LETTER XLIII.
To the Same.
London, Jan. 27, 1739.
Dear Sir,
IF I forget Mr. H. and his wife, may my right-hand forget her cunning. Excess of business alone was the cause of my silence. I sleep but little, very little. Had I a thousand hands, I could employ them all. I scarce know what it is to have an idle moment. It is late now. I have just been expounding. God fills me with his spirit, and I must redeem a little time to write to dear Mr. H. Indeed, indeed I love you in the bowels of Jesus Christ. O when shall I return your past favours! I thank you for blessing God on my behalf. I want a thousand tongues to praise him. He still works by me more and more. Subscriptions for erecting an orphan-house come in a-pace. On Monday sevennight, God willing, I set out for Bristol, with Mr. Seward, and from thence propose coming to Gloucester. Oh that it may be in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of peace! Mr. Howel Harris, and I, are correspondents, blessed be God! May I follow him, as he does Jesus Christ. How he outstrips me! Fye upon me, fye upon me. How does my brother? My love to him and all. I long to see you and yours, and to give you repeated assurances of my being, dear Sir,
Your’s eternally,
G. W.
LETTER XLIV.
To the Mr. ——.
Basingstoke, Feb. 8, 1739.
Dear Sir,
THOUGH I desired you to write first, yet the love I bear you, will not suffer me to wait so long before you hear from me.—Just now has God brought us to Basingstoke, where I hope an effectual door will be opened before we leave it, as well as at Windsor.—Oh my dear friend, more and more do I see the benefit of confessing our blessed Lord before men.—You have not been ashamed of the cross.—No, dear Mr. —— has put his hand to the plough; he will not, surely he cannot look back; but Jesus Christ alone can keep me and my dear friend from falling. He has begun and he will carry on, he will finish the good work in our souls.—We have nothing to do, but to lay hold on him by faith, and to depend on him for wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. Not but we must be workers together with him; for a true faith in Jesus Christ will not suffer us to be idle.—No, it is an active, lively, restless principle; it fills the heart, so that it cannot be easy, till it is doing something for Jesus Christ.—Methinks I hear my dear friend crying out, “Lord, evermore give me this faith!” Believe me, I heartily say, Amen. Ask then, my dear Sir, and it shall be given you, seek and strive for it, and yet a little while and I shall see you a new creature; your heart I hope is somewhat broken already.—All praise be to God’s free grace in Christ.—Go on, my dear friend, and never cease till you know you are Christ’s, by the spirit that shall be given you. Never fear your carnal friends, renounce them and every thing else that stands in competition with your duty to God.—What have we to do to know any one after the flesh? Let him, who doth the will of our Father in heaven, be our brother, our sister, our mother. For this reason I subscribe myself, dear Sir,
Your’s most affectionately in Christ,
G. W.
LETTER XLV.
To Mr. H——.
Oxon, April 24, 1739.
Dear Mr. H——,
BLESSED be God for working upon your heart by my ministry. I hope the wish’d-for time will come, when I shall see you full of faith and the Holy Ghost. Copies may be taken of my letter; but I would not have it printed, because I intend, when retir’d from the world, to make some discourses on the subject of free grace. Pray acquaint your mother, that I interceded for her solemnly last night. I besought God, that she might have her Saviour revealed in her heart; that is the only way to get above the fears of death. Christ in us is the hope of glory. I rejoice to hear Mr. Cole builds you up in your most holy faith. I exhort you to go on, and who knows but dear Mr. H. may, under God, keep up religion in Gloucester. Mr. Kinchin’s conduct in fearing the church, and giving up the parsonage, has sadly grieved the spirit of many good souls here; but I bless God they are now a little comforted. Oh dear Mr. H——, my heart is drawn towards London most strangely. Perhaps you may hear of your friend’s imprisonment. I expect no other preferment. God grant I may behave so, that when I suffer, it may not be for my own imprudencies, but for righteousness sake, and then I am sure the spirit of Christ and of glory will rest upon my soul. Oh dear Mr. H——, I beseech you, break off from the world. Shake off every fetter that keeps your soul from God, and then how will it rejoice the heart of, dear Sir,
Your’s eternally,
G. W.
LETTER XLVI.
To the Same.
London, April 27, 1739.
