Wesley Corpus

To Mr. ---- Source: The Letters of John Wesley (1756) Author: John Wesley --- [September 3, 1756.] You give five reasons why the Rev. Mr. P.---- will come no more amongst us: (1) ‘Because we despise the ministers of the Church of England.’ This I flatly deny. I am answering letters this very post which bitterly blame me for just the contrary. (2) ‘Because so much backbiting and err-speaking is suffered amongst our people.’ It is not suffered: all possible means are used both to prevent and remove it. (3) ‘Because I, who have written so much against hoarding up money, have put out seven hundred pounds to interest.’ I never put sixpence out to interest since I was born; nor had I ever an hundred pounds together my own since I came into the world. (4) ‘Because our lay preachers have told many stories of my brother and me.’ If they did, I am sorry for them; when I hear the particulars, I can answer, and perhaps make those ashamed who believed them. (5) ‘Because we did not help a friend in digress.’ We did help him as far as we were able. ‘But we might have made his case known to Mr. G----, Lady Huntingdon, &c.’ So we did more than once; but we could not pull money from them whether they would or no. Therefore these reasons are of no weight. You conclude with praying that God would remove pride and malice from amongst us. Of pride I have too much; of malice I have none: however, the prayer is good, and I thank you for it.