stay long with us. I have no answer to my last letter, and Mrs. Downes writes that she is far from well. Yet God is able to raise her up. As to Peggy Roe, I have little hopes of her life but she seemed, when I saw her, to be quite simple of heart, desiring nothing more but God. My dear Hetty, adieu! Remember, in all your prayers, Your's, most affectionately, J. WESLEY. LETTER IX. London, Jan. 7, 1782. MY DEAR HETTY, IN the success of Mr. Leech's preaching, we have one proof of a thousand, that the blessing of God always attends the publishing of full salvation as attainable now, by simple faith. You should always have in readiness that little Tract, "The Plain Account of Christian Perfection;" there is nothing that would so effectually stop the mouths of those, who call this " a new doctrine." All who thus object, are really (though they suspect nothing less) seeking sanctification by works. If it be by works, then certainly these will need time, in order to the doing of these works. But if it is by faith, it is plain, a moment is as a thousand years. Then God says, (in the spiritual, as in the outward world,) Let there be light, and there is light. I am in great hopes, as J. S. got his own soul much quickened in Macclesfield, he will now be a blessing to many at Chester. A few witnesses of pure love remain there still; but several are gone to Abraham's bosom. Encourage those in M. who enjoy it, to speak VOL. 10.-Kk explicitly what they do experience: and to go on, till they know alt that "love of God that passeth knowledge." Give all the help you can, my dear Hetty, to them, and to, JOHN WESLEY. LETTER X. MY DEAR HETTY, Darlington, June 25, 1782. IT is certain, there has been, for these forty years, such an outpouring of the Spirit, and such an increase of vital religion, as has not been in England for many centuries; and it does not appear that the work of God at all decays. In many places there is a considerable increase of it; so that we have reason to hope, that the time is at hand, when the kingdom of God shall come with power, and all the people of this poor heathen land shall know him, from the least to the greatest. I am glad you had so good an opportunity of talking with Mr. S. Surely, if prayer was made for him, so useful an instrument as he was, would not be suffered to lose all his usefulness. I wish you could make such little excursions oftener, as you always find your labour is not in vain. This afternoon I was agreeably surprised, by a letter from our dear Miss It seems as if God, in answer to many prayers, has lent her to us yet a little longer. "He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up again. Wise are all his ways!" Take particular care, my dear Hetty, of the children; they are glorious monuments of divine grace, and I think you have a particular affection for them, and a gift to profit them. I always am, my dear Friend, Your's most affectionately, JOHN WESLEY. LETTER XI. MY DEAR HETTY, Bristol, Oct. 1, 1782. I RECEIVED your's two days after date, and read it yesterday to Miss Stockdale, and poor Peggy Roe, who is still strangely detained in life. But she is permitted to stay in the body a little longer, that she may be more ready for the Bridegroom. You did exceedingly well to send me so circumstantial an account of Robert Roe's last illness and happy death. It may incite many to run the race that is set before them, with more courage and patience. The removal of so useful an instrument as your late cousin, in the midst, or rather in the dawn of his usefulness, (especially while the harvest is so great, and the faithful labourers so few,) is an instance of the divine economy, which leaves our reason behind our little narrow minds cannot comprehend it. We can only wonder and adore. How is your health? I sometimes fear, lest you also (as those I tenderly love generally have been) should be snatched away. But let us live to-day. I always am affectionately your's, J. WESLEY. LETTER XII. MY DEAR HETTY, Bristol, March 15, 1783. I SHALL not be able to visit Macclesfield quite as soon as usual this year; for the preaching-houses at Hinckley and Nottingham are to be opened, which I take in my way. I expect to be at Nottingham on the 1st of April, but how long I shall stay there, cannot yet determine. Thence I shall probably come, by Derby to Macclesfield. I intended to have written a good deal more, but I am hardly able. For a few days, I have had just such a fever as I had, a few years ago, in Ireland. But all is well. I am in no pain, but the wheel of life seems scarcely able to move; yet I made shift to preach this morning to a crowded audience, and hope to say something to them this afternoon. I love that word, "And Ishmael died in the presence of all his brethren." Still pray for, My dear Hetty, your's most affectionately, LETTER XIII. J. WESLEY. MY DEAR HETTY, London, Oct. 12, 1787. I DO not doubt but your calling at Dublin, would be in an acceptable time, especially as R. H. was there. After we left you at Manchester, we pushed on, and, in all haste, set out for the Isle of Jersey. But a storm drove us into Yarmouth, in the Isle of Wight. There Dr. Coke and I preached in the market place by turns, two evenings and two mornings. A second storm drove us to the Isle of Purbeck, just where the Indiaman was lost. There I had an opportunity of preaching to a little Society, which I had not seen for thirteen years. We hoped to reach Guernsey the next evening, but could get no farther than the Isle of Alderney. I preached on the beach in the morning, and the next afternoon came safe to Guernsey. Here is an open