Wesley Corpus

I have followed my light, small as it is. Put yours to mine.’ What a mean opinion he had of his own writings appears from a letter written March 20, 1774: ‘I do not repent of my having engaged in this controversy; for though I doubt my little publications cannot reclaim those who are confirmed in believing the lie of the day, yet they may here and there stop one from swallowing it at all, or at least from swallowing it so deeply.” Two years after, he says, “I have almost run my race of scribbling; and I have preached as much as I could, though to little purpose; but I must not complain. If one person has received good by my ten years’ labour, it is an honour for which I cannot be too thankful, if my mind were as low as it should be. Let us bless the Lord in all things.” “As difficult as it is to think meanly of ourselves, it is still more difficult to be willing that others should think meanly of us. And how eminent he was in this appears from hence, that he was constantly upon his guard, lest any expression should drop either from his lips or pen, which tended to make any one think well of him; either on account of his family, or learning, or parts, or usefulness. Yea, he took as much pains to conceal his excellencies, as others do to show them; having the same desire to be little and unknown, which many have to be known and esteemed. “It would have remained a secret in this kingdom, even to his most intimate friends, that he was of so great a family, 352 LIFE OF MR. File:TCHER. had not Mr. Ireland gone over with him to Switzerland; where he was surprised to find Mr. Fletcher's relations some of the first people in the country. “‘Blessed are they that mourn,” said the Lord Jesus. And this blessedness was as certainly his as the former. He was a man of a serious spirit; one that stood at the utmost distance. from levity of every kind.