Wesley's
discipleship with a rich young woman
Wesley recommended that Miss March go and see the poor and sick in
their little houses
Odilon Massolar
Chaves
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© 2026, Odilon Massolar Chaves
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184 of the Penal Code and Law 96710 of February 19, 1998.
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published in the Wesleyan Digital Library: 813
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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
· Who was Miss Helena. March
·
Preparation
for Every Fruit of the Holy Spirit
·
Two
Types of People You Might Have to Deal With in Your Band
·
A
treasure in an earthen vessel
·
It's
wrong to seek their approval in the band
·
Fashion
and customs are nothing to you
·
You
have nothing external that will prevent you from waiting on God carelessly and
without distractions
·
She's
going to need more from a faithful friend
· A soul full of love
·
Using
Grace Given Is the Right Way to Get More Grace
· Breaking evil reasoning
·
A
degree of anger, but not sinful anger
· The Most Desirable Prayer
·
As
long as we dwell in a house of clay, it can affect the mind
· Learning to think
·
Be a
follower of her, even as she was of Christ
·
Go
see the poor and sick in their own little houses
·
I
want you to talk more, abundantly, with the poorest of the people
·
Constantly
visit the poor, the widows, the sick, the fatherless in their affliction
· I am sorry that you are content with lower
degrees of usefulness and holiness than what you are called to have
============================
Introduction
"Wesley's
Discipleship with a Rich Young Woman" is a 36-page book based on Wesley's
letters to Jane C. March (Miss March).
Wesley wrote to Miss
Helena. March aiming for her to be liberated and achieve holiness. In 1771,
Wesley told her, "I am glad that you have finally broken those evil
reasonings which for so long have repressed you and prevented you from
recognizing the things that have been freely given you of God."
On how to pray, Wesley told him, "The
most desirable prayer is that where we can pour out our soul and converse
freely with God."
Wesley recommended Miss Helena Sánchez. March to see the poor and sick
in their little houses, to practice the works of mercy.
Wesley told March to follow Jane Cooper's
example: "That lovely Saint Jane Cooper! There was the proper mixture of
intellect and passion! I remember one of the last times I saw her, before the
last illness, the look, the attitude, the words! My dear friend, be a follower
of her, just as she was of Christ."
Wesley taught him that the best rule of all
is to follow God's will.
They were letters written for 17 years. From 1777, after she was ill,
there was no further news from Miss Helena. March.
An example of discipleship that edifies and inspires us for our days.
The Author
============================
Who was Miss March
Jane C. March, whom Wesley often called
Miss S. March, who lived in Bristol, was "a woman of means and good
education who joined the Methodist revival fervently about the year 1760."
[1]
March
was "a wealthy and devout Methodist who served as a spiritual confidant.
Wesley wrote more than 40 letters to her between 1760 and 1777, guiding her
spiritual journey and teaching a balanced life of piety and service." [2]
Miss Helena's wealth March came
from his father, Thomas
March, "a prosperous London merchant, and Jane Lisle, a member of an
important family of the aristocracy. His family had Huguenot (French) ancestry
and had been settled in England since the seventeenth century." [3]
Wesley's
letters to Miss Helena March emphasize some central themes of Methodist
doctrine:
"Works
of Mercy: In a famous letter from 1775, Wesley challenged her to pick up her
cross and physically visit the poor and sick in her "little shacks,"
framing works of mercy as crucial to love between neighbors.
The
State of Wild Nature: He comforted her during
periods of dryness or spiritual doubt, assuring her that such struggles are
normal even for mature and justified believers.
Christian Perfection: He often reminded her not to get caught up in legalistic works, but rather to seek the "humble, gentle, patient love of God" through simple faith.[4]
The
Correspondence and the Legacy
"Miss
S. March: She was a gentlewoman, cultured and religiously dedicated, but she
often felt spiritually inadequate.
Wesley's
Counseling: He used these letters (more than 40 over the
course of 17 years) to shape her understanding of practical holiness. In a
famous response, Wesley encouraged her to abandon her aristocratic airs,
saying, "Put aside the gentle lady ... You are an heir of God! Go visit
the poor and sick in their little shacks."
Practical
Theology: The letters address God's grace, the various degrees of communion, and
cement Wesley's view that the Christian faith should not be limited to
contemplation, but result in action and service to those in need."[5]
In a letter to Mary Bishop, 1777, Wesley said: "I hope that Miss Bishop. March is regaining
his strength as well as you are." [7]
Wesley's letters to Miss Helena March were
respectful, friendly, and spiritual in character with a view to their growth in
holiness.
Some of them we publish here and highlight
and of each one we highlight a main part:
Preparation for Every Fruit of the Holy Spirit
Nothing contributes
more to seriousness than humility, for it is a preparation for every fruit of
the Holy Spirit
For Miss Helena.
March
DUBLIN, April 16,
1760.
Eltham is indeed
barren soil. I fear that few know anything about the power of religion, and few
who have even the form. But God is there, and He can supply every desire.
