_To Mr. S――――._
_London, March 21, 1753._
_My very dear friend_,
BY last _Monday_’s waggon there was sent a box of books. May the Redeemer own and bless what is sent in it! Then all will be well. I know your prayers will not be wanting. I am glad you have found out another thief, that lay hid in the chambers of imagery, which are in your heart. Time and temptation will draw out ten thousand more, which as yet, you know nothing of. Happy they, who can discover, pluck out, and cut off their right hand and right eye corruptions. This must be done, or we shall only take up with the bare semblance of holiness. The Redeemer must sit as a refiner’s fire upon our hearts, or we shall never be purified as gold or silver. This is our comfort, when we are tried we shall come forth like gold. The offences that we meet with in the church, are most trying;――therefore they are permitted to come. I wish my dear Mr. _G――――_, as well as yourself, may learn experience from what hath happened, and never run yourselves into needless difficulties. What is happening to the _Moravians_ is no more than I have long expected, and spoken of to many friends. Their scheme is so _antichristian_ in almost every respect, that I am amazed the eyes of the _English_ brethren have not long since been opened, and the _Babel_ stopt at the first. But the glorious GOD generally suffers such buildings to go high, that their fall may be more conspicuous. May the builders rise (I mean as to spirituals) by their falls, and gain by their losses! That is all the harm I wish them. My dear man, what a blessed thing it is to live and walk in the simplicity of the gospel! How happy is that man, who being neither fond of money, numbers, nor power, goes on day by day without any other scheme, than a general intention to promote the common salvation amongst people of all denominations. Will you pray that I may be thus minded? I cease not to pray for you and yours, and my other dear friends at _Leeds_; and I would set out immediately for the north, was I not obliged to be here in about two months, to attend and give further orders about our building. But some time in the summer――What?――I hope to see the fields white, ready unto harvest again, and to rejoice together with you in our common LORD.――In the mean while, let us be busy for so blessed a Master, and be continually pressing forward towards the mark for the prize of our high calling. The LORD JESUS say Amen! Adieu. With joint love to all, I subscribe myself, my dear friend,
Yours most affectionately in our glorious Head,