If they had listened to
Wesley
Wesley's Pastoral Letters
to Methodist Leaders
Odilon Massolar Chaves
==============================
Copyright © 2026, Odilon Massolar Chaves
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Article 184 of the Penal Code and Law 96710
of February 19, 1998.
Books published in the Wesleyan Digital
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Address: https://bibliotecawesleyana.blogspot.com
Odilon Massolar Chaves is a retired Methodist
pastor, with a doctorate in Theology and History from the Methodist University
of São Paulo.
Son of Rev. Adherico Ribeiro Chaves and Roza
Massolar Chaves.
He is married to RoseMary.
He has two daughters: Liliana and Luciana.
His thesis dealt with the Methodist revival
in England in the eighteenth century and its contribution as a paradigm for our
days.
===============================
Table of Contents
· Introduction
·
Is
reasoning when you should be praying
·
As a
local or itinerant preacher, I hope he will be helpful
·
To
save both your own soul and those who will listen to you
·
Let
there be the most unlimited religious freedom
·
If
you will allow me to give any help that is in my power
· If you love them
·
Do
not welcome new members until they have read the Society's rules
·
Requests
for Wesley to be the leader
·
The
well-meaning one who went to great lengths to overthrow a woman leader
·
It
is worth living to witness to the gospel of God's grace
·
You
can't have physical health without daily outdoor exercise
·
All
we can do is not have smugglers in our Societies
·
If
you pick up your cross
·
There
was so much danger of our clergy dominating the laity
·
An
ill-advised step led to darkness
·
Until
that happens, everything else is off target
·
Nothing
wrong with the private union of spirit
·
A
continual care to reclaim every image of God in which you were created
· Leaflet for French prisoners
·
That
you may be part of His holiness
·
The
good fruit of this already appears in his deliverance from that troubled man
·
Many
people would meet a female leader who would not meet a man
·
You
must think and let think
·
If
you do not live in known sin, admit it into Society
·
If
we are zealous and active, our Societies will increase
·
When
a preacher travels without his wife, he is exposed to numerous temptations
===============================
Introduction
"If They Had Listened
to Wesley" is a 34-page book about some of Wesley's pastoral letters to
Methodist leaders written in 1780, especially between the months of January and
March.
Wesley's counsel to
Methodist leaders was wise to resolve issues related to preaching houses and
bands and for Methodism to continue moving forward in a balanced and strong way
under the action of the Holy Spirit based on doctrines with biblical foundations.
Wesley was also concerned
with the well-being of leaders.
Some leaders did not follow
his directions and thus had greater difficulties or were unable to move
forward. Throughout the history of Methodism the same has happened or has
happened bringing difficulties to the Church.
Wesley believed that God
raised up the Methodist people, especially to be instruments of transformation
and to spread biblical holiness. And so it must continue, if we are to continue
within the purpose of God and the vision of Wesley.
And, in fact, little of
this has happened.
In this book, we publish
some letters to which we have given titles and we highlight them here:
· Is reasoning when you should be praying
· To save both your own soul and those who will
listen to you
· Let there be the most unlimited religious
freedom
· If you love them
· Do not welcome new members until they have
read the Society's rules
· It is worth living to witness to the gospel
of God's grace
· All we can do is not have smugglers in our
Societies
· If you pick up your cross
· There was so much danger of our clergy
dominating the laity
· A continual care to reclaim every image of
God in which you were created
· That you may be part of His holiness
· Many people would meet a female leader who
would not meet a man
· You must think and let think
· If you do not live in known sin, admit it
into Society
· If we are zealous and active, our Societies
will increase
· When a preacher travels without his wife, he
is exposed to numerous temptations.
These titles do not
represent the whole of Wesley's counsels and direction, but serve to give us a dimension
of his vision for the leaders and the Church.
The Author
===============================
Is reasoning when you
should be praying
You are really out of your
place, for you are reasoning when you should be praying
To
Mr. --
[1780.]
DEAR BROTHER, --You are
really out of your place, for you are reasoning when you ought to be praying. -
I'm
Your affectionate brother.
Hold on to Him Like a Child
Do not reason, but believe!
