Your most affectionate, though younger and most unworthy brother and servant in the gospel of God’s dear Son,
G. W.
[¹] Now lettest thou thy servant, &c.
LETTER CCCCXXXI.
To Mr. J—— C——, in London.
New-Kilpatrick, July 15, 1742.
My dear Brother,
OF all my fellow-labourers letters, I think yours come the sweetest to my soul. You do not forget the rock from whence you was hewn, and therefore the Lord will honour you more and more. Though I have so small a degree of humility myself, I can see and admire it in others. It is the queen of graces. O beg of the exalted Jesus to make me humble. Indeed I have need of humility, for I am honoured more and more. What I have sent you already, does not near come up to what I have seen since. Last Thursday night, and Friday morning, there was such a shock in Edinburgh as I never felt before. O what a melting and weeping was there! I have heard blessed effects of it since. All glory be to God through Christ. On Friday night I came to Cambuslang, to assist at the blessed sacrament. On Saturday I preached to above twenty thousand people. In my prayer the power of God came down and was greatly felt. In my two sermons, there was yet more power. On sabbath day, scarce ever was such a sight seen in Scotland. There were undoubtedly upwards of twenty thousand people. Two tents were set up, and the holy sacrament was administered in the fields. When I began to serve a table, the power of God was felt by numbers; but the people crouded so upon me, that I was obliged to desist and go to preach at one of the tents, whilst the ministers served the rest of the tables. God was with them, and with his people. There was preaching all day by one or another, and in the evening, when the sacrament was over, at the request of the ministers I preached to the whole congregation. I preached about an hour and a half. Surely it was a time much to be remembered. On Monday morning, I preached again to near as many; but such an universal stir I never saw before. The motion fled as swift as lightning from one end of the auditory to another. You might have seen thousands bathed in tears. Some at the same time wringing their hands, others almost swooning, and others crying out, and mourning over a pierced Saviour. But I must not attempt to describe it. In the afternoon, the concern again was very great. Much prayer had been previously put up to the Lord. All night in different companies, you might have heard persons praying to, and praising God. The children of God came from all quarters. It was like the passover in Josiah’s time. We are to have another in about two or three months, if the Lord will. One Mr. W——, a minister, who has great popular gifts, was as well as others much owned and helped at this time. On Tuesday morning I preached at Glasgow, (it was a most glorious time) and in the afternoon twice at Inchannon. The Lord gave a blow to many. Yesterday morning I preached there again, and here twice. Every time there was a great stir, especially at this place. A great company of awakened souls is within the compass of twenty miles, and the work seems to be spreading apace. I am exceedingly strengthened, O unmerited mercy! both in soul and body, and cannot now do well without preaching three times a day. The Lord gives me great confidence about the Orphan-house, and assures me that he will provide for me and mine. O help me to thank him. Call upon all to bless his holy name. I know you will not be slack to praise him. I rejoice, my dear brother, to find that you enjoy so much of God. May he fill you with all his fulness. The trials you meet with, will only make you a more able minister of the New Testament. I am of your mind with respect to ——. He will not prosper. The Lord hates sectarian zeal. Dear brother, adieu. Expect to hear every opportunity from
Yours most affectionately and eternally in the blessed Jesus,