Wesley Corpus

To Ann Bolton Date: CONGLETON, March 25, 1772. Source: The Letters of John Wesley (1772) Author: John Wesley --- MY DEAR SISTER,--The more I reflect on what you said concerning that emptiness, the more I am inclined to think that lovely woman Betsy Johnson [Elizabeth Johnson. See letter of Dec. 15, 1763.] has met with some of those that are called 'Mystic writers' who abound among the Roman Catholics. These are perpetually talking of 'self-emptiness, self-inanition, self-annihilation,' and the like: all very near akin to 'self-contradiction,' as a good man used to say. Indeed, we allow that one cannot take too much care to hide pride from man. And I am many times ready to tremble lest you should slide into it again, and lest I myself should lead you into it while I tell you (as my manner is) just the thought that rises in my heart. My Nancy, does not this hurt you Be as artless with me as I am with you. But though we can never be too humble, though we can never abase ourselves too much before the God of love; yet I cannot approve of recommending humanity by the use of these expressions. My first objection to them is that they are unscriptural. Now, you and I are bigots to the Bible. We think the Bible language is like Goliath's sword, that 'there is none like it.' But they are dangerous too: they almost naturally lead us to deny the gifts of God. Nay, and to make a kind of merit of it; to imagine we honour Him by undervaluing what He has done. Let it not be so with you. Acknowledge all His work while you render Him all His glory. Yours affectionately.