Hold on to Him like a child, and your eyes will see complete salvation
For
Mrs. Rose
MY DEAR SISTER, - It
pleased God to try you for many years in the furnace of affliction. But He has
always been with you in the fire, so that you would be cleansed, not consumed.
Therefore, you have good reason to trust Him. Do not reason, but believe! Hold
on to Him like a child, and your eyes will see complete salvation. - I'm
Your affectionate brother.
As a local or itinerant
preacher, I hope he will be helpful
You can hire him as both a
local preacher and an itinerant preacher. I hope it is useful
For Mrs. Eliz. Rose, in Sheffield.
To Thomas Carlill
LONDON, January 6, 1780.
DEAR TOMMY, - I have
received a very good letter from William Gill, [Gill had been tried in 1778.
His name does not appear in the 1780 minutes. See letter of March 2, 1782.] who
doesn't seem to have been very guilty. Therefore, I leave it entirely to you.
You can hire him as both a local preacher and an itinerant preacher. I hope it
will be useful; and I am, dear Tommy,
Your affectionate friend and brother.
To save both your own soul
and those who will listen to you
Every quarter you should
send me a plan of your circuits. Then we can see if we increase or decrease.
Stay tuned! Be zealous! Then you will save both your own soul and those who
will listen to you
To Mr. Carlill, at Mrs. Cumberland's house,
Near Lisburn, Ireland.
To William Church
LONDON, January 6, 1780.
DEAR BILLY, "Every
quarter you must send me a plan of your circuits. Then we can see if we
increase or decrease. Stay tuned! Be zealous! Then you will save both your own
soul and those who will listen to you. I send a potion on Mr. Pawson. [Mrs.
Church received her pension from the Society in Bristol, of which Pawson was
assistant in 1780. The rest of the letter was cut and given as an autograph.] .
. .
Let there be the most
unlimited religious freedom
With persecution I have
nothing to do. I do not persecute a man for his religious principles. Let there
be 'the most unlimited religious freedom' that any man can conceive
To Mr. Will. Church, in Mr. John
Church, in Brecon.
To
the Printer of the 'Public Advertiser' [3]
CITY ROAD, January 12,
1780.
LORD,—Some time ago a
pamphlet was sent to me entitled An Appeal of the Protestant Association to the
People of Great Britain. A day or two later, a sort of answer to this was put
into my hand, which declares 'his contemptible style, his useless reasoning,
and his malicious object.' On the contrary, I think the style is clear, easy
and natural; the reasoning, in general, strong and conclusive; the object, or
design, kind and benevolent. And in pursuit of the same kind and benevolent
design, namely, to preserve our happy constitution, I shall try to confirm the
contents of this treaty by a few clear arguments.
I prove this with a simple
argument (let him answer that he can). That no Roman Catholic gives or can give
security for his loyalty or peaceful behaviour, I prove thus: it is a Roman
Catholic maxim, established not by private men, but by a public council, that
'no faith should be maintained with heretics.' This was openly declared by the
Council of Constance; but it was never openly denied. Whether private persons
reject it or not, it is a fixed maxim of the Church of Rome. But so long as
this is so, nothing can be clearer than that the members of that Church can
give no reasonable assurance to any government of their loyalty or peaceful
behavior. Therefore, they are not to be tolerated by any government,
Protestant, Mahometan, or pagan.
You may say, 'No, but they
will swear an oath of allegiance.' Truth, five hundred oaths; but the saying
'No faith should be kept with heretics' sweeps them all away like a spider's
web. So, still, no governor who is not a Roman Catholic can have any assurance
of his loyalty.
Again, those who
acknowledge the spiritual power of the Pope cannot give assurance of their
allegiance to any government: but all Roman Catholics acknowledge this;
therefore, they cannot guarantee their loyalty.
The power to grant pardons
for all sins, past, present, and future, is, and has been for many centuries, a
branch of his spiritual power. But those who acknowledge that he possesses this
spiritual power cannot give security to his loyalty; for they believe that the
Pope can forgive rebellions, high treason, and all other sins of any kind.
The power to dispense with
any promise, oath, or vow is another branch of the Pope's spiritual power. And
everyone who recognizes his spiritual power must recognize this. But those who
recognize the dispensing power of the Pope cannot guarantee their loyalty to
any government. Oaths and promises do not exist; they are light as air; a
dispensation renders all of them null and void.
No, not only the Pope, but
even a priest has the power to forgive sins! This is an essential doctrine of
the Church of Rome. But those who recognize this cannot give any guarantee for
their loyalty to any government. Oaths are no guarantee; for the priest can
pardon both perjury and high treason.
Leaving aside religion,
then, it is clear that, on the principles of reason, no Government should
tolerate men who cannot give any guarantee to that Government by their loyalty
and peaceful behaviour. But this no Romanist can do, not only so long as he maintains
that 'no faith is to be kept with heretics,' but so long as he acknowledges
priestly absolution or the spiritual power of the Pope.
'But the late law,' you
say, 'does not tolerate or encourage Roman Catholics.' I resort to naturalness.
Do not the Romanists themselves understand this as a tolerance? You know you
do. And does this already (how much more what it can do in a little while)
encourage them to preach openly, to build chapels (in Bath and elsewhere), to
set up seminaries, and to convert innumerable day by day their intolerant and
persecuting principles? I can point out, if necessary, several of these people.
And they are increasing every day.
But 'nothing dangerous to
English liberty must be apprehended from them.' I'm not sure about that. Some time
ago, a Roman priest came to one I knew [Elizabeth Duchesne. See the letter of
October 27, 1758.]; and, after talking to her at length, he exclaimed: 'You are
not a heretic! You have the experience of a true Christian!' 'And you,' she
asked, 'would burn me alive.' He said, 'God forbid! unless it was for the good
of the Church!'
Now, what security could
she have had for her life, if it had depended on that man? The good of the
Church would have broken all the bonds of truth, justice and mercy; especially
when supported by the absolution of a priest, or (if necessary) by a papal pardon.
If someone wants to answer
and indicate your name, I will probably answer; But the productions of
anonymous writers I do not promise to pay attention to. - I am, sir,
Your humble servant.
If you will allow me to
give any help that is in my power
If I could be mad at my
dear Nancy for anything, I should be mad at you for not using me as a friend.
If you believe so, why don't you tell me without reservation when there is something
I can serve you in? You can judge for yourself if it doesn't give me any
particular satisfaction. So it will always be if you allow me to give whatever
help I can.
To Ann Bolton
LONDON, January 14, 1780.
If I could be mad at my
dear Nancy for anything, I should be mad at you for not using me as a friend.
If you believe so, why don't you tell me without reservation when there is
something I can serve you in? You can judge for yourself if it doesn't give me
any particular satisfaction. So it will always be if you allow me to give
whatever help I can.
What you say about feeling
God's peace in the midst of the most exquisite sufferings does not surprise me
in the least. [See the February 26 letter to her.] 'I feel my pains,' says M.
De Renty, 'in all its extremity. But by the grace of God I give myself to Him
and not to them.' And again: 'I cannot say, but my soul is deeply saddened by
the feeling of so great a loss; yet I feel such joy that the Lord's will is
done, not that of a poor sinner, that, if it were not for offending, I might
dance and sing.'
I saw a stranger case than
any of these a few years ago. I saw exactly the suffering on a human face like
that which appears in the wax taken from the face of Cartouche [Louis Dominique
Cartouche, head of a Parisian band of thieves, broken on the wheel in 1721.] as
he dismounted on the wheel. In the morning I asked, 'Were you not in great
distress when I saw you last night?' She replied, 'I was in such distress that
I was about to tear my soul and body; and yet, at that very time, I was as
happy as I could be from heaven.' I am not surprised, therefore, that all the
trials you feel do not interrupt the peace of God. They never have to. His
grace is sufficient to keep you in, and to deliver you from all temptations.
And the anointing of the Holy One who remains with you will guide you from time
to time and allow all the fiery darts of the wicked to return to the east over
your head.
Still love me, my dear Nancy, and know me as
I am
Its invariably.
If you love them
On February 6th, you can
expect a preacher from here. Tell itinerant preachers everything you think or
hear about them, if you love them
To Abraham Brames
LONDON, January 16, 1780.
