DCCCC.-To Mr. John Booth. MY DEAR BROTHER, LONDON, January 29, 1791. You give me a very agreeable account of the progress of the work of God in your Circuit. As to the poor, selfconceited enthusiasts in Keighley, it seems best that you should never name them in public; but, when occasion offers, strike at the root of their errors, by clearly proving the truth which they deny. And whenever you meet with any of them in private, then speak and spare not. Whenever you have opportunity of speaking to believers, urge them to go on to perfection. Spare no pains; and God, our own God, still give you his blessing! I am Your affectionate friend and brother. days before his death, evinces the deep and unabated interest which he took in the abolition of Negro slavery. Against that most iniquitous system he published a very able pamphlet in the year 1774, which has been often reprinted. The following remarks on his correspondence with Mr. Clarkson are also worthy of notice. They are extracted from that Gentleman's "History of the Abolition of the Slave-Trade," vol. i., page 447. The date referred to is the year 1787, when the Abolition Committee was formed. "Mr. Wesley, whose letter was read next, informed the Committee of the great satisfaction which he also had experienced when he heard of their formation. He conceived that their design, while it would destroy the slave-trade, would also strike at the root of the shocking abomination of slavery. He desired to forewarn them, that they must expect difficulties and great opposition from those who were interested in the system; that these were a powerful body; and that they would raise all their forces when they perceived their craft to be in danger. They would employ hireling writers, who would have neither justice nor mercy. But the Committee were not to be dismayed by such treatment, nor even if some of those who professed good-will toward them should turn against them. As to himself, he would do all he could to promote the object of their institution. 6 He would reprint a new, large edition of his Thoughts upon Slavery,' and circulate it among his friends in England and Ireland, to whom he would add a few words in favour of their design. And then he concluded in these words: 'I commend you to Him who is able to carry you through all opposition, and support you under all discouragements.' "On the 30th of October, 1787, a second letter was read from Mr. John Wesley. He said that he had now read the publications which the Committee had sent him, and that he took, if possible, a still deeper interest in their cause. He exhorted them to more than ordinary diligence and perseverance; to be prepared for opposition; to be cautious about the manner of procuring information and evidence, that no stain might fall upon their character; and to take care that the question should be argued as well upon the consideration of interest, as of humanity and justice; the former of which, he feared, would have more weight than the latter: and he recommended them and their glorious concern, as before, to the protection of Him who was able to support them."-Edit. DCCCCI.-To Mr. York, of Stourport. DEAR SIR, LONDON, February 6, 1791. ON Wednesday, March 17, I purpose, if God permit, to come from Gloucester to Worcester; and on Thursday, the 18th, to Stourport. If our friends at Worcester are displeased, we cannot help it. Wishing you and yours all happiness, I am, dear Sir, Your affectionate servant. February 28. This morning I found this in my bureau.* SUPPLEMENTARY LETTERS. DCCCCII.-To Dr. Koker, of Rotterdam. 1738. My desire and prayer to God is, that the glorious Gospel of his Son may run and be glorified among you, as it doth among us; and much more abundantly. I should rejoice to hear what our Lord hath done for you also. Is the number of believers multiplied? Do they love one another? Are they all of one heart and one soul? Do they build up one another in the knowledge and love of our Lord Jesus Christ? May He multiply your little flock a thousand fold, how many soever they be! May He fill you with all peace and joy in believing! May He preserve you in all lowliness of spirit! And may He enable you to use great plainness of speech, both towards each other, and toward all men; and, by manifestation of the truth, to commend yourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God! Even to this hour I have not had one day's leisure to transcribe for you the papers I brought from Hernhuth : the harvest here also is so plenteous, and the labourers so few; and it increases upon us daily. Verily the Spirit of • The memorandum at the bottom of this letter, in all probability, was the last line Mr. Wesley ever wrote. It bears the date of February 28, and he died on the 2d of March; only two days afterwards. The original letter, as a curiosity, was bequeathed to the late Rev. Samuel Bradburn; and is now in the possession of his daughter, Miss Eliza Weaver Bradburn, by whose permission it has been transcribed.-EDIT. the Lord hath lifted up his standard against the iniquity which hath overspread our land as a flood. O pray ye for us, that He would send more labourers into His harvest; and that He would enable us, whom He hath already sent, to approve ourselves faithful Ministers of the new covenant, by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report! In particular, let all the brethren and sisters who are with you pray that God would warm with His love the cold heart of, Dear Sir, Your much obliged and very affectionate brother in Christ. DCCCCIII.-To Mr. Viney, of Ysselstein. 1738. AFTER a long sleep, there seems now to be a great awakening in this place also. The Spirit of the Lord hath already shaken the dry bones; and some of them stand up, and live. But I am still dead and cold; having peace, indeed, but no love or joy in the Holy Ghost. O pray for me, that I may see and feel myself a sinner, and have a full interest in the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world! DCCCCIV.