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[Christmas Worship Service Program, 2005]
No full textProgram for the Perkins Christmas Worship service in 2005
[Christmas Worship Service Program, 2004]
No full textProgram for the Perkins Christmas Worship service in 2004
[Christmas Worship Service Program, 2010]
No full textProgram for the Perkins Christmas Worship service in 2010
[Christmas Worship Service Program, 1977]
No full textProgram for the Perkins Christmas Worship service in 1977
[Christmas Worship Service Program, 1966]
No full textProgram for the Perkins Christmas Worship service in 1966
[John Wesley to Alexander Knox, 1779 July 31]
No full textLondon
July 31, 1779
Dear Alleck,
Come when they will, whether I am more or less busy, your letters are always welcome.
If that is the disposition of poor Mr. [John] Abraham, if dreams or impulses are his rule of action, it is no wonder that he behaves as he does. Nothing better can be expected. In a late letter, Mr. [James] Creighton sends me word that Mr. Abraham was at the last love-feast. And from his adding no more, I conclude that there was nothing amiss in his behaviour. It may be, time, useful conversation, and freedom from care, may in great measure settle his mind.
If you had had firm and constant health, I do not see how you could have been saved. You would have been so admired, caressed, and applauded by your well-meaning relations, and perhaps by others, that it would have been next to impossible for you to have escaped the depth of pride and the height of vanity. But God was merciful to you, and sent this affliction to humble and prove you, and show you what was in your heart. In the meantime nothing is more sure than that all these things will work together for your good.
Far, far beyond thy thought
His counsel shall appear,
When fully he the work has wrought
Which caused thy needless fear!
Perhaps he may give you an earnest of it now. Does not a gleam of hope break into your soul? Can you help saying,
God is love! I know, I feel!
Jesus weeps, but loves me still?
I think, if you had any notice of it, electrifying would prevent a fit. And if you was daily electrified for a month, it would remove the whole disorder.
I am afraid my poor Sally has forgot me. Peace be with all your spirits! I am, dear Alleck,
Yours affectionately,
J. WesleyLetter from John Wesley to Alexander Knox. This letter is one of fifty in a bound volume
[John Wesley to Alexander Knox, 1776 May 28]
No full textEdinburgh
May 28, 1776
My Dear Alleck,
I received yours a day or two ago at my return from the north of Scotland. The scurvy is either hot or cold. The hot scurvy is constantly attended with costiveness. The cold scurvy inclines to the opposite extreme. In the former, juice of nettles; in the latter, Sevil oranges are a sovereign remedy. But I judge your disorder to be but partly natural and partly divine—the gift of God, perhaps by the ministry of angels, to balance the natural petulance of youth, to save you from foolish desires, and to keep you steady in the pursuit of that better part which shall never be taken from you. Whether you have more or less sorrow, it matters not. You want only more faith. This is the one point: Dare to believe! On Christ lay hold! See all your sins on Jesus laid, and by his stripes you are healed.
Very probably, if I live, I shall be detained in London great part of next summer. But if I am, I should not think much of stepping over to Ireland (suppose you had settled all things else), to bring over my dear Mrs. Knox to Kingswood, who is not singular in her dread of the sea. Mrs. Floyde would not have ventured upon it on any account, but that I was in the ship. Perhaps you would find Mrs. Smyth there before you. I can make room for you both. Sally’s education is undoubtedly a thing of deep importance. If she stays at Derry, she has scarce the possibility of being a Christian. Nature, with the advice and example of her relations, would surely prevail over her.