Dear Mr. H——,
I Rejoice to hear of the affection of my countrymen. It is a good sign, that the word has taken deep root in their hearts. But above all, do I rejoice that dear Mr. H—— is truly sensible of the free grace of God in Christ. Now, my dear friend, you will begin to be a christian indeed. Blessed be God, I hear my honoured M—— is becoming a fool for Christ’s sake. I do not despair of Mr. W. nay, I cannot despair of any one, when I consider, what I once was myself. Let but God speak the word, and the work shall be done. I always hope well of opposers. To-day, my master by his providence and spirit compelled me to preach in the church-yard at Islington. To-morrow I am to repeat that mad trick, and on Sunday to go out into Moor-Fields. The word of the Lord runs and is glorified. People’s hearts seem quite broken. God strengthens me exceedingly.—I preach till I sweat through and through. All is well at Savannah. Brave news from Gibraltar. Innumerable blessings does God pour down upon me. Oh that I had a thankful heart. I love you both sincerely; I thank you both heartily. I salute all our dear friends most affectionately, and am, dear Sir,
Ever, ever yours,
G. W.
LETTER XLVII.
To the Same.
London, May 10, 1739.
Dear Mr. H——,
THE hour for my imprisonment is not yet come. I am not fit as yet to be so highly honoured. God only knows the treachery of my heart; but amidst all my late success, I have scarce felt one self-complacent thought. I speak this to the honour of God’s free grace. In about three weeks, God willing, we embark for Pensilvania. The trustees have granted to me land and every thing upon my own terms; the officers and general are exceeding kind to my friend Habersham upon my account, so that all things succeed beyond my expectations. I am sorry to hear of Mr. W——’s conduct—Poor man! The love of money is rooted in his heart. Where is the honesty he so much boasts of and relies on? Does not this more and more convince you that nothing but a true faith in Jesus Christ will enable you to act aright? However, he is not to be envyed. I pity him. Money, thus got, will never prosper. I rejoice that you and your spouse are content. I wish you both may have Jesus Christ formed in your hearts, and am
Ever, ever yours, &c.
G. W.
LETTER XLVIII.
To ——.
Blendon, June 12, 1739.
My dear Brethren in Christ,
I Am jealous over you with a godly jealousy, and therefore write to you this second letter. I find more and more that satan has desired to have some of you in particular, that he may sift you as wheat, and will strive if possible to divide and separate you all.—I hear there is a woman among you, who pretends to the spirit of prophecy, and what is more unaccountable, I hear that Brother —— (whom I love in the bowels of Jesus Christ) seems to approve of her. Need therefore, great need have you, my brethren, at this time to take the apostle’s advice, and to try the spirits whether they be of God. For the devil is beginning to mimic God’s work, and because terrors will not do, he is now transforming himself into an angel of light in order more effectually to gain his point. Brother —— also, I cannot but think, at present is under a spirit of delusion. He, as well as brother ——, I believe imagines there will be a power given to work miracles, and that now Christ is coming to reign a thousand years upon the earth.—But alas! what need is there of miracles, such as healing sick bodies, and restoring sight to blind eyes, when we see greater miracles every day done by the power of God’s word? Do not the spiritually blind now see? Are not the spiritually dead now raised, and the leprous souls now cleans’d, and have not the poor the gospel preached unto them? And if we have the thing already, which such miracles were only intended to introduce, why should we tempt God in requiring further signs? He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And as for our Lord’s coming at this time to reign upon the earth, I answer, it is not for us to know the times and seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.—That a great work is begun is evident, that it will be carried on I doubt not; but how it will end, I know not, neither do I desire to know. It is sufficient for me to do the work of the day in its day, and to rest satisfied in this, that all will end in God’s glory. Lately, brother —— told me he was shortly, he believed, to be called to some public work.—I pray God he may not run before he is called. To teach, I know, is a pleasing thing; but to begin to teach too soon or without a commission, will be destruction to ourselves, and of ill consequence to others. Uzzah might mean well, when he touched the ark, but his good intention did not preserve him from the just judgments of God. Be not many masters, says the apostle. Oh that that verse was deeply engraven on the tables of our hearts! My dear brethren, be not offended at this plainness of speech. I would all the Lord’s servants were prophets, but then I would not have people think themselves prophets of the Lord, when they are only enthusiasts—If Mr. —— is acted by a good spirit, why is he not patient of reproof? Why does he fly in a passion, when contradicted? Why does he pretend to be infallible, and that God always speaks in him? May God give us all a right judgment in all things. Pure unfeigned love causes me to use this freedom. Many of you God has worked upon by my ministry, and therefore I would not have you ignorant of satan’s devices. O beware of him at this time. Do not conceive prejudices against each other. Do not dispute, but love; purge out the old leaven from amongst you. Have no fellowship with any that converse with Mr. ——. If they have a mind to depart from you, let them depart. Do you build up each other in your most holy faith. My dear brethren,
I am your common servant in our dear Lord Jesus,
G. W.
LETTER XLIX.
