Wesley Corpus

To Mrs. Tighe, at Woodstock, Innistoyne, near Kilkenny. To Freeborn Garrettson [3] LONDON, January 24, 1789. MY DEAR BROTHER, -- It signifies but little where we are, so we are but fully employed for our good Master. Whether you went, therefore, to the east, it is all one, so you were laboring to promote His work. You are following the order of His providence wherever it appeared, as an holy man strongly expressed it, in a kind of holy disordered order. But there is one expression that occurs twice or thrice in yours which gives me some concern: you speak of finding 'freedom' to do this or that. This is a word much liable to be abused. If I have plain Scripture or plain reason for doing a thing well. These are my rules, and my only rules. I regard not whether I had freedom or no. This is an unscriptural expression and a very fallacious rule. I wish to be in every point, great and small, a scriptural, rational Christian. In one instance formerly you promised to send me your Journal. Will you break your word because you do not find freedom to keep it Is not this enthusiasm O be not of this way of thinking I You know not whither it may lead you. You are called to Square your useful life below By reason and by grace. But whatever you do with regard to me you must do quickly, or you will no more in this world. Your affectionate friend and brother. To Walter Churchey [4] LONDON, January 27, 1789. MY DEAR BROTHER, -- On Monday, March 2, I hope to be in Bath or Bristol; then we may talk about the number of copies. I have been much more concerned than you for these sixty years in printing books both with and without subscription. And I still think, with all our skill and industry, we shall be hard set to procure three hundred subscribers. Perhaps three hundred may promise! But we must never imagine that all who promise will perform. But of this we may talk more when we meet at Bristol. [The list of subscribers printed in Churchey's Poems on Various Occasions accounts for 195 copies. See letters of Dec. 6, 1788, and March 3, 1789, to him.] I suppose every one that loves King George loves Mr. Pitt.