able facility in the performance of your respective
duties. Begin and end the day with Him who is the
Alpha and Omega, and if you really experience what
it is to love God, you will redeem all the time you
can for His more immediate service. I will tell you
what rule I used to observe when I was in my father's
house, and had as little, if not less liberty than you
have now. I used to allow myself as much time for
recreation as I spent in private devotion; not that I
always spent so much, but I gave myself leave to go
so far but no farther. So in all things else, appoint so
much time for sleep, eating, company, &c.; but, above
all things, my dear Sammy, I command you, I beg,
I beseech you, to be very strict in observing the
Lord's Day. In all things endeavour to act on
principle, and do not live like the rest of mankind, who
pass through the world like straws upon a river, which
are carried which way the stream or wind drives them.
Often put this question to yourself: Why do I this
or that? Why do I pray, read, study, or use devo-
tion, &c.? By which means you will come to such a
steadiness and consistency in your words and actions
as becomes a reasonable creature and a good Chris-
tian.
" Your affectionate mother,
"Sus. Wesley."
Truly the mother set a high ideal before her son; and though he did not prove to be the genius and divine of the family, she had her reward, in the way in which most human wishes are fulfilled. Samuel was always a good son and exemplary Christian, but it was John who became an apostle and a power in the world. Not the identical thing she desired from
