Wesley Corpus

To John Fletcher Date: MANCHESTER, April 3, 1785. Source: The Letters of John Wesley (1785) Author: John Wesley --- DEAR SIR, - Our Dublin Conference is appointed to begin the first Tuesday in July, our London Conference the last Tuesday in that month. I am afraid there will be very little time to spare between the one and the other. I have very little hopes of doing any good to either Deists or Socinians. But it's worth all our labor to prevent their doing mischief - at least, more than they have done already. For this reason I look upon everything with a jealous eye which prevents your answering Dr. Priestley. He is certainly one of the most dangerous enemies of Christianity that is now in the world. And I verily think you are the man whom God has prepared to abate his confidence. Dr. Horseley has good matter; but he is an heavy writer; and perhaps sometimes a little too severe. I believe you will be enabled to speak home, and yet to keep your temper. I really hope the Sunday Schools will be productive of great good to the nation. They spread wider and wider, and are likely to reach every part of the kingdom. It seems to be a great happiness, not a misfortune, that those turbulent men have taken themselves away. Jo. Hampson, jun., is going to the University. He may be an useful clergyman. I hope, if we live, you will not fail to be present at the Conference in London. Do not you stay at home too much Wishing you both to be more and more happy and useful, I am, dear sir, Ever yours.