Wesley Corpus

MY DEAR NANCY, - Have you forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children,-Despise not the chastening of the Lord, neither faint when thou art rebuked of Him Can anything possibly occur wherein we may not say, 'This is the Lord; let Him do what seemeth Him good' In every circumstance we may adopt our Lord's words, 'The cup which My Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it' In your patience possess your soul. Watch against all unprofitable reasonings. Hold that fast, whatever instruments are employed, - Sufferings are the gift of God to you! [See letters of Jan. 14 and June 22.] And they are all intended for your profit, that you may be a partaker of His holiness. I believe volatile tincture of guaiacum would ease the pain in your face. I do not remember if I mentioned it before or no. Drop a teaspoonful on a lump of sugar, and take this in a glass of fair water four times a day. But it would be likewise well to steep your feet in warm water for some minutes before you go to bed. On Monday next I am to set out for Bristol. On Monday fortnight, March 13, I hope to be at Stroud. If it be possible, let me see you there. No person will be more welcome to, dear Nancy, Yours most affectionately. To Samuel Bradburn LONDON, February 26, 1780. DEAR SAMMY, - I think you have reason to be exceeding thankful for an honest and sensible fellow laborer. [John Bredin was his colleague at Cork. See letter of Nov. 9, 1779, to him.] The good fruit of it appears already in your deliverance from that troublesome man. If your opponents cannot provoke you to return evil for evil, they can do you no harm. In patience possess ye your soul, and all those things shall work together for good. I hope to be in Dublin about the end of March, [He did not get there till April 13, I783.] and probably in Cork before the middle of May. If you are at Bristol by-and-by (to which I have no great objection), we must hire a lodging for you near the room. [See letter of April 2.] Peace be with your spirits! - I am, with kind love to Betsy, dear Sammy, Your affectionate friend and brother. To Mrs. Crosby