door; high and low, rich and poor, receive the word gladly: so that I could not regret being detained by contrary winds, several days longer than we intended. The same thing befell us in the Isle of Jersey, where also there was an open door: even the Governor, and the chief of the people, being quite civil and friendly. Jane Bisson I saw every day. She is nineteen years old, about the size of Miss, and has a peculiar mixture of seriousness, sprightliness, and sweetness, both in her looks and behaviour. Wherever we were, she was the servant of all. I think she exceeds Madam Guion, in deep communion with God. I hope you will see a revival in Cork also. particular care of the tender lambs, not forgetting See that you take poor P. L. Peace be with all your spirits! I am, with kind love to James Rogers, my dear Hetty, Your's, most affectionately, J. WESLEY. MY DEAR HETTY, LETTER XIV. May 28, 1788. MY not hearing from you for so long a time, would have given me concern, but I knew it was not from want of affection. I am glad to hear you prosper in your soul: rest in nothing you have attained, but press on till you are filled with all the fulness of God. In this day of God's power, I hope many of the backsliders in Cork will be brought back; there are great numbers of them in and about the city, and many are of the genteeler sort. It seems you have a particular mission to these: perhaps they will hear none but you. I hope you have already found out Mrs. Forbes, (Captain Forbes's wife,) and that now she is more than almost persuaded to be a Christian. The pearl on my eye is but just discernible, and dulls the sight a little, but not much; as it grows no worse, I do not much regard it. Mr. Smythe's society, I verily believe, will do us no harm, and every one may speak of me as he will. I am just flying away as a shadow. It more than makes me amends, that James and you still love, and pray for, My dear Hetty, MY DEAR HETTY, Your most affectionate, LETTER XV. J. WESLEY. February 9, 1789. I AM glad to hear that you do not grow weary or faint in your wind; that you are rather increasing in the way of holiness. Go on in the name of the Lord, and in the power of his might, doing the will of God from the heart. It was a providence indeed, the flood did not begin in the night, rather than in the day. So it is that judgment is usually mixed with mercy, that sinners may be awakened, and not destroyed. I liked well to lodge at brother Laffan's when I was in Cork last, but certainly I shall like much better to lodge with brother Rogers and you. I shall be more at home with you, than I could be any where else in Cork. I still find (blessed be God) a gradual increase of strength, and my sight is rather better than worse. continued, I shall endeavour to reach Dublin about the end of March; If my life and health be and Cork, before the end of June. Peace be with your spirits! I am, my dear Hetty, your's most affectionately, J. WESLEY. TO MISS PATTY CHAPMAN. MY DEAR SISTER, December 17, 1773. CERTAINLY the more good you do, the more will many be tempted against you. But go on. So much the more will the Spirit of glory and of Christ rest upon you. By fighting against that reserve, you will conquer it: the more it is resisted, the more it is weakened. You need, not be overcome by peevishness any more. The grace of God is sufficient for you. It seems that you are at present in your place: how knowest thou, but thou shalt gain thy brother! The most profitable way of reading, is to read in an exact method: suppose a chapter or two (as time may serve) in the Old Testament, with the Notes, in the morning; and a chapter, more or less, of the New Testament, and Notes, in the afternoon or evening. Next to this, it might be useful to read the works in order, only not too fast, not too much at a time. For all reading should be joined with meditation and prayer. Read a little : pray and meditate much. In order to converse usefully, we had a rule at Oxford, to plan every conversation before we went into company; to consider, What subject would be most useful; and, How to prosecute it. And though of yourself you are not sufficient for these things, yet one is nigh to supply all your wants. Love him, and trust him for all things, and. continue to love, for his sake, My dear Patty, your's, affectionately, J. WESLEY.. DEAR SIR, TO MR. ALEXANDER. Near London, Nov. 21, 1783. IT is very certain your day of grace is not past: if it were, you would be quite easy and unconcerned. It is plain, the Lover of souls is still striving with you, and drawing you to himself. But you have no time to lose; for "now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation!" It is, therefore, your wisdom, (without considering what others do, whether clergyman or layman,) to attend to one thing; that is, "to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." And nothing can be more sure, than that if you do this, if it be indeed your one care to "seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness, all other things shall be added unto you." To his protection I commit you and your's, and am, dear Sir, Your affectionate Brother, J. WESLEY.. I write a line to your Son. DEAR JAMES, Near London, Nov. 21, 1783. ONLY let your actions correspond with your words, and then they will have weight with all that hear them. seems highly probable to me, that Providence does not intend you should be a tradesman. I have known a young man, that feared God, acquire as much learning in one year, as children usually do in seven. Possibly you may do the same. If you have a desire to try, and we should live |