-To Isaac Le Long, at Amsterdam. 1738. Do not think, my dear brother, that I have forgotten you. I cannot forget you, because I love you: though I cannot love any one yet as I ought; because I cannot love our blessed Lord as I ought. My heart is cold and senseless. It is indeed a heart of stone. Pray for me; and let all your household pray for me; yea, and all the brethren also, that our God would give me a broken heart, a loving heart, a heart wherein his Spirit may delight to dwell. May our good Lord repay you all a thousand fold for the love you showed to us! How does His Gospel prosper at Amsterdam? Are believers multiplied? And is His grace mighty among you? Is your name yet cast out as evil? (For that must be the next.) And do men despitefully use you, and persecute you? I want you to say a great deal to me of it. But, above all, I want you to pray a great deal for Your poor weak brother. DCCCCV.-To Mr. Nathanael Price, of Cardiff. MY DEAR BROTHER, BRISTOL, December 6, 1739. OUR sincere thanks attend you for your seasonable assistance. I have writ to our dear brother Howell Harris, and sent him a short account of the design which we are carrying on in Kingswood also: which perhaps may be agreeable to them who are with you too; for which reason, I have sent you a copy of it: namely, "Few persons have lived long in the west of England, who have not heard of the colliers of Kingswood: a people famous from the beginning hitherto, for neither fearing God, nor regarding man; so ignorant of the things of God, that they could only be compared to the beasts that perish; and therefore utterly without desire of instruction, as well as without the means of it. "To this people Mr. Whitefield, last spring, began to preach the Gospel of Christ; and as there were thousands of them who went to no place of public worship, he went out into their own wilderness, 'to seek and to save that which was lost.' When he was called away, others went 'into the highways and hedges to compel them to come in.' And by the grace of God, their labour was not in vain. The scene was entirely changed. Kingswood does not now, as a year ago, resound with cursing and blasphemy. It is no longer the seat of drunkenness, uncleanness, and all idle diversions that lead thereto. It is no longer filled with wars and fightings, with clamour and bitterness, with strife and envying. Peace and love are now there the people in general are become mild, gentle, and easy to be entreated: they do not cry, neither strive, and hardly is their voice heard in the streets; or indeed in their own wood, unless when they are at their usual evening diversions, singing praise unto God their Saviour. That their children also might know the things that make for their peace, it was proposed, some months since, to build a school in Kingswood; and, after many difficulties, the foundation of it was laid in June last, in the middle of the wood, on a place called Two-mile-hill, between the London and Bath roads, about three measured miles from Bristol. A large room was begun there for a school, having four small rooms at each end for the schoolmasters (and hereafter, if it should please God, some poor children) to lodge in it. Two persons are ready to teach, so soon as the house is fit to receive them, the shell of which is nearly finished. It is proposed, in the usual hours of the day, to teach chiefly the poorer children to read, write, and cast accounts; but more especially, by God's assistance, 'to know God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent: the elder people, being not so proper to be mixed with children, (for we expect scholars of all ages, some of them greyheaded,) will be taught in the inner room, either early in the morning, or late at night, so as their work may not be hindered. "It is true, although the masters will not take any pay, (for the love of Christ constrains them, as they have freely received, freely to give,) yet this undertaking is attended with great expense. But let Him that feedeth the young ravens see to that. If He puts it into your heart, or the hearts of any of your friends, to assist us in bringing this work to perfection, in this world look for no recompence; but it shall be remembered in that day, when our Lord shall say unto you, 'Inasmuch as ye did it unto the least of these my brethren, ye did it unto me.' My love and service attends all our brethren at Cardiff, especially Mr. Glascott. I am, in haste, My dear brother, Yours affectionately. DCCCCVI.-To Mr. Howell Harris, of Trevecka. MY DEAR BROTHER, " LONDON, July 29, 1740. Is the devil a fool? Or has he forgot his old maxim, "Divide and conquer? Beware you forget not the royal law, "Love thinketh no evil." I have no time myself now, so I have desired our brother Purdy to transcribe a paragraph or two of my Journal for you. "In the evening, (after I had explained, 'We wrestle not with flesh and blood,' &c.,) Mr. Acourt complained, that Mr. Nowers had hindered his going into our society. Mr. Nowers answered, 'It was by Mr. C. Wesley's order.' 'What,' said Mr. Acourt, 'do you refuse admitting a person into your society, only because he differs from you in opinion?" I answered, No; but what opinion do you mean?' He said, 'That of election. I hold, A certain number is elected from eternity. And these must and shall be saved. And the rest of mankind must and shall be damned. And many of your society hold the same.' I replied, 'I never asked, whether they hold it or no. Only let them not trouble others by disputing about it.' He said, 'Nay, but I will dispute about it.' What, wherever |