Your most affectionate and loving, though most unworthy brother in Christ,
G. W.
LETTER CCCXCV.
To Mr. B——, at Philadelphia.
Gloucester, Feb. 5, 1742.
Dear Mr. B——,
I Was much rejoiced to receive a letter from your hands. Blessed be God for carrying on the work, which, I hope, was begun in your heart long ago! I trust you will never rest till you are possessed of the whole mind which was in Christ Jesus. He is our pattern; and if we have true grace in our hearts, we shall be continually labouring to copy after our great exemplar. O the life of Jesus! How little of it is to be seen in those that call themselves his followers. Humility, meekness, love, peace, joy, goodness, faith, and the other blessed fruits of the Spirit, whither are they fled? I fear most take up with the shadow, instead of the substance. God forbid that I, or dear Mr. B——, should be of that unhappy number. Dear Sir, there is an unspeakable fulness, unsearchable riches in Christ. Out of him we are to receive grace for grace. Every grace that was in the Redeemer, is to be transcribed and copied into our hearts. This is Christianity; and without this, though we could dispute with the utmost clearness, and talk like angels, of the doctrines of grace, it would profit us nothing. To prevent the growth of this inward life, I am persuaded satan introduces heresies in the church, hoping thereby to stir up strife, envy, prejudice, and narrowness of spirit; and where these are, there will be every evil work. To this end, sinless perfection hath been propagated in England, and Antinomian principles suffered to be spread among you. But, blessed be God, both in England, and with you, I trust disputations and distractions are abated, and love and unity once more are lifting up their heads. This, at present, is the language of my heart:
Let us find out the ancient way,
Our wond’ring foes to move;