To Miss March Date: DUBLIN, July 13, 1771. As long as we dwell in an house of clay it is liable to affect the mind; sometimes by dulling or darkening the understanding, and sometimes more directly by damping and depressing the soul and sinking it into distress and heaviness. In this state doubt or fear of one kind or another will naturally arise. And the prince of this world, who well knows whereof we are made, will not fail to improve the occasion, in order to disturb, though he cannot pollute, the heart which God hath cleansed from all unrighteousness. I rejoice with you concerning poor Martin Madan. See reference to his mother in Tyerman's Wesley, ii. 284. Persons who are eminently dutiful to their parents hardly ever fail of receiving a reward even in the present world. My call to America is not yet clear. See letters of Dec. 14, 1770, and Aug. 14, 1771 (to Philothea Briggs). I have no business there as long as they can do without me. At present I am a debtor to the people of England and Ireland, and especially to them that believe. You have a delicate part to act with regard to Philly. See previous letter and that of Sept. 13. There are so many great defects in her natural temper that a deal of grace will be required to make her altogether a Christian; neither will grace shine in her as it would in others. You have need carefully to encourage what is of God in her and tenderly to reprove what is of nature. I am afraid for P D , Damaris Perronet. lest she should be less zealous of good works than she was formerly. I doubt she has at present little encouragement thereto.

In the 13th of the First of Corinthians you have the height and depth of genuine perfection; and it is observable St. Paul speaks all along of the love of our neighbour, flowing indeed from the love of God. Mr. De Renty is an excellent pattern of this. But many things in his fellowship with God will not be explained till the Holy Spirit explains them by writing them on your heart. That darkness which often clouds your understanding I take to be quite preternatural. I believe the spirit of darkness spreads a mist over your mind, so far as he is permitted; and that the best remedy is simply to look up to God, and the cloud will flee away at His presence. I am, c.