Wesley Corpus

Sun. December 2.--I was with two persons who believe they are saved from all sin. Be it so, or not, why should we not rejoice in the work of God, so far as it is unquestionably wrought in them? For instance, I ask John C., “ Do you pray always? Do you rejoice in God every moment? Do you in every thing give thanks? In loss? In pain? In sickness, weariness, disappointments? Do you desire nothing? Do you fear nothing? Do you feel the love of God continually in your heart? Have you a witness in whatever you speak or do, that it is pleasing to God?” Ifhe can solemnly and deliberately answer in the affirmative, why do I not rejoice and praise God on his behalf? Perhaps, because I have an exceeding complex idea of sanctification, or a sanctified man. And so, for fear he should not have attained all I include in that idea, I cannot rejoice in what he has attained. After having often declared the same thing before many witnesses, this dav Mr. Williams wrote a solemn retractation of the gross slanders he had been propagating for several months concerning my brother and me. This he concluded in these words : ; *“ Though I doubt not but you can forgive me, yet I can hardly forgive myself; I have been so ungrateful and disobedient to the tenderest cf friends, who, through the power of God, were my succour in all my temptations. [ intreat your prayers in my behalf, that God may restore, strengthen, stablish and settle me in the grace to which I have been called: that God may bless you, and your dear brother, and that we may be all united again in one fellowship, is the prayer of him who, for the future, hopes to be, “* Your obedient son and servant, for Christ’s sake, “ 'THomas WILLIAMS.” Mon. 3.--I answered another letter [ had received from Flanders ; n extract of which is here subjoined :-- “ GuEnT, JVov. 12, O. S., 1744.