Wesley Corpus

I must not neglect a scriptural advice, because such an one is offended at my following it. Your “friendly advice to avoid spiritual selfishness,” I will endeavour to follow as soon as I understand it. At present, I do not; neither do I well understand how any “sober Christian should think me guilty of arrogance or self conceit,” because I relate a fact in which I had no share at all; namely, that other men “prayed for one another, that they might be healed of the faults they had confessed; and it was so.” You add, “Dr. Middleton absolves you from all boasting, in relation to the miracle you worked upon Kirkman.” Dr. Middleton does me too much honour, in taking any notice of so inconsiderable a person. But, miracle or no miracle, the fact is plain: William Kirkman is, I apprehend, yet alive, and able to certify for himself, that he had that cough threescore years, and that since that time it has not yet returned. I do not know that any “one patient yet has died under my hands.” If any person does, let him declare it, with the time and circumstances. You conclude: “Let me beg of you, as a fellow-Christian, to remove that great load of scandal that now lies upon your sect; and that you will not, by a careless or premeditated silence, bring yourself and your followers under a just suspi cion of not being enemies to certain vices which you seem afraid even to name.” Alas, Sir, is your “hearty wish for my success” dwindled down to this? and your “sorrow for any oversight that should afford ground of cavil to those who are disposed to think unfavourably of me?” Sir, I take knowledge of you. I no longer wonder at your so readily answering for Dr. Middleton. I am persuaded none has a better right so to do: No, not the gentleman who lately printed in the public papers a letter to the Lord Bishop of Exeter. Well,"Sir, you may now lay aside the mask. I do not require you to style yourself my “fellow-Christian.” But we are fellow creatures, at least fellow-servants of the great Lord of heaven and earth ! May we both serve him faithfully ! For his sake, I remain, Sir, Your obedient servant, P. S.--I did not receive yours till last night.