The life and times of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A., founder of the Methodists. Vol. 2 (of 3)Tyerman, L. (Luke)
History
The life and times of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A., founder of the Methodists. Vol. 2 (of 3)
Tyerman, L. (Luke)
Methodism; Wesley, John, 1703-1791
Almost for the first time, an estrangement now sprang up between Wesley
and his brother. Their friendship, hitherto, had been of the most
tender and confidential kind; but, for some reason, Charles began to be
reserved, and, to some extent, restive. He was a married man, and had
a happy home; and children were being born, whose claims were scarcely
compatible with the domestic absences occasioned by his itinerant life.
Added to this, Wesley’s wife was perpetually brewing mischief. Towards
Charles and his “dear Sally,” she entertained and cherished feelings of
strong aversion, which she was seldom backward to express. All this may
help to explain the following extracts from two letters, from Wesley to
his brother, and dated respectively October 20, and October 31.
“I came back from Bedford last night. I know not whether it was your
will or no (I believe not), but I am sure it was God’s will for
you, to call there. How do you judge whether a thing be God’s will
or no? I hope not by inward impressions. Let us walk warily. I have
much constitutional enthusiasm; and you have much more. I give you a
dilemma. Take one side or the other. Either act readily in connection
with me, or never pretend it. Rather disclaim it; and openly avow you
do and will not. By acting in connection with me, I mean, take counsel
with me once or twice a year as to the places where you will labour.
Hear my advice before you fix whether you take it or no. At present
you are so far from this, that I do not even know when and where you
intend to go. So far are you from following any advice of mine; nay,
even from asking it. And yet I may say, without vanity, that I am
a better judge of this matter than either Lady Huntingdon, Sally,
Jones, or any other: nay than your own heart, that is, will. You told
William Briggs, that you never declined going to any place because my
wife was there. I am glad of it. If so, I have hope we may sometime
spend a little time together. Why do you omit giving the sacrament in
Kingswood? What is reading prayers at Bristol, in comparison of this?
I am sure, in making this vehement alteration, you never consulted me.
“My love to my sister. Adieu!”[196]
His brother was not the only one, among his friends, that gave Wesley
trouble. Hence the following extracts from two other letters.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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