To Mr. (Dr.) Adam Clarke.

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DCCCXIII. — To Mr. Adam Clarke, afterwards Dr. Adam Clarke. MY DEAR BROTHER, LONDON, February 3, 1786.

YOU do well in insisting upon full and present salvation, whether men will hear or forbear; as also in preaching abroad, when the weather permits, and recommending fasting, both by precept and example. But you need not wonder that all these are opposed, not only by formalists, but by half Methodists. You should not forget French, or anything you have learned. I do not know whether I have read the book you speak of: You may send your translation at your leisure. Be all in earnest, and you shall see greater things than these.

I am, my dear Adam,

Your affectionate brother.

DCCCXIV. — To the Same.

MY DEAR BROTHER, LONDON, February 21, 1786.

I LIKE the extract from Mr. Brittaine’s well. Probably it may have a place in the Magazine. It is well you have broken into Stonehouse. Now enlarge your borders, while I am with you: Probably you will have rougher weather when I am gone. You may come to the Conference. You and your fellow-laborers should spend some time in consulting together how you may enlarge your borders. This mild weather is almost as good as summer: I preached abroad last Monday. O let us snatch every means of redeeming the time! Eternity is at hand! In a few days I shall set out for Bristol. I am, dear Adam,

Your affectionate brother.

DCCCXV. — To the Same.

DEAR ADAM, Near LONDON, January 3, 1787.

YOU see, none that trust in Him are confounded. When God is for us, who can be against us? Discipline is the great want in Guernsey; without which, the work of God cannot prosper. You did well to set upon it without delay, and to be as exact as possible. It is a true saying, “The soul and the body make the man; and the spirit and discipline make a Christian.” We heard of a remarkable awakening in some part of the island. I hope those who were then awakened are not all fallen asleep again. Preaching in the morning is one excellent means of keeping their souls awake. If you desire to have any health, you must never pass one day without walking, at least, an hour: And take care not to speak too loud, or too long. Never exceed an hour at a time. Grace be with all your spirits! I am, dear Adam,

Yours affectionately.

DCCCXVI. — To the Same.

DEAR ADAM, PLYMOUTH-DOCK, March 3, 1787.

AFTER staying a few days in Bristol, I am engaged to visit the intermediate societies between Stroud and Chester. I must then hasten to Dublin, or I shall not have time to go through the four provinces of Ireland. I shall not, therefore, have a day to spare before the Conference. Possibly, after the Conference, I may be able to stay two or three weeks. And, if so, I shall pass away to Southampton, in order to spend two or three days at Guernsey, and as many in Jersey. This will we do, if God permit. I am glad you are minded to make a trial at Alderney. If God send you, He will make a way for you. The hearts of all men are in His hands. To His care I commend you; and

I am, my dear Adam,

Your affectionate brother.

DCCCXVII. — To the Same.

DEAR ADAM, BIRMINGHAM, March 26, 1787.

YOU have reason to praise God for giving you such favor in the eyes of the poor people of Alderney. And I am in hopes our brother De Queteville will meet with a blessing in watering the seed which is already sown. But I observe in the map the name of another island, not very far from Alderney. Are there none that understand English in the Isle of Sark? If there are, I cannot tell whether you are not a debtor to those poor souls also.

If confinement hurts you, do not submit to it. Spread yourself abroad through all the four islands. But I doubt speaking loud hurts you more, if not speaking, long too. Beware of this for conscience’ sake. Do not offer murder for sacrifice; but, before it be too late, take the advice of, Dear Adam,

Your affectionate brother.

DCCCXVIII. — To the Same.

DEAR ADAM, Near LONDON, November 9, 1787.

I AM glad to hear that there is a prospect of a good work in the Isle of Alderney, as well as in the Isles of Jersey and Guernsey. I do not despair of seeing, our Jersey and Guernsey friends once more, if it should please God to prolong my life. I love them dearly; particularly the family at Mount Plaisir, in Guernsey, and J. B., in Jersey. I would take some pains, and undergo some fatigue, were it only to spend two or three days with them. One would wonder that the prince of this world was so slow, and that he did not sooner fight, lest his kingdom should be delivered up. He will at length do what he can. But if you continue instant in prayer, God will put the bridle in his mouth. It is well we should be convinced that we have need of Him. Our safety will we ascribe to Him alone.

As the case of sister H. is too singular to be credited without the fullest evidence, I think you would do well to write the account fair, and have it formally attested by Mrs. J., Mr. A., and three or four more who were eye-witnesses of the whole. You must not believe all you hear concerning the circumstances of Mr. L.’s marriage. Indeed, you should believe nothing about them, till you have told it to themselves. Envy will invent a thousand things, and with the most plausible circumstances. Lead them, if it be possible, which can never be done by harshness; but love will “break the bone.”

The Bailiff was talking of building you a house at St. Peter’s: I think it may be done by and by. Be exact in every point of discipline. Keep our rules, and they will keep you.

