Wesley's Letters: 1772
JOHN WESLEY’S LETTERS
A QUIETER INTERVAL
(Continued)
DECEMBER 11, 1772, TO DECEMBER 31, 1773
To Joseph Benson
LONDON, December 11, 1772.
DEAR JOSEPH, -- Mr. Hill, however, leaves me a little time to take breath, and I have some hope will not renew the combat. But I doubt he is too warm to be convinced. He ‘ sets his judgement by his passion.' [Richard Hill published The Finishing Stroke, an angry attack on Fletcher, early in January 1773.]
It is a shame for any Methodist preacher to confine himself to one place. We are debtors to all the world. We are called to warn every one to exhort every one, if by any means we may save some.
I love prayer-meetings, and wish they were set up in every corner of the town. But I doubt whether it would be well to drop any of the times of preaching. Three-and-thirty years they have had at least as much preaching at Bristol as at Newcastle. [Benson was now stationed at Newcastle.] And the congregations are far larger than they were ten or twenty years ago. But I should not object to the transferring Wednesday night’s preaching to eight on Sunday morning. --I am, dear Joseph,
Your affectionate brother.
To Various Friends [1]
LONDON, December 12, 1772.
MY DEAR BROTHER, --Various methods have been used to pay that debt which has so long lain as a weight upon my mind. And hereby at least ten thousand pounds have been paid; but above three thousand still remain. I believe this might have been paid in another year by the continuance of the weekly subscription. But several of our brethren thought it best to lay this aside, and in the place of it to make one collection in the year at the door of every preaching-house; the same method which we have used for some years in behalf of Kingswood School. What will this produce if all the preachers speak as earnestly for it as they have done for Kingswood? Perhaps five hundred pounds. But I rather apprehend it will not exceed three hundred. And this at least will be required for other expenses. So that to pay the debt there will remain just--nothing.
What, then, can be done, that this wearisome work may be effectually brought to a conclusion? The method one of our friends has proposed is this: --
‘1. Know accurately what debt remains.’ (We speak of the debt which was contracted before the subscription was set on foot.) We do know. It is three thousand six hundred and odd pounds. Add to this, for occasional expenses, four hundred, and the whole amounts to about four thousand pounds.
‘2. Desire every one who loves you and the cause wherein you are engaged to send you word within a week what he is willing to subscribe for the love of God and of you and of the general work.
‘3. When four thousand pounds are subscribed, then, and not before, desire each person to pay his subscription. But if the first subscription does not amount to four thousand pounds, then-
‘4. Write a second letter to each (yea, if need be, a third), desiring he would be so kind to add a little to his subscription; though still on condition that he pay nothing till the whole four thousand pounds are subscribed. By this means none will be called upon to pay anything till he is assured the end will be answered.’
Need I add anything to incline you to be on this occasion merciful after your power? Are not you ready of yourself to do good to all men, especially to them that are of the household of faith? ready to give every proof you can of your love to your brethren, as well as of your regard for
Your affectionate brother.
I beg your answer within a week.
To his Brother Charles [2]
SHOREHAM, December 15, 1772.
DEARBROTHER,--I have scarce had a day yet in London, except Sundays and the time of visiting the classes. Dr. Ford has never come near me, nor hardly near Billy Ley. I am afraid evasit, erupit [Cicero’s In Catilinam, ii. II: ‘ He is vanished, he is escaped ‘ (Cicero on Catiline)]. I have wrote to Mr. Fletcher to-day. As Mr. Hill is to fall upon me next, Mr. Fletcher will have a little time to breathe, and probably a little more while Mr. Hill is digesting my reply; for whom I think we shall between us find work for some time.
Why, you will not set shoulder to shoulder, or you could say something about the Church; but two are better than one. If we live till August, stand by me, and we will put the matter home [See letter of May 30, 1773].
I believe we can depend on the Captain [Webb. See letter of Nov.] concerning America. He has been long enough with you: send him to us.
I often cry out, Vitae me redde priori! [Horace’s epistles, I. Vii. 95: ‘Give me back my former life.’]. Let me be again an Oxford Methodist! I am often in doubt whether it would not be best for me to resume all my Oxford rules, great and small. I did then walk closely with God and redeem the time. But what have I been doing these thirty years?
My love to all. Adieu!
To Mrs. Bennis
SHOREHAM, December 16, 1772.