MY DEAR BROTHER, - You have
done an exceptional job in putting this little collection on foot. [See letter
of December 12, 1779.] I trust that you will be productive very well. On
February 6th, you can expect a preacher from here. Tell the itinerant preachers
everything you think or hear about them, whether you love them or...
Your affectionate brother.
To Mr. Abr. Brames, in the Preaching.
house, in Rochester.
Do not welcome new members
until they have read the Society's rules
I realize that many on your
circuit don't know our Rules. You must read them immediately in all Societies
and not receive new members until he has read them. Let everyone know what it's
all about.
For
Lancelot Harrison
LONDON, January 16, 1780.
MY DEAR BROTHER, - I
realize that many in your circuit do not know our Rules. You must read them
immediately in all Societies and not receive new members until he has read
them. Let everyone know what it's all about.
A Circuit Plan should
contain (1) the various Societies, (2) the number of members in each, (3) the
new members, (4) those in a position of retreat, (5) the people in the band.
Then, the conversions, deaths, marriages, removals, with the total number at the
end of each column. Let me have that plan next quarter. [See letter of February
16.]
You did well to recommend
the Hymnals, and you will do even better by taking every opportunity to
recommend the Magazine. [See letter of January 29.]
Be zealous! Be active!
Awaken the gift of God that is in you! - I'm
Your affectionate friend and brother.
Requests for Wesley to be
the leader
It pleased me to that they
desired me as a favor so that I could guide them in everything. After my return
from Georgia, many were both awakened and converted to God. One, another, and
another of them desired to join me as children in the gospel, to be led by me.
To Mr. L. Harrison, at Dr. Kershaw's house,
In Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.
To
Thomas Taylor ()
LONDON, January 1780.
MY DEAR BROTHER, - It seems
that you have not well considered the Rules of an Helper or the rise of
Methodism. It pleased me to that they desired me as a favor so that I could
guide them in everything. After my return from Georgia, many were both awakened
and converted to God. One, another, and another of them desired to join me as
children in the gospel, to be led by me. I drew up some simple rules (note,
there was no Conference in existence!) and allowed them to join me under these
conditions. Therefore, whoever violates the conditions, especially that of
being directed by me in the work, ipso facto disengages himself from me. This
Brother M'Nab has done (but he cannot see that he has done anything wrong); And
he wanted it to be common cause—that is, for all preachers to do the same. He
thinks that 'they have the right to do this.' And they do. They have the right
to part with me whenever they want. But they cannot, by the nature of the
thing, unite with me any longer than they are directed by me. What if fifty of
today's preachers were to break up! What would I lose like this? Just a lot of
work and care, which I don't seek, but endure, because no one else can or wants
to.
You also seem to have a
very wrong idea of a Conference. For more than six years after my return to
England, this did not exist. So I wished that some of our preachers would find
me, to counsel me, not to control me. And you can see that they had no power
except what I exercised through them. I chose to exercise the power God gave me
in this way, both to avoid ostentation and to gently habituate people to obey
them when I was taken out of their heads. But as long as I remain with them,
the fundamental rule of Methodism remains inviolable. As long as any preacher
joins me, he must be guided by me in his work. Do you not see, then, that
Brother M'Nab, whatever his intentions, acted as wrong as possible, and that
the representation of this as the common cause of the preachers was the way to
common destruction, the way to turn all heads and put them in arms? It was a
blow to the root of Methodism. Therefore, I could not do less than I did; It
was the least that could be done, for fear that evil would spread.
I don't talk about these
things voluntarily; But I do it now out of necessity, because I find that your
mind and that of some others is a little hurt by not seeing them in a true way.
- I'm
Your affectionate brother.
The well-meaning one who
went to great lengths to overthrow a woman leader
For Ms. Crosby
LONDON, January 20, 1780.
MY DEAR SISTER,—I really
imagine that doing more exercise than usual would increase, rather than harm,
your health. That's the effect it had on everything I travelled with me through
the north of Britain.
The richest of our brethren
here do not conform to the world in dress. Our sisters too, and their daughters
much more. I am often in doubt whether I should allow them to remain in our
Society
It's my project, if God
continues with my health and strength, I'm going to Ireland this spring. You'll
probably see me in the fall, if I survive. - Yes, I am, dear Sally,
With affection.
