Wesley Corpus

To conclude the head of offence: You must at least allow that all this is no plea at all for your drinking tea at home. “Yes, it is; for my husband or parents are offended if I do not drink it.” I answer, First, Perhaps this, in some rarc cases, may be a sufficient reason why a wife or a child should use this food, that is, with them; but nowhere else. But, Secondly, try, and not once or twice only, if you cannot overcome that offence by reason, softness, love, patience, longsuffering, joined with constant and fervent prayer. 24. Your next objection is, “I cannot bear to give trouble; therefore, I drink whatever others drink where I come, else there is so much hurry about insignificant me.” I answer, First, This is no plea at all for your drinking tea at home Therefore, touch it not there, whatever you do abroad. Secondly, Where is the trouble given, even when you are abroad, if they drink tea, and you fill your cup with milk and water? Thirdly, Whatever trouble is taken, is not for “insignifi cant me,” but for that poor man who is half-starved with cold and hunger; for that miserable woman who, while she is poisoning herself, wipes her mouth, and says she does no evil; who will not believe the poison will hurt her, because it does not (sensibly at least) hurt you. O throw it away! let her have one plea less for destroying her body, if not her soul, before the time ! 25. You object, farther, “It is my desire to be unknown. for any particularity, unless a peculiar love to the souls of those who are present.” And I hope, to the souls of the absent too; yea, and to their bodies also, in a due propor tion, that they may be healthy, and fed, and clothed, and warm, and may praise God for the consolation. 26. You subjoin : “When I had left it off for some months, I was continually puzzled with, Why, What, &c.; and I have seen no good effects, but impertinent questions and answers, and unedifying conversation about eating and drinking.” I answer, First, Those who were so uneasy about it, plainly showed that you touched the apple of their eye.