LETTER CCCCXXXIII.
To Mr. M—— A——, at Morpeth.
Edinburgh, July 26, 1742.
Dear Sir,
I Just now received and read your letter. It much affected me. It bespeaks the language of an uneasy restless heart. In reading it, I thought of the great Austin, who used, when he prayed against lust, secretly to wish that his prayer might not be answered, and yet he made a most eminent saint, and shone in the church as a star of the first magnitude. I likewise thought how our Saviour would receive you, if here on earth; even as he received and answered the poor woman taken in adultery.—I am sure he would say, “Neither do I condemn thee.” Another text offers itself, “I will heal their backslidings, and love them freely.” God does not say, I will heal thy backsliding for any certain term of years, but I will heal thy backslidings in general. Dear Sir, if you have been a backslider these fifty years, nay, was it possible for you to have been a backslider a thousand years, yet if with hearty repentance and true faith you turn unto him, he will abundantly pardