point I have since varied therefrom, it was not by choice, but necessity. Judge, therefore, if they do well who throw me into the ditch, and then beat me because my clothes are dirty? Wishing you much of the love of God in your heart, and much of his presence in your labours, I remain, Reverend Sir, Your affectionate brother. CCV. To the Reverend Mr. D. Liverpool, April 6, 1761. DEAR SIR, LET who will speak, if what is spoken be true, I am ready to subscribe it. If it be not, I accept no man's person. Magis amica veritas.* I had an agreeable conversation with Mr. Venn, who, I suppose, is now near you. I think, he is exactly as regular as he ought to be. I would observe every punctilio of order, except where the salvation of souls is at stake. There I prefer the end before the means. I think it great pity, that the few Clergymen in England who preach the three grand scriptural doctrines,-original sin, justification by faith, and holiness consequent thereon,-should have any jealousies or misunderstandings between them. What advantage must this give to the common enemy! What a hinderance is it to the great work wherein they are all engaged! How desirable is it, that there should be the most open, avowed intercourse between them! So far indeed as they judge it would be for the glory of God, they may openly declare wherein they disagree. But surely if they are ashamed to own one another in the faces of all mankind, they are ashamed of Christ; they are ashamed of Him that sends, if they dare not avow whom he has sent. Excuses indeed will never be wanting. But will these avail before God? For many years I have been labouring after this; labouring to unite, not scatter, the messengers of God. Not that I want anything from them. As God has enabled me to stand almost alone for these twenty years, I doubt not but he will enable me to stand, either with them or without them. But I want all to be helpful to each other; and all the world to know we are so. Let them know who is on the Lord's * I prefer truth to the dearest friend.-EDIT. side. You, I trust, will always be of that number. O let us preach and live the whole gospel! The grace of our Lord be with your spirit! I am, dear Sir, Your ever affectionate brother and servant. MY DEAR SISTER, CCVI.-To Mrs. R--. 'Whitehaven, June 28, 1766. FOR Some time I have been convinced it was my duty to you what was on my mind. I will do it with all plainness. You may answer or not, as you judge best. tell Many things I have observed in you which gave me pleasure; some which gave me concern: The former I need not mention; the latter I must, or I should not myself be clear before God. The first of these is something which looks like pride. You sometimes seem to think too highly of yourself, and (comparatively) to despise others. I will instance in two or three particulars: 1. You appear to be above instruction, I mean instruction from man. I do not doubt but you are taught of God. But that does not supersede your being taught by man also. I believe there is no saint upon earth whom God does not teach by man. 2. You appear to think, (I will not affirm you do,) that none understands the doctrine of sanctification like you. Nay, you sometimes speak as if none understood it besides you: Whereas (whether you experience more or less of it than some) I know several, both men and women, who both think and speak full as scripturally of it as you do; and perhaps more clearly; for there is often something dark and confused in your manner of speaking concerning it. 3. You appear to undervalue the experience of almost every one in comparison of your own. To this it seems to be owing, that you, some way or other, beat down almost all who believe they are saved from sin. And so some of them were, in the only sense wherein I either teach or believe it, unless they tell flat and wilful lies in giving an account of their experience. A second thing which has given me concern is, I am afraid you are in danger of enthusiasm. We know there are divine dreams and impressions. But how easily may you be deceived herein! How easily, where something is from God, may we mix something which is from nature! especially if we have a lively imagination, and are not aware of any danger. I will mention one thing more. It has frequently been said, and with some appearance of truth, that you endeavour to monopolize the affections of all that fall into your hands; that you destroy the nearest and dearest connexion they had before, and make them quite cool and indifferent to their most intimate friends. I do not at all speak on my own account; I set myself out of the question. But if there be anything of the kind with regard to other people, I should be sorry, both for them and you. I commend you all to God, and to the word of his grace. Your affectionate brother. SIR, CCVII.-To Mr. Bristol, October 20, 1759. SINCE I came to Bristol I heard many terrible accounts concerning the French prisoners at Knowle; as that "they were so wedged together, that they had no room to breathe;" that "the stench of the rooms where they lodged was intolerable;" that "their food was only fit for dogs;" that "their meat was carrion, their bread rotten and unwholesome;" and that, "in consequence of this inhuman treatment, they died in whole shoals." Desiring to know the truth, I went to Knowle on Monday, and was showed all the apartments there. But how was I disappointed! 1. I found they had large and convenient space to walk in, if they chose it, all the day. 2. There was no stench in any apartment which I was in, either below or above. They were all sweeter and cleaner than any prison I have seen either in England or elsewhere. 3. Being permitted to go into the larder, I observed the meat hanging up, two large quarters of beef. It was fresh and fat, and I verily think as good as I ever desire to eat. 4. A large quantity of bread lay on one side. A Gentleman took up and cut one of the loaves. It was made of good flour, was well baked, and perfectly well tasted. 5. Going thence to the hospital, I found that, even in this sickly season, there are not thirty persons dangerously ill, out of twelve or thirteen hundred. 6. The hospital was sweeter and cleaner throughout than any hospital I ever saw in London. I think it my duty to declare these things, for clearing the innocent, and the honour of the English nation. Yet one thing I observed with concern. A great part of these men are almost naked; and winter is now coming upon them in a cold prison, and a colder climate than most of them have been accustomed to. But will not the humanity and generosity of the gentlemen of Bristol prevent or relieve this distress? Did they not make a notable precedent during the late war? And surely they are not weary of well-doing. Tuesday night we did a little according to our power; but I shall rejoice if this be forgotten through the abundance administered by their liberality, in a manner which they judge most proper. Will it not be both for the honour of their city and country? for the credit of our religion, and for the glory of God, who knows how to return it sevenfold into their bosom ? I am Your humble servant. CCVIII. To the Society at Monyash, Derbyshire. MY DEAR BREthren, Poole, March 25, 1752. I SHOULD Very willingly have spent a little time among you; but at present my time will not permit, I have so many places to visit, between Manchester, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and so on, to Berwick-upon-Tweed. Blessed be God, that you are not yet moved from the hope of the gospel. He has permitted a fiery trial to fall upon you; * but I trust the sharpest part of it is past. May God enable you to stand fast together, in one mind and in one judgment! Watch over one another * Probably the conduct of John Bennet, who renounced his connexion with Mr. Wesley about this period, and vehemently preached against him in that part of the country.-EDIT. in love; and let not that which is lame be turned out of the way. Do all things without murmurings and disputings, following peace with all men; and the God of peace be with you! I am, my dear brethren, Your affectionate brother. CCIX. To the Reverend Mr. Wanley, Dean of Ripon. REVEREND SIR, Yarm, July 9, 1766. THE regard which I owe to a fellow-Christian, and much more to a Clergyman and a Magistrate, constrains me to trouble you with a few lines, though I have no personal acquaintance with you. Ralph Bell has just been giving me an account of the late affair at Ripon. What he desires is, 1. To have the loss he has sustained repaired; and, 2. Liberty of conscience; that liberty which every man may claim as his right, by the law of God and nature; and to which every Englishman, in particular, has a right by the laws of his country. I well know the advantage these laws give us in the present case: I say us, because I make the case my own; as I think it my bounden duty to do. I have had many suits in the King's Bench; and, blessed be God, I never lost one yet. But I would far rather put an amicable end to any dispute, where it can be done: Not that I am afraid of being overborne by the expense; if I am not, I know them that are, able to bear it. But I love peace. I love my neighbour as myself; and would not willingly bring loss or trouble upon any man. Be so good as to impute to this motive my interfering in this matter. I am, Reverend Sir, Your servant for Christ's sake. CCX-To Mary Yeoman, of Mousehole, Cornwall. MY DEAR SISTER, St. Ives, September 2, 1769. YOUR case is not peculiar. I have known many who were just as you are now: And the same God who delivered them is as ready to deliver you. I advise you to continue in the way, whether you find any benefit or not. Pray, as you can, though |