To the Rev. Mr. ——.
Leachlade, July 18, 1739.
Dear Sir,
THE scene this morning much affected me; you both put me in mind, how that happy pair, Adam and Eve, looked when arraign’d by the Almighty after having eaten the forbidden fruit. Behold the same remedy reached out to you as to them.—The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent’s head.—Look up to him whom you have pierced.—He will heal your backslidings and love you freely.—Had he not loved you both, both of you ere now would have been given over to a reprobate mind. I know the time, when you both were enlightned, when you tasted the good word of God, and felt the powers of the world to come.—Honour, falsely so called, has caused you to draw back, but I believe not unto perdition. Jesus is still striving with your heart. Come to him by faith, renounce the world, and he will yet delight to honour you. “Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.” Mention not old things, let all things become new. I love both of you from my heart. Come forth, and be ye separate, saith the Lord almighty. Break with the world at once, and you shall become fools for Christ’s sake. What if your wife sent some such letter as the following to her parents.
Honoured Father and Mother,
THE contents of this letter will surprize you, but I can no longer halt between God and the world; the happy convictions, that God once put into my heart, now arise in my mind, I will no longer be an almost christian. I am resolved to become a fool for Christ’s sake. Blessed be God Mr. M—— is like-minded.—Hitherto have I hindered him in his spiritual progress, God forbid I should do it any longer. Hence forward will we go hand in hand together, and naked follow a naked Christ.—
Dearest Mr.——, I am ever yours,
G. W.
LETTER L.
London, July 23, 1739.
Dear Madam,
YOUR letter filled me with joy and with pity. Pity, to see you tempted, joy, to find you are thought worthy of enduring temptation. Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But be not afraid, Jesus Christ is praying for you, and your faith shall not fail. Your master hath been in the wilderness before you, and knows by experience, how to succour those that are tempted. Lift up then the hands that hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees. Infidel books have poisoned your understanding, and rivetted great pride therein. Strong temptations are necessary to mortify that pride, and to teach you that lowliness of heart, which our Lord calls all that are weary and heavy laden to learn of him. Look up then to Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. He will send you help in every time of need. Indeed he will never leave you, nor forsake you. Follow him as the poor Syrophœnician woman did, and though he may now turn away his face seemingly for a while, yet he will always support you inwardly by a living faith, and shortly give you the spirit of adoption, whereby you will be enabled to cry, “Abba, Father.” I speak this by happy experience. I have mourned, but now I am comforted. I have gone through the spirit of bondage, and, for ever be adored God’s free grace, he has given me the spirit of adoption. And that you also will have this in God’s due time and way, is the firm belief of
Your unworthy brother, and servant in Christ,
G. W.
LETTER LI.
London, July 23, 1739.
Dear Mr. H——,
I Wish you joy of your new-born son. Oh that it may be made a real child of God. I purpose, God willing, to stand to my promise, either in person, or by proxy. I know not yet, how providence will be pleased to dispose of me. I have written to the Lords of the Admiralty for a licence. Saturday evening next, I hope you will see Mr. Charles Wesley. He intends to preach at Gloucester, Raindwick, &c. Pray desire Mr. Cole and our other dear friends to appoint places. Matters go on most bravely here. I think people are ten times more affected than ever. The audiences full and numerous, and they give their mites for the orphan house with a chearful and ready heart. Have you heard how I preached upon the stage among the cudgel players at Basingstoke, and got a blow? Both I and my companions were also turned out of our inn, and in danger of being beaten heartily. Blessed be God! My sermon comes out on Wednesday. Heartiest love to dear Mrs. H——. That Jesus Christ may be fully formed in both your hearts, is the prayer of,
Ever, ever yours,
G. W.
LETTER LII.
London, July 24, 1739.
