From London to John Bennet at Chinley End, near Chapel-en-le-frith, Derbyshire. What can Charles say to one who he loves as dearly as his own soul, when he sees that Bennet is tempted to act against his own interests and those of the Church? The cause of his distress is a letter that he has just received from [William] Grimshaw concerning the same subject as that letter which Grimshaw lately sent to Bennet, namely the divisions appearing within the Connexion.
At such a distance and without consulting Bennet and others, Charles is unable to say where the blame lies. Charles is however wary of Bennet's quickness of temper, which was displayed so recently against Charles. He must beseech his friend 'not to fall out by the way with your old companions & fellow labourers', for great damage will be the inevitable result.
Charles has never swayed from his friendship for Bennet, since their first meeting in Sheffield, Yorkshire, and he cannot now bear the thought of an estrangement - 'I cannot forget our first love & labour of love together'. Bennet must therefore stop before it is too late, for he is mistaken if he thinks their friendship can survive a break away from the Methodist movement. If such a thing were to occur, Bennet would become a magnet for all the embittered people and malcontents hostile to the Wesleys.
Bennet and J W share a common fault, in that they are both too willing to believe ill of the other, and Satan rejoices at the result. Also, Grace's heart will be broken, if her husband acts rashly.
Note
- William Grimshaw was one of the best known of the Anglican Evangelicals. A graduate of Cambridge, he was ordained in 1732, but was only fully converted seven years later by his reading of devotional works. He was very well regarded by the Wesleys despite his Calvinist leanings, and was named as the person who would take charge of Northern Methodism in the event of J W's death. Source: Encyclopedia of World Methodism (1974), and Dr Frank Baker,William Grimshaw (1963).