Mr. [Edward] Smyth has been of great service to Mr. [John] Abraham, who writes to me, that he is resolved, to leave all and follow Christ. I have answered him today; but am afraid, least my letter should be intercepted. Be so kind as to tell him my advice is to come away at once, without conferring with flesh and blood: to come directly (by Chester, where the preacher will direct him further), either to me or to Mr. [John] Fletcher at Madeley. I have already wrote to Mr. Fletcher concerning him, so that he would be received with open arms. So would you all be received by, my dear Alleck,
Yours affectionately,
J. WesleyLetter from John Wesley to Alexander Knox. This letter is one of fifty in a bound volume
[John Wesley to Alexander Knox, 1790 July 26]
No full textBristol
July 26, 1790
My Dear Alleck,
When you wrote to me concerning the death of your brother [George], the case seemed so exceeding clear, and I so perfectly concurred in judgment with you, that I thought it needless to add anything on the head. It has long been my fixed judgment that, as sure as the Lord is loving to every man, no man ever died crying for mercy but he found mercy. Therefore, I cannot entertain the least doubt but George is now in Abraham’s bosom. And I should not at all wonder if God were to signify it to his mother, perhaps in some dream or vision of the night. ‘I was exceedingly troubled’, said good old Mr. [Vincent] Perronet, ‘when my wife [Charity] died, for fear she was not happy. And I cried mightily to God, that I might know. But instead of showing her to me he showed me himself.’ So all his trouble fled away. Your mother’s trouble is certainly diabolical. Let her resist the devil, and he will flee from her. If George were capable of grieving for anything now, it would be at his mother’s trouble. Woman, remember the faith! Remember Christ died for thee and him!
I pray, remember my kind love to my dear Sally! I have one good eye left, and a little strength. And am,
Ever yours,
J. WesleyLetter from John Wesley to Alexander Knox. This letter is one of fifty in a bound volume
[John Wesley to Alexander Knox, 1780 November 18]
No full textLondon
November 18, 1780
My Dear Alleck,
My mind is exactly the same towards you as it has been for several years—with this only difference (which is very natural), that the longer I know you the more I love you. I am not soon tired of my friends. My brother laughs at me, and says, ‘Nay, it signifies nothing to tell you anything; for whomsoever you once love you will love on through thick and thin.’
As you found some relief by that easing of your stomach, this reminds me of an odd case which occurred many years ago. Dr. [John] Middleton of Bristol advised my housekeeper in a desperate disorder to take a few grains of ipecacuanha every Saturday morning. In four weeks she was perfectly cured. And her disorder never returned. I really think it will be worth your while to make the experiment.
As I have frequently observed to you, I am still persuaded it is chiefly your body which presses down your soul. And if it please God to heal your body, I doubt not your mind will be far easier. I do not at all despair of seeing you an happy man, full of joy and peace in believing. Look up! And expect him that is mighty to save! I am, dear Alleck,
Yours most affectionately,
J. WesleyLetter from John Wesley to Alexander Knox. This letter is one of fifty in a bound volume
[John Wesley to Alexander Knox, 1776 April 1]
No full textCongleton
April 1, 1776
My Dear Alleck,
I am fully persuaded all your disorders depend upon a deep scurvy. What influence the [Peruvian] bark may have upon this I cannot tell; however, I have no objection to a decoction or infusion of it. I object only to your taking it in specie, because I can never reconcile to common sense the introducing ounce after ounce of powdered post into an human stomach. But I really think you rather want antiscorbutic medicines, such as watercresses or decoction of nettles or burdock. This accounts for your almost continual depression of spirits, which is a bodily as well as spiritual malady. And it is permitted to repress the fire of youth and to wean you from the desire of earthly things, to teach you that happy lesson:
Wealth, honour, pleasure, and what else
This short-enduring world can give;
Tempt as ye will, my heart repels
To Christ alone resolved to live.
I was just now indulging a pleasing speculation. What if your whole family was transplanted into England? I have a little house at the end of my greathouse in Kingswood, which I could soon fit up for your reception. You would have a large prospect to the west, and be sheltered from the east and north. You would have the best coals at about two pence a bushel, and most other things at a moderate price. The house opens into a large garden, which would supply you with fruits and vegetables of all kinds. The preaching house is but ten yards off; and on the other side of it, the best school in England, where our little George might be taught whatever he needed to learn, without any expense. And if your Mamma could spare my dear Sally, we have the best girls’ school (I suppose) in Europe, within five miles.
Perhaps this might be a means of restoring both spiritual and bodily health to Mrs. Knox as well as you. And if I could contribute to either, nothing could be a greater pleasure to, my dear Alleck,
Yours very affectionately,
J. WesleyLetter from John Wesley to Alexander Knox. This letter is one of fifty in a bound volume