Nothing contributes more to seriousness than humility, for it is a preparation
for every fruit of the Holy Spirit; and the knowledge of our desperate state
for sin has a particular tendency to keep us faithful after deliverance; and
this sincerity can hardly consist in lightness, either of temperament or
demeanor.
Those who have tasted
the goodness of God often fail to declare it. They do not awaken the gift of
God that is in every believer, inciting one another to continual gratitude, and
provoking one another to love and good works. We must never be content to make
a battle drawn, to separate ourselves neither better nor worse than we have
found. Christian conversation is too precious a talent to be thus wasted.
It does not take a
great deal of natural wisdom to see God in all things—in all His works of
creation and also of providence. This is, in fact, a branch of spiritual
wisdom, and is given more and more to believers as they advance in purity of
heart.
It would probably be
helpful for you to be as regular as possible: I mean, to allocate those hours
to such jobs; just so you don't bother when Providence calls you from them. For
the best rule of all is to follow the will of God. [8]
Two Types of People
You Might Have to Deal With in Your Band
As for your band, there are two types of
people you may have to deal with—the sincere and the off-duty: the way you
should deal with one is quite different from the way one would deal with the
other
For Miss Helena. March
ATHLONE, May 13, 1762.
You did well to write. 'It
is good to hide the secrets of a king, but to declare the loving kindness of
the Lord.' [See Tobit xii. 7.] Have you never met any bum since? Your mind has
always been on God. Do you find every thought led to the obedience of Christ?
Do not lodge in you vain thoughts (useless, insignificant, unedifying? Does the
corruptible body sometimes, more or less, press upon the soul? Did God make his
own devout dreams? I have known Satan attack in his sleep (trying to terrify or
frighten) those he could not touch when they were awake.
As
for your band, there are two types of people you might have to deal with—the
sincere and the off-duty: the way you should deal with one is quite different
from the way one would deal with the other. The latter you should look for and
find out why they are relaxed; He exhorts them to repent, to be zealous, to do
the first works. The first is just to encourage, exhort them to advance to the
goal, tell them to grab the prize so close! And do it yourself. Receive a
thousand more blessings; Believe more, love more: You can't love enough. Beware
of sins of omission. In this way you will fulfill the joy of your affectionate
brother. [9]
A treasure in an earthen
vessel
But remember, on the other
hand, that you have this treasure in an earthenware vessel; You dwell in a
poor, shattered house of clay, which presses upon the immortal spirit. That is
why all your thoughts, words, and actions are so imperfect, so far from living
up to the standard (that law of love which, were it not for the corruptible
body, your soul would respond to on all occasions), that you might as well say
until you go to the One you love
For Miss Helena. March
LONDON, April 7, 1763.
The true gospel touches on
both Calvinism and antinomianism; so that nothing but the mighty power of God
can prevent us from slipping into one or the other.
The most beautiful point of
all that relates to Christian perfection is what you ask. So all is right:
those who love God with all their hearts, and all men as themselves, are
perfectly written in the scriptures. And there certainly are; otherwise, God's
promise would only be a mockery of human weakness. Hold on to that. But
remember, on the other hand, that you have this treasure in an earthenware
vessel; You dwell in a poor, shattered house of clay, which presses upon the
immortal spirit. That is why all your thoughts, words, and actions are so
imperfect, so far from living up to the standard (that law of love which, were
it not for the corruptible body, your soul would respond to on all occasions),
that you might as well say until you go to the One you love:
Every moment, Lord, I need
The merit of Your death. [10]
It's wrong to seek their
approval in the band
I don't see that you can talk any other way than in
your band. If you sought their approval, that would be wrong; But you can
suffer without guilt. In fact, in these circumstances you should; since it is
undeniably clear that acting differently would harm rather than help their
souls.
For Miss Helena.
March
NORWICH, October 13,
1764.
I don't see that you
can talk any other way than in your band. If you sought their approval, that
would be wrong; But you can suffer without guilt. In fact, in these
circumstances you should; since it is undeniably clear that acting differently
would harm rather than help their souls. I believe that Miss Helena S. Foard
thought he felt evil before he felt it, and with that thought he gave reason
for his re-entry. You should not explicitly speak to too many: very few would
understand or know how to advise you. For some time I thought Maxfield knew,
and so I was glad of your knowledge of him, hoping that he would lead you by
the hand in a more profitable way than I did. But then I doubted it. May the
Lord send help through whom He will send!
From what not only
you, but many others have also experienced, we find that there is very often a
kind of wilderness state, not only after justification, but even after
deliverance from sin; and I doubt whether the sermon [See the sermon on The
State of Wild Nature in the Works, vi. 77-91.] in this state perhaps does not
give him light in this case also. But the most frequent cause of this second
darkness or suffering, I believe, is evil reasoning: hence three out of four of
those who abandon their confidence are gradually induced to do so. And if this
is the cause, is there any way to regain that liberation but by regaining your
confidence? And can you receive it if you do not receive it freely, not by
works, but by mere grace? This is the
way: walk on it. Dare to believe! Look up and see your Savior near!