Honoured Sir,
THOUGH but a child in grace, and a novice in the things of God, yet I could not escape this opportunity of shewing you, how dear you are to my soul. Though unknown in person, yet you have long since been known to me in spirit. I hoped to have seen you ere I left London. I hasted up to town hoping to have some spiritual gift imparted to me by that means, but I was not worthy of it, I was not prepared for such a blessing.—You went before I came. A great work of God is doing here. The Lord Jesus gets himself the victory every day; free grace compels poor sinners to come in. Our brother —— can inform you of particulars. As for my own soul, God mightily strengthens me in the inward man, and gives me often such foretastes of his love, that I am almost continually wishing to be dissolved, that I may be with Christ.—But I am only beginning to begin to be a christian.—I must suffer also, as well as do for my dear Master. Perhaps a storm is gathering. I believe God will permit it to fall on my head first.—This comes then, honoured Sir, to desire your prayers, that none of those things may move me; and that I may not count even my life dear unto me, so that I may finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus. Though I die for him, yet, I beseech you, honoured Sir, to pray that I may not in any way deny him. But what am I doing? I fear, honoured Sir, I am too free. A sense of your humility and love for the blessed Jesus makes me thus open. How should I rejoice, if you would honour me with a line.—I am young, and therefore a word of exhortation and advice, would much profit, honoured Sir,
Your very humble servant, in our dear Lord Jesus,
G. W.
LETTER LIII.
London, July 25, 1739.
Dear Sir,
NOT a want of love, but of time, has obliged me to shorten my late letters. Had I an hundred hands I could employ them all. The harvest is very great. I am ashamed I can do no more for him, who hath done so much for me; not by way of retaliation, but gratitude. Fain would I love my master, and will not go from him; his service is perfect freedom; his yoke is easy, his burden light. Still he is pleased to shew us greater things. Every day affords fresh instances of the power of his word. I am now about to attack satan in one of his strong-holds, if I perish.—To-night I preach, God willing, where an horse-race is to be. I find my Master strengthens me for the work. O, dear Sir, pray for me, that my faith fail not, and that my zeal be tempered with knowledge. Our brother —— will prove an agreeable correspondent. If business prevents my writing, he will inform you what happens from time to time to, dear Sir,
Your most affectionate in Christ Jesus,
G. W.
LETTER LIV.
London, July 26, 1739.
Rev. Sir,
JUST now I received your kind letter, and am endeavouring to catch a few moments to answer it. I thank you for your encouraging hints. O! dear Sir, continue to exhort, and provoke me to love and to good works, that I may with patience run the race that is set before me. Hitherto my dear Master magnifies his strength in my weakness. Ever since he honoured me to suffer a little reproach for his name’s sake, at Basingstoke, he has caused me to rejoice with exceeding great joy. My spirit was stirred within me. Methinks I could willingly have died to have borne my testimony against the lying vanities, and devilish entertainments of this generation. By the help of my Master, I will go on and attack the devil in his strongest holds. O pray, dear Sir, that my zeal may be always tempered with true christian prudence. It would grieve me, should I bring sufferings causelessly upon myself. A trying time, perhaps, is at hand. O that I may be found faithful! If providence permits, I will perform my promise. I am blind, I am a child, I know nothing. I only desire the whole will of God may be done, in, by, and upon, dear Sir,
Your unworthy brother and fellow-labourer in our dear Lord Jesus,
G. W.
LETTER LV.
London, July 26, 1739.
Sir,
I Received your kind letter, but must beg to be excused from dissuading your son to go with ——. The employment in which he is engaged will, in the end, if faithfully improved, tend much to God’s glory and his own good. He now sits by me; I read over your letter to him, and he continues as resolute as ever. The being disinherited does not terrify him at all. He has a more abiding inheritance, and is willing naked to follow a naked Christ.—Dear Sir, let me advise you to do nothing rashly. If you can pray for a blessing on your will when you are about to disinherit your son, I shall wonder. Have a little patience, and then you will find that your son is about to act wisely. If I thought otherwise, no one would be more forward to dissuade him, than, Sir,
Your very humble servant,
G. W.
LETTER LVI.
London, July 31, 1739.
OH that my head was water and my eyes fountains of tears, that I might weep over my dear Mr. ——. What? And has my familiar friend, who has been dear to me as my own soul, has he taken part with, and gone back to the enemy? Surely it cannot be!—And yet I must believe it.—But if any one had told my dear friend, that he would have behaved thus, would he not have cried out, “Is thy servant a dog that he should do this?” Oh, my dear friend, I am in pain for you! Alas! who hath bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth? You did run well; who, or what hath hindered you? Not a fear of man, I hope; not a desire of that praise, that cometh of man. I know the time when my dear friend’s heart stood stedfast. I know the time when my dear friend was willing to be accounted a fool for Christ’s sake, and chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin, of false politeness, for a season. And why should I despair of my dear friend now? No, I know Jesus Christ was set for the falling and rising again of many in Israel. Our Lord, I trust, has prayed for you, and I hope your faith will not totally fail. Forgive me, I must stop and sigh: God forbid I should be called, at the great day, to say, that my dear Mr. —— put his hand to the plough and turned back unto perdition. Good God! the thought strikes me as though a dart was shot through my liver. Return, return. My dear friend, I cannot part from you for ever. Do not speak peace to your soul, when there is no peace. Do not turn factor for the devil. Do not prejudice or hurt my brother, and thereby add to the grief you have already occasioned.
