To Rev. Freeborn Garrettson
reason of your nervous disorder. What then can be done, in order to lessen at least, if not to remove it? Perhaps it mar be entirely removed, if you can take advice. And I think you can by God’s assistance. I advise you,
1. Sleep early. Never sit up later than ten o’clock, for any business whatever; no, not for reading or prayer. Do not offer murder for sacrifice.
2. Rise early: Never lie more than seven hours; unless when you lie in.
3. Beware of Satan transformed into an angel of light: He can hurt you no other way; as your heart is upright toward God, and you desire to please Him in all things.
4. Take advice, as far as you possibly can, of brother Knapp. Two are better than one He loves you tenderly, and God will often give him light for you!
I wish you to be always full of faith and love, and a pattern to all that are round about you.
I am, my dear sister,
Your affectionate brother.
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DCCLXVI. — To the Rev. Freeborn Garrettson, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in America.
MY DEAR BROTHER, DUBLIN, June 16, 1785.
DR. COKE gives some account of you in his Journal; so that, although I have not seen you, I am not a stranger to your character. By all means send me, when you have an opportunity, a more particular account of your experience and travels. It is no way improbable that God may find out a way for you to visit England; and it may be the means of your receiving more strength, as well as more light. It is a very desirable thing that the children of God should communicate their experience to each other; and it is generally most profitable when they call do it face to face. Till Providence opens a way for you to see Europe, do all you can for a good Master in America.
I am glad brother Crumble and you have undertaken that “labor of love” of visiting Nova-Scotia; and doubt not but you act in full concert with the little handful who were almost alone till you came. It will be the wisest way to make all those who desire to join together, thoroughly acquainted with the whole Methodist plan; and to accustom them, from the very beginning to the accurate observance of all our rules. Let none of them rest in being half-Christians. Whatever they do, let them do it with their might; and it will be well, as soon as any of them find peace with God, to exhort them to “go on to perfection.” The more explicitly and strongly you press all believers to aspire after full sanctification, as attainable now by simple faith, the more the whole work of God will prosper.
I do not expect any great matters from the Bishop. I doubt his eve is not single; and if it be not, he will do little good to you, or any one else. It may be a comfort to you that you have no need of him. You want nothing which he can give.
It is a noble proposal of brother Marchington; but I doubt it will not take place. You do not know the state of the English Methodists: They do not roll in money, like many of the American Methodists. It is with the utmost difficulty that we can raise five or six hundred pounds a year to supply our Contingent expenses; so that it is entirely impracticable to raise five hundred pounds among them to build houses in America. It is true, they might do much; but it is a sad observation, they that have most money have usually least grace.
The peace of God be with all your spirits!
I am
Your affectionate friend and brother.
DCCLXVII. — To the Same.
MY DEAR BROTHER, LONDON, September 30, 1786.
I TRUST before this comes to hand you and Dr. Coke will have met, and refreshed each other’s bowels in the Lord. I can exceedingly ill spare him from England, as I have no Clergyman capable of supplying his lack of service; but I was convinced he was more wanted in America than in Europe. For it is impossible; but offenses will come; and “of yourselves will men arise speaking perverse things,” and striving “to draw away disciples after them.” It is a wonderful blessing, they are restrained so long, till the poor people are a little grounded in the faith. You have need to watch over them with your might. Let those that have set their hands to the plough continually “pray to the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth more laborers into his harvest.”
It is far better to send your Journals as they are, than not to send them at all. I am afraid it is too late in the season to send books this year; but I hope Dr. Coke has brought some with him to serve you for the present. I was far off from London when he set sail. Most of those in England who have riches love money, even the Methodists; at least those who are called so. The poor are the Christians. I am quite out of conceit with almost all those who have this world’s goods. Let us take care to lay up our treasure in heaven. Peace be with your spirit!
I am
Your affectionate friend and brother.
DCCLXVIII. — To the Same.
MY DEAR BROTHER, November 30, 1786.
YOU have great reason to be thankful to God, that he lets you see the fruit of your labors. Whenever any are awakened, you do well to join them together immediately. But do not advise you to go on too fast. It is not expedient to break up more ground than you can keep; to preach at any
more places than you or your brethren can constant]y attend. To preach once in a place, and no more, very seldom does any good; it only alarms the devil and his children, and makes them more upon their guard against a first assault.
Wherever there is any Church service, I do not approve of any appointment the same hour; because I love the Church of England, and would assist, not oppose, it all I can. How do the inhabitants of Shelburn, Halifax, and other parts of the province, go on as to temporal things? Have they trade? Have they sufficiency of food, and the other necessaries of life? And do they increase or decrease in numbers? It seems there is a scarcity of some things, — of good ink, for yours is so pale that many of your words are not legible.
