My Lord,
THIS comes to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship’s kind letter, dated November 9th. Business has prevented my answering it sooner. The Lord is yet pleased to deal bountifully with me. In England, as well as Scotland, the Redeemer is riding on from conquering to conquer. About Spring I hope to see Scotland again, and then, if possible, I will come as far as your Lordship’s house. I have lately been at Bristol, and London, and have had the pleasure of seeing the church walk in the comforts of the Holy Ghost. I have preached here twice every day, for some days last past. The Lord greatly countenances my administrations, and gives me constant peace and uninterrupted joy in believing. This is what, I trust, our glorious Emmanuel will confer upon your Lordship. Christ wills that our joy should be full; but we entangle ourselves with the world, we indulge ourselves in sensual pleasures, we trifle away our time in what the world calls innocent diversions, and thereby we grieve the spirit of God, and lose the comforts we should otherwise enjoy, from a close walk and communion with God. Most complain of a deadness and leanness in their souls; what is it owing to? Not to God, but to ourselves. We leave God, and then God leaves us. Not that we can keep ourselves by our own faithfulness; but notwithstanding, we must be faithful, and workers together with God. I know not why I am led to write thus to your Lordship, but nothing else occurs to my mind at present. I am athirst for holiness myself, and long to see others athirst also. O my Lord! I see such beauty and transcendent excellencies in Christ, that I long to have his whole mind and image stamped upon my soul. Nothing can satisfy me, but the highest degrees of sanctification and inward holiness. Here, I believe, I am laudably ambitious. My Saviour wills my sanctification, my Saviour would have me filled with all the fulness of God. Even so Lord Jesus come quickly! Dear Mr. S—— humbly salutes your Lordship, and prays for your temporal and eternal welfare, with, my Lord,
Your Lordship’s most obedient, obliged humble servant,
G. W.
LETTER CCCLXXVIII.
To Mr. J—— C——, at London.
Gloucester, Dec. 22, 1741.
My dear Brother,
LAST Thursday evening the Lord brought me hither. I preached immediately to our friends in a large barn, and had my master’s presence. On Friday and Saturday I preached again twice. Both the power, and the congregation increased. On Sunday God by a particular providence opened a door for my preaching in St. John’s, one of the parish churches. The late incumbent was my grand opposer. He being dead, and the new minister not having taken possession, the power of the pulpit was in the church-wardens hands. God inclined them to let me preach there on Sunday morning, and yesterday afternoon. Great numbers came, and the Lord gave me unspeakable power. On Sunday afternoon, after I had preached twice at Gloucester, I preached at Mr. F——’s at the hill, six miles off and again at night at Stroud. The people seem to be more hungry than ever, and the Lord to be more amongst them. Yesterday morning I preached at Painswick in the parish church, here in the afternoon, and again at night in the barn. God gives me unspeakable comfort, and uninterrupted joy. Here seems to be a new awakening, and a revival of the work of God. I find, several country people were awakened when I preached at Tewksbury, and have heard of three or four that have died in the Lord, who were called under God by me. We shall never know what good field-preaching has done, till we come to judgment. Many who were prejudiced against me, begin to be of another mind, and God shews me more and more, “that when a man’s ways please the Lord, he will make even his enemies to be at peace with him.” To-morrow morning I purpose to set out for Abergavenny, and to preach at Bristol, in Wilts, Gloucester, and Gloucestershire, before I see London. The people in these parts seem excellently well disposed. I hope the work of the Lord prospers in your hand; though absent in body, I am present with you in spirit. May the Lord Jehovah comfort you continually with those comforts wherewith I am comforted in him! I hope my comforts are of a right nature; they humble at the same time that they exalt me. I find all my happiness lies in a crucified God.