11. - To the Rev. Charles Wesley.

11. - TO THE REV. CHARLES WESLEY.

MADELEY, Nov. 22, 1762.

MY DEAR SIR, - The debates about the illegality of exhorting in houses (although only in my parish,) grew some time ago to such a height that I was obliged to lay my reasons before the bishop; but his lordship very prudently sends me no answer. I think he knows not how to disapprove, and yet dares not approve this Methodistical way of procedure. Brother Ley arrived safe here yesterday, and confirms the melancholy news of many of our brethren overshooting sober and steady Christianity in London. I feel a great deal for you and the Church, in these critical circumstances. O that I could stand in the gap! O that I could, by sacrificing myself, shut this immense abyss of enthusiasm, which opens its mouth among us!

The corruption of the best things is always the worst of corruptions. Going into an extreme of this nature, or only winking at it, will give an eternal sanction to the vile aspersions cast, on all sides, on the purest doctrines of Christianity: and we shall sadly overthrow - overthrow in the worst manner, what we have endeavoured to build for many years. The nearer the parts that mortify are to the heart, the more speedily is an amputation to be resolved upon. You will say, perhaps, “But what if the heart itself is attacked?” Then let the heart be plucked out as well as the right eye. Was not Abraham’s heart bound up in the life of Isaac? Yet he believed, that if he offered him up, God was able to restore him, even from the dead: and was not God better to him than his hopes?

I have a particular regard for M - - - - - and B - - - - - : both of them are my correspondents: I am strongly prejudiced in favour of the witnesses, and do not willingly receive what is said against them; but allowing that what is reported is one half mere exaggeration, the tenth part of the rest shows that spiritual pride, presumption, arrogance, stubbornness, party spirit, uncharitableness, prophetic mistakes; in short, that every sinew of enthusiasm is now at work in many of that body. I do not credit any one’s bare word, but I ground my sentiments on B - - - - - ’s own letters. May I presume, unasked, to lay before you my mite of observation? If I had it in my power to overlook the matter, as you have, would it be wrong in me calmly to sit down with some unprejudiced friends, and lovers of both parties, and fix with them the marks and symptoms of enthusiasm; then insist, at first, in love, and afterward, if necessary, with all the weight of my authority, upon those who have them, or plead for them, either to stand to the sober rule of Christianity, or openly to depart from us? Fear not, dear sir; the Lord will take care of the ark; and though hundreds of Uzzahs should fall off, most of them would return with Noah’s dove. Have faith in the word, and leave the rest to Providence. “The Lord will provide,” is a most comfortable motto for a believer. I am, with most hearty prayers that God would fill you more than ever with wisdom, steadiness, meekness, and fortitude, Rev. and dear sir, &c, J. FLETCHER.

12. - TO THE REV. MR. CHARLES WESLEY.

MADELEY, Jan. 5, 1763.

MY DEAR SIR, - I congratulate you on the strength the Lord gave you last year, and I beseech him to supply the lamp of your days with new oil, during the course of that upon which we are now entering. Above all, may he fill the vessel of your heart with the oil of gladness, and prepare you for all events which time may bring forth. May he enable you to carry the light of his glorious Gospel into the hearts of thousands by your writings, and sermons, and wisdom; and grace into mine by your letters and conversation.

My soul does not experience a new life in this renovation of the year. O, may the Almighty enable me to conclude it in a better spirit than I have begun it! What I want is the light and mighty power of the Spirit of my God. Happy should I be, if, in the midst of all my pressing wants, I had the power and the will constantly to cast my burdens at the feet of the Lord. As to my parish, we are just where we were: we look for our Pentecost, but we do not pray sufficiently to obtain it. We are left in tolerable quiet by all but the sergeant, who sent a constable to make inquiry concerning the life of his majesty’s subjects, upon information that the cry of murder had been heard in my house on Christmas day. This report originated in the cries of a young woman, who is of our society, and whom Satan has bound for some months.

It seems to me as if that old murderer proposed to ruin the success of my ministry at Madeley as he did at London, in the French church, by means of