Surely it cannot be, that you should find in the house at Newcastle an account which John Fenwick sent me, and that you should send it back to him! CCLXXVIII. To the Same. LONDON, November 11, 1775. MY DEAR BROTHER,-There was something very awful in that storm which I supposed reached all over England and Ireland; although it seems not to have been altogether so violent in London as in most other places. I am sorry for Captain Davis and his widow. The judgments of God are abroad. The prayer meetings may be of great use, not only to individuals, but to the whole nation. I see nothing besides prayer that can avail. For the one question is, "Have we any right to tax, or no?"—If we have, they are rebels, and accountable to God and man for all the blood that is shed. If we have not, they are innocent, and the blood lies at our door. Will they allow that right? or can we give it up? I am, with love to S. Hopper, Your affectionate friend and brother. CCLXXIX.-To the Same. LONDON, December 26, 1775. MY DEAR BROTHER,-I see no possibility of accommodation. The one point is, Has the supreme power a right to tax, or not? If they have, they cannot, they ought not, to give it up. But I say, as Dean Tucker, "Let them drop." Cut off all other connection with them than we have with Holland or Germany. Four-and-thirty millions they have cost us to support them since Queen Ann died. Let them cost us no more. Let them have their desire, and support themselves. You sent Harry Brooke one book; but I left two, the larger of which was not sent. If it is lost, I must buy another. The disorder is universal throughout Great Britain and Ireland; but hitherto, scarce any die of it in London: so God lightly afflicts us at first. It is well if the people will now hear the rod, and him that hath appointed it. I am, with love to S. Hopper, Your affectionate friend and brother. CCLXXX.-To the Same. NEAR LONDON, February 1, 1777. MY DEAR BROTHER,-J-K is stark staring mad, more than ever John Reed was. He prophesies that "all the Methodists are to go over to America in the belly of a whale." Take this as a specimen. We shall not begin our building here before April. Probably I shall take a short journey (to Leeds, or Newcastle, or Dublin) once a month; but I must never be absent long at a time. How we shall be able to raise the money, I know not. But "the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof." I am Your affectionate friend and brother. CCLXXXI.-To the Same. BRISTOL, March 16, 1777. MY DEAR BROTHER,-Madmen have often a deal of cunning; and this frequently puzzles the cause; so that sometimes we can hardly say whether the man is more fool or knave. Right precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints; and much good is usually done at their funerals. You do well to improve all hose opportunities. Our friends are about laying the foundation of the new chapel; so that in a few days I must return to London: then I shall consider what time I can spare from thence; and shall fix my spring and summer journeys accordingly. I am, with love to S. Hopper, Your affectionate friend and brother. CCLXXXII.-To the Same. LONDON, October 18, 1777. MY DEAR BROTHER,-I believe what you say of is true; therefore I hindered the angry ones from falling upon him at the conference. There is no divine visitation which is likely to have so general an influence upon sinners as an earthquake. The rich can no more guard against it than the poor. Therefore, I have often thought this would be no undesirable event. I hang out no false colours. Scriptural, Christian, &c, are all equivocal words. I mean a Magazine purposely wrote to defend Universal Redemption. Other Magazines give forty pages for sixpence ; this gives eighty for a shilling. My time is short; so I publish as much as I can at once, if haply I may live to finish it. All these things I have maturely weighed. I have said over and over, there are weighty reasons why no preacher should ever be a trustee. Sycophants are wide of this question. I am Your affectionate friend and brother. CCLXXXIII.-To the Same. LONDON, February 21, 1778. MY DEAR BROTHER,-Many angry opponents we are to expect; but they may say just what they please, It is my determination to answer none; but to go straight on my way. On Sunday evening, March 1, I am to leave London. After spending a few days at Bristol, I purpose making the best of my way to Chester, in order to embark for Ireland. I hope to be in Dublin about the end of March. If so, I shall be able to visit all the societies before July. I am, with love to S. Hopper, Your affectionate friend and brother. CCLXXXIV.