The Epworth Collection

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Photocopy of a letter by Susanna Wesley to her husband, Samuel Wesley Sr.

A photocopy of a handwritten letter by Susanna Wesley to her husband, Samuel Wesley Sr. Framed behind glass in a simple wooden frame.

Category: document

Material: wood

Material Part: photocopy

Inscription:

written (original) - whole

(Addressed to her husband “at Mr. Farmery’s in St. Margaret’s Churchyard, Westminster”. There is no signature.) Dearest! Some few days since I received a letter from you (I suppose) dated the 16th instant, which I made no great haste to answer, because I judged it necessary for both of us to take some time to consider before you determine in a matter of such great importance. I shall pass no censure upon the hasty and unexpected change of your judgement, neither shall I inquire how it was possible that you should be prevailed on by the senseless clamours of two or three of the worst of your parish to condemn what you so very lately approved. But I shall in as few words as possible tell you my thoughts, which perhaps you’ll regard just as much as you did my last long, though otherwise not impertinent letter. There is not that I can hear of more than three or four that is against our meeting of which Inman is the chief, for no other reason, as I suppose, but that he thinks the sermons I read better than his own. He and Whitely, I believe, may call it a conventicle, and the other full as wisely calls it a puppet show. But we hear no outcry here, nor has any one person ever said one word against it to me. And what does their calling it so signify? Does that alter the nature of the thing? Or do you think that what they say is a sufficient reason for the forbearing a thing that hath already done much, and by God’s blessing may do more good? If its being called so by those that know in their own conscience they are mistaken did really make it one, what you say would be somewhat to the purpose; but ‘tis plain in fact that this one thing has brought more people to church than ever anything did in so short a time. We used not to have above twenty or twenty-five at evening service, whereas now we have between two and three hundred, which is many more than ever came before to hear Inman in the morning. Besides the constant attendance on the worship of God, it has wonderfully (as you guessed it would) conciliated the minds of this people toward us, insomuch that we now live in the greatest amity imaginable, and what is still better, they are very much reformed in their behaviour on the Lord’s Day, and those people which used to be playing in the streets, come now to hear a good sermon read, which surely is more acceptable to almighty God. Another reason I have for what I do is I have no other way of conversing with this people and therefore cannot possibly do them any good beside, but by this I have an opportunity of exercising the greatest and noblest charity, viz. charity to their souls. Some families which very seldom came to church now go constantly. One person that has not been there this seven year is now prevailed on to go with the rest. There are many other good consequences of this meeting which I have not time to mention. Now I beseech you weigh all things in an impartial balance. On the one side the honour of almighty God, the doing much good to many souls, the friendship of the best among whom we live; on the other (if folly, impiety and vanity may abide in the scale against so ponderous a weight) the malicious senseless objections of a few scandalous persons, their laughing at us and censuring us as precise and hypocritical. And when you have duly considered all things, let me know your positive determination. I need not tell you the consequences if you determine to put an end to our meeting. You may easily foresee what prejudices it may raise in the minds of these people against Inman especially, who has had so little wit as to speak publicly against it. ‘Tis true I can now keep them to the church, but if ‘tis laid aside, I doubt they’ll never go to hear him more, at least those that come from the lower end of the town. Whereas, if this be continued till your return (which now will not be long), it may please God by that time so to change their hearts that they may love and delight in his public worship so as never to neglect it more. I shall add but a few words more. If you do after all think fit to dissolve this assembly, do not tell me any more that you desire me to do it, for that will not satisfy my conscience; but send me your positive command in such full and express terms as may absolve me from all guilt and punishment for neglecting this opportunity of doing good to souls, when you and I shall appear before the great and awful tribunal of our Lord Jesus Christ. I dare not wish this practice of ours had never been begun, but it will be with extreme [?] grief that I shall dismiss them, because I foresee the consequences. I pray God direct and bless you.Mr Hall desires to know of you whether Caywoods Instruments for Navigation are approved of at London, because, if they be, he would get them.

Measurements:

photocopy
height 216 mm
photocopy
width 330 mm

Object Number: 2001-077

Collection

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