Reverend and dear Sir,
YOUR letter gave me some little concern, I thought it breathed much of a sectarian spirit; to which I hoped dear Mr. W—— was quite averse. Methinks you seem, dear Sir, not satisfied, unless I declare myself a Presbyterian, and openly renounce the church of England. God knows that I have been faithful in bearing a testimony against what I think is corrupt in that church. I have shewn my freedom in communicating with the church of Scotland, and in baptizing children their own way. I can go no further. As for what you mention about the Quakers, I know not what particular exceptionable passages there were in my sermons, in which I mentioned them. That some good souls are among the Quakers, I doubt not.—For such I have charity, because our Lord hath given to them his spirit.—Though I am a strenuous defender of the righteousness of Christ, and utterly detest Arminian principles, yet I know that God gave me the Holy Ghost, before I was clear in either as to head-knowledge: and therefore, dear Sir, I am the more moderate to people who are not clear, supposing I see the divine image stamped upon their hearts. Mr. W——, Mr. L——, &c. I take to be holy men of God, though they think far widely from me, and from each other in some particular branches of doctrine. Dear Sir, be not offended at my plain speaking. I find but few of a truly catholic spirit. Most are catholic till they bring persons over to their own party, and there they would fetter them. I have not so learned Christ. I desire to act as God acts. I shall approve, and join with all who are good in every sect, and cast a mantle of love over all that are bad, so far as is consistent with a good conscience. This I can do without temporizing; nay I should defile my conscience if I did otherwise. As for my answer to Mr. M——, dear Sir, it is very satisfying to my own soul. Morning and evening retirement is certainly exceeding good; but if through weakness of body, or frequency of preaching, I cannot go to God in my usual set times, I think my spirit is not in bondage. It is not for me to tell how often I use secret prayer; if I did not use it, nay, if in one sense I did not pray without ceasing, it would be difficult for me to keep up that frame of soul, which by the divine blessing I daily enjoy. If the work of God prospers, and your hands become more full, you will then, dear Sir, know better what I mean. But enough of this. God knows my heart, I would do every thing I possibly could, to satisfy all men, and give a reason of the hope that is in me with meekness and fear; but I cannot satisfy all that are waiting for an occasion to find fault: our Lord could not; I therefore despair of doing it. However, dear Sir, I take what you have said in very good part: only I think you are too solicitous to clear up my character to captious and prejudiced men. Let my master speak for me. Blessed be God, he will, so long as I simply throw myself into his almighty arms. I am glad the work goes on with you. Glory be to God, we have seen glorious things in the West. My tender love to all that are pleased to remember me. When I shall come your way, I know not. On Friday, God willing, I go to Cambuslang, where I expect to see great days of the son of man. That God may bless you abundantly more and more, and cause your latter end greatly to increase, is the hearty prayer of, reverend and dear Sir,
Yours &c.
G. W.
LETTER CCCCXXX.
To the Reverend Mr. A——, in Dublin.
Glasgow, July 12, 1742.
Reverend and dear Sir,
ON Saturday I received your very kind letter, and being just now returned from Cambuslang, I snatch a few moments to acknowledge it. I have long since waited for a call to Ireland. In such an important step, I care not to proceed without great caution. When I find the cloud of divine providence moving your way, I trust the language of my heart will be, Lord, I come to do or suffer thy will! In the mean while, I will watch unto prayer. I doubt not but you, reverend and dear Sir, will help me herein. I thank you most heartily, for being jealous over me. I believe it is with a godly jealousy. I wish I was more jealous over myself. But blessed be God, this I can say in the midst of the honours wherewith the glorious Emmanuel hath honoured me, “Not unto me, O Lord, not unto me, but unto thy name be all the glory.” Dear Sir, I think I am the worst of the sons of men. Yet I dare not deny what the blessed Jesus hath done for my sinful soul. He is pleased (O infinitely condescending God!) to honour me still more and more. Saturday last I came to Cambuslang, and I think I never saw such things before. The work seems to be spreading. O that it may reach and overspread poor Ireland also! All things are possible with God. Now the Lord is watering so many other places, I pray he may not leave that intirely destitute and dry.—O for faith to expect great, and very great things from God! He does not love to disappoint people of their hope. Dear Sir, my heart is now enlarged with a sense of the freeness and fulness of the Redeemer’s loving-kindness. You, dear Sir, are an old weather beaten soldier. You are ripened for glory, and are ready to sing your Nunc dimittis[¹].—I am just about to begin to be a soldier. But, blessed be God, I shall follow soon. The hopes of bringing more souls to Jesus Christ, is the only consideration that can reconcile me to life. For this cause I can willingly stay long from my wish’d-for home, my wished-for Jesus. But whither am I going? I forget myself when writing of Jesus. His love fills my soul, O free grace! Surely I shall sing the loudest in heaven; but I must have done; nature calls for rest. Depending on the continuance of your prayers, and with my hearty salutation to all that love the blessed Jesus, I subscribe myself, reverend and dear Sir,