the people commonly see and acknowledge the hand of God. But wherever war breaks out, God is forgotten, if he be not set at open defiance. What a glorious work of God was at Cambuslang and Kilsythe, from 1740, to 1744! But the war that followed tore it all up by the roots, and left scarce any trace of it behind. Insomuch that when I diligently inquired a few years after, I could not find one that retained the life of God! I am, my dear Tommy,

Your affectionate Friend and Brother, JOHN WESLEY.

DEAR JEMMY,

TO MR. DEMPSTER.

Ballinrobe, May 19, 1775. THAT one point I earnestly recommend, both to brother Rankin, and you, and all our preachers, by prayer, by exhortation, and by every possible means, to oppose a party spirit. This has always, so far as it prevailed, been the bane of all true religion. More especially when a country was in such a situation, as America is now. None but the God of Almighty Love can extricate the poor people out of the snare. O what need have you to besiege his throne with all the

power of prayer!

I am, dear Jemmy, your's, affectionately, JOHN WESLEY..

DEAR TOMMY,

LETTER IV.

Clarmain, near Armagh, June 13, 1775.

I AM afraid, our correspondence for the time to come, will be more uncertain than ever: since the sword is drawn, and it is well if they have not on both sides thrown away the scabbard. What will the end of these things be, either in Europe or America? It seems, huge confusion and distress, such as neither we nor our fathers had known! But it is enough, if all issues in glory to God, and peace and good will among men.

I am sorry for poor T. R. I well hoped God had thoroughly healed his backsliding, and so lifted up his head, that he would have fallen no more. But the case is not desperate yet: you must, in no wise, give him up. I have scarcely ever known an habitual drunkard finally reclaimed, before he had relapsed more than once or twice. Your point is, first, save him from the occasions of sin: then incite him not to cast away hope.. Nothing but this, despair of conquering, can totally destroy him. As long as he keeps up the faintest hope, he will strive against sin.

My brother wrote me word, that he had received a copy of the tract that you have written. Something of the kind may be very seasonable. Never had America such a call to repentance. For unless general reformation prevent general destruction, what a scene will soon be opened? Ruin and desolation must soon overspread the land, and fair houses be turned into ruinous heaps. But what are

those strange phenomena which you speak of? Send me an account of just so much as you can depend upon.

Should not you appoint in America, (as we do in England and Ireland,) one or more general days of fasting and prayer?

I am, dear Tommy, Your affectionate Friend and Brother,

DEAR TOMMY,

LETTER V.

J. WESLEY.

Near Leeds, July 28, 1775.

I REJOICE to hear, that the work of our Lord still prospers in your hands. If the temple is built even in troublous times, it is not by the power of man. I rejoice too over honest Francis Asbury, and hope he will no more enter into temptation. Do not despair of poor T. R. He is not out of God's reach yet. I know no reason, why we should not print the names of the American preachers. You may print an edition of the Christian Pattern, and apply the profits of it to the payment of the debt. The societies should pay the passage of the preachers. But you must not imagine, that any more of them will come to America, till these troubles are at an end.

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Certainly this is the point which we should insist upon, in season and out of season. The universal corruption of all orders and degrees of men, loudly calls for the vengeance of God. And inasmuch as all other nations are equally corrupt, it seems God will punish us by one another. What can prevent this, but an universal, or at least, a general repentance? Otherwise we have great reason to fear, God will soon say, "Sword, Go through that land and destroy it."

Those clergymen should be lovingly advised, "Not to hurt our preachers." I will pay your arrears. We have only, to live to-day! God will take care of to-morrow. I am, dear Tommy,

Your affectionate Friend and Brother, JOHN WESLEY.

(We subjoin the two following short letters, written on the same half

DEAR JEMMY,

sheet.)

TO MR. DEMPSTER.

July 28.

LAST month I was at the gates of death. But it pleased God, just then to rebuke the fever, so that my pulse began to beat again, after it had totally ceased. Since that time I have been gradually recovering strength, and am now nearly as well as ever. Let us use. the short residue of life, to the glory of him that gave it!

I am, your's, affectionately,

JOHN WESLEY.

MY DEAR BROTHER,

TO JOHN KING.

Near Leeds, July 28, 1775. ALWAYS take advice or reproof as a favour. It is the surest mark of love.

I advised you once, and you took it as an affront: nevertheless I

will do it once more.

Scream no more at the peril of your soul. God now warns you, by me whom he hath set over you. Speak as earnestly as you can ; but do not scream. Speak with all your heart; but with a moderate voice. It was said of our Lord, "He shall not cry;" the word properly means, He shall not scream. Herein be a follower of me, as I am of Christ. I often speak loud: often vehemently; but r never scream. I never strain myself: I dare not. I know it would be a sin against God and my own soul. Perhaps one reason why that good man, Thomas Walsh, yea, and John Manners too, were in such grievous darkness before they died, was because they shortened. their own lives.

O John, pray for an advisable and teachable temper. By nature you are very far from it. You are stubborn and headstrong. Your last letter was written in a very wrong spirit. If you cannot take advice from others, surely you might take it from

DEAR TOMMY,

Your affectionate brother, J. WESLEY..

LETTER VI..

London, Aug. 13, 1775.

