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Title	Letter to [John] Newton
Post Date	February 28, 1766
Author	Wesley, John, 1703-1791
Recipient	Newton, John, 1725-1807
Date	1766-02-28
Physical Description	4 pgs total; 3 pgs text; 1 pg address
Dimensions	21 x 33 cm
Address To	Oulney, Bedfordshire
Country To	England
Address From	Lewisham
Country From	England
Collection (Provenance)	Leete Manuscript Collection
Transcriber	Wanda Smith
Plain Text Transcription	To The Revd Mr Newton At Oulney Bedfordshire Lewisham Feb. 28, 1766 Dear sir You are exceeding happy in having “done with controversy,” or rather, in having never begun it, as necessity was not laid upon you. And he must be a madman that will leap into the fire without necessity. To “follow peace with all men” is an admirable help to the following after holiness. And even outward peace, when we can have it upon honest terms, is an invaluable blessing. The late sermon I have published eo nomine to explain my sentiments on that head. This very day I answered a letter from a good man (and one of considerable sense and lerning) who thinks (as you seem to do) that I have therein contradicted some of my former writings. But I think not, and a man should understand himself best. I think I have not wrote one line, either in verse or prose (I mean since the year 1737), which contradicts any sentiment in that sermon, much less the grand, leading sentiment. And I desire the sense of any doubtful expression that occurs in any of my other writings may be ascertained by this, wherein I purposely explain myself on the head. I do not only insinuate, but affirm, and that upon full personal knowledge, (1) that “people otherwise well-meaning” (yea, true believers, holy till then both in heart and life) “have been deluded and hardened,” at least for the present, “chiefly if not merely, by the too frequent” and improper “use of the phrase imputed righteousness.” These melancholy instances stare me in the face continually. I affirm (2) that some of “those who love that expression are remarkably remiss in showing their zeal and care for practical holiness.” They do not enforce it, as Dr Owen does, with whom (though I do not like some of his opinions) I should never have disputed had he been alive now. And I suppose I should never have disputed with you. I want only that he who died for us may live in us, and that he may reign alone in our hearts. I have just printed (but I know not that I shall publish it all; for I would not, if possible, afford more matter of controversy to the children of God) for the satisfaction of my serious friends, “A Plain Account of Christian Perfection as believed and taught by the Rev Mr John Wesley, from the year 1725 to the year 1765.” If you care to give it a reading, you shall be welcome to a copy. I hope Mrs Newton and yourself will never forget in your prayers, dear sir, Your affectionate brother and servant John Wesley On Monday se’nnight I am to set out for Bristol and the North.
Published Transcription	John Telford, ed. The Letters of the Rev. John Wesley, V. February 28, 1766, to December 9, 1772. (London: Epworth Press, 1931), pp. 4-6.
Catalog link	http://libcat.smu.edu/vwebv/holdingsInfo?bibId=195736
Unique Identifier	JWesley 02281766
Digital Resource Type	Image
Digitization Date	Digitized: 2003
Digitization Process	Digitization process: Derivatives resized at 4037 pixels in height or width.
Digital Publisher	Bridwell Library, Special Collections; Perkins School of Theology; Southern Methodist University
Rights	Permission to publish materials must be obtained from the Head of Special Collections of the Bridwell Library.
Decade	1760-1769