When tomorrow, or today No, today hear His voice! At this moment; In this
place! Lord, speak; Your servant hears! [11]
Fashion and customs
are nothing to you
Fashion and customs
are nothing to you: you have an even more excellent rule. You are determined to
be a biblical Christian; and that, by the grace of God, not in some, but in all
points. Go forward in God's name and in the power of His power
For Miss Helena.
March
PORTARLINGTON, June
29, 1767.
For a few days now
you've been on my mind a lot. Are you still making the most of life by spending
a few days in exactly the way you think is most for the glory of God? And still
hold fast what he has received and look for the fullness of the promise? He can
certainly retain all that sincerity of expectation to which Mr. Maxfield [See
the Journal, v. 5-7; and letter of October 13, 1764.] used to incite him,
without any prejudice, either to humility or sobriety of spirit. No doubt it is
possible, with Mr. Dryden's permission, 'to be wise and to love' [Palamon and
Arcite, ii. 364-5 (Amare et sapere vix deo conceditur-- Publius Syrus): The
proverb holds that to be wise and to love / Is hardly bestowed upon the gods
above.] at the same time; And neither of these two need interfere with the
other, for the spirit of love is also the spirit of wisdom. Is your whole
family breathing this spirit and strengthening each other's hands in God? I
hope you will have the satisfaction of observing the same in the majority of those
around you, and of seeing the work of God prosper, wherever you have the
opportunity to be. When you are with the gentle part of your acquaintance, you
feel a more immediate need to watch prayer, or you will insensibly drink the
lightness of their spirit and diminish a little the accuracy of your walk. No,
stand firm, walking at every point as Christ also walked. Fashion and customs
are nothing to you: you have an even more excellent rule. You are determined to
be a biblical Christian; and that, by the grace of God, not in some, but in all
points. Go forward in the name of God and in the power of His power. [Compare
his last letter, to Wilberforce, February 26, 1791.] Still let your eye be
single; aim at one point; retain and increase your fellowship with God! You
have nothing else to do.
Happy and wise, may
time redeem,
And live, my friend,
and die to Him.
Sometimes we must
look at the external things: this is the present condition of humanity. But we
need to get home quickly; for all but Christ reign in the heart
Daily, in His grace,
to grow
What else do we have
to care about? Just now use all the grace we have received and expect
everything we want! The Lord Jesus swallowed you up in His love! [12]
You have
nothing external that will prevent you from waiting on God carelessly and
without distractions
You now
see clearly the advantages you enjoy: you have nothing external that prevents
your careless, undistracted waiting on God
For Miss Helena.
March
May 1769.
By comparing his own
outward state with that of Miss Helena Sánchez. Thornton, you now see clearly
the advantages you enjoy: you have nothing outward to prevent your careless, undistracted
waiting on God. No one has a right to interrupt you while you are exercised in
divine things and striving to be holy in body and spirit. You may have only a
certain number and no connection with anyone, as experience shows that it is
profitable for you. O stand firm in this freedom, glorifying God with all that
you have and all that you are!
It is remarkable that
St. Paul places this as the last of all, that 'love endureth all things'; and
this is the summary of his desire towards the Colossians, 'that they may be
strengthened with all patience and patience with joy.' Those who have achieved
this are ready for inheritance and ready to welcome their friends to the light.
There is a time when we grow towards this, even without any sensible increase;
As in the parable, the seed grows and sprouts he does not know how. Often, in
fact, we know how the power of the Most High suddenly overshadows us, while the
first or pure love pours into our hearts. But at other times He confirms and
increases this love gradually and almost insensibly.
Death has had a great
commission this year in relation to our Societies in Ireland as well as in
England. As soon as I left Dublin [He left on April 3.] four or five of our
members were taken away in four or five days; three elders and two in the bloom
of youth, one of whom had been full of love for a few years. They all witnessed
a good confession at the end, and died with full hope. Nancy Rogers, [See
Crookshank's Methodism in Ireland, i. 223; and to Jane Cooper, letter of
September 11, 1765.] which I saw just before leaving town, breathed Jane
Cooper's own spirit. I think your kindred spirits now know each other better
than you and I, but no better than we will be when we meet together in God's
paradise. [13]
She's going to need
more from a faithful friend
If Ms. Thornton
arriving in London, he would like you to take the first opportunity to talk to
her. She's going to need a faithful friend more now than she's ever had in her
life
For Miss Helena.
March
CARMARTHEN, August
12, 1769.
Sometimes it is
necessary to say, 'I will pray with the Spirit as well as with the
understanding.' At other times, the understanding has little to do with it,
while the soul is poured out in passive prayer. I believe we have found the
answer to many prayers at the Conference, especially in the last two days. By
the end, all the preachers were melted as they sang those lines to me,--
You who saved me here
for so long,
A slightly longer
salvage test;
Till, free from sin
and fear,
I sink into a grave.
