there be any more pain!" But you shall hear the great voice out of heaven, saying "The tabernacle of God is with men! And God himself shall be with them, and be their God!" Still love and pray for, Your ever affectionate Brother, J. WESLEY. LETTER IX. MY DEAR SISTER, Bristol, Aug. 31, 1784. MANY years ago, Mr. Hall (then strong in faith) believed God called him to marry my youngest sister. He told her so. She fully believed him, and none could convince one or the other to the contrary. I talked with her about it: but she had "so often made it matter of prayer, that she could not be deceived." In a week he dropped her, courted her elder sister, and as soon as was convenient, married her. The disappointed one then found exactly the same temptations that you do now. But neither did she keep the Devil's counsel. She told me all that was in her heart. And the consequence was, that by the grace of God, she gained a complete victory. So will you. And you will be the better enabled, by your own experience, to guard all, especially young persons, from laying stress upon any thing but the written word of God. Guard them against reasoning in that dangerous manner, "If I was deceived in this, then I was deceived in thinking myself justified." Not at all: although nature or Satan, in the latter case, admirably well mimicked the works of God. By mighty prayer repel all those suggestions, and afterwards your faith will be so much the more strengthened: and you will be more than conqueror through him that loveth you. Whenever you find yourself pressed above measure, you must make another little excursion. While you help others, God will help you. This may be one end of this uncommon dispensation. You must not bury your talent in the earth. Wishing you more and more of that "Lovely, lasting peace of mind," I am, your's, most affectionately, J. WESLEY. LETTER X. MY DEAR SISTER, Wednesbury, March 28, 1785. YOU are in danger of falling into both extremes of "making light of, as well as fainting under his chastening. This you do whenever you look at any circumstance, without seeing the hand of God in it without seeing at the same instant, this unkindness, this reproach, this returning evil for good; as well as this faintness, this weariness, this pain, is the cup which my Father hath given me." And shall I not drink it? Why does he give it me? Only for my profit, that I "may be a partaker of his holiness." I have often found an aptness both in myself. and others, to connect events that have no real relation to each other. So one says, "I am sure this is the will of God, as that I am justified." Another says, "God as surely spake this to my heart as ever he spoke to me at all." This is an exceedingly dangerous way of thinking or speaking. We know not what it may lead us to. It may sap the very foundation of our religion. It may insensibly draw us into Deism or Atheism. My dear Nancy, my sister, my friend, beware of this! The grace of God is sufficient for you! And whatever clouds may interpose between, his banner over you is love. Look to yourself that you lose not the things that you have gained; but that you may receive a full reward. Adieu! J. WESLEY. LETTER XI. MY DEAR SISTER, London, Jan. 9, 1789. "SIR, you are troubled," said Mr. Law to me, "because you do not understand how God is dealing with you. Perhaps if you did, it would not so well answer his design. He is teaching you to trust him farther than you can see him." He is now teaching you the same lesson. Hitherto you cannot understand his ways. But they are all mercy and truth. And though you do not know now what he does, you shall know hereafter. I am acquainted with several persons whom I believed to be saved from sin. But there is great variety in the manner wherein God is pleased to lead them. Some of them are called to act much for God: some to rejoice much: some to suffer much. All of these shall receive their crown. But when the Son of Man shall come in his glory, the brightest crown will be given to the sufferers. Look up, thou blessed one! The time is at hand! J. WESLEY. I am, ever yours, LETTER XII. MY DEAR SISTER, Leeds, August 1, 1789. I THANK you for sending me so particular an account of your sister's death. "Right precious in the sight of the Lord, is the death of his saints!" It is well you have learned to say, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord!" And you can say it even "When loss of friends ordain'd to know, But why does our Lord inflict this upon us? Not merely for his pleasure, but that we may be partakers of his holiness. It is true, one grand means of grace is the doing the will of our Lord. But the suffering it is usually a quicker means, and sinks us deeper into the abyss of love. It hath pleased God to lead you in the way of suffering, from your youth up until now. For the present this is not joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, it has yielded peaceable fruit.. Your soul is still as a watered garden, as a field which the Lord hath blessed. Cleave to him still with full purpose of heart. To his tender care I commend you. And am, Yours, affectionately, J. WESLEY. MY DEAR SISTER, LETTER XIII. High Wycombe, Nov. 4, 1790. THE more I consider your case, the more I am convinced that you are in the school of God, and that the Lord loveth whom he chasteneth. From the time you omitted meeting your class or band, you grieved the Holy Spirit of God, and he gave a commission to Satan to buffet you: nor will that commission ever be revoked, till you begin to meet again. Why were you not a mother in Israel-a repairer of the waste places-a guide to the blind-a healer of the sick-a lifter up of the hands which hung down? Wherever you came, God was with you, and shone upon your path. Many daughters had done virtuously: but thou excelledst them all. Woman, remember the faith! In the name of God, set out again, and do the first works! I exhort you, for my sake, (who tenderly love you,) for God's sake, for the sake of your own soul, begin again without delay. The day after you receive this, go and meet a class or a band. Sick or well, go! If you cannot speak a word, go; and God will go with you. You sink under the sin of omission! My friend, my sister, go! Go, whether you can or not. Break through! Take up your cross. I say