To Dorothy Furly (August 19, 1759)

https://wesleyworks.ecdsdev.org/letters/1759-08-19-ToDorothyFurly

To Dorothy Furly London
August 19, 1759

My Dear Sister,

171The observing that rule might prevent abundance of mischief. I wish others would observe it as well as you. Thomas Walsh was a good and a wise man, yet there were some circumstances, not commonly known, which easily account for the darkness he went through before he went to paradise.

1Thomas Walsh's death in Apr. 1759 in Bristol (while Furly was in nearby Clifton) was accompanied with significant suffering and spiritual struggle; see EMP, 3:258–68.

I hope you have talked with Cornelius Bastable as well as heard him preach. He is an uncommon monument of the power of grace, strengthening the understanding as well as renewing the heart. For so weak a head and so bad a temper as he once had I do not know among all our preachers.

2Cornelius Bastable (c. 1725–75), apparently a native of Middlezoy, Somerset, began 'exhorting' in 1747 and came to JW's attention as a promising prospective preacher in Sept. 1748. He appears in the Minutes as a 'probationary helper' in 1750, but did not advance to the regular itinerancy, likely because he married Catherine Stockdale (1726–86) in Cork in 1752 (see 10:205, 237 in this edn.). The couple was currently living in the Bristol area.

Probably the difference between you and others lies in words chiefly. All who expect to be sanctified at all expect to be sanctified by faith. But meantime they know that faith will not be given but to them that obey. Remotely, therefore, the blessing depends on our works, although immediately on simple faith.

Enjoy while you may the advantage which I had once, and shall have again when God sees best. I am,

Your affectionate brother,
J. Wesley

172Certainly you may say to me whatever you have a mind, either by writing or speaking.

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Entry Title: To Dorothy Furly (August 19, 1759)

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