Until I'm happy to
lay my body down,
The footsteps of your
servant follow;
And oh, my crown of
mercies
With a triumphant
end!
Several scriptures
show that we can pray with resignation for the life or tranquility of a friend:
it is enough that every petition be closed with: 'Not as I will, but as You
will.' It is true that a believer knows the devices of Satan as many and varied.
But the Apostle means more than this—namely, that those who have the anointing
of the Holy One are thus able to discern his artifices whenever they occur, and
to distinguish them from the influences of the good Spirit, however finely
disguised they may be. Answering for ourselves is often a criticism; and we
much prefer to let people think and speak as they please: but it is a cross
that we must often assume; otherwise, we 'do not walk in charity' if we do not
'reprove our brother'; If we "suffer sin upon him," we "hate our
brother deep down."
If Ms. Thornton
arriving in London, he would like you to take the first opportunity to talk to
her. She will need a faithful friend more now than she has ever had in her
life. I hope she hears reasons and more reasons why she should, out of duty,
adapt a little to the world, have a few little friendships, and not be so picky
about her dress. Now, as you have heard all this before, and have been enabled
by the grace of God to discover Satan even with the face of his angel, and to
resist all his attacks firmly, you will be better able to help and confirm it
if you seek it out before it is too shaken.
I was a little
surprised that several who, I believe, are full of love, but do not wish to
die. It seems that God does not usually grant this wish until the hour of death
approaches. Perhaps for many this would be of little use. First, let them learn
how to live.
No doubt this rest
was given "to sustain him during his sickness." But this is no reason
why it should be withdrawn: it was certainly a degree of that rest which
remains for the people of God. But it may be called by this or any other name;
Names matter little: what you never have to let go. You can live in and for
Jesus; Yes, and this continually, by simple faith and holy and humble love.
Leave Mary Thornton
[Miss Thornton now lived with Miss March. See Methodist Magazine, 1805, p. 37;
and letter in May, 1769, also on July 6, 1770.] Be as sensible as she wants or
can be in relation to her own powerlessness and poverty. But let her not abandon
that confidence which brings great reward. She experienced the pure love of
God; Let no one take advantage of her being judged by fire (if necessary) to
convince her to give it up. This general promise, 'In blessing will I bless
thee,' certainly contains all the promises, whether related to this life or the
next; and all are yours! May peace be multiplied upon you! [14]
A soul full of love
When things are seen from
afar, one tends to imagine that no degree of sorrow could be found in a heart
that rejoices forever; that no right temperament could be lacking, much less
any degree of wrong temperament, subsisting, in a soul full of love.
For Miss Helena. March
DAWGREEN, July 6, 1770.
You say, 'My silence
usually stems from my opinions and thoughts about myself as a Christian.'
Bishop Fenelon [Archbishop of Cambria, 1695-1715.] says: 'Simplicity is that
grace which frees the soul from all unnecessary reflections on itself.' Here's
a kind of simplicity you want! When I speak or write to you, I have you in
front of my eyes, but generally speaking, I don't think about myself. I don't
think about whether I'm wise or foolish, wise or ignorant; But I see you aiming
for glory and immortality, and say exactly what I hope can direct your paths on
the path and keep it from getting tired or fading in your mind. Our Lord will
ordain all right for Sister Thornton. [See letters of August 12, 1769 and April
14, 1771 to Miss Helena S. March.] What can hurt those who trust him?[15]
Using Grace Given Is the
Right Way to Get More Grace
Using grace given is the
right way to get more grace. Using all the faith you have will bring an
increase in faith. But this word is far-reaching: it embraces the full exercise
of every talent entrusted to us. This comprises the full extent of internal and
external religion.
For Miss Helena. March
BRISTOL, September 15,
1770.
A feeling of wants and
weaknesses, with various trials and temptations, will do no real harm, though
they will cause heaviness for a time and diminish your joy in the Lord. It is
wrong to take care of this in order to weaken your faith; And, on the whole, it
is not wrong to 'form your estimate of the state of your soul from your
sensations'—not, indeed, by these alone, but by them in conjunction with your
words and actions. It is true that we cannot judge ourselves by the measure of
our joy, the most variable sensation of all our persons, and often depending to
a great extent on the state of our blood and spirits. But if you add love, joy,
peace, meekness, gentleness, and resignation, I know of no more certain rule
for judging your state before God.
What is the difference
between 'the state of my mind and the state of my soul'? Is there a difference
in the width of a strand of hair? I will not say. If there is one, perhaps it
is this: the frame may signify a single transitory sensation; the state, a more
complicated and lasting sensation, something we usually feel. By framing, some
may mean fleeting passions; by state, ingrained temperaments. But I don't know
whether we have the authority to use these terms in this way or to distinguish
one from the other. He whose mind is in a good state is certainly a good man as
long as he continues to do so. Therefore, it would not require you to cease
judging your state by your state of mind any more than it would require you to
stop breathing.
