Wesley Corpus

To Joseph Benson Date: MANCHESTER, May 19, 1783. Source: The Letters of John Wesley (1783) Author: John Wesley --- DEAR JOSEPH, -- I do not, and never did, consent that any of our preachers should baptize [Compare letter of Jan. 6, 1784.] as long as we profess ourselves to be members of the Church of England. Much more may be said for burying the dead; to this I have no objection. One of the preachers in every circuit usually stays two years; this is generally the Assistants. But when you were at Manchester [In 1779 John Valton, who relieved him at Manchester, had written to Wesley as though some were kept in class who were not worthy members. ‘But he afterwards wept bitterly for what he had said; and therefore I never mentioned the matter to him; nor do I love him any less on that account.’] you quite disappointed me. You were not exact at all; you let things go as they would: therefore you have not been an Assistant since. I will mend or end T. Olivers as a corrector. [Benson had found fault with some articles of his in the Magazine incorrectly printed. Wesley bore it for twelve years, till 1789.] Next week I hope to be in London; and am, with love to Sister Benson, dear Joseph, Your affectionate brother.