Wesley Corpus

1773 To Mary Bishop LONDON, January 12, 1773. DEAR MISS BISHOP--I agree with you in your judgement of poor Nancy Dodd. But I would give her (as we say) a chance for life. Captain Webb is not sent to you as to the unawakened world. And perhaps he may do good to Rowland Hill by being abundantly more popular than him. The Fourth Check has done abundance of good. It has confirmed many in the truth. It has settled many that were wavering, and convinced not a few who were just fallen into the strong delusion. But you must not think anything will convince a warm Calvinist--no, not an angel coming down from heaven. In two or three hours I could teach you so much of grammar that you might go on without difficulty. ‘ True simplicity,’ Fenelon says, ‘ is that grace whereby the soul is delivered from all unprofitable reflections upon itself.’ I add, ‘ and upon all other persons and things.’ This is an unspeakable blessing; and it is the mere gift of God, not naturally annexed either to greatness or littleness of understanding. A single eye is a great help to this. Seek one thing, and you will be far less troubled with unprofitable reasonings.--My dear Miss Bishop, Your affectionate brother. To Alexander Clark LONDON, January 12, 1773. MY DEAR BROTHER,--You see I was not mistaken. I told you Mr. Jaco would suit the people of Dublin [See letter of Aug. 10, 1772, to Clark]. But yet you do not take the matter quite. He is the right man, and he came in the right time. If he had come when I did, he could have done nothing; for the leaders were then out of their senses. And their distractions finished the life of Samuel Levick, one of the most sensible and amiable men breathing. But we recovered when Mr. Jaco came; so all things concurred for the recovery of the Society. The sale of books depends upon the preachers. Unless they make a point of it, nothing is done.--I am Your affectionate brother. To Mr. Alex. Clark, At the New Room, In Dublin. To John Murray[1] LONDON, January 15, 1773.