Unless you deal very
closely with those in your care, you will not give an account of them joyfully.
Advice and warnings from a distance will do no harm or benefit. For those who
indulge in fantasy, perhaps read or recommend the Council to Methodists on this
topic. It would be appropriate to go to the root of the matter once or twice;
Then let him sleep, and after a few weeks try again. A Methodist who wears fine
clothes or gays must suffer a loss of soul, though he may retain a little life;
but it will never attain a high degree of holiness or happiness. [See Works,
xi. 466-77; and letter of February 26, 1776.] [16]
Breaking evil reasoning
For Miss Helena. March
ATHLONE, April 14, 1771.
Whatever comes from you
pleases me; Your letters always give me pleasure, but none more so than the
last one, which brings the welcome news of the revival of God's work among you.
Will you encourage I-- T-- [Miss S. Thornton, from London, a close friend of
John Fletcher. See Bulmer's Memoirs of Mrs. Elizabeth Mortimer, p. 115; and
letters of July 6, 1770 and December 18, 1780.] to send me a circumstantial
account of God's agreements with his soul. Mr. Norris observes that no part of
history is so fruitful as that relating to the great changes in states and
kingdoms; and it is certain that no part of Christian history is so profitable
as that which relates to great changes made in our souls: these, therefore,
should be carefully observed and valued for the encouragement of our brethren.
I am glad that he has
finally broken those evil reasonings that for so long have repressed him and
prevented him from recognizing the things that have been freely granted to him
by God. Always remember that the essence of Christian holiness is simplicity
and purity; a design, a desire—total devotion to God. But this admits of a
thousand degrees and variations, and will certainly be tried by a thousand
temptations; But in all these things you will be more than a conqueror.
It takes God (as it were)
an abundance of pains to hide man's pride; And you are in more danger of it
than many, if only for external advantages. You are happy if you use these for
this one purpose, to be devoted to God within and without, and that more than
you might be in other circumstances. I have just talked with that excellent
woman, Molly Penington: what a mystery that one of such gifts and of so much
grace should be fixed in a place where it is almost useless! How much more
grateful you can be to have the opportunity to employ all the talent God has
given you. If you want to keep the health talent, go to bed early and wake up
early. [17]
A degree of anger, but not
sinful anger
What you feel is certainly
a degree of anger, but not sinful anger. There should be in us (as there was in
our Lord) not only a perception that this or that is evil, but also an emotion
of the mind, a sensation or passion suited to it
For Miss Helena. March
CASTLEBAR, May 31, 1771.
God's relations with man
are infinitely varied, and cannot be restricted to any general rule; In both
justification and sanctification, he often acts in a way that we cannot
explain.
There can be no more fitting
phrase than the one you have used, and I understand its meaning well; Still, it
is certain that you are still a transgressor—that is, of the perfect, Adamic
law. But while it is true that all sin is a transgression of this law, it is by
no means true (though we have so often taken it for granted) that all
transgressions of this law are sin: no, not at all—only all voluntary
transgressions of it; No other is a sin against the law of the gospel.
While we have 'the constant
impression of faith, perceiving what is to come'; However, as long as we are in
the body, we have only an imperfect and gloomy knowledge of the things of
eternity. For now, we only see them in a glass, a mirror, which is nothing more
than a shadow of them; hence we see them in a gloomy way, or in an enigma,
while St. Paul speaks. The whole unseen world is still an enigma to us; and it
seems to be in this sense that some writers speak so much of the night or
darkness of faith—that is, when in opposition to the vision; that is, for the
vision of the things we shall have when the veil of flesh and blood is removed.
These reasonings about the
measure of holiness (a curious question, not very useful) are not inconsistent
with pure love, but tend to diminish it; And if you chased them away, they
would lead you to disbelief.
What
you feel is certainly a degree of anger, but not sinful anger. There should be
in us (as there was in our Lord) not only a perception that this or that is
evil, but also an emotion of the mind, a sensation or passion suited to it.
This anger at sin, accompanied by love and compassion for the sinner, is so far
from being sin in itself, that it becomes rather a duty. St. Paul's word is,
'not easily provoked' to any paroxysm of anger: neither do you; Yet I suppose
there is in you, when you feel a proper anger at sin, a hasty movement of the
blood and spirits, which is an imperfection, and will be done away with. [18]
The Most Desirable Prayer
The most desirable prayer
is that where we can pour out our soul and converse freely with God. But that's not all He is
acceptable for. 'I love one,' said a holy man, 'who endures in dry service.' Beware
of the idea that even this is lost labor. God does much work in the heart, even
in these seasons
For Miss Helena. March
COCKHILL, June, 1771.
