Wesley Corpus

MY DEAR SISTER,--The more I reflect on what you said concerning that emptiness, the more I am inclined to think that lovely woman Betsy Johnson [Elizabeth Johnson. See letter of Dec. 15, 1763.] has met with some of those that are called 'Mystic writers' who abound among the Roman Catholics. These are perpetually talking of 'self-emptiness, self-inanition, self-annihilation,' and the like: all very near akin to 'self-contradiction,' as a good man used to say. Indeed, we allow that one cannot take too much care to hide pride from man. And I am many times ready to tremble lest you should slide into it again, and lest I myself should lead you into it while I tell you (as my manner is) just the thought that rises in my heart. My Nancy, does not this hurt you Be as artless with me as I am with you. But though we can never be too humble, though we can never abase ourselves too much before the God of love; yet I cannot approve of recommending humanity by the use of these expressions. My first objection to them is that they are unscriptural. Now, you and I are bigots to the Bible. We think the Bible language is like Goliath's sword, that 'there is none like it.' But they are dangerous too: they almost naturally lead us to deny the gifts of God. Nay, and to make a kind of merit of it; to imagine we honour Him by undervaluing what He has done. Let it not be so with you. Acknowledge all His work while you render Him all His glory. Yours affectionately. To his Brother Charles CONGLETON, March 25, 1772. DEAR BROTHER,--Giles Ball (as Oliver [Oliver Cromwell said on his death-bed, 'I am safe, for I know that I was once in grace.' See Morley's Cromwell, p. 486.] said) was a good man once! I hope we have no more of the sort. There is still a famous one in Bristol. Now I see why he could not join us. Poor Mr. B--.! [See letter of April 26.] I used to conceive better things of him.