I am, dear Adam,

Your affectionate friend and brother.

DCCCXIX. — To the Same.

DEAR ADAM, BRISTOL, March 9, 1789.

IF I should live to see you another Conference, I should be glad to have sister Clarke and you here, rather than at most other places; because I spend more time here myself, than at any other place, except London. I am glad to hear that God has raised up so able a Preacher from the islands; but certainly you should spare no pains in teaching him to read and write English. And I do not doubt but if he learned with a single eye, he would be largely strengthened by the blessing of God.

It would be a reason for being, very wary in choosing names for our children, if that old remark were true: —

That our first tempers from example flow,

And borrow that example from our names.

Peace be with you and yours!

I am, dear Adam,

Your affectionate friend and brother.

DCCCXX. — To the Same.

DEAR ADAM, Near DUBLIN, June 20, 1789.

YOU send me good news with regard to the islands. Who can hurt us, if God is on our side? Trials may come, but they are all good. I have not been so tried for many years. Every week, and almost everyday, I am bespattered in the public papers. Many are in tears on the occasion; many terribly frightened, and crying out, “O what will the end be?” What will it be? Why, glory to God in the highest, and peace and goodwill among men. But, meantime, what is to be done? What will be the most effectual means to stem this furious torrent? I have just visited the classes, and find still in the society upwards of a thousand members; and among them, many as deep Christians as any I have met with in Europe. But who is able to watch over these, that they may not be moved from their steadfastness? I know none more proper than Adam Clarke and his wife.

Indeed it may seem hard for them to go into a strange land again. Well, you may come to me at Leeds, the latter end of next month; and if you can show me any that are more proper, I will send them instead, that God may be glorified in all that is designed by,

Dear Adam,

Your affectionate friend and brother.

DCCCXXI. — To the Same.

DEAR ADAM, BRISTOL, September 9, 1790.

DID not the terrible weather that you had at sea make you forget your fatigue by land? Come, set one against the other, and you have no great reason to complain of pour journey. You will have need of all the courage and prudence which God has given you. Indeed, you will want constant supplies, of both. Very gently, and very steadily, you should proceed between the rocks on either hand. In the great revival at London, my first

difficulty was, to bring in temper those who opposed the work; and my next, to check and regulate the extravagancies of those that promoted it. And this was far the hardest part of the work; for many of them would bear no check at all. But I followed one rule, though with all calmness: “You must either bend or break.” Meantime, while you act exactly right, expect to be blamed by both sides. I will give you a few directions:

1. See that no prayer-meeting continue later than nine at sight, particularly on Sunday. Let the house be emptied before the clock strikes nine.

2. Let there be no exhortation at any prayer-meeting.

3. Beware of jealousy, or judging one another.

4. Never think a man is an enemy to the work, because he reproves irregularities. Peace be with you and yours!

I am, dear Adam,

Your affectionate friend and brother.

DCCCXXII. — To the Same.

DEAR ADAM, LONDON, November 26, 1790.

THE account you send me of the continuance of the great work of God in Jersey gives me great satisfaction. To retain the grace of God, is much more than to gain it: Hardly one in three does this. And this should be strongly and explicitly urged on all who have tasted of perfect love. If we can prove that any of our Local Preachers or Leaders, either directly or indirectly, speak against it, let him be a Local Preacher or Leader no longer. I doubt whether he should continue in the society. Because he that could speak thus in our congregations cannot be an honest man. I wish sister Clarke to do what she can, but no more than she can. Betsy Ritchie, Miss Johnson, and M. Clarke are women after my own heart. Last week I had an excellent letter from Mrs. Pawson, (a glorious witness of full salvation,) showing how impossible it is to retain pure love without growing therein.

Wishing every blessing to you and all the family,

I am, dear Adam,

Your affectionate friend and brother.

DCCCXXIII. — To the Same.

DEAR ADAM, LONDON, February 9, 1791.

YOU have great reason to bless God for giving you strength according to your day. He has indeed supported you in a wonderful manner under these complicated afflictions. You may well say, I will put my trust in thee as long as I live. I will desire Dr. Whitehead to consider your case, and give you his thoughts upon it. I am not afraid of your doing too little, but too much. I am in imminent danger of this. Do a little at a time, that you may do the more. My love to sisters Cookman and Boyle; but it is a doubt with me, whether I shall cross the seas any more. What Preacher was it who first omitted meeting the select society? I wonder it did not destroy the work! You have done right in setting up the Strangers’ (Friend) Society. It is an excellent institution. I am quite at a loss concerning, Mr. Maddan. I know not what to think of him. Send me your best thoughts concerning him. At any rate, write, and send me your thoughts on Animal Magnetism. I set my face against this device of Satan. I know its principles full well. With much love to your wife,

I am, my dear Adam,

Your affectionate brother.

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