Undoubtedly, the reward
that is purchased for us by the blood of the covenant will be proportional to
what we are (by grace), what we do, and what we suffer. Whatever therefore
hinders us from doing good prevents us from receiving so full a reward; And what
can compensate for this loss? It is certainly right that we should bear one
another's burdens; let us weep with those who weep, and for those who do not
weep for themselves. 'When Jesus saw them weeping, He was troubled.' He
willingly held this emotion; He willingly suffered this sorrow; and it is good
for us to follow in His footsteps. 'But how long' Only that it does not
disqualify us for any other part of our duty; so far as to soften, not disturb,
the mind, for it makes us more, not less, zealous for good works.
To be sure, there are
various types and degrees of communion with God. We cannot restrict it to just
one; it can encompass the exercise of all affection, whether isolated or mixed
in various ways; and it can cross all our outside jobs. The most desirable
prayer is that where we can pour out our soul and converse freely with God. But that's not all He is
acceptable for. 'I love one,' said a holy man, 'who endures in dry service.' Beware
of the idea that even this is lost labor. God does much work in the heart, even
in these seasons.
And when the soul, sighing
to be approved,
He says, 'Could I love?'
and stops God writes, 'I loved!'
And yet the comfort is that
you need not rest here: you can go on until your whole heart is love; until you
"rejoice forever, pray without ceasing, and in everything give
grace." You know that this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
I think Molly Penington
[See letters of May 30, 1771, and September 16, 1780.] enjoys this, and
continually grows in grace. As well as two or three more members in this
Society. But unfortunately they want deeper preachers, and those who help them
to advance by explaining the deep things of God.
Peace be with your spirit. [19]
As long as we dwell in a
house of clay, it can affect the mind
As long as we dwell in a
house of clay, it can affect the mind; sometimes dulling or darkening the
understanding, and sometimes more directly deadening and depressing the soul,
sinking it into anguish and sorrow
For Miss Helena. March
DUBLIN, July 13, 1771.
As long as we dwell in a
house of clay, it can affect the mind; sometimes dulling or darkening the
understanding, and sometimes more directly deadening and depressing the soul,
sinking it into anguish and sorrow. In this state, doubt or fear of one kind or
another will naturally arise. And the prince of this world, who well knows what
we are made of, will not fail to improve the occasion, to disturb, though he
cannot defile, the heart which God has cleansed from all unrighteousness.
I rejoice with you in
regard to poor Martin Madan. [See the reference to his mother in Wesley, ii. of
Tyerman. 284.] People who are extremely loyal to their parents rarely fail to
receive a reward, even in today's world.
My appeal to America is
still unclear. [See letters of December 14, 1770 and August 14, 1771 (to
Philothea Briggs).] I have nothing to do with it as long as they can be without
me. I am now indebted to the people of England and Ireland, and especially to
those who believe.
You have a delicate role to
play in relation to Philadelphia. [See the previous letter and the one dated
September 13.] There are so many serious defects in her natural temperament
that it will require much grace to make her thoroughly Christian; neither of
the two graces will shine in her as she would in others. You must carefully
encourage what is of God in her, and tenderly rebuke what is of nature. I fear
for P--D-- , [Damaris Perronet.] lest she be less zealous for good deeds than
she was before. I doubt she has little incentive to do so at the moment.
In the 13th of [the First
of] Corinthians you have the height and depth of true perfection; and it is
observable that St. Paul speaks all the time about the love of our neighbor,
which actually flows from the love of God. Mr. De Renty is an excellent pattern
of this. But many things in your fellowship with God will not be explained
until the Holy Spirit explains them by writing them on your heart. This
darkness that often clouded their understanding I consider something quite
supernatural. I believe that the spirit of darkness spreads a mist over your
mind, as far as is permitted; and that the best remedy is simply to look to
God, and the cloud will flee in His presence.--I am, etc. [20]
Learning to think
We learn to think by reading and
meditating on what we read, talking to sensible people and by everything that
improves the heart. As purity of heart (as Mr. Norris observes) both cleanses
the medium by which we see and strengthens the faculty, mechanical rules are of
little use unless one has opportunity to learn the elements of logic; But it is
a miserable task to learn them without an instructor
For Miss Helena. March
OTLEY, July 1, 1772.
It's time wasted to consider whether you write
well or badly; You speak from the heart, and that is enough. Unbelief is either
total the absence of faith; or partial, the lack of more faith. In this latter
sense, every believer can complain of unbelief unless he is filled with faith
and the Holy Spirit. So it's all noon. Still, we can pray, 'Lord, increase our
faith.'
We learn to think by reading and meditating on
what we read, talking to sensible people and by everything that improves the
heart. As purity of heart (as Mr. Norris observes) both cleanses the medium by
which we see and strengthens the faculty, mechanical rules are of little use
unless one has opportunity to learn the elements of logic; But it is a
miserable task to learn them without an instructor.
Total renunciation implies total love. Give Him
your will, and you give Him your heart.
