Wesley Corpus

I am glad Brother Blair [Andrew Blair, his new colleague.] and you converse freely together: it will preserve you from many snares. There can be no properer person for a trustee than Andrew Laffan. [One of Whitefield’s converts at Cork in 1751. Wesley appointed him a steward in 1785, and stayed with him in 1787. See Journal, vii. 74d, 271n; Crookshank’s Methodism in Ireland, i. 83, 399, 429; and letter of Feb. 9, 1789.] I have hope that Robert Blake [See letters of Dec. 31, 1782 (to Yewdall), and Feb. 23, 1783.] will be more useful than ever. -- I am Your affectionate friend and brother. To John Cricket [5] LONDON, February 10, 1783. MY DEAR BROTHER, -- Many years ago the Society at Barnard Castle, as large as that at Derry, was remarkably dead. When Samuel Meggot (now with God) came to them, he advised them to keep a day of fasting and prayer. A flame broke out and spread through all the circuit [In 1763. See his account in Journal, v. I7-19; and letter of July 30, 1775.]; nor is it extinguished to this day. I advise you to do the same at Derry. On Sunday morning reprove strongly their unfaithfulness and unfruitfulness, and desire all that fear God to humble themselves with fasting on the Friday following. I am much inclined to hope a flame will break out in Londonderry likewise. But you must immediately resume the form at least of a Methodist Society. I positively forbid you or any preacher to be a leader; rather put the most insignificant person in each class to be the leader of it. And try if you cannot persuade three men, if no more, and three women to meet in band. Hope to the end! You shall see better days. -- I am Yours affectionately. PS.--The plainer you speak the more good you will do. Derry will bear plain speaking. I am just as well as I was forty years ago. To Ellen Gretton DEPTFORD, February 16, 1783.