again, do the first works, and God will restore your first love! And you will be a comfort, not a grief to, Yours, most affectionately, J. WESLEY. [This letter produced the desired effect. Miss B. had sunk under a deep nervous affliction, but the day after receiving this letter, her brother collected a few of the people together; she met them, and from that time continued to recover, till she was restored to her former health and usefulness.] MY DEAR SISTER, LETTER XIV. London, Dec. 15, 1792. THERE can be no possible reason to doubt concerning the happiness of that child. He did fear God, and, according to his circumstances, work righteousness. This is the essence of religion, according to St. Peter. His soul, therefore, was "darkly safe with God," although he was only under the Jewish Dispensation. : When the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and assign every man his own reward, that reward will undoubtedly be proportioned, First, to our inward holiness, our likeness to God: Secondly, to our works and thirdly, to our sufferings. Therefore, whatever you suffer in time, you will be an unspeakable gainer in eternity. Many of your sufferings, perhaps the greatest part, are now past. But your joy is to come! Look up, my dear friend, look up! and see your crown before you! A little longer, and you shall drink of the rivers of pleasure that flow at God's right hand for evermore. Adieu, J. WESLEY. LETTERS TO MISS RITCHIE. LETTER 1. MY DEAR BETSY, May 8, 1774. IT is not common for me to write to any one first: I only answer those that write to me. But I willingly make an exception with regard to you: for it is not an uncommon concern that I feel for you. You are just rising into life and I would fain have you not almost, but altogether a Christian. I would have you just such a one as Miranda: and you cannot be content with less. You cannot be satisfied with right notions; neither with harmlessness: no, nor yet with barely external religion, how exact soever it be. Nay, you will not be content with a taste of inward religion. This it has pleased God to give you already. You know in whom you have believed: : you have tasted of the powers of the world to come. But "A taste of love cannot suffice: Your soul for all his fulness cries." Cry on, and never cease! Mind not those who rebuke you, "that you shold hold your peace." Cry so much the more, "Jesus of Nazareth, take away all my sins! Leave none remaining! Speak the word only, and I shall be healed!" Write freely to, Yours, affectionately, J. WESLEY. LETTER II. June 3, 1774. MY DEAR BETSY, I SHALL much want to hear that you stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made you free. It is absolutely certain, that you never need lose any thing of what God has wrought. He is able, and he is willing, to give you always, what he has once given. He will do it, provided you watch unto prayer, and stir up the gift of God which is in you. There is one invariable rule, which God observes in all his dealings with the children of men. "Unto him that hath"-uses what he hath" shall be given, and he shall have more abundantly." When we are justified, he gives us one talent: to those that use this, he gives more. When we are sanctified, he gives, as it were, five talents. And if you use the whole power which is then given, he will not only continue that power, but increase it day by day. Meantime be not ignorant of Satan's devices. He will assault you on every side. He will cast temptations upon you, "Thick as autumnal leaves that strew the ground." And But with every temptation, there shall be a way to escape. you shall be more than conqueror through him that loves you. You can do, you can suffer his whole will. Go on, in his name, and in the power of his might, and fulfil the joy of Your's, affectionately, J. WESLEY. LETTER III. MY DEAR BETSY, June 23, 1774. IT gives me pleasure to find, that you still stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made you free: and that in spite of various temptations. And these indeed you are still to expect. For Satan neither slumbers nor sleeps: and he will strive to torment, if he cannot destroy. Nay, God himself, as one observes, "prepareth for thee occasions of fighting, that thou mayest conquer." So that you are still called to fight the good fight of faith, and thus to lay hold on eternal life. One admirable help toward conquering all is, for believers to keep close together; to walk hand in hand, and provoke one another to love and to good works. And one means of retaining the pure love of God, is the exhorting others to press earnestly after it. When you meet on a Sunday morning, I doubt not but this will be the chief matter both of your prayers and conversation. You may then expect to be more and more abundantly endued with power from on high: witnessing that he is faithful and just, both to forgive us our sins, and also to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I remain, Your's affectionately, J. WESLEY. LETTER IV. MY DEAR BETSY, July 31, 1774. IT gives me much pleasure to find, that you stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free. Trials you will have; but they will only be means of uniting you to him more closely. While your eye is singly fixed on him, your whole body will be full of light. You will be enabled "To trace his example, The world to disdain, While you are doing this, you will not find many doubts, of the way wherein you should go. The unction of the Holy one will shine in your heart, and shine upon your path: especially if you frequently consider the "Directions for preserving Fervency of Spirit," and the "Farther Thoughts upon Christian Perfection." If you should at any time be in doubt, concerning any point, either of doctrine or practice, use me as a friend: and speak freely to, Your's, affectionately, MY DEAR BETSY, LETTER V. J. WESLEY. September 1, 1774. IT is an admirable providence which keeps you thus weak in body, till your soul has received more strength. It is good that you should feel how very helpless you are, that you may hang upon him continually. Are you always sensible of his presence? In what sense do you pray without ceasing? Can you in every thing give thanks? And have you a witness in yourself, that all you say and do is wellpleasing to him? |