You
need not be careful in this matter, whether it applies directly to one Person
or the other, since He and the Father are one. Pray exactly as you are guided,
without reasoning, in all simplicity. Be a child hanging on to the one who
loves you. [21]
Be a follower of her,
even as she was of Christ
That
lovely saint Jane Cooper! There was the proper mixture of intellect and
passion! I remember one of the last times I saw her, before the last illness,
the look, the attitude, the words! My dear friend, be her follower, just as she
was Christ's
For
Miss Helena. March
February 11, 1775.
There seems to be something
in our excellent friend very close to apathy. 'A clergyman,' said one (but I do
not agree with him on this), 'must be all intellect, without passion.' It seems
to be (I won't say it is) not far from it. It is true that, for this reason, we
can avoid a lot of pain, but we must also lose a lot of happiness. So this is a
state I cannot desire. Before giving me pleasure and pain too; Be better
Simple life, with growing
passions,
The advantage or the burden
of an hour.
But who reached this Who
walks the middle way, equally distant from both extremes, I will tell you, one
who did (though the memory of her still brings me tears), that lovely saint
Jane Cooper! There was the proper mixture of intellect and passion! I remember
one of the last times I saw her, before the last illness, the look, the
attitude, the words! My dear friend, be a follower of her, just as she was of
Christ. [22]
Go see the poor and
sick in their own little houses
The prolongation of
your life and the restoration of your health are priceless blessings. But you
ask how you are going to improve them for the glory of the Giver? And are you willing
to know? Then I'll tell you how. Go see the poor and sick in their own little
houses. Take up your cross, woman! Remember faith! Jesus went before you, and
he will go with you.
For
Miss Helena. March
CHARLEMONT, June 9, 1775.
Quite possibly, if I live
another seven years, we should know each other. I really think that your
reserve is exhausted, although only by a hair at a time. Speed up the pace.
What you do, do it fast. 'Almost nothing important enough to write'! Why,
couldn't you say something about yourself? And is there anything related to
your well-being that isn't important to me? Am I not concerned about everything
that concerns you that diminishes or increases your happiness? I want you to be
as happy and (for that) as holy as an angel, so that you do God's will on earth
as angels do in heaven.
I am less careful about his
increase in knowledge beyond what he usually enjoys. There is a risk that you
put more emphasis on this than the justified reason. Otherwise, you would make
a lot of profit from sermons, which do not improve your knowledge—which do not
apply to the understanding as directly as they do to the heart. I feel more
like warmth than light. I value light; But it's nothing compared to love. Aim
at this, my dear friend, in all public exercises, and you will rarely be
disappointed. Then you will not stop at the threshold of perfection (I hope you
will not stop now), but you will go forward to the goal, to the prize of the
high calling of God in Christ Jesus, until you know experientially all that
love of God which imparts all (speculative) knowledge.
The
prolongation of your life and the restoration of your health are priceless
blessings. But you ask how you are going to improve them for the glory of the
Giver? And are you willing to know? Then I'll tell you how. Go see the poor and sick in
their own little
house Take up your cross, woman! Remember faith! Jesus went before you, and he
will go with you. Push the lady away; You have a superior character.
You are God's heir and
Christ's joint heir! Will you not find Him in the air with ten thousand of His
saints? Oh be ready! [23]
I want you to talk more,
abundantly, with the poorest of the people
For Miss Helena. March
LONDON, February 7, 1776.
I have met some uneducated poor people who
have exquisite taste and feeling; and many, many, of the rich who have almost
none. But I do not speak of this: I want you to converse more abundantly with
the poorest of the people, who, if they have no taste, have souls, which they
can take on their way to heaven. And they have (many of them) faith and love of
God to a greater extent than anyone I know. To invade this in spite of the
filth and a hundred disgusting circumstances, thus driving away the lady. Don't
limit your conversation to kind and elegant people. I would like it as much as
you do; but I can find no precedent for it in the life of our Lord or any of
His Apostles. My dear friend, let you and me walk as He walked.
Now I understand you in relation to the
Perronets; but I am afraid that in this you are too delicate. It is certain
that his preaching is accompanied by the power of God to the hearts of many;
And why not for yours? Isn't it for lack of simplicity? 'Will you listen, Mr.
Wesley?' said a friend of Mr. Blackwell's. 'No,' he replied, 'I will listen to
God: I listen to Him, who preaches; otherwise I lose all my work.'
'You will only be satisfied with converting
worlds. You must chop wood or carry bricks and mortar; and when he does this in
obedience to the command of Providence, it will be more profitable for his own
soul than for the other.' You may remember another comment by Mr. De Renty:
'Then I realized that a well-educated Christian is never hindered by anyone or
thing. For everything that hinders him from doing good works gives him a new
opportunity of submitting his will to the will of God; which, at that moment,
is more pleasing to God and more profitable to his soul than anything else he
can do.'
Never let your expenses outweigh your income.
