Wesley Corpus

To Mrs. Crosby Date: NEWCASTLE, May 11, 1780. Source: The Letters of John Wesley (1780) Author: John Wesley --- MY DEAR SISTER,--Before you mentioned it, that was my purpose, not to let any one know of your writing. Therefore I do transcribe what I choose to keep and burn the originals [His wife's conduct made Wesley anxious to afford no opportunity for misunderstanding.]. Neither must the witness supersede the fruits, nor the fruits the witness of the Spirit. Let other men talk this way or that, the word of the Lord shall stand. I believe your spending a little time at P--may be of use. Probably it will remove their prejudice against Christian perfection. But if Mr. T[aylor] has a mind to marry our friend, I think neither you nor I shall forward it. She is far happier, since she is free, so to abide. Do you find any tendency to pride Do you find nothing like anger Is your mind never ruffled, put out of tune Do you never feel any useless desire any desire of pleasure, of ease, of approbation, or increase of fortune Do you find no stubbornness, sloth, or self-will, no unbelief Certainly the more freely you speak to me the better. I found what you said in your last helpful. It is of great use to have our minds stirred up by way of remembrance, even of the things we know already. I speak of myself very little to any one, were it only for fear of hurting them. I have found exceeding few that could bear it; so I am constrained to repress my natural openness. I find scarce any temptation from any thing in the world; my danger is from persons. Oh for an heart to praise my God, An heart from sin set free! Dear Sally, adieu.