-To the Same. LONDON, October 31, 1778. MY DEAR BROTHER,-At a general conference, David Evans was judged unqualified for a travelling preacher. At the last conference we determined to receive no more married preachers. For what reason? For an exceeding plain one, because we cannot keep them. I cannot: if you can, you may. But the people cannot, or will not, keep any more. J- K's prophecies are very ingenious; and as authentic as Jacob Behmen's. I really think, the French will burn their fingers. We are much obliged to them for making our countrymen friends with each other. I am glad the knotty affair at Bolton is concluded, and hope the sour man is now in a good humour. I am, with love to sister Hopper, Your affectionate friend and brother. CCLXXXV.-To the Same. NEAR LONDON, February 16, 1780. MY DEAR BROTHER,-I do not know that there is any matter of dispute between us, unless it be, whether you should do what I desire, or no. You are assistant in Colne circuit. I desire you to send me a plan of the circuit you send me an answer, but without the plan. I write again you send a second answer, telling me, you have been very diligent for many years; and that you was the very person who introduced plans among us. Very good but you send me no plan still; and till this comes, every thing else is wide of the mark. I am Your affectionate friend and brother. Why should not you write an account of your life? Isaac Waldron, T. Lee, W. Brammah, &c, &c, were not "strong and able men." When any such obtrude themselves for easy circuits, speak at that time, and you do something. CCLXXXVI.-To the Same. WHITTLEBURY, October 25, 1780. MY DEAR BROTHER,—It was a shame that Keighly circuit should be without preaching, while there were so many local preachers all around it. Was John Oliver asleep, that he did not apply to the neighbouring assistants for help? We must get your goodly countenance by and by. Some of your children will continue: many will draw back. The conference is nearly printed. It will cost a groat at least! God is cleansing England and America, and sweeping away the wicked with the besom of destruction. When that is done glory will dwell in our land! I am, with love to S. Hopper, Your affectionate friend and brother. CCLXXXVII.-To the Same. BRISTOL, August 27, 1785. MY DEAR BROTHER,-It was your part to write to me, of the behaviour of William Eells, particularly at Warrington, without waiting till I heard of it from so many other persons. Seeing I find I cannot overcome him by love, I am at length constrained to let him drop. Pray inform him he is no longer in the number of our itinerant preachers. I shall to-day send another preacher to supply his place in the Bolton circuit. I have done all I could to save him; but it is in vain: so I must at length give him up. I am Your affectionate brother and friend. CCLXXXVIII.-To the Same. REDRUTH, August 27, 1785. MY DEAR BROTHER,-The utmost that can be done at present is, to permit him to preach as a local preacher; for I will not run my head against all the conference, by reversing what they have determined. I cannot, with either decency or prudence, go any farther yet. If his behaviour is unblamable in this lower station, by and by he may rise higher. I am Your affectionate friend and brother. CCLXXXIX.-To the Same. 1788. MY DEAR BROTHER, I said nothing, less or more, in Bradford church, concerning the end of the world, neither concerning my own opinion, but what follows:-That Bengelius had given it as his opinion, not that the world would then end, but that the millennial reign of Christ would begin in the year 1836. I have no opinion at all upon the head: I can determine nothing at all about it. These calculations are far above, out of my sight. I have only one thing to do,-to save my soul, and those that hear me. I am Yours affectionately. CCXC.-To Mr. Thomas Carlill. LONDON, January 23, 1778. DEAR TOMMY,-In my father's poem on the Life of Christ there are many excellent lines; but they must be taken in connection with the rest it would not be at all proper to print them alone. Mr. Toplady might easily have answered Mr. Hervey, and maintained his point, upon supposition of absolute decrees; for it is certain, whatever is ordained of God is right. If, therefore, "whatsoever is, is ordained of God," then "whatever is, is right." Mr. Toplady therefore was consistent with his principles; Mr. Hervey was not. You two, and C. Pritchard, should procure all the subscribers you can to the Magazine. I am, dear Tommy, Your affectionate brother. END OF VOL. VI. |