To servants I would give as much as others give for the same service, and no
more. It is impossible to establish general rules about 'saving all we can' and
'giving all we can'. In this, it seems, we need to be guided from time to time
by the anointing of the Holy One. Evil spirits have, no doubt, much work to do
in an evil world; often in agreement with wicked men, and often without them.
What I advise is not to make friends or even
to meet poor, unfashionable, and uneducated people, but often, or rather
constantly, to visit the poor, the widows, the sick, the fatherless in their
affliction; and this, though they must have nothing to commend them, except
that they are purchased with the blood of Christ. It is true that this does not
please flesh and blood. [24]
Constantly
visit the poor, the widows, the sick, the fatherless in their affliction
What I
advise is not to make friends with or even to meet poor, unfashionable, and
uneducated persons, but often, or rather constantly, to visit the poor, the
widows, the sick, the fatherless in their affliction; and this, though they
ought to have nothing to commend them, except that they are bought with the
blood of Christ. It is true that this does not please flesh and blood.
For Miss Helena. March
LONDON, February 26, 1776.
'To be restless in the face of obligations
that we cannot pay' is certainly the fruit of diabolical generosity; and so
Milton, with great decency, ascribes it to the devil, and makes him speak quite
coherently when he speaks of his obligations to God himself--
So heavy, still paying, still owing.
I'm completely different; I fully agree with
you that the more sensible we are about such obligations, the happier we are.
Certainly this yoke is easy and this weight is light.
Perhaps, if you read another of Thoughts on
Attire, you will clearly see that both reason and religion are more deeply
concerned than we can imagine, even in the trifling article of
clothing—insignificant compared with the heavier questions of the law, but in
itself of great importance; and this, whether you consider yourself as an
individual or a member of a Christian society. Surely Dr. Young can only mean,
'No one is happy unless he thinks so'; And, in fact, this is not a great
discovery. Is it more than, 'No one is happy unless he is'? If he means more
than that, he is wrong, for we know that the best man is the happiest; but if I
thought I was the best man in the world, I would be very proud and,
consequently, not happy at all. [25]
I am sorry that you are content
with lower degrees of usefulness and holiness than what you are called to have
I'm worried about you; I am
sorry that you are content with lower degrees of usefulness and holiness than
what you are called to have. But I can't help it: so I submit
For
Miss Helena. March
NEAR LONDON, DECEMBER 10, 1777.
You don't understand my way
of life. Although I am always in a hurry, I am never in a hurry'; because I
never do more work than I can do with perfect calmness of mind. It is true that
I travel four or five thousand miles a year. But I usually travel alone in my
carriage, and consequently I am as retired ten hours a day as if I were in a
desert. On other days, I never spend less than three hours (often ten or
twelve) alone. Therefore, there are few people in the kingdom who spend so many
hours isolated from the whole company. Still, I find time to visit the sick and
the poor; and I must do so, if I believe the Bible, if I believe these are the
signs by which the Shepherd of Israel will know and judge His sheep in the
great day; Therefore, when there is time and opportunity for it, who can doubt
it but it is a matter of absolute duty? When I was at Oxford and lived almost
as a hermit, I did not see how any busy man could be saved. I scarcely thought
it possible for a man to maintain the Christian spirit amid the noise and
bustle of the world. God has taught me best from my own experience. I had ten
times as many trades in America (i.e., at intervals) as I did in my entire
life. But this did not prevent the silence of the spirit.
Mr. Boehm [See letter of
August 31, 1772 to Philothea Briggs.] was chaplain to Prince George of Denmark,
secretary to him and Queen Anne, chief manager of almost all the public
charities of the realm, and employed in numerous private institutions. A close friend, knowing
this, said to him when they were alone, 'Sir, aren't you hurt by this
incredible rush of business? I have seen you in your office, surrounded by
people, listening to one, dictating to another, and at the same time writing to
a third; could you then maintain a sense of God's presence? He replied, 'All
that company and all that business did not hinder or diminish my communion with
God any more than if I were alone in a church, kneeling before the communion
table.' Wasn't it the same with him, to whom Gregory Lopez said, 'Go and be a
hermit in Mexico'? I'm worried about you; I am sorry that you are content with
lower degrees of usefulness and holiness than what you are called to have. But
I cannot help it: so I submit; and I still am, my dear Miss Helena. March,
Yours with sincere affection. [26]
[1]
Overview of Google's AI Mode
[2]
Overview of Google's AI Mode
[3]
Overview of Google's AI Mode
[4]
Overview of Google's AI Mode
[5]
Overview of Google's AI Mode
[6]
Overview of Google's AI Mode
[7] https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1777
[8] https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1760/
[9]
https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1762/
[10]https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1763/
[11]
https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1764/
[12] https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1767/
[13] https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1769/
[14] https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1769/
[15] https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1770/
[16] https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1770/
[17] https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1771/
[18] https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1771/
[19] https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1771/
[20] https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1771/
[21] https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1772/
[22] https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1775/
[23] https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1775/
[24] https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1776/
[25] https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1776/
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