Wesley Corpus

Come out in the name of God! Come to the help of the Lord against the mighty! Come while I am alive and capable of labor! Dum superest Lachesi quod torqueat, et pedibus me Porto meis, nullo dextram subeunte bacillo. [Juvenal’s Satires, iii. 27-8: ‘ While Lachesis has some thread of life to spin, And I walk on my own feet, without the help of a staff’]. Come while I am able, God assisting to build you up in faith, to ripen your gifts, and to introduce you to the people. Nil tanti. What possible employment can you have which is of so great importance But you will naturally say, ‘ I am not equal to the task; I have neither grace nor gifts for such an employment.’ You say true; it is certain you have not. And who has But do you not know Him who is able to give them perhaps not at once, but rather day by day: as each is, so shall your strength be. ‘But this implies,’ you may say, ‘ a thousand crosses, such as I feel I am not able to bear.’ You are not able to bear them now; and they are not now come. Whenever they do come, will He not send them in due number, weight, and measure And will they not all be for your profit, that you may be a partaker of His holiness Without conferring, therefore, with flesh and blood, come and strengthen the hands, comfort the heart, and share the labor of Your affectionate friend and brother. To Martha Chapman LEWISHAM, January 19, 1773. MY DEAR SISTER, --If nothing unforeseen prevent, I shall be at Newbury on Monday, March 8. You should not be content with coming yourself, but bring Mr. and Mrs. Jacques with you. I doubt not but you will see a still greater increase of the work of God at Watlington: only lose no time! Be instant in season, out of season! In due time you will reap if you faint not. God gives the full assurance of hope sooner or later as it seemeth Him good. But the main point is, let your heart be whole with Him. Let no false rival claim a part, Nor sin disseize Him of His own! --I am, dear Patty, Yours affectionately. To Mrs. Barton, Beverley [3] LEWISHAM, January 21, 1773.