Letter 893 Letter 894
DCCCXCIII. — To Mr. ——.
YOU give five reasons why the Rev. Mr. P. will come no more amongst us:
1. Because we despise the Ministers of the Church of England. — This I flatly deny. I am answering letters, this very post, which bitterly blame me for just the contrary.
2. Because so much backbiting and evil-speaking is suffered amongst our people. — It is not suffered: All possible means are used, both to prevent and remove it.
3. Because I, who have written so much against hoarding up money, have put out seven hundred pounds to interest. — I never put sixpence out to interest since I was born; nor had I ever one hundred pounds together, my own, since I came into the world.
4. Because our lay Preachers have told many stories of my brother and me. — If they did, I am sorry for them: When I hear the particulars, I can answer, and, perhaps, make those ashamed who believed them.
5. Because we did not help a friend in distress. — We did help him as far as we were able. — But we might have made his case known to Mr. G., Lady H., etc. — So we did, more than once, but we could not pull money from them, whether they would or no. Therefore, these reasons are of no weight. You conclude with praying that God would remove pride and malice from amongst us. — Of pride, I have too much; of malice, I have none: However, the prayer is good, and I thank you for it.
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DCCCXCIV. — To Mr.——.
SOME time since I was considering what you said, concerning the want of a plan in our societies. There is a good deal of truth in this remark. For though we have a plan, as to our spiritual economy, (the several branches of which are particularly recited in the “Plain Account of the People called Methodists,”) yet it is certain we have barely the first outlines of a plan with regard to our temporal concerns. The reason is, I had no design for several years to concern myself with temporals at all; and when I began to do this, it was wholly and solely with a view to relieve, not employ, the poor; except now and then, with respect to a small number; and even this I found was too great a burden for me, as requiring more money, more time, and more thought, than I could possibly spare. I say “than I could possibly spare;” for the whole weight lay on me. If I left it to others, it surely came to nothing. They wanted either understanding, or industry, or love, or patience, to bring anything to perfection.
Thus far I thought it needful to explain myself, with regard to the economy of our society. I am still to speak of your case, of my own, and of some who are dependent upon me.
I do not recollect, for I kept no copy of my last, that I charged you with want of humility or meekness. Doubtless, these may be found in the most splendid palaces. But did they ever move a man to build a splendid palace? Upon what motive you did this, I know not; but you are to answer it to God, not to me.
If your soul is as much alive to God, if your thirst after pardon and holiness is as strong, if you are as dead to the desire of the eye, and the pride of life, as you were six or seven years ago, I rejoice: If not, I pray God you may; and then you will know how to value a real friend. With regard to myself, you do well to warn me against popularity, a thirst of power, and of applause, against envy, producing a seeming contempt for the conveniences or grandeur of this life; against an affected humility; against sparing from myself to give to others, from no other motive than ostentation. I am not conscious to myself that this is my case. However, the warning is always friendly; and it is always seasonable, considering how deceitful my heart is, and how many the enemies that surround me. What follows I do not understand: “You behold me in the ditch, wherein you helped, though innocently, to cast me, and with a Levitical pity, passing by on the other side. He and you, Sir, have not any merit, though