Note: Sarah Crosby
(1729-1804) was a class leader and the
first preacher authorized to preach by Wesley. Wesley said to him, "I
don't see that you have broken any laws. Go slowly and firmly."
It is worth living to
witness to the gospel of God's grace
I'm glad that God has
pleased to restore your health, and that you've been using it to the best of
your ability. It is worth living for this (and almost nothing for anything
else), to witness to the gospel of God's grace
To
Robert Carr Brackenbury
LONDON, January 23, 1780.
DEAR LORD,—I am glad that
God has pleased to restore your health, and that you have used it to the best
of it. It is worth living for this (and almost nothing for anything else), to
witness the gospel of God's grace. You will find many around here who have ears
and hearts to receive even the deep things of God. I believe that a trip to
Ireland will be useful for your soul and body. Meet me at --, and we can decide
our journeys. - It is I, dear sir,
Your very affectionate friend and brother.
You can't have physical
health without daily outdoor exercise
I cannot advise you, in the meantime, to lock
yourself up at home; It's not good for your body or your mind. You can't have
physical health without daily outdoor exercise; and you have no reason to
expect the spirit of a healthy mind unless you use the means which God has
ordained.
To Alexander Knox
NEAR LONDON, JANUARY 28, 1780.
DEAR ALLECK, - It will
certainly be worth taking a test of this mineral water; it is highly probable
that God will make it a means of diminishing, if not removing it, his bodily
disturbance. I cannot question that this is largely scorpotic; as an almost constant
symptom of scurvy is a great depression of the spirits.... I cannot advise you,
in the meantime, to lock yourself up at home; It's not good for your body or
your mind. You can't have physical health without daily outdoor exercise; and
you have no reason to expect the spirit of a healthy mind unless you use the
means which God has ordained. You know well that faith comes listening;
Therefore, I advise you not to miss any opportunity to listen and trust God
with the event. You probably won't be in a more uncomfortable state than you
already are. And what is the greater evil of the two, even assuming the worst?
Surely having two attacks is less bad than missing fifty precious
opportunities. O break this fear, which is only a trap of the devil. I commend you
and yours to Him who is ready to save you in soul and body; and I am, dear
Alleck,
With affection.
For William Tunney
All we can do is not have
smugglers in our Societies
All we can do is not have
smugglers in our Societies and I think Brother Condy will convince many of them
of the advantage of meeting in the band.
LONDON, January 29, 1780.
DEAR BILLY, - You did a
good job with the Free Anthem. But in the meantime, don't forget the Magazine.
[See Jan. 16 letter to Lancelot Harrison.] Take every opportunity to strongly
recommend this, both in public and in private.
All we can do is not to
have smugglers in our Societies [See letter of March 21, 1784.]; and I think
Brother Condy will convince many of them of the advantage of being in the band.
[William Tunney (who gave up traveling in 1781) and Richard Condy were colleagues
in Cornwall East.]
O observe and pray that you
do not fall into temptation! - Yes, I am, dear Billy,
With affection.
If you pick up your cross
If you take up your cross and
visit all the Societies, whenever you have time, from house to house, your
profits will appear to all men; and no one will be able to oppose you.
To Samuel Bardsley
LONDON, January 30, 1780.
DEAR SAMMY, "I am glad
to know that your people love each other: then neither you nor you can hurt
them." They can make a movement and noise for a season; But it will only
be nine days of wonder. If you take up your cross and visit all the Societies,
whenever you have time, from house to house, your profits will appear to all
men; and no one will be able to oppose you. Be a little careful too, both
Brother Shadford [George Shadford, his superintendent in Norwich.] and you, in
recommending the Magazine. Stir her up for my sake and the preachers; And do
what you do, do it with your strength. - Yes, I am, dear Sammy,
With affection.
P.S.-Everywhere, exhort believers to expect
full salvation now by simple faith.
There was so much danger of
our clergy dominating the laity
The honest
Richard Condy was terrified; and no wonder he frightened others. There was as
much danger of our clergy dominating the laity as there was of them devouring
them entirely.
To Penelope Newman
LONDON, February 2, 1780.
