The alteration of your temper has occasioned me much speculation. I, who am apt to be sanguine, hope it may proceed from the operations of God‘s Holy Spirit, that by taking away your relish of sensual enjoyment, he may prepare and dispose your mind for a more serious and close application to things of a more sublime and spiritual nature.
If it be so, happy are you if you cherish those dispositions and now, in good earnest, resolve to make religion the business of your life; for, after all, that is the one thing that strictly speaking is necessary, and all things else are comparatively little to the purposes of life. I heartily wish you would now enter upon a serious examination of yourself, that you may know whether you have a reasonable expectation of salvation; that is, whether you are in a state of faith and repentance or not, which you know are the conditions of the gospel covenant on our part. If you are, the satisfaction of knowing it would abundantly reward your pains; if not, you will find a more reasonable occasion for tears that can be met with in a tragedy.
- Susanna Annesley Wesley (letter to John, February 23, 1725)
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