Three weeks after this, his father wrote to him, saying that he was now inclined to his entering orders without delay, and exhorting him to prayer and study in reference to such a step, promising that he would struggle hard to obtain the money for the needful expenses. Meanwhile, his sister Emilia wrote him a long letter, from which the following extracts are taken:— “WROOTE, _April 7, 1725_. “DEAR BROTHER,—Whether you will be engaged before thirty, or not, I cannot determine; but, if my advice be worth listening to, never engage your affections before your worldly affairs are in such a posture that you may marry soon. The contrary practice has proved very pernicious in our family. I know you are a young man encompassed with difficulties, and have passed through many hardships already, and probably must through many more before you are easy in the world; but, believe me, if ever you come to suffer the torment of a hopeless love, all other afflictions will seem small in comparison of this. “I know not when we have had so good a year, both at Wroote and at Epworth, as this year; but instead of saving anything to clothe my sister or myself, we are just where we were. A noble crop has almost all gone, beside Epworth living, to pay some part of those infinite debts my father has run into, which are so many, that were he to save £50 a year, he would not be clear in the world this seven years. One thing I warn you of: let not my giving you this account be any hindrance to your affairs. If you want assistance in any case, my father is as able to give it now as any time these last ten years; nor shall we be ever the poorer for it. “I have quite tired you now; pray be faithful to me. Let me have one relation that I can trust. Never give a hint to any one of aught I write to you; and continue to love your unhappy but affectionate sister, “EMILIA WESLEY.”[28]