MY DEAR SISTER, - The honest
Richard Condy was terrified; And no wonder he scared others. There was as much
danger of our clergy dominating the laity as there was of them devouring them
entirely. But all this haste came from Alexander M'Nab. He let go of the water;
And who will gather
Be careful not to kill John
Valton [Valton was in Bristol. See Wesley's Veterans, vi. 78; and to M'Nab,
letter of January 18.] I know: You know he's continually striving to do more
than he can do. I suppose it's somewhere in your circuit; but he didn't tell me
where: so that I wouldn't know how to direct him. I am a letter indebted to
him.
You forgot that I do not
visit our Societies this year. I only play here and there on the way to
Ireland. On Monday, March 13, I hope to be in Straud, and then visit
Tewkesbury, Worcester, Evesham, and Broadmarston. That's all I can do at the
moment. - Yes, I am, my dear sister,
Your affectionate brother.
An ill-advised step led to
darkness
FROM THAT ILL-ADVISED STEP
OF POOR BROTHER M'Nab came smoke from the bottomless pit, which darkened and
bled the minds of many as well as his own, filling them with unnecessary doubts
and fears. I'm glad you came out of this darkness, and I hope you don't feel
that anymore.
To John Valton
LONDON, February 9, 1780.
MY DEAR BROTHER, FROM THAT
ILL-ADVISED STEP OF POOR BROTHER M'Nab's came smoke from the bottomless pit,
which darkened and bled the minds of many as well as yours, filling them with unnecessary
doubts and fears. I'm glad you came out of this darkness, and I hope you don't
feel that anymore. I also hope that those in Bath who sinned deeply on occasion
will now humble themselves before God; and I trust that He will enable you to
do much more good than you have already done in Bath, as well as in Bristol. I
hope to be in Bath on Tuesday, the 29th of the present moment, and in Bristol a
day or two later. But I cannot and do not dare to allow them to be leaders who
will not deign to participate in the preaching. On Monday, March 13, I hope to
be in Stroud; on Tuesday at noon in Tewkesbury, Tuesday evening in Worcester.
Take care not to preach more than your health allows.
You must not offer murder
for sacrifice. Please send my affectionate greetings to Sister Newman, whom I
thank for the letter, and I hope to see you in Stroud or Tewkesbury, if it is
convenient for her. - I'm
Your affectionate friend
and brother.
Until that happens,
everything else is off target
You send a second reply,
saying that you have been very diligent for many years; and that you were the
one who introduced plans between us. Very good; But you still don't send me any
plans, and until that happens, everything else is off target
For Christopher Hopper
NEAR LONDON, FEBRUARY 16,
1780.
MY DEAR BROTHER, - I do not
know whether there is any question of dispute between us, except whether you
should do as I wish or not. You are an assistant at the Colne circuit. I want
you to send me a plan of the circuit: send me an answer, but without the plan.
I write again: you send a second reply, saying that you have been very diligent
for many years; and that you were the one who introduced plans between us. Very
good; But you still don't send me any plans, and until that happens, everything
else is off target. [See letters of January 16 (to Lancelot Harrison) and
December 31.] - I'm
Your affectionate friend and brother.
Why wouldn't you write an
account of your life [Hopper wasted no time. His autobiography was published in
the Arminian Mag. from January to March 1781. See Wesley's Veterans, i.
107-74.]
Isaac Waldron, T. Lee, W.
Brammah, etc., were not 'strong and capable men.' When any of these get in the
way of easy circuits, speak up at that moment and do something.
Mr. Hopper, in the preaching house,
In Colne, Lancashire.
Nothing wrong with the
private union of spirit
There is nothing strange
about a private union of spirit between two people who truly fear God.
To Hannah Ball
DORKING, February 17, 1780.
