Wesley Corpus

DEAR BILLY,--Never imagine you can be 'faithful to your trust' without offending anybody. Regard not that; follow your own conscience without fear or favour. Do the best you can, and you do enough! ' Angels can do no more.'--I am Your affectionate friend and brother. To his Niece Sarah Wesley [20] CITY ROAD, November 15, 1780. MY DEAR SALLY,--Some years ago, while you was at Bristol, you had a clear call from God; and you was not disobedient to the heavenly calling. But in a few months that happy impression died away, I know not how. It seems as if God was now calling you again. But you have many hindrances. This is just the dangerous time of life. If you wish not to be almost but altogether a Christian, you will have need of much courage and much patience. Then you will be able to do all things through Christ strengthening you. You want exceedingly a pious, sensible female friend. I scarce know any fit for you at your end of the town, unless it were that open, noble-spirited creature, Nancy Sharland, 'in whom is no guile.' For the present your best helps will be prayer and reading; perhaps much in the method laid down in one of the Magazines [The Arminian Magazine.]. But you cannot pursue this without cutting off, as it were, a right hand--giving up trifling company. To give you any assistance that is in my power will always be a pleasure to Your affectionate Uncle. To Alexander Knox LONDON, November 18, 1780. MY DEAR ALLECK,--My mind is exactly the same towards you as it has been for several years; with this only difference (which is very natural), that the longer I know you the more I love you. I am not soon tired of my friends. My brother laughs at me, and says, ' Nay, it signifies nothing to tell you anything; for whomsoever you once love you will love on through thick and thin.'...