CXXXIX.-To Certain Proprietors of East-India Stock.

To all who have had East-India Stock lately transferred to them, in order to qualify them for voting at the Election for Directors on Wednesday next.

GENTLEMEN AND LADIES,

[Without date.]

Do you know what the oath is which you are to take before you will be admitted to vote? It is as follows:-"I, A. B., do swear that the sum of five hundred pounds, or more, of the Capital Stock of the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies doth at this time belong to me in my own right, and not in trust for any other person or persons whatsoever. So help me God."

Do not you hereby call upon God, either to help you, or to send down his curse upon you, as your oath is true or false? If you consider this, can you take a false oath? can you call

God to witness to a lie?

Are you not doing this, if the Stock standing in your name is not your real and true property?

Have you not given a note of your hand for it, which is to be returned upon your re-transferring the Stock?

Are you either benefited or hurt by the rise or fall of the Stock? If not, can you say you are proprietor at all?

Does it alter the case, though a third person lend you the money to pay for that Stock which you are so to re-transfer? Still you neither gain nor lose by the rise or fall of the Stock: A plain proof that you have no property therein.

Weigh this in time, and do not, to oblige a friend, bring the guilt of perjury on your own soul.

CXL.-To Mr. John Downes.

MY DEAR BROTHER,

London, November 7, 1751.

YOUR first hinderance is easily removed. Most of the Preachers have now all they want. So might you have had, if you had spoken to the Stewards, or, in case of their neglect,

to me.

As to your second, bodily weakness is a good reason for a temporary retirement.

Your third observation, that the people in general do not practise what they hear, is a melancholy truth. But what then? Is this a sufficient cause why either you or I should leave them? why we should give them up to their own hearts' lusts, and let them follow their own imaginations? In nowise. Especially while there are some among them whose conversation is worthy of the gospel of Christ.

I grant, also, some of the Preachers themselves do not adorn the gospel. Therefore we have been constrained to lay some of them aside, and some others are departed of themselves. Let us that remain be doubly in earnest.

You should make an excursion (as to Alnwick) now and then. Is not John Fenwick a proper person to relieve James Tucker at Whitehaven? If you think he is, pray send him thither forthwith. My love to your father and mother.

I entreat you, tell me without reserve, what you think of C. Skelton? Is his heart with us, or is it not? you.

Adieu!

CXLI.-To the Same.

MY DEAR BROTHER,

Peace be with

London, November 28, 1751.

I THINK you write to me, as if you did not care to write. I am glad you went to Alnwick. The method you took of talking with each person in the society apart, I hear, has been greatly blessed to them. I do not see how you could have dealt more favourably with T- G than you did. If he will leave the society, he must leave it. But if he does, you are clear.

I know not what to do more for poor Jenny Keith. Alas, from what a height is she fallen! What a burning and shining light was she six or seven years ago! But thus it ever was. Many of the first shall be last, and many of the last first.

How are you employed? from five in the morning till nine at night? For I suppose you want eight hours' sleep. What becomes of logic and Latin? Is your soul alive and more athirst for God? I am

Your affectionate friend and brother.

CXLII. To the Same.

MY DEAR BROTHER,

London, December 10, 1751.

I THANK C. Herrington for his letter. He should not fail to write, whenever he sees occasion. If you are straitened for Preachers, could not you make use of George Atchinson, from Stockton, for a time? I suppose James Tucker also is now with you. He is, I verily believe, honest of heart; but a little too wise in his own eyes. Speak plainly to him, if you should ever hear that anything is amiss in his preaching or conver

sation.

Brother Reeves will be here in a day or two. But he cannot return into the north yet. I wish you would regulate a little at a time, as you find your health will permit. But you must carefully guard against any irregularity, either as to food, sleep, or labour. Your water should be neither quite warm (for fear of relaxing the tone of your stomach) nor quite cold. Of all flesh, mutton is the best for you; of all vegetables, turnips, potatoes, and apples, (roasted, boiled, or baked,) if you can bear them.

