CCCIV. To the Same. DEAR TOMMY, London, August 13, 1775. I Do not give up T. R. yet; he is not out of God's reach. I am not sorry that brother Asbury stays with you another year. In that time it will be seen what God will do with NorthAmerica; and you will easily judge whether our Preachers are called to remain any longer therein. If they are, God will make their way plain, and give them favour, even with the men that delight in war. In the civil wars of Rome, Atticus stood fair in the esteem of both the contending parties. And so did the Archbishop of Cambray, during the war in the Netherlands; not only the Officers, but the common soldiers, when they went by, treating him with love and regard. The clouds do indeed gather more and more; and it seems a heavy storm will follow; certainly it will, unless the prayers of the faithful obtain a longer reprieve. A few weeks ago, I was at the gates of death, in the north of of Ireland. But The fever felt His touch, and fled; and I am now just as I was before it came. You did well to remove the books into a place of safety; if any such can be found in America. It is no wonder that the spirits of the men who know not God are sharpened into madness, that human creatures commence lions and bears. This is the genuine fruit of war! Certainly, if they persecute you in one city, you should flee to another. Peace be with your spirit! I am, dear Tommy, DEAR TOMMY, Your affectionate friend and brother. CCCV.-To the Same. London, October 20, 1775. THE account given in our newspapers of my death was not wholly without foundation; for I was only not dead; my pulse being quite gone, and "the wheel at the cistern without motion." But then our Lord stepped in, and The fever owned His touch, and fled. My strength returned by swift degrees; and I am now at least as well as before my illness. In the country places I believe you will have the largest harvest, where they know little and talk little about politics. Their hearts are engaged with something better, and they let the dead bury their dead. I am glad you are going into North Carolina; and why not into South Carolina too? I apprehend those provinces would bear much fruit, as most parts of them are fresh, unbroken ground. And as the people are farther removed from the din of war, they may be more susceptible of the gospel of peace. A paper was sent to me lately, occasioned by the troubles in America; but it would not do good. It is abundantly too tart; and nothing of that kind will be of service now. All parties are already too much sharpened against each other: We must pour water, not oil, into the flame. I had written a little tract upon the subject before I knew the American ports were shut up. I think there is not one sharp word therein; I did not design there should. However, many are excessively angry; and would willingly burn me and it together. Indeed it is provoking; I suppose above forty thousand of them have been printed in three weeks, and still the demand for them is as great as ever. I was glad to receive your's by Captain Crawford. I am entirely of your mind. I am persuaded love and tender measures will do far more than violence. And if I should have an interview with a great man, (which seems to be not unlikely,) I will, by the grace of God, tell him so, without any circumlocution. Our time is in God's hands: Let us stand ready for all things! I am, dear Tommy, Your affectionate friend and brother. CCCVI-To Mr. James Dempster. 4 DEAR JEMMY, This has always, so far as it prevailed, been the bane of all true religion; more especially when a country was in such a situation as America is now. None but the God of almighty love can extricate the poor people out of the snare. O what need have you to besiege His throne with all the power of prayer! I am, dear Jemmy, Your's affectionately. DEAR JEMMY, CCCVII.-To the Same. Near Leeds, July 28, 1775. LAST month I was at the gates of death. But it pleased God just then to rebuke the fever, so that my pulse began to beat again, after it had totally ceased. Since that time I have been gradually recovering strength, and am now nearly as well Let us use the short residue of life to the glory of gave it! as ever. Him that I am Your's affectionately. CCCVIII-To Mr. John King.* MY DEAR BROTHER, Near Leeds, July 28, 1775. ALWAYS take advice or reproof as a favour: It is the surest mark of love. I advised you once, and you took it as an affront: Nevertheless I will do it once more. Scream no more, at the peril of your soul. God now warns you by me, whom he has set over you. Speak as earnestly as you can; but do not scream. Speak with all your heart; but with a moderate voice. It was said of our Lord, "He shall not cry:" The word properly means, He shall not scream. Herein be a follower of me, as I am of Christ. I often speak loud; often vehemently; but I never scream; I never strain myself; I dare not: I know it would be a sin against God and my own soul. Perhaps one reason why that good man, Thomas Walsh, yea, and John Manners too, were in such grievous darkness before they died, was, because they shortened their own lives. O John, pray for an advisable and teachable temper! By * One of the Preachers in America.-EDIT. nature you are very far from it: You are stubborn and headstrong. Your last letter was written in a very wrong spirit. If you cannot take advice from others, surely you might take it from Your affectionate brother. CCCIX.-To Mr. John King.* Near London, February 16, 1787. I GENERALLY write to all that desire it, though not often in many words. What I have to say may be confined in a narrow compass. It requires a great degree of watchfulness to retain the perfect love of God; and one great means of retaining it is, frankly to declare what God has given you, and earnestly to exhort all the believers you meet with to follow after full salvation. CCCX.-To the Same. Near Bristol, April 21, 1787. IF you have a desire to go and labour with Brother Clarke in the Islands of Guernsey and Jersey, you may, after the Conference. By that time I expect they will have both work and food for another labourer. With what is past, or what is to come, we have little to do. Now is the day of salvation. The great salvation is at hand, if you will receive it as the free gift of God. What you have already attained, hold fast. Whatever you want, it is ready to be given. Reason not about it, but believe. His word is, "Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it." There is a wonderful work of God in several parts of this kingdom; and it increases more and more. CCCXI.-To the Same. MY DEAR BROTHER, Near London, October 31, 1787. BоTH in Jersey, Alderney, and Guernsey, the fields are white to the harvest. Hitherto there is an open door into many places, without any considerable opposition. And I am not sorry we were detained there, by contrary winds, longer than we intended. * One of the English Preachers. He was a different person from the Preacher to whom the preceding letter was addressed.-EDIT. There is no need at all that Thirsk circuit should ever be in debt. You have several persons there that are of considerable ability, and that love the cause of God. Represent things to them in a proper manner, and nothing will be wanting. If any of the Class-Leaders teaches strange doctrine, he can have no more place among us. Only lovingly admonish him first. I am Yours affectionately. CCCXII-To Mrs. A. F. October 12, 1764. MY DEAR SISTER, THAT great truth, "that we are saved by faith," will never be worn out; and that sanctifying as well as justifying faith is the free gift of God. Now, with God one day is as a thousand years. It plainly follows, that the quantity of time is nothing to Him: Centuries, years, months, days, hours, and moments are exactly the same. Consequently, he can as well sanctify in a day after we are justified, as a hundred years. There is no difference at all, unless we suppose Him to be such a one as ourselves. Accordingly we see, in fact, that some of the most unquestionable witnesses of sanctifying grace were sanctified within a few days after they were justified. I have seldom known so devoted a soul, as S- — H—, at Macclesfield, who was sanctified within nine days after she was convinced of sin. She was then twelve years old, and I believe was never afterwards heard to speak an improper word, or known to do an improper thing. Her look struck an awe into all that saw her. She is now in Abraham's bosom. Although, therefore, it usually pleases God to interpose some time between justification and sanctification, yet, as it is expressly. observed in the "Farther Thoughts," we must not fancy this to be an invariable rule. All who think this, must think we are sanctified by works, or, which comes to the same, by sufferings: For, otherwise, what is time necessary for? It must be either to do or to suffer. Whereas, if nothing be required but simple faith, a moment is as good as an age. The truth is, we are continually forming general rules from our own particular experience. Thus S-R-, having |