ration from the Church of England." Those Reasons were never yet answered, and, I believe, they never will. I am glad you have undertaken that labour of love, and trust it will increase both your spiritual and bodily strength. I am, My dear Sister, Your's, very affectionately, J. WESLEY. MY DEAR SISTER, LETTER IV. Warrington, May 17, 1781. I HAVE written to Mr. Pawson, and am in hopes that Keynsham will be no more neglected. I did not expect you would meet with any trial of this kind; but it is well to be prepared for all. When Molly Maddern taught a few children at Kingswood, I saw a truly Christian school. To make the children Christians was her first care: afterwards they were taught what women need to learn. I saw another Christian school at Layton-Stone, under the care of Miss Bosanquet. I do not remember I discovered any defect, either in the former or the latter; I observed nothing done, which I wished to be omitted; nothing omitted, which I wished to have done. May I speak without reserve? I verily think I may. I hoped to see a third Christian School at and I did so for a season. But I cannot say, that for some years it has quite answered my expectations. "What then was the matter?" I can hardly tell. I do not know how to express it. I did not see the simplicity which I saw at first. More of the world seemed to be crept in. Good breeding I love: but how difficult is it to keep it quite clear of affectation. And of a something which does not well agree with that mind which was in Christ. I want your children to be trained up quite in the manner that Miss Bosanquet's were. Although they were very genteel, yet there was something in their whole manner, which told you they belonged to another world. Mrs. Cas tleman was one of Molly Maddern's scholars. She is teel: yet she is a Christian. gen Make Christians, my dear Sister, make Christians! Let this be your leading view. Make such Christians as Miranda, as Miss Such as Miss M. was! Let every thing else which you teach, be subordinate to this: mind one thing in all! Let it be said of the young women you educate, "Grace was in all her steps, heaven in her eye, In all her gestures sanctity and love." But what power do you want to execute this? Ask, and it shall be given you! May you not have the earnest of it this moment? I am, My dear Sister, Your affectionate Friend and Brother, J. WESLEY. MY DEAR SISTER, LETTER V. Near Leeds, July 17, 1781. WHEN the school began at, it was in all respects a school after my own heart, conducted exactly on the same principles as that of Miss Bosanquet, at LaytonStone. But it declined from its original simplicity, I know not how, by slow degrees; indeed so insensibly, that I hardly know what to blame, and so know not how to cure it. If I have to meet the Society at Bristol again, I shall kill or cure those unwise and unkind parents, who make their children finer than themselves. I believe I shall make their ears tingle. As to you, I advise you first, to be a Bible Christian yourself, inwardly and outwardly. Be not an hair's breadth more conformable to the fashions of the world, than you were when I last saw you. Then train up your children in the self-same way. Say to them, with all mildness and firmness, "Be ye followers of me, even as I am of Christ." Whoever is pleased or displeased, keep to this; to Christian, primitive simplicity. Perhaps at first will lose some scholars thereby: but regard not that, you God will provide you more. And be assured, nothing shall My dear Sister, be wanting that is in the power of, Your affectionate Friend and Brother, J. WESLEY. MY DEAR SISTER, LETTER VI. Haverford-West, Aug. 18, 1784. FROM the time I heard you were rejected by I have had a tender regard for you, and a strong hope that without regard to the wisdom, or spirit, or customs of the world, you would (as those at did once) "Square your useful life below, By reason and by grace." Hitherto you have not at all deceived my hope. And I am persuaded you never will. In some of the young ones you will undoubtedly find your labour has not been in vain. What they will be, one cannot judge yet: therefore Solomon's advice is good: "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand, for thou knowest not which shall prosper." It seems God himself has already decided the question concerning dancing. He hath shewn his approbation of your conduct, by sending those children to you again. If dancing be not evil in itself, yet it leads young women to numberless evils. And the hazard of these on the one side, seems far to over-balance the little inconveniences on the other. Therefore thus much may certainly be said, You have chosen the more excellent way. I would recommend very few novels to young persons, for fear they should be too desirous of more. Mr. Brook wrote one more, (besides the Earl of Moreland,) "The History of the Human Heart." I think it is well worth reading; though it is not equal to his former production. The want of novels may be supplied by well chosen histories such as, The Concise History of England, The Concise History of the Church, Rollin's Ancient History, Hook's Roman History, (the only impartial one extant,) and a few VOL. XVI. : Q more. For the elder and more sensible children, Malabranche's Search after Truth is an excellent French book, Perhaps you might add, Locke's Essay on The Human Understanding, with the Remarks in the Arminian Magazine. I had forgotten that beautiful book, "The Travels of Cyrus," whether in French or English. 4 I WANTED much to know how your soul prospered. I could not doubt hut the god of this world, the enemy of all, righteousness, would use every means to move you from your steadfastness. Blessed be God, you are not moved! That all his labour has been in vain. Hitherto hath God helped you and fear not, he will help you to the end. He gives you health, as a token for good: he can trust you with it, while you give him your heart. And, O! stand fast in the glorious liberty, wherewith he has made you free. You are not called, to desire suffering. Innocent nature is averse from pain. Only as soon as his will appears, your's is to sink down before it. Hark! what, does he say to you now?. "Lovest thou me more than these ?" More than these, "Wealth, honour, pleasure, or what else, This short enduring world can give?" Then feed my lambs: carry the little ones in thy bosom: gently lead those that are great with young. Be not weary of well doing! In due time thou shalt reap, if thou faint not, &c. &c. Your's, most affectionately, J. WESLEY. MY DEAR SISTER, LETTER II. London, June 15, 1771. A LETTER from you is always welcome; but never more so than now: as this is the time wherein it seems good to our Lord, to try you as by fire. Fear nothing, only believe: he is with you in the fire, so that the flames shall not kindle upon you. O how will you praise him by and by, for his wise and gracious visitation! He is purging away all your dróss, that you may be a vessel meet for the Master's use. Happy are they, that do his will: and happier still, they that suffer it. But whatever you suffer, cast not away that confidence, which hath great récompence of reward. In order to keep it, do not reason, but simply' look up to him that loves you. Tell him, as a little child,' all your wants. Look up, and your suit is made! He' hears the cry of your heart. And tell all that troubles you to, Your's, affectionately, J. WESLEY. LETTER III. MY DEAR SISTER, Lynn, Nov. 7, 1771. AT length I have snatched an hour to repeat to you in writing the advices which 1 gave you before. 1. Keep that safe which God has given you: never let slip any blessing which you have received. Regard none who tell you, “You must lose it." No: you never need lose one degree of love. 2. You never will, provided you are a careful steward of the manifold gifts of God. To him that hath, that is, uses what he hath, it shall be given still, and that more abundantly. Therefore, 3. Use your every grace. Stir up p the gift of God that is in you. Be zealous! Be active! Spare no one. Speak for God wherever you are. But, mean time, 4. Be humble: Let all that mind be in you, which was in Christ Jesus. And be clothed with humility. Pray that you may always feel, that you are nothing, |