As I take it for granted that you have had several conversations with Dr. Coke, I doubt not you proposed all your difficulties to him, and received full satisfaction concerning them. Commending you to Him who is able to guide and strengthen you in all things,
I am
Your affectionate friend and brother.
P.S. Probably we shall send a little help for your building, if we live till Conference. Observe the rules for building laid down in the Minutes. I see nothing of your Journal yet. I am afraid of another American Revolution. I do not know how to get the enclosed safe to Dr. Coke: Probably you know. On second thoughts, I think it best not to write to him at present.
DCCLXIX. — To the Same.
MY DEAR BROTHER, MACCLESFIELD, July 16, 1787.
I HAVE your letter of March 15, and that of May 20. In the former you give me a pleasing account of the work of God in Halifax and other towns in Nova-Scotia; and indeed everywhere except poor Shelburn, from which
I had an excellent account a few years ago. Shall the first be last? What could have occasioned the decrease of the work there? St. Paul’s advice is certainly good for all Methodist Preachers, — that “it is good for a man not to touch a woman;” and, “if thou mayest be free, use it rather:” And yet I dare not exclude those who marry out of our Connection, or forbid to marry; but happy are those who, having no necessity laid upon them, stand fast in the glorious liberty. I commend you for laying as little burden upon the poor people as possible.
Before I had printing presses of my own, I used to pay two-and-thirty shillings for printing two-and twenty pages duodecimo. The paper was from twelve to sixteen shillings a ream. I do not blame you for printing those tracts.
But you do not send me your Journal yet. Surely you had time enough to write it over. Dr. Coke seems to think you are irresolute, yet not willing to take advice. I hope better things of you; and your heart says to God and man, “What I know not, teach thou me,”
I am
Your affectionate friend and brother.
DCCLXX. — To the Same.
MY DEAR BROTHER, LONDON, January 24, 1789.
IT signifies but little where we are, so we are but fully employed for our good Master. Whether you went, therefore, to the east; it is all one, so you were laboring to promote His work. You are following the order of His providence wherever it appeared, as a holy man strongly expressed it in a kind of holy disordered order. But there is one expression that occurs twice or thrice in yours, which gives me some concern: You speak of finding “freedom” to do this or that. This is a word much liable to be abused. If I have plain Scripture, or plain reason, for doing a thing well. These are my rules, and my only rules. I regard not whether I had freedom or no. This is an unscriptural expression, and a very fallacious rule. I wish to be, in every point, great and small, a scriptural, rational Christian.
In one instance, formerly, you promised to send me your Journal. Will you break your word, because you do not find freedom to keep it? Is not this enthusiasm? O be not of this way of thinking! You know not whither it may lead you. You are called to
Square your useful life below
By reason and by grace.
But whatever you do with regard to me you must do quickly or you will no more in this world.
Your affectionate friend and brother.
DCCLXXI. — To the Same.
MY DEAR BROTHER, CHESTER, July 15, 1789.
YOU are entirely in the right. There can be no manner of doubt, that it was the enemy of souls that hindered your sending me your experience. Many parts both of your inward and outward experience ought by no means to be suppressed. But if you are minded to send anything to me, you have no time to lose. Whatever you do for me you must do quickly; lest death have quicker wings than love. A great man observes that there is a three-fold leading of the Spirit. Some He leads by giving them, on every occasion, apposite texts of Scripture; some by suggesting reasons for every step they take, — the may by which He chiefly leads me; and some by impressions: But he judges the last to be the least desirable way; as it is often impossible to distinguish dark impressions from divine, or even diabolical!
I hope you will not long delay to write more particularly to Your affectionate friend and brother.
DCCLXXII. — To the Same.
MY DEAR BROTHER, LONDON, February 3, 1796
TWO or three days ago, I had the pleasure of a letter from you, dated August 23d, 1789, giving me a comfortable account of the swift and extensive progress of the work of God in America. You likewise informed me that you had written an account of your life, and directed it should be sent to me; and I have been expecting it from day to day ever since, but have now almost given up my expectation; for, unless it comes soon, it will hardly overtake me in the present world. You see time has shaken me by the hand, and death is not far behind. While we live, let us work our Lord’s work betimes; and in His time he will give us our full reward. I am
Your affectionate friend and brother.
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DCCLXXIII. — To the Rev. Francis Asbury.
LONDON, September 20, 1788.
THERE is indeed a wide difference between the relation wherein you stand to the Americans, and the relation wherein I stand to all the Methodists. You are the elder brother of the American Methodists I am, under God, the father of the whole family. Therefore, I naturally care for you all in a manner no other person can do. Therefore, I, in a measure, provide for you all; for the supplies. Which Dr. Coke provides for you, he could not provide, were it not for me, — were it not that I not only permit him to collect, but also support him in so doing.
But in one point, my dear brother, I am a little afraid, both the Doctor and you differ from me. I study to be little; you study to be great. I creep; you strut along. I found a school; you a college! nay, and call it after your own