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I DO not give up T. R. yet: he is not out of God's reach. am not sorry that brother Asbury stays with you another year. that time it will be seen, what God will do with North America: and you will easily judge, whether our preachers are called to remain any longer therein. If they are, God will make their way plain, and give them favour even with the men that delight in war. In the civil wars of Rome, Atticus stood fair in the esteem of both the contending parties. And so did the Archbishop of Cambray, during the war in the Netherlands. Not only the officers, but the common soldiers, when they went by, treating him with love and regard. The clouds do indeed gather more and more; and it seems a heavy storm will follow: certainly it will, unless the prayers of the faithful obtain a longer reprieve.

A few weeks ago, I was at the gates of death, in the North of Ireland. But

"The fever felt his touch and filed."

And I am now just as I was before it came.

You did well, to remove the books into a place of safety; if any such can be found in America. It is no wonder, that the spirits of the men who know not God are sharpened into madness. That human creatures commence lions and bears. This is the genuine fruit of war!.

Certainly if they persecute you in one city you should flee to another, Peace be with your spirit! I am, dear Tommy, Your affectionate friend and brother, J. WESLEY.

DEAR TOMMY,

LETTER VII.

London, Oct. 20, 1775.

THE account given in our newspapers of my death was not wholly without foundation. For I was only not dead; my pulse being quite gone, and "the wheel at the cistern without motion." But then our Lord stepped in, and

"The fever own'd his touch and fled."

My strength returned by swift degrees; and I am now. at least as well as before my illness.

In the country places I believe you will have the largest harvest, where they know little and talk little about politics. Their hearts. are engaged with something better, and they let the dead bury their dead. I am glad you are going into North Carolina; and why not into South Carolina too? I apprehend, those provinces would bear much fruit, as most parts of them are fresh, unbroken ground. And as the people are farther removed from the din of war, they may be more susceptible of the gospel of peace.

A paper was sent to me lately, occasioned by the troubles in America: but it would not do good. It is abundantly too tart; and nothing of that kind will be of service now. All parties are already too much sharpened against each other: we must pour water, not oil, into the flame. I had written a little tract upon the subject, before I knew the American ports were shut up. I think, there is not one -sharp word therein: I did not design there should. However, many are excessively angry; and would willingly burn me and it together. Indeed it is provoking: I suppose, above forty thousand of them have been printed in three weeks, and still the demand for them is as great as ever.

I was glad to receive your's by Capt. Crawford. I am entirely of your mind. I am persuaded love and tender measures will do far more than violence. And if I should have an interview with a great man (which seems to be not unlikely,) I will, by the grace of God, tell him so, without any circumlocution. Our time is in God's hands: let us stand ready for all things!

I am, dear Tommy,
Your affectionate friend and brother,

J, WESLEY

MY DEAR SISTER,

LETTERS TO MISS B.

LETTER I.

June 17, 1744.

IT is something strange, that I should never hear of your sickness, till I hear of your recovery. Both the one and the other were

designed for blessings, and I doubt not but they have proved so to you. Since I saw you first, I have not observed much occasion for reproving. But we have all need of advice and exhortation, else we should soon be weary and faint in our minds. It is to be expected, that above one half of those who not only profess great things, but actually enjoy the great salvation, will, nevertheless, be sooner or later moved from their steadfastness. Some of them will indeed recover what they had lost; others will die in their sins. The observing this, should incite us to double our diligence, lest we should fall after their example.

The difference between heaviness and darkness of soul, (the wilderness state,) should never be forgotten. Darkness (unless in the case of bodily disorder) seldom comes upon us but by our own fault. It is not so with respect to heaviness; which may be occasioned by a thousand circumstances, such as frequently neither our wisdom can foresee, nor our power prevent. It seems your trial was of the latter kind: perhaps, too, it was partly owing to the body. But of whatsoever kind it was, you may profit thereby; it need not leave you as it found you. Remember the wise saying of Mr. Dodd, "It is a great loss to lose an affliction." If you are no better for it, you lose it. But you may gain thereby both humility, seriousness, and resignation.

We so become all things to all, as not to hurt our own souls, when we first secure a single eye, a steady design, to please all for their good to edification, and then take care that our discourse be always good to the use of edifying, and such as may minister grace to the hearers. But in order to this, we have need of power from on high, and of the wisdom that sitteth by the throne. This alone can give us to order our conversation aright, so as to profit both others and ourselves. Before you can do this effectually, you must conquer your natural reserve, and exercise it only to those of whom you know nothing at all, or of whom you know nothing good. Perhaps there is one occasion more on which it will be highly expedient, if not necessary. Namely, when good persons, (at least in some measure so,) sink beneath their character, trifle away time, or indulge themselves in a conversation, which has no tendency to improve either the speaker or the hearer.

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I think it will not be best for you to go out less than you ever did. Suppose you have more faith and more love, (as I would fain think you have,) you certainly ought to go out more. Otherwise your faith will insensibly die away. It is by works only, that it can be made perfect. And the more the love of solitude is indulgéd, the more it will increase. This is a temptation common to men. every age and country, Satan has whispered to those who began to taste the powers of the world to come, "To the desert.” "To the wilderness." Most of our little flock at Oxford were tried with this; my brother and I in particular. Nay, but I say, "To the Bible; to the Bible." And there you will learn, "As you have time, to do good unto all men." To warn every man, to exhort