Wesley Corpus

MY DEAR SISTER, -- The affection which I have felt for you ever since I had the pleasure of your company at Mr. Dodwell’s [The Rev. William Dodwell. Wesley preached in his church at Welby on July 8, and next day at Grantham. He assisted Wesley on July 13, 1788, in administering the Lord's Supper at Nottingham and was at the Conference of 1782. He died in 1824, leaving 10,000 to the Wesleyan Missionary Society and 10,000 to the Bible Society. See Journal, vi. 328, vii. 416.] will never suffer your letters to be troublesome to me any more than your conversation. I rejoice to hear that the consolations of the Holy One are not small with you. All these are given for that very end, to enlarge and strengthen your desires, and to quicken your hope of that perfect love which is nigh, even at the door! How soon may you find the fulfilling of that word, ‘All things are possible to him that believeth’! Now believe and enter in! ‘The promise is sure.’ He cannot deny Himself. In order to show you more of your own weakness and His power, He suffers you to be variously tempted. But still in every temptation he makes a way to escape that you may be able to bear it. As I was going through Grantham [After preaching at Sheffield on Aug. 15, he ‘took chaise with Dr. Coke; and, traveling day and night, the next evening came to London.’ See Journal, vi. 331.] I cast a wishful eye at the place where I spent a little time with my dear friend. But you were all, I suppose, fast asleep, and it was too early to wake you. I trust there shall never be wanting a little company of you to watch over one another in love. Peace be with all your spirits! My dear Nelly, I regard you much. Receive me as your friend. Perhaps there are not many that would be more glad to serve you in anything than Yours very affectionately. To Miss Gretton, At Mr. Derry’s, Shoemaker, Grantham. To Various Friends [14] November 19, 1781.