The Oxford Methodists : $b Memoirs of the Rev. Messrs. Clayton, Ingham, Gambold, Hervey, and Broughton, with biographical notices of othersTyerman, L. (Luke)
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The Oxford Methodists : $b Memoirs of the Rev. Messrs. Clayton, Ingham, Gambold, Hervey, and Broughton, with biographical notices of others
“Dear sir, pray give my humble service, and best thanks to Dr.
Doddridge, and beg of him, when he is in the acceptable time,
to remember me, who am in the time of need. If he has any word
of exhortation; but, especially, if he has any treasures of
instruction, proper for a candidate of the ministerial office,
how glad should I be if he would please to impart them, and how
gratefully should such a favour be always acknowledged by his
and your affectionate servant and brother in Jesus Christ,
“J. HERVEY.”[148]
Another letter, written previous to his ordination, shall be given, at
full length. Wesley was now in Georgia; and Hervey addressed to him the
following:—
“OXON, _Sept. 2, 1736_.
“REV. AND DEAR SIR,—I have read your Journal, and find that
the Lord hath done great things for you already, whereof we
rejoice. Surely, He will continue His loving-kindness to you,
and show you greater things than these. Methinks, when you and
dear Mr. Ingham go forth upon the great and good enterprise of
converting the Indians, you will, in some respects, resemble
Noah and his little household going forth of the ark. Wherever
you go, you must walk among dry bones or carcasses, among
a people that are aliens from the life of God, buried in
ignorance, dead in trespasses and sins. Oh, may the blessing of
that illustrious progenitor of ours, and of that favourite with
the Most High, be upon your heads! May you be ‘fruitful and
multiply,’ may you bring forth abundantly in that barren land
and multiply therein!
“As for me, I am still a most weak, corrupt creature. But
blessed be the unmerited mercy of God, and thanks be to your
never to be forgotten example, that I am what I am. As to my
strength, and activity with regard to others, I fear it may
be too truly said, ‘It is to sit still.’ I am at present one
of the multitude; but I expect, before this reaches you, to
receive the office of a Deacon, and become a minister of the
New Testament. Oh, may I also ‘receive the Holy Ghost not many
days hence;’ and be made a faithful minister of those saving
mysteries, from that time forth and for ever! I hope, I shall
then hear a voice behind me, saying, ‘Awake thou that sleepest,
from thy slumber, and Christ shall give thee light.’ Christ
shall be thy sanctification, Christ shall be thy illumination.
He shall stand by thee, and strengthen thee. He shall give thee
both to will and to do. Through the power of His grace, thou
shalt run and not faint; thou shalt be fervent in the business
and propagation of righteousness, nor ever give over, till thou
givest up thy soul to God, its Maker, and thy body return unto
the dust, as it was.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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