Wesley Corpus

DEAR SAMMY, -- Take particular care that neither Michael Fenwick nor any other give any just offense, and especially that they offend not God; then He will make your enemies be at peace with you. If I remember well, I did write to the Mayor of Bideford; and I expect that makes him more quiet. [See letter of Nov. 25, 1789.] By meekness, gentleness, and patience, with faith and prayer, you will prevail at Torrington also. You have only to go on calmly and steadily, and God will arise and maintain His own cause. Only let us labor to have a conscience void of offense toward God and toward man. -- I am, dear Sammy, Your affectionate friend and brother. To Dr. Pretyman Tomline, Bishop of Lincoln () [13] [March 1790.] MY LORD, -- I am a dying man, having already one foot in the grave. Humanly speaking, I cannot long creep upon the earth, being now nearer ninety than eighty years of age. But I cannot die in peace before I have discharged this office of Christian love to your Lordship. I write without ceremony, as neither hoping nor fearing anything from your Lordship or from any man living. And I ask, in the name and in the presence of Him to whom both you and I are shortly to give an account, why do you trouble those that are quiet in the land those that fear God and work righteousness Does your Lordship know what the Methodists are that many thousands of them are zealous members of the Church of England, and strongly attached not only to His Majesty but to his present Ministry Why should your Lordship, setting religion out of the question, throw away such a body of respectable friends Is it for their religious sentiments Alas, my Lord! is this a time to persecute any man for conscience' sake I beseech you, my Lord, do as you would be done to. You are a man of sense; you are a man of learning; nay, I verily believe (what is of infinitely more value), you are a man of piety. Then think, and let think. I pray God to bless you with the choicest of His blessings. -- I am, my Lord, &c. To Peter Garforth [14] MANCHESTER, April 2, 1790.