Wesley Corpus

DEAR TOMMY, - Whoever is pleased or displeased (as some win certainly be), it is your duty to remove every leader whom you judge to be unprofitable to the people, or indeed less profitable than another that lives at a convenient distance. [Warwick was Assistant at Burslem.] Some will likewise be displeased if you diligently exhort the believers to go on to perfection. But you need only secure one point - to please God. - I am, with love to Sister Warwick, Your affectionate friend and brother. To William Simpson LONDON, November 23, 1786. DEAR BILLY,-YOU have taken in this intricate affair the very best method that could be taken. When you have to do with those stubborn spirits, it is absolutely necessary either to mend them or to end them; and ten persons of a quiet temper are better than thirty contentious ones. [The contentions were at Knaresborough. See letter of Nov. 11 to him.] Undoubtedly some of the eloquent men will be sending me heavy complaints. It is well, therefore, that you spoke first. - I am, dear Billy, Your affectionate friend and brother. To William Black LONDON, November 26, 1786. MY DEAR BROTHER, - It is indeed a matter of joy that our Lord is still carrying on His work throughout Great Britain and Ireland. In the time of Dr. Jonathan Edwards there were several gracious showers in New England, but there were large intermissions between one and another; whereas with us there has been no intermission at all for seven-and-forty years, but the work of God has been continually increasing. The same thing I am in hopes you will now see in America likewise. [Black wrote from Halifax on Aug. 7 giving a pleasing account of the work. See Richey's Memoir, pp. 156-8.] See that you expect it, and that you seek it in His appointed ways - namely, with fasting and unintermitted prayer. And take care that you be not at all discouraged, though you should not always have an immediate answer. You know His manner and His times are best. Therefore pray always! Pray, and faint not. I commend you all to our Great Shepherd; and am Your affectionate brother. To Francis Wrigley [18] LONDON, November 26, 1786.