"Do Not Bury Your Talent in the Earth"

Me and statue of John Wesley, Methodist Central Hall, Westminster (July 2016)

During the Easter season, we often hear more about the women disciples (Mary Magdalene, Salome, Joanna, and various Marys) than we do at other times of the year, especially with regard to their witness to the resurrected Lord.  They are often nearly invisible in the gospel texts unless one is paying close attention, but once you start looking, you begin to appreciate the vital role they played in the ministry of Jesus.  For example, Luke 8 speaks of Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and "many others" who helped provide for the ministry with their financial resources.  Luke doesn't elaborate, but that means that some of these female disciples were women of means, who gladly gave their money to further the spread of the good news, and furthermore, it is not a stretch to assume that women were among the seventy sent out by Jesus in Luke 10.  Even in that very male-dominated society, women put their faith into practice in significant and life-giving ways, and Jesus always held them in high esteem for their steadfastness and commitment, treating them with respect and affirming their gifts for ministry alongside the men.


18th century England was also a patriarchal society, and John Wesley was a man of his time with some of the same blinders and biases that pervaded the religious and political thought of that era.  At the same time, he was the son of a remarkable woman, Susanna Annesley  Wesley, whose intellect and piety more than held their own in discussions of theology and devotion with clergymen -- including her husband and her sons! She home-schooled her sons and daughters, adamant that her daughters would learn to read well before being put to household tasks such as embroidery, educating them to a level far beyond what most women and some men would ever attain. No son of Susanna could have ever believed that women were inferior to men in terms of devotion to God, ability to reason and think, or responsibility to act and care for others.  His voluminous epistolary output included letters to women of high station as well as those of lower rank, offering them spiritual advice, asking about their health, and sometimes challenging them to push and even break boundaries of social convention, even to the point of affirming that some women had an "extraordinary call" to preach!

The following letter to Miss Philothea Briggs is a good example.  Philly Briggs was the daughter of Wesley's book steward in London, and he had known her since she was a child. Wesley speaks affectionately and encouragingly, assuring her of God's care and love, advising her about the state of her soul, suggesting various theological works for her reading, and urging her to write to him with any questions or concerns.

In this letter, he commends Miss Briggs for her poetry, telling her not to hide her talent but to utilize it -- "When you feel you are led to it, write verses; do not bury your talent in the earth." He also directs her to speak boldly when she meets with members of her class, a group that met regularly to study scripture, to do good for the poor and the sick, to worship and pray, and to hold each other accountable for growth in holiness in a spirit of love.

Reading these letters makes me feel encouraged in my faith journey, for there is much wisdom to be gleaned from Wesley's words from over 200 years ago, and it inspires me to be just as concerned about the spiritual welfare of those in my pastoral care.  These letters remind me that we all need to seek out our own "classes" or small groups with whom we meet regularly for support and prayer, and to hold each other accountable in love as we examine our consciences and our lives.   I hope you will find this example of Wesley's spiritual direction through his correspondence interesting, enlightening, and perhaps even challenging for your own growth in grace.  And perhaps you will be inspired to find your own spiritual friends who will travel with you on your journey towards holiness of heart and life.  Blessings!

MY DEAR PHILLY,--There is no fear I should forget you; I love you too well for that, and therefore love to hear from you, especially at this critical time, when all the powers of hell are engaged against you. But let them come about you like bees, they shall be extinct as the fire among the thorns. Tempted you are, and will be; otherwise you could not know your own weakness and the strength of your Master. But all temptations will work together for good; all are for your profit, that you may be partaker of His holiness. You may always have an evidence both of God's love to you and of yours to Him. And at some times the former may be more clear, at other times the latter. It is enough if, in one case or the other, you simply stay your soul upon Him. Sister Harper's is the ordinary experience of those who are renewed in love.  Sister Jackson's experience is quite extraordinary, and what very few of them have yet attained.

There is a danger of every believer's mistaking the voice of the enemy or of their own imagination for the voice of God. And you can distinguish one from the other, not by any written rule, but only by the unction of the Holy One. This only teaches Christian prudence, consistent with simplicity and godly sincerity.

The four volumes of Sermons, the Appeals, the Notes, and the Extracts from Mr. Law's Works and from Dr. Young, might best suit you now: meddle with nothing that does not suit your present temper. When you feel you are led to it, write verses; do not bury your talent in the earth. Meet with them that meet on a Friday, and speak in God's name without fear or shame.

The general rule, not to correspond but with those who have both grace and understanding, admits of several exceptions, in favour of a few who want one of them or the other or both.  While I am in Ireland you may direct to me at Dublin. Be not afraid of writing too long letters. The longer the more agreeable to, my dear Philly,

Yours affectionately.

J Wesley

(This particular letter is taken from the online collection of Wesley's works posted by Northwest Nazarene College --  http://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1771/)