Your most affectionate friend and servant in Christ,
G. W.
LETTER LVII.
Bristol, July 31, 1739.
My dear Brother,
BLESSED be God for bringing you in safety home.—He is a God hearing prayer. May he sanctify our meeting. I hope to see you here this week. I shall set out for Deal on Monday.—I long to hear how the soul of my dear brother prospers.—I long to embrace you in these unworthy arms.—Methinks I could now sing my nunc dimittis with pleasure, if my eyes could see my dear brother’s salvation. I hope you have conversed with Mr. Wesley. It will require some degree of boldness to own either of us before men. God vouchsafes to honour us: No wonder our names are cast out as evil.—Dear Mr. ——, I hear, is staggered with the fear of man.—Sister, I trust, is in a good way. When shall I see you? Come, Oh come and warm my heart, by telling me what God hath done for your soul. Eternity will be too short to praise him for what he has done for
Your affectionate brother,
G. W.
LETTER LVIII.
London, August 3, 1739.
Reverend and dear Sir,
THIS morning I received yours, and though I leave London this evening, yet I cannot but snatch a few moments to send you an answer. I love all that love our Lord Jesus Christ. The spirit of Christ, with me is the center. I love the man, and you in particular, though in all things he may not follow with me. I rejoice there is a revival of true religion in Scotland. The spirit of God is moving on the faces of thousands of souls in England. The word runs very swift, and satan falls like lightning from heaven. God hath sent me into the highways and hedges, to compel poor sinners to come in; many are left to water, what God hath been pleased to plant; I doubt not of his giving a great increase. But I am a child, I cannot speak, yet God will magnify his free grace. God will work, and all oppositions must forward, but not hinder it.—Inclosed I have sent you a sermon just published.—You may judge of my principles from that. The picture I highly honour.—May I follow them as they follow Christ. I am no friend to sinless perfection.—I believe the being (though not the dominion) of sin remains in the hearts of the greatest believers.—Time and business will not give me leave to enlarge.—Besides, I am but a novice in the school of Christ; and therefore most earnestly beg your prayers, that I may grow in the knowledge of our common Lord. At his call, I am now going abroad, and expect to suffer many things ere I return home.—Reverend and dear Sir, I wish you much success in the name of the Lord, and am
Your brother and servant in the best bonds,
G. W.
LETTER LIX.
London, August 3, 1739.
Dear Sir,
I Cannot leave London without answering your last letter. I am convinced that God calls me now to Georgia, and so are our friends. God’s ways are like the great deep.—He will go a way by himself. Exitus acta probat. The prophecy you mention, I dare not apply to myself. What am I, that God should so delight to honour me? However, I believe the Lord will work a great work upon the earth. Whatever instruments he shall make use of in effecting it, I care not. If Christ be preached, if my dear Lord be glorified, I rejoice; yea, and will rejoice. I wish all the Lord’s servants were prophets. Oh, dear Sir, my heart is now melted down with a sense of the divine love! Never was a greater instance of God’s free grace in Christ. What am I, O Lord, that thou shouldest delight to honour me? Even so, Father, for so it seemeth good in thy sight! Dear Sir, I could now write all day; but other business demands my attendance.—Yet a little while, and we shall sit down in the kingdom of God for ever. Dear Sir adieu. Oh give thanks, give thanks, and pray for
Your’s most affectionately in Christ Jesus,
G. W.
LETTER LX.
Blendon, August 6, 1739.
AND would not dear Mr. —— stay for my last letter? What, is he retired into the country to learn how to forget his God? Is he got into favour with the polite world? Are not these sad symptoms, that my dearest Mr. —— is falling away a-pace? He runned into one extreme lately, and now satan is driving him into another. Did not I forwarn you of this? O my dear friend, my brother, return to your first love, otherwise you will find the spirit of God deserting you more and more every day. Nemo repente fuit turpissimus. But I can say no more.—Perhaps I am troublesome. However, give me leave to weep. Permit me to pray for you. Though you are now dead comparatively, yet, I trust, you will be alive. Though now seemingly lost, yet surely you shall be found again. God only knows how such news would rejoice the heart of, dear Sir,
Your affectionate friend in the best bonds,
G. W.
LETTER LXI.
