LETTER CCCCXV.
To Mr. J—— B——, in London.
On board the Mary and Ann, May 27, 1742.
My dear Brother B——,
YOUR letter was sweet to my heart. Business prevented my answering it on shore. Our Saviour is pleased at this time to give me leisure and freedom. I will now endeavour to answer it on board. I need not tell you, I love you. God has often bore witness to our fellowship, by giving us his presence, and filling us as with new wine. What has happened of late to disunite, will in the end, I am persuaded, only promote a closer union. “Out of the eater will come forth meat, and out of the strong will come forth sweetness.” Blessed be our Saviour’s free grace! I feel my heart more and more enlarged towards, and more and more disposed to love and honour all denominations of believers, than ever I experienced before. In all societies of christians under heaven, there must necessarily be persons of a different standing in the school of Christ. Those who are not solidly established in the love of God, will fall too much in love with the outward form of their particular church, be it what it will. But as the love of God gets the ascendency, the more they will be like him and his holy angels, and consequently rejoice when souls are brought to Jesus, whatever instruments may be made use of for that purpose. If therefore some that you and I know, are too confined (as I believe is too much the case); if they do not preach more frequently, and abound more in good works, I think it is for want of having their hearts more inflamed with the love of God, and their graces kept in more constant exercise. To stir up the gift of God that is in us, is an apostolical injunction; and if we do not keep upon our watch we shall fall into a false stillness. Nature loves ease; and as a blind zeal often prompts us to speak too much, so tepidity and lukewarmness often cause us to speak too little. Divine wisdom alone, is profitable to direct; and I would be very cautious how I speak, least I should take too much upon me. I love those you mention, from my soul; and all I can say is, “Lord, do thou lead and guide both them and us.” We are blind helpless creatures. I wish there was more confidence between us all; but I see that none but the spirit of God can outwardly unite us, and therefore I have now given it up into the Redeemer’s hand. Only this I pray, that I may be one of the first and not the last in bringing back the king. If I have at any time set improper bounds to the spirit of God, or grieved it in his children, I desire to be very low, and to be broken hearted for it. I am sure it hath not been done willingly. I must own, I have sometimes opposed you, because I think you have made, and are yet making, too much haste. You seem to be like-minded with those, who in our Saviour’s time thought that the kingdom of God would then come: but you know how our Lord checked them for it, and told them, “it was not for them to know the particular times and seasons of his coming to set up his kingdom.” I believe with you, that our glorious Emmanuel is about to do great things. But how, when, and where, I leave to his divine, sovereign disposal. I desire strictly to mind the particular plan assigned me; at the same time to look about, and see what others the wonderful counsellor is pleased to employ in other districts: and though they may differ from me in some points, I wish them abundant prosperity in the name of our common Lord. I am of your mind with respect to the church of England. This, this is the constant, abiding, intense language of my heart; “Lord Jesus, let thy kingdom come.” You see, my dear brother, how fully I write to you. It is because I love you. O that we may be taught to bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ! May the Lord keep us all from falling out in our way to heaven. Amen and amen! You and yours will join heartily in the same petition, with
Your affectionate brother and servant in Christ,
G. W.
LETTER CCCCXVI.
To the Rev. Mr. O——, at Leominster.