To Mr. John Mason
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DXX. — To Mr. John Mason.
MY DEAR BROTHER, PEMBROKE, August 6, 1768.
I WOULD advise to make a longer trial of Kinsale. I am still in hope that goodwill be done there. And there has been considerable good done at Bandon; and will be more, if the Preachers do not coop themselves up in the house. But no great goodwill be done at any place without field-preaching. I hope you labor to keep the bands regular in every place, which cannot be done without a good deal of care and pains. Take pains, likewise, with the children, and in visiting from house to house; else you will see little fruit of your labor. I believe it will be best to change the Preachers more frequently.
I am
Your affectionate friend and brother.
DXXI. — To the Same.
MY DEAR BROTHER, LONDON, November 15, 1768.
FOR one Preacher to stay long at one place is neither profitable for him nor for the people. If there is only one Preacher at Limerick, he must duly visit the country societies. As David Evans is now gone over to Waterford, brother Burke will be at liberty; so either he or you should go without delay, and relieve John Hilton at Londonderry. If any deny the witness of sanctification, and occasion disputing in the select society, let him or her meet therein no more. I hope the singing goes on well.
I am
Your affectionate friend and brother.
DXXII. — To the Same.
MY DEAR BROTHER, LONDON, January 26, 1772.
TWO old members recovered I make more account of than three new ones. I love to see backsliders return. I was afraid there was no more place for us in Workington. Scarce any one came to hear. It is well the people are now of a better mind. You cannot expect to do good at Carlisle till you either procure a more comfortable place, or preach in the open air. For many years Cockermouth has been the same, and will be till you can preach abroad.
You will observe the letter which I desired brother Mather to write to you concerning the books; and make all the haste which the nature of the thing will admit. I shall endeavor to see you in summer; and am Your affectionate friend and brother.
DXXIII. — To the Same.
MY DEAR BROTHER, LONDON, January 10, 1774.
IT is nothing strange that those who love the world should not love to continue with us. Our road is too strait.
Down the stream of nature driven,
They seek a broader path to heaven.
However, let us keep in the good old way; and we know it will bring us peace at the last.
If you press all the believers to go on to perfection, and to expect deliverance from sin every moment, they will grow in grace. But if ever they lose that expectation, they will grow flat and cold. Last week I was under the Surgeon’s hands; but am now, blessed be God, better than I have been for some years.
I am
Your affectionate friend and brother.
DXXIV. — To the Same.
MY DEAR BROTHER, November 21, 1776.
ONE of Mr. Fletcher’s Checks considers at large the Calvinistic supposition, “that a natural man is as dead as a stone;” and shows the utter falseness and absurdity of it; seeing no man living is without some preventing grace; and every degree of grace is a degree of life. That “by the offense of one, judgment came upon all men” (all born into the world) “unto condemnation,” is an undoubted truth; and affects every infant, as well as every adult person. But it is equally true, that, “by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men” (all born into the world, infant or adult) “unto justification.” Therefore no infant ever was, or ever will be, “sent to hell for the guilt of Adam’s sin;” seeing it is cancelled by the righteousness of Christ, as soon as they are sent into the world.
Labor on, especially by visiting from house to house, and you will see the fruit of your labor.
I am
Your affectionate friend and brother.
DXXV. — To the Same.
MY DEAR BROTHER, November, 1779.
AN Assistant at the last Conference said, “I will do as my predecessors have done: I will leave those as members that never met. They are as good members as I found them.”
Whoever does this for the time to come, I will exclude from our Connection without delay. To prevent this vile practice, I desire you will,
1. Take an exact plan of your Circuit at Christmas, and send it to me in January; and do the same every quarter.
2. If you live till August, leave for your successor an exact list of the societies in your Circuit.
I desire, likewise, that, at the next Quarterly Meeting, you would change at least one of the Stewards in every society where there are two. One thing more I desire, — that you would read the proposals for the general Hymn-Book in every society, and procure as many subscribers as you can.
By your diligence and exactness in these particulars, I shall judge whether you are qualified to act as an Assistant or not.
I am
Your affectionate friend and brother.
Pray send me word in January how many subscriptions you have procured in your Circuit.
DXXVI. — To the Same.
MY DEAR BROTHER, Near LONDON, November 3, 1784.
YOU judge right. If the people were more alive to God, they would be more liberal. There is money enough, and particularly in Somersetshire; but they are straitened in their own bowels. When I complied with the desire of many, and divided the Circuit into two, we were not a jot better. You have one thing to point at, — the revival and increase of the work of God. Get as many as possible to meet in band. Be exact in every part of discipline, and give no ticket to any that does not meet his class weekly. I am
Your affectionate friend and brother.
DXXVII. — To the Same.
MY DEAR BROTHER LONDON, January 24, 1787.
I DO not wonder that the work of God should flourish at Trowbridge, where a few of our sisters are a pattern to the whole town. But it is exceeding strange that any considerable good should be done at poor, dead, quarrelsome Frome! We can only say, “The wind bloweth where it listeth!” Now avail yourself of the opportunity! It is equally strange that there should be such peace at Stullbridge. At Ditcheat I doubt not but you will overcome evil with good.
I am
Your affectionate friend and brother.
DXXVIII. — To the Same.
MY DEAR BROTHER, Near OXFORD, October 27, 1789.
WHEREVER the congregation increases, we have reason to hope the work of God will increase also. And it is certain, distress is one means whereby God awakens men out of sleep. You know famine is one of God’s sore judgments; and the people should be strongly encouraged to improve by it. Suffer no Leader to whisper in his class; but to speak so that all who are present may hear; otherwise, how shall
Each his friendly aid afford;
And feel his brother’s care?
Speak strong and home to all.
I am
Your affectionate friend and brother.
DXXIX. — To the Same.
MY DEAR BROTHER, Near LONDON, January 13, 1790.
AS long as I live, the people shall have no share in choosing either Stewards or Leaders among the Methodists. We have not, and never had, any such custom. We are no republicans, and never intend to be. It would be better for those that are so minded to go quietly away. I have been uniform both in doctrine and discipline for above these fifty years; and it is a little too late for me to turn into a new path now. I am gray-headed. Neither good old brother Pascoe (God bless him!) expects it from me, nor brother Wood, nor brother Flamank. If you and I should be called hence this year, we may bless God that we have not lived in vain. Come, let us have a few more strokes at Satan’s kingdom, and then we shall depart in peace!
I am
Your affectionate friend and brother.
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DXXX. — To ——.
MY DEAR SISTER, LONDON, November 16, 1770.
TO see even the superscription of a letter from you, always gives me pleasure. I am glad you are still waiting for the kingdom of God; although as yet you are rather in the state of a servant, than of a child. But it is a blessed thing to be even a servant of God! You shall never have cause to be ashamed of his service. What I peculiarly advise is, that you will never omit private duties, whatever hurry you may be in, and however dull and dry your soul may be; still they shall not be without a blessing. And therein you will receive power against that temptation which, to your tender spirit, may be the most dangerous of any.