To the Rev. Thomas Jones (August 22, 1759)

https://wesleyworks.ecdsdev.org/letters/1759-08-22-ToTheRevThomasJones

To the Rev. Thomas Jones

1The transcription does not identify the recipient; Telford titles 'To Mr. Jones'. Rev. Thomas Jones had recently initiated contact with JW (see his letter of Mar. 21, 1759), and would be a fitting person for JW to ask for input on revising NT Notes.

London
August 22, 1759

Sir,

172Nothing is more certain than that the kingdom of God is not divided against itself ;

2See Mark 3:25 .

that peace and joy in the Holy Ghost are no ways obstructive of righteousness, even in the highest degree of it. Hold fast, therefore, that whereunto you have attained ,

3See Phil. 3:16 .

and in peace and joy wait for perfect love. We know ' this is not of works, lest any man should boast ',

4 Eph. 2:9 .

and it is no more of sufferings than it is of works. Nothing is absolutely pre-required but a sense of our want; and this may be a calm, peaceful, yea, a joyful sense of it. When I was lately in Rotherham, I talked with eleven persons who seem to be perfected in love.

5See JW, Journal, Aug. 2, 1759, 21:221 in this edn.

Of these Jane Green (the wife of one of our preachers

6Apparently a local preacher, as there were no itinerants of that name at the time.

) was facile princeps

7'Easily the leader'.

—higher and deeper in experience than them all—and she never was in darkness or heaviness one hour during the second conviction. Only she felt in a manner not to be expressed her own foolishness, emptiness, and nothingness. And in this state she quietly continued till God said, ' Be thou clean '.

8See Matt. 8:3 and parallels.

While I was riding (since Christmas) three- or four-and-twenty hundred miles I found no want of strength. But when my work was at an end, so was my strength. When I want it, I shall have it again. I 173thought you was to have been here in October, but God's time is the best! He doth all things well. Why should we not trust him in all!

I am, dear sir,
Ever yours,
John Wesley

Will you take the time and pains to read the Notes critically over, and give me your alterations and additions before I print another edition!

9JW and CW spent December revising NT Notes, resulting in its definitive 3rd edn.; see JW, Journal, Dec. 12, 1759, 21:236 in this edn.

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Entry Title: To the Rev. Thomas Jones (August 22, 1759)

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