——, August 7, 1739.
Dear Mr. ——,
I Thank you most heartily for your last: Had you been more particular, I should have thanked you still more. May God reward you for watching over my soul! Pride and selfishness are the tempers of the devil. By the help of my God I will never rest till my Master gives me power to overcome them. It is difficult, I believe, to go through the fiery trial of popularity and applause untainted. Blessed be God, I am now sweetly retired. O help me, my dear Sir, by your prayers, as well as your advice, and believe me desirous to subscribe myself,
Your’s most affectionately in our dear Lord Jesus,
G. W.
LETTER LXII.
On board the Elizabeth, Gravesend, August 14, 1739.
Reverend and dear Sir,
YOUR kind letter gave me much satisfaction. It breathed the language of one, who is a Boanerges in the church of God. Excess of business prevented my answering it sooner. As I am now retired from a public life, I trust I shall have time to try my heart and search out my spirit. Forget me not, dear Sir, when you are praying for all those, who travel by land and by water, when storms and winds are blowing over me. I hope I shall always carry you, and others of my dear friends in Wales, upon my heart, whenever I go in and out before the Lord. It would rejoice my soul to hear from you, when abroad. Exhort me, oh exhort me, to be valiant for the truth. Bid, oh bid me, dear Sir, to be mindful of a dying and risen Jesus.—Bid me to remember the riches of his free grace in pulling me as a brand out of the fire, and exhort me to lay down my life for his sake.—Brother Harris, I find, has come off triumphantly.—The hour of suffering is not yet come. God prepare us all for it! I expect to suffer for my blessed master’s name sake. But, wherefore do I fear? My master will pray for me.—Dear Sir, adieu. I know you not in person. Perhaps I may never see your face in the flesh. However, I shall see you in heaven, and then you shall see how sincerely I now subscribe myself,
Your unworthy brother and fellow-servant in Christ,
G. W.
LETTER LXIII.
On board the Elizabeth, Gravesend, August 14, 1739.
Dear Madam,
I Cannot think of your favours, and yet forbear writing a letter of thanks. I cannot think of your parting tears, and not inform you, how sincerely I pray God to comfort and refresh your soul.—Oh Madam, your kindness to such a dead dog as I am, quite surprizes me. How much more ought you and I, and all mankind, to adore the unspeakable goodness of our heavenly Father, who has so loved the world, as to give his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Dear Madam, never rest till you have a lively faith in Christ Jesus. God has put into your heart good desires after it. Continue instant in prayer; apply to Jesus Christ, as a poor sinner, and yet a little while, and dear Mrs. —— shall be a christian indeed. Hasten O Lord, that blessed time. Oh let thy kingdom come, in full power, into this thy handmaiden’s heart! Innumerable temptations surround you, to make you take up your rest here. But, I hope, Madam, you will be upon your guard, and let nothing be thought of, or done, by you, which may any way tend to indulge the lust of the eye and the pride of life. Simplicity is the very spirit of the gospel; therefore, the more we learn Christ, the more regardless we shall be of worldly vanities. God of his infinite mercy make you a widow indeed! You see, Madam, how freely I have wrote to you. It is because I value your welfare.—It is the best return that can be made, for all favours conferred on, Madam,
Your most obliged friend and servant in our dear Lord Jesus,
G. W.
LETTER LXIV.
On board the Elizabeth, Gravesend, August 14, 1739.
Dear Madam,
YOUR affectionate parting, and the tears I observed you to shed, even when I was at a distance from you, made me almost ready to cry out “What mean you to weep and to break my heart?” Oh may our dear Lord put your tears into his bottle, and reward you a thousand fold for all the kindnesses you have shewn to me! Indeed I am less than the least of his servants. But yet, so loving is my dear Master, that he will not let a cup of cold water given in his name, to pass by unobserved or unrewarded. When partaking of your bounty of flour, I hope I shall pray that you and your’s may eat bread in the kingdom of God. You have all good desires; I hope you are not far from the kingdom of God.—Oh let there not be any thing lacking. Give God your hearts, your whole hearts; let Jesus Christ’s be your whole wisdom, your whole righteousness; and then he will be your whole sanctification and eternal redemption. I write this from my floating habitation, to assure you how sincerely I am
Your most obliged friend and affectionate humble servant,
G. W.