Wesley Corpus

To Mary Cooke Date: LONDON, October 30, 1785. Source: The Letters of John Wesley (1785) Author: John Wesley --- My dear Miss Cooke leans to the right-hand error. It is safer to think too little than too much of yourself. I blame no one for not believing he is in the favor of God till he is in a manner constrained to believe it. But, laying all circumstances together, I can make no doubt of your having a measure of faith. Many years ago when one was describing the glorious privilege of a believer, I cried out, 'If this be so, I have no faith.' He replied, 'Habes fidere, sed exiguam: "You have faith, but it is weak."' The very same thing I say to you, my dear friend. You have faith, but it is only as a grain of mustard-seed. Hold fast what you have, and ask for what you want. There is an irreconcilable variability in the operations of the Holy Spirit on the souls of men, more especially as to the manner of justification. Many find Him rushing upon them like a torrent, while they experience The o'erwhelming power of saving grace. This has been the experience of many; perhaps of more in this late visitation than in any other age since the times of the Apostles. But in others He works in a very different way: He deigns His influence to infuse, Sweet, refreshing, as the silent dews. It has pleased Him to work the latter way in you from the beginning; and it is not improbable He will continue (as He has begun) to work in a gentle and almost insensible manner. Let Him take His own way: He is wiser than you; He will do all things well. Do not reason against Him; but let the prayer of your heart be, Mould as Thou wilt Thy passive clay I commit you and your dear sisters to His tender care; and am, my dear friend, Most affectionately yours.