Wesley Corpus

MY DEAR BROTHER, -- You have great reason to praise God that He gives a blessing to your labors. So He will more and more if you do not entangle yourself with the affairs of this life. If you seek your happiness in God alone, you will never be disappointed: if in anything else, you surely will; for all creatures are broken cisterns. Let your eye be single. Seek one thing--to save your own soul and those that hear you. -- I am, dear Tommy, Your affectionate friend and brother. To Alice Cambridge [10] LONDON, January 31, 1791, MY DEAR SISTER, -- I received your letter an hour ago. I thank you for writing so largely and so freely; do so always to me as your friend, as one that loves you well. Mr. Barber has the glory of God at heart; and so have his fellow laborers. [Thomas Barber had evidently come from Carlow to Bandon.] Give them all honor, and obey them in all things as far as conscience permits. But it will not permit you to be silent when God commands you to speak: yet I would have you give as little offense as possible; and therefore I would advise you not to speak at any place where a preacher is speaking at the same time, lest you should draw away his hearers. Also avoid the first appearance of pride or magnifying yourself. If you want books or anything, let me know; I have your happiness much at heart. During the little time I have to stay on earth pray for Your affectionate brother. To Ezekiel Cooper, of Philadelphia [11] NEAR LONDON, February 1, 1791. MY DEAR BROTHER, -- Those that desire to write or say anything to me have no time to lose; for time has shaken me by the hand and death is not far behind. But I have reason to be thankful for the time that is past: I felt few of the infirmities of old age for fourscore and six years. It was not till a year and a half ago that my strength and my sight failed. And still I am enabled to scrawl a little, and to creep, though I cannot run. Probably I should not be able to do so much did not many of you assist me by your prayers.