Wesley Corpus

To Hannah Ball Date: LIVERPOOL, April 13, 1785. Source: The Letters of John Wesley (1786) Author: John Wesley --- MY DEAR SISTER, - I am glad to hear that your Society prospers and that the work of God continues to increase in the town. It always will if prayer-meetings are kept up (without interfering with the classes and bands). These have been and still are attended with a blessing in every part of England. And Sister Coussins, [Jonathan Coussins was now Assistant in Oxfordshire.] joining heart and hand with you, may greatly forward the work of God. See that there never be any shyness or coldness between you, Still provoke one another to love and to good works. But I am sorry that you do not love me. You did once, or I am much mistaken. But if you did so still, you would not barely tell me, and that in general terms only, that you had been in distress, but you would have enlarged upon it and told me all the particulars. [Miss Ball's journal shows that she was passing through much anxiety and spiritual struggle at this time. See Memoir, p. 156.] What! Do you think I do not care for you that my love to my dear friend is grown cold! Nay; surely I am as much interested in your happiness now as I was ten years ago. Therefore use as a friend, my dear sister, Yours as ever. My kind love to Nancy. [Her sister Ann. See letter of Aug. 14, 1771.]