Wesley Corpus

MY DEAR SISTER, - I have nothing to do with Yorkshire this year. After a swift journey through Bolton, Wigan, and Liverpool, I must hasten by Chester to Holyhead in order to take the first packet for Dublin. The spring is already so far spent that I shall have much ado to go through all the provinces of Ireland before the end of June. It is well if that inconstant man has not destroyed poor Miss L. body and soul. I am afraid he had long since stole her heart from God. And she had so long persuaded others that their union was the will of God, that it is well if the disappointment does not quite unsettle her and make her turn back to the world. I wish you would write a letter to her on this head. Who knows but it may save a soul alive. The account of Michael Onions is very remarkable and may be of use to the public. Yours most affectionately. To John Fletcher [12] MANCHESTER, April 3, 1785. DEAR SIR, - Our Dublin Conference is appointed to begin the first Tuesday in July, our London Conference the last Tuesday in that month. I am afraid there will be very little time to spare between the one and the other. I have very little hopes of doing any good to either Deists or Socinians. But it's worth all our labor to prevent their doing mischief - at least, more than they have done already. For this reason I look upon everything with a jealous eye which prevents your answering Dr. Priestley. He is certainly one of the most dangerous enemies of Christianity that is now in the world. And I verily think you are the man whom God has prepared to abate his confidence. Dr. Horseley has good matter; but he is an heavy writer; and perhaps sometimes a little too severe. I believe you will be enabled to speak home, and yet to keep your temper. I really hope the Sunday Schools will be productive of great good to the nation. They spread wider and wider, and are likely to reach every part of the kingdom. It seems to be a great happiness, not a misfortune, that those turbulent men have taken themselves away. Jo. Hampson, jun., is going to the University. He may be an useful clergyman.