London, February 4, 1799

MY DEAR SIR,

THOUGH I do not promise to fill this large sheet, perhaps I may. My first point is to tell you the egg is hatched, is now at the bookbinders to be put into boards; I think it will be fledged, and fly about the town, in a few clays. I do not offer one even to you as a present, as I have many friends in Scotland, to whom I would be glad to offer such a token of respect, and as I must buy what I should give away, I serve you all alike.

I think, in London, tabernacles might be built in every street, without giving umbrage; and indeed places of that cast are springing up, like mushrooms, frequently: but then it is an old matter with us. When Mr. Whitfield and Wesley first began, there was stir enough. People were alarmed as if St. Paul’s and the monument were to be overturned; but these fears have been long since quieted.

When men have gone on for a long course of 3’ears in the same train of thinking and practice, they cannot easily, and at once, shake off their old prejudices. If we duly consider human nature, and the force of habit, we shall not expect ft. I suppose there was a time when the erection of a theatre gave the good people of Edinburgh no small uneasiness; but now, perhaps, they can walk by it without trembling. If builders of tabernacles are conscious that they only aim at promoting the glory of God and the good of souls, and have no design to give offence either to church or state, I would advise them to waive disputes as much as possible, say, “Thou shalt answer for me, O Lord.” Let them leave their cause in his hands, and he will plead it. When, instead of this, we are very anxious and earnest to vindicate ourselves, he often leaves us to make the best of it that we can, and very often that best turns out but badly. The believers at Jerusalem were in a great bustle when they first heard that Peter visited Cornelius. What! an apostle go to cat and drink with the uncircumcised! Such a thing was never known before! But when they found th-lt the Lord had sent him, they held their peace. Let us remember that men are but men, and that the best men have their infirmities and mistakes. Let us walk as circumspectly as we can, our brethren will, at times, have something to bear with in us; and we must pray for grace to be able to bear with them.

If you are about a good work, Satan will do all he can to discourage and hinder you; but he Cannot break his chain, nor go beyond it. He cannot hurt us, unless we give him advantage by indulging unbelief or impatience,

How much am I obliged to my kind friends for their concern when they heard I was ill, and especially for their prayers. I am bound to pray -for them. I am still remarkably well, but I am old; I must go the way of all flesh. Pray for me that I may live to the Lord while I do live, that I may finish my course without staining my profession, and that I may depart in peace. As to the time, whether sooner or later, I wish to leave to him who doth all things well; only, may I be found ready when the time comes.

You say, you have more to do, one way or another, than you can well manage. It is my own case; and my business seems to increase as my strength and abilities decrease. I think it better to have too much than too little: I mean such as lies fairly and providentially before us. If we wilfully overload ourselves with worldly concerns for the sake of adding bag to bag, that we may have the pleasure of thinking we shall leave a great many bags behind us when we go — this is a bustle and an ambition unworthy a child of God. They who are running a race should not encumber themselves with needless weight. I am persuaded this is not your turn; but while you have a secular calling, it is your duty to be active and accurate in it. You are acting for the Lord as his journeyman, and when you are engaged in business, in a right frame of mind, you are no less serving the Lord, than when you are praying, exhorting or hearing. Every thing is beautiful in its proper season. Self likes to be employed in great matters — grace teaches us to do small and common things with a great spirit. A servant-maid, when cleaning the kitchen, may be as well employed as a Mr. S*** preaching the gospel through Scotland; and if she give him a cup of cold water for his master’s sake, and can do no more, she shall have a prophet’s reward. It is the intention that the Lord chiefly regards; and he will reward his upright and devoted people, not according to what they are actually able to do, but according to what they would have done if they could. 1 Kings viii. 18, 19. Luke xxi. 3. Mark xiv. 8. Eph. vi. 8. Col. iii. 23, 24.

I have buried an old faithful servant, who had been with us more than twenty years. I have two others, one has lived with me about fourteen years, and the other thirteen; so that we are all growing old together, and I trust we shall all live together in a better world. Remember us to all whom we know. The Lord bless you and them, and us also. Amen.

I am

Your very affectionate,
J. N.