DEAR SISTER BENNIS,--The plan which you mention I prefer to any other, and have written to put it in practice immediately.
I think you make most of your trials by unbelief and giving too much way to reasoning. Do not stoop to reason with the adversary, but flee to the Strong for more strength, which, by asking, you will receive. Be diligent in helping others. I hope you visit Mrs. Dawson [See letter of Nov.3.] frequently. Let not your talent rust, but see to gain a double interest. You work for a generous Master. Fight on, and conquer all! Joy you shall have if joy be best.--My dear sister, adieu.
Your affectionate brother.
To Thomas Wride
SHOREHAM, December 16, 1772.
DEAR TOMMY,--I am afraid there is truth in what you say, that poor John Murray [Murray was appointed to Waterford in 1773, and ‘ desisted from traveling’ in 1774. See letter of Nov. 5.] has not the work of God at heart, and that he will leave us as soon as he can conveniently.
Two things, however, I desire in the meantime: one, that he will miss no congregation, at the peril of his life; the other, that he will preach no more at Terryhoogan [In the parish of Ballymore, where Wesley had some powerful services. See Crookshank’s Methodism in Ireland, i. 143, 248]. On a Sunday morning.—I am, dear Tommy,
Your affectionate friend and brother.
To Martha Chapman
LONDON, December 17, 1772.
MY DEAR SISTER,--Certainly the more good you do the more will many be tempted against you. But go on. So much the more will the Spirit of glory and of Christ rest upon you. By fighting against that reserve you will conquer it. The more it is resisted the more it is weakened. You need not be overcome by peevishness any more; the grace of God is sufficient for you. It seems that you are at present in your place. How knowest thou but thou shalt gain thy brother?
The most profitable way of reading is to read in an exact method: suppose a chapter or two (as time may serve) in the Old Testament with the Notes in the morning; and a chapter more or less of the New Testament and Notes in the afternoon or evening. Next to this it might be useful to read the Works in order, only not too fast, not too much at a time. For all reading should be joined with meditation and prayer. Read a little, pray and meditate much. In order to converse usefully we had a rule at Oxford [At the Holy Club. See letter of Oct. 18, 1732] to plan every conversation before we went into company, to consider what subject would be most useful, and how to prosecute it. And though of yourself you are not sufficient for these things, yet One is nigh to supply all your wants. Love Him and trust Him for all things; and continue to love for His sake, my dear Patty,
Yours affectionately.
To Miss Patty Chapman, In Watlington,
Oxfordshire.
To Mrs. Barton
HERTFORD, December 18, 1772.
MY DEAR SISTER,--It is a little thing to trust God as far as we can see Him, so far as the way lies open before us. But to trust in Him when we are hedged in on every side and can see no way to escape, this is good and acceptable with God. This is the faith of Abraham our father; and, by the grace of God, this is your faith!--I am
Your affectionate brother.
Editor's Introductory Notes: 1772
[1] The debt was discussed at the Conference of 1772: 'Q. I2. What can be done towards paying the remaining debt? A. I. Let us make a trial of another method. Instead of a subscription, let a collection be made at every preaching-house some time in next autumn. 2. Let all the money collected be produced at the next Conference; and we will return to every house that is in debt (provided it be old debt, not otherwise) at least what was collected there.’ At the London Conference, 1773, it was reported that £2,237 15s. 9d. had been raised, and a list given showing the way in which it was distributed.
[2] Charles Wesley met Dr. Ford in London in May 1760, ‘ who confirmed the others’ advice, of Bath; and went from me to press the same upon Lady Huntington. She’ (Mrs. Dewal, of Lewisham, ‘just lifted up from the gates of death ‘) ‘must go to Bath soon or to Paradise.’ He ‘dined at Mr. Duplex's with Brother Ley, &c.,’ on September 8, 1766; and on August 25 wrote to his wife: ‘Mr. Ley has missed of Mr. Chapman’s curacy. Try all your interest to get him another, considering a good curacy will draw after it a good wife.’ William Ley had been a preacher in Ireland in 1759, and had a stormy time at Carrick-upon-Shannon, where he went with Wesley on June 10, 1760. See Journal, iv. 392; C. Wesley's Journal, ii. 241, 249, 263; and for Walter Chapman, of Bath, the heading to letter of March 29, 1737.
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