MY DEAR SISTER, - There is
nothing strange in a private union of spirit between two people who really fear
God. [She had lost her old friend Samuel Wells. See the header of the letter of
February 24, 1779, to her.] It is nothing unusual: in a few years I have already
known many cases of this type. And I see no reason why this union should be
destroyed by death: I cannot conceive that it is. I myself, since her death,
have found a wonderful union of mind with Fanny Cooper [Miss Cooper]. Cooper,
whom Wesley went to see at Donnington Park in 1742. See letter of May 17 of
that year.]; and sometimes he would suddenly look one way or the other, not
knowing whether he should not see her. Then you must remember how Mr. De Renty
says to his friends: 'To die is not lost: our union will henceforth be more
complete than it can be here.' And I heard my mother say that she was often 'as
sensitive to the presence of my grandfather's spirit as she might have been if
she had seen him before his face.'
Then Mr. Hawes left: I hope
in peace! Let's be prepared too! - Yes, I am, my dear sister,
Your affectionate brother.
A continual care to reclaim
every image of God in which you were created
And I am convinced that
whatever knowledge you acquire, you will strive to apply it to the noblest
purposes. O that this may be your continual care, to grow in the knowledge of
our Lord Jesus Christ, and to recover all that image of God in which you were
created!
To Elizabeth Morgan
LONDON, February 20, 1780.
MY DEAR MISS MORGAN,
"As I do not know when you have been so present in my thoughts as for a
day or two, I was pleasantly surprised last night to open a letter and see your
name. [See letters of January 7, 1779 and March 13, 1781.] It is on Monday, the
28th, that I intend, God willing, to leave here. One day I hope to spend in
Bath; and on Thursday, March zi, to be in Bristol. The next morning, at eleven,
if it is convenient for you, I will attend to you. On Monday, March 13, I must
leave for Ireland. Before that, since you're ready, maybe I can give you all
the help you need to understand this little excerpt. And I am convinced that
whatever knowledge you acquire, you will strive to apply it to the noblest
purposes. O that this may be your continual care, to grow in the knowledge of
our Lord Jesus Christ, and to recover all that image of God in which you were
created! If I can in any degree assist you in this, it will be an indescribable
pleasure, my dear Miss Helena. Morgan,
With all the affection.
Leaflet for French
prisoners
I want to disperse among
the French prisoners fifteen hundred of the pamphlet which I am sending by Mr.
Olivers.
For William Strahan
ESTRADA DA CIDADE, February
21, 1780.
DEAR LORD, I want to
disperse among the French prisoners fifteen hundred of the pamphlet I send by
Mr. Olivers. If I plead that it be printed as soon as it is convenient, I also
wish you to advise Mr. Olivers on a small matter in which he is engaged. - It
is I, dear sir,
His affectionate servant.
That you may be part of His
holiness
Suffering is a gift from
God to you! And all are meant for your benefit, so that you may be part of His
holiness
To Mr. William Strahan.
To Ann Bolton
LONDON, February 26, 1780.
MY DEAR NANCY, "You
have forgotten the exhortation that speaks to you as to children, "Do not
despise the punishment of the Lord, nor despise yourself when you are rebuked
by Him." Something may happen where we cannot say, 'This is the Lord; let
Him do what seems good. In all circumstances, can we adopt our Lord's words:
'The cup that My Father has given me, do I not drink?' In your patience,
possess your soul. Be aware of all the reasons that are not profitable. Hold on
tight, whatever instruments are employed, - Suffering is a gift of God to you!
[See letters for January 14 and June 22.] And all are meant for your benefit,
so that you may be part of His holiness.
I believe the volatile
tincture of guaiac would relieve the pain in your face. I don't remember if
I've mentioned this before or not. Put a teaspoon in a piece of sugar and take
this in a glass of clear water four times a day. But it would also be good to
soak your feet in warm water for a few minutes before going to sleep.
Next Monday I must leave
for Bristol. On Monday, a fortnight, March 13, I hope to be in Stroud. If it's
possible, let me see you there.
No one will be more welcome to, dear Nancy,
With all the affection.
The good fruit of this
already appears in his deliverance from that troubled man
The good fruit of this
already appears in his deliverance from that troubled man. If your opponents
can't provoke you to return evil for evil, they can't do you harm. With
patience you possess the soul, and all these things will work together for good
For Samuel Bradburn
LONDON, February 26, 1780.
DEAR SAMMY, "I think
you have reason to be extremely grateful for an honest and sensible
colleague." [John Bredin was his colleague in Cork. See letter of November
9, 1779 to him.] The good fruit of this already appears in his deliverance from
that troubled man. If your opponents can't provoke you to return evil for evil,
they can't do you harm. With patience you possess the soul, and all these
things will work together for good.
