London, Dec. 23, 1737.
Dear Mrs. H.,
ONCE more I send you a line. Nothing but an excess of business, should have prevented me writing to you oftner. Your favours, I hope, will never be forgotten, and never cease to be mentioned before the throne of grace, God only knows, how earnestly I have recommended you and your’s to his never-failing mercy. On Wednesday night eighteen of us continued all night in praises, and praying for you and our other friends. I know, that passion is the sin, which most easily besets you, and therefore I always pray that you may have grace given you to conquer it, and to learn of Jesus Christ to be meek and lowly in heart. Then, and not till then, you will find rest to your soul. Pardon me, dear Mrs. H. for being thus free. Your kindness compels me to it. Had I not a sincere regard for you, I should not express myself thus. Besides, it’s the last time, perhaps, I shall write to you in this world, and therefore would have this letter contain some instructive hints. We sail, God willing, next week. Great things have been done for us here. Perhaps upwards of a thousand pounds have been collected for the poor, and the charity schools, and I have preached above an hundred times, since I have been here. A visible alteration is made also in hundreds. Last Sunday at six in the morning, when I gave my farewell, the whole church was drowned in tears: they wept and cried aloud, as a mother weepeth for her first born. Since that, there is no end of persons coming and weeping, telling me what God has done for their souls: others again beg little books, and desire me to write their names in them. The time would fail me, was I to relate how many have been awakened, and how many pray for me. The great day will discover all. In the mean while, I beseech you Mrs. H. by the mercies of God to pray, that the goodness of God may make me humble. As yet the divine strength has been magnified in my weakness. Many have opposed, but in vain. God’s power conquers all. I am now going as Abraham did, not knowing whither I go; but I commit myself to the guidance of God’s good providence and spirit. He that has and doth, will deliver me out of all my troubles. I only wish, I could debase myself low enough, that I might be more fitted for the high and lofty one who inhabiteth eternity, to work by. I am a proud, imperious, sinful worm; but God, I hope, in time, will conform me to the image of his dear Son. He has begun (for ever adored be his free grace), and I trust, he will finish his good work in me. Out of the money that God has sent me, I will pay all the debts I can. I have sent some of it to Mrs. Wells, with particular orders how to be disposed of; two guineas are for Mrs. Farmer towards the debt due to her from my mother. My farewell sermon will be published shortly, with two or three more. Dear Mrs. H. farewell. God reward you and your’s for all your works of faith and labours of love, and grant we may so believe, and so live here, as to meet in eternal glory hereafter,
Ever your’s,
G. W.
LETTER XXX.
To Mr. H.
Margate, Jan. 9, 1738.
Dear Sir,