Take care you do not lose anything you have learned already, whether you learn more or not. You must needs be here (if alive) the first of March, at our Conference. None will be present but those we invite.

How apt is the corruptible body to press down the soul! But all shall work together for good.

Now you can sympathize a little with me. We must expect no thanks from man. Evil for good will be our constant portion

here.

But it is well.

The Lord is at hand. I am

Your affectionate friend and brother.

CXLIII. To the Same..

MY DEAR BROTHER,

London, December 28, 1751. YOUR letter is the picture of your heart. It is honest and upright. I believe a journey to London will do you good. If you could borrow a horse to Leeds, you may take my mare from thence, which is in C. Shent's keeping. As you ride slow, and not many miles a day, I suppose she would bring you hither very well; and when you are here, we can easily find means to supply your other wants.

I think it is ill husbandry for you to work with your hands, in order to get money; because you may be better employed. But, if you will work, come and superintend my printing. I will give you forty pounds for the first year, and it will cost me nothing so to do. Afterwards, if need be, I will increase your salary; and still you may preach as often as you can preach. However, come, whether you print, or preach, or not. Peace be with your spirit. I am

Your affectionate friend and brother.

CXLIV.-To Miss Furly, afterwards Mrs. Downes.

December 22, 1756.

It is a happy thing, if we can learn obedience by the things which we suffer. Weakness of body, and heaviness of mind, will, I trust, have this good effect upon you. The particular lesson which you have now to learn, is, to be faithful in comparatively little things; particularly in conversation. God hath given you a tongue: Why? That you may praise him therewith; that all your conversation may be, for the time to come, "meet to minister grace to the hearers." Such conversation, and private prayer, exceedingly assist each other. By resolutely persisting, according to your little strength, in all works of piety and mercy, you are waiting on God in the old scriptural way. And therein he will come and save you. Do not think he is afar off. He is nigh that justifieth, that sanctifieth. Beware you do not thrust him away from you. Rather say,

"My heart would now receive thee, Lord:

Come in, my Lord, come in!"

Write as often, and as freely, and fully as you please to Your affectionate brother and servant.

CXLV.To the Same.

Bristol, May 18, 1757.

THE great point is, to pick out in Bristol, as in all places, such acquaintance as have a deep fear of God, a continual consciousness of his presence, and a strong thirst after his whole

image. Such I take most of the Leaders of Bands to be; and such are many of the poor in the society: But extremely few of the rich or honourable Methodists are of that number. My dear sister, I have been in pain for you on their account. When I talked with you last, you could relish the simplicity of the gospel: You were athirst for all the mind that was in Christ, and wanted to walk just as he walked. O let none persuade you, either by example or advice, to make any, the least, deviation from that good way. Make no abatement: Do not soften the

plain, rough gospel: Do not

Measure back your steps to earth again.

Be not, either inwardly or outwardly, conformed to this world; but be a Christian altogether.

Health you shall have, if health be best. And He that gives it, will give a blessing with it; an increase of spiritual as well as of bodily strength: But it is strength to labour, not to sit still. And this strength will either increase or decrease, in the same proportion with your sense of His love. You may lose this sense either, 1. By committing sin. Or, 2. By omitting duty. Or, 3. By giving way to pride, anger, or any other inward sin. Or, 4. By not watching unto prayer; by yielding to indolence, or spiritual sloth. But it is no more necessary that we should ever lose it, than it is necessary we should omit duty or commit sin. Mr. Law, therefore, speaking on this head, betrays deep ignorance both of the Scripture and the inward work of God. You are more liable to receive hurt from his late writings, than from any others which I know. I shall write to Sammy this morning It would not have been amiss if you had spoken freely to me concerning him. Why should not you, now you have, in some measure, broke that natural shyness, speak all that is in your heart to, Dear Miss Furly,

Your truly affectionate friend and brother.

CXLVI.-To the Same.

Newcastle-upon-Tyne, June 14, 1757.

You have reason to praise God for what he has done, and to expect all that he has promised. Indeed, if it were required that you should work this in yourself, your impotence might be