Letter

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 133 DDWes/9/13
  • Former Reference
      GB 135 DDWes/9/13
      GB 135 Volume of Wesley Autograph Letters & Manuscripts, page 12.
  • Dates of Creation
      [14 Apr 1760]

Scope and Content

From [Charles Wesley] at Spitalfields Chapel, London, to John James. Charles's correspondent called on him 'between sermon and sacrament', and Charles cannot therefore let him go without a line.

Sunday 13 April

Wesley preached today on the text 'and Jesus said again peace be with you'.

His strength is in no way diminished by reading, preaching, and administering [the sacraments] to nearly seven hundred people. The 'spirit of prayer' was with them as strong as ever.

There is surely hope for Lord F. [Laurence Shirley, Earl Ferrers] in his end? Wesley cannot help but pray for the poor thief as well.

On Friday 'young Mary(?)' gave him a letter, which stated that many have been added to the Church.

Mrs Boult is sure that Charles [Wesley junior?] 'will pay his own & his nurse's expenses'.

Mrs James tells Charles that 'they will gladly take Sally during yr absence: then the difference of expense will be a trifle'.

Sister Jones and Mr J_Anson accompanied him to dinner at Mr Judd's house.

Reference is made to problems with a Justice of the Peace and the Conventicle Act. He is certain that God is using this to punish hypocrisy and mistrust of God's protection.

At nine Wesley met the class leaders to read them the letters of John Wesley and William Grimshaw [re the Norwich sacramental dispute]. The latter 'put them in a flame. All cried out against the licensed preachers. Many demanded yt they shd be silenced(?) immediately'. Others urged that they be ejected from the society. Isaac Waldron and one other were silenced by the people as often as they opened their mouths. 'The Lay Preachers pleaded my brother's authority. I took occasion from them to defend the preachers, or at least protect them: & desired the leaders to have patience till we had one conference'. Charles promised to keep them informed of the proceedings of such a conference. He also emphasised that he would never betray the Church of England, for his chief concern is the well being of the Church, followed by that of Methodism, and thirdly that of the preachers. In the event of a conflict he would give up the preachers for the good of Methodism, and Methodism for the good of the Church. Indeed the only thing that would cause him to abandon the Methodists is if they abandoned the Church of England. Charles's audience rose to his words and avowed their complete support. Another meeting has been arranged for a fortnights time.

Later he repeated to the society part of his 'exhortation' re the above, and received their approval also.

The day was concluded with a reading of the scriptures with [John] Fletcher and [John] Downes.

Monday 14 April

His feet are very troublesome, which did not stop him from riding from four until seven with Mr F.

Notes

  • Laurence Shirley, 4th Earl Ferrers, was convicted in April 1760 of the murder of one of his servants, and was accordingly hanged at Tyburn the following month. Ferrers was first cousin to Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon. Source: Dictionary of National Biography]
  • The Norwich sacramental dispute was occasioned by the administration of the sacraments by several local preachers in contravention of accepted Methodist practice. Source: general Methodist historical works
  • Isaac Waldron is listed in Revd. Kenneth Garlick's Arrangement of Wesleyan Preachers…1739-1818. He first appears in 1760, and was attached to a number of circuits before disappearing from the list in 1782.

Note

  • Laurence Shirley, 4th Earl Ferrers, was convicted in April 1760 of the murder of one of his servants, and was accordingly hanged at Tyburn the following month. Ferrers was first cousin to Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon. Source: Dictionary of National Biography]
  • The Norwich sacramental dispute was occasioned by the administration of the sacraments by several local preachers in contravention of accepted Methodist practice. Source: general Methodist historical works
  • Isaac Waldron is listed in Revd. Kenneth Garlick's Arrangement of Wesleyan Preachers…1739-1818. He first appears in 1760, and was attached to a number of circuits before disappearing from the list in 1782.