Wesley Corpus

To Thomas Rutherford Date: LONDON, March 3, 1776. Source: The Letters of John Wesley (1776) Author: John Wesley --- DEAR TOMMY,--I am glad you have a convenient lodging at Edinburgh. You should try all the little places round Glasgow as soon as you can preach abroad. Rd. Watkinson is as much called to preach as you or I. But is it any wonder his mouth should be shut when he is worn down with weakness and pain and the unkind censures of those he is among Some of the Calvinists stumbled in lately while I was preaching. 'Ay,' said one of them, 'poor man! He has quite lost his gift! ' Perhaps your Greenock critics might do the same. So they said of Hugh Saunderson. Those who will not conform to the Rules of our Society are no members of it. Therefore I require John Campbell, John Laird, and Peter Ferguson to take their choice one way or the other. If they will meet their class weekly, they are with us. If they will not, they put themselves from us. And if the rest of the Society cannot or will not bear the expense, our preachers shall trouble Greenock no more. But show them the reason of the thing in The Plain Account of the People called Methodists. After they have considered this, let them either join with us upon these terms or be our friends at a distance. I think what you propose concerning Brother Watkinson is the best thing that can be done. As soon as possible he should drink decoction of nettles or of burdock morning and evening. If need be, I will send him another little bill. Possibly I may see you in May.--I am, dear Tommy, Your affectionate friend and brother.