I hope to be in Dublin
about the end of March, [He did not arrive there until April 13, 1783.] and
probably in Cork before the middle of May. If you're in Bristol around (which
I'm not too opposed to), we need to rent accommodation near the room. [See letter
of April 2.] Peace be with your spirits! - I am, with affection for Betsy, dear
Sammy,
Your affectionate friend and brother.
Many people would meet a
female leader who would not meet a man
I would like Mr. Mather to
immediately appoint an all-female class in Halifax. Many people would meet a
female leader, who would not meet a man
For Ms. Crosby
BRISTOL, March 3, 1780.
MY DEAR SISTER, - You have
done well to stay with Mrs. Swaine in her suffering, and certainly cannot leave
her until she returns to her father. I would like Mr. Mather to immediately
appoint an all-female class in Halifax. Many people would meet a female leader,
who would not meet a man.
Here and in London, I
visited the Classes personally, and I don't know if I've ever given a ticket to
the band from someone who doesn't follow the rules of the band. That in
relation to Raffles in particular, I would like Mr. Mather to do exactly what I
do here.
Sister Briscoe is a good
leader, whether for a band or a class. On Monday evening I must leave here for
Ireland. Peace be with all your spirits! - Yes, I am, dear Sally,
Your affectionate brother.
You must think and let
think
Part of what you say I
believe, part I don't. But I know you clearly believe that. Still, you must
think and let think. I must act by my own conscience, not yours. And I really
am aware. And I strive to have a conscience void of offense against God and man
For
Thomas Wride
BRISTOL,
March 9, 1780.
DEAR TOMMY, "I don't
take anything badly if it's with good intentions. Therefore, I do not take
anything wrong in your letter, for I am fully convinced that you have good
intentions even when you misjudge. Part of what you say I believe, part I don't.
But I know you clearly believe that. Still, you must think and let think. I
must act by my own conscience, not yours. And I really am aware. And I strive
to have a conscience void of offense against God and man. - I am
Your affectionate brother.
If you do not live in known
sin, admit it into Society
You must be completely
satisfied that the person in Neath, of whom you speak, does not live in known
sin. If it is, it can safely readmit him to the Society
To William Church
BRISTOL, March 12, 1780.
DEAR BILLY, - You must be completely satisfied that the person in Neath, of
whom you speak, does not live in known sin. If he is, he can safely readmit him
to the Society.
I'll probably cross from
Liverpool to Dublin later this month. [See letter of February 26.] You can
submit the next quarter plan to Bristol. - Yes, I am, dear Billy,
With affection.
If we are zealous and
active, our Societies will increase
If we are zealous and
active, our Societies will increase; otherwise, they will rot
For
William Sagar
BRISTOL, March 12, 1780.
MY DEAR BROTHER, -Tomorrow
morning I must leave here. I hope to be in Manchester on Good Friday, in Bolton
on Easter Eve, in Warrington on Easter Day, in Liverpool on Easter Monday. If I
go to Ireland (which I am not entirely determined about), then I will set sail
as soon as possible. If I don't, I will have time to visit our friends in
Colne, which would give me special satisfaction.
If
we are zealous and active, our Societies will increase; otherwise, they will
rot. - I'm
Your affectionate brother.[1]
When a preacher travels without
his wife, he is exposed to numerous temptations
When a
preacher travels without his wife, he is exposed to numerous temptations. And you
can't travel with your wife until she's so transformed as to adorn the gospel.
It seems, therefore, that all you can do these days is act as a local preacher.
For Thomas
Wride
BRISTOL,
September 10, 1780.
MY DEAR
BROTHER,-- When a preacher travels without his wife, he is exposed to
innumerable temptations. And you can't travel with your wife until she's so
transformed as to adorn the gospel. It seems, therefore, that all you can do
these days is act as a local preacher.
If at any
time you have reason to believe that the goods offered to you have been stolen,
you cannot buy them with a clear conscience. When you have no special reason to
think so, you can proceed without scruples.--I am
Your affectionate brother. [2]
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