Wesley Corpus

A Letter to the Bishop of London Source: The Works of John Wesley, Volume 8 (Zondervan) Year: 1747 Author: John Wesley --- MY LoRD, 1. WHEN abundance of persons have for several years laid to my charge things that I knew not, I have generally thought it my duty to pass it over in silence, to be “as one that heard not.” But the case is different when a person of your Lord ship’s character calls me forth to answer for myself. Silence now might be interpreted contempt. It might appear like a sul len disregard, a withholding honour from him towhom honour is due, were it only on account of his high office in the Church, more especially when I apprehend so eminent a person as this to be under considerable mistakes concerning me. Were I now to be silent, were I not to do what was in my power for the removal of those mistakes, I could not “have a con science void of offence,” either “towards God or towards man.” 2. But I am sensible how difficult it is to speak in such a manner as I ought, and as I desire to do. When your Lordship published those queries, under the title of “Obser vations,” I did not lie under the same difficulty; because, as your name was not inscribed, I had “the liberty to stand, as it were, on even ground.” But I must now always re member to whom I speak. And may the God “whom I serve in the gospel of his Son,” enable me to do it with deep seriousness of spirit, with modesty and humility; and, at the same time, with the utmost plainness of speech; seeing we must “both stand before the judgment-seat of Christ.” 3. In this, then, I entreat your Lordship to bear with me; and in particular, when I speak of myself, (how tender a point 1) just as freely as I would of another man. Let not this be termed boasting. Is there not a cause? Can I re frain from speaking, and be guiltless? And if I speak at all, ought I not to speak (what appears to me to be) the whole truth? Does not your Lordship desire that I should do this? I will then, God being my helper.