Wesley Corpus

May I speak without reserve I verily think I may. I hoped to see a third Christian school at Publow [The Owens’ School. See Journal, vi. 335-6; and letter of July 17 to Miss Bishop.]; and I did so for a season. But I cannot say that for some years it has quite answered my expectations. ‘What, then, was the matter’ I can hardly tell. I do not know how to express it. I did not see the simplicity which I saw at first. More of the world seemed to be crept in. Good breeding I love; but how difficult is it to keep it quite clear of affectation and of a something which does not well agree with that mind which was in Christ! I want your children to be trained up quite in the manner that Miss Bosanquet's were. Although they were very genteel, yet there was something in their whole manner which told you they belonged to another world. Mrs. Castleman [See letter of Aug. 4, 1775.] was one of Molly Maddern's scholars. You see, she is genteel; yet she is a Christian. Make Christians, my dear Miss Bishop, make Christians! Let this be your leading view. Make such Christians as Miranda, [Law’s Serious Call, chap. viii.: ‘A sober, reasonable Christian.’ ‘She thinks that the trying herself every day by the doctrines of Scripture is the only possible way to be ready for her trial at the last day.’] as Miss Ritchie; such as Miss March was l Let everything else which you teach be subordinate to this. Mind one thing in all! Let it be said of the young women you educate, Grace was in all her steps, heaven in her eye, In all her gestures sanctity and love. [Milton’s Eve, Paradise Lost, viii. 488-9: ‘In every gesture dignity and love.’] But what power do you want to execute this! Ask, and it shall be given you! May you not have the earnest of it this moment -- I am, my dear Miss Bishop, Your affectionate friend and brother. To Miss Bishop, At her Boarding School, In Keynsham, Near Bristol. To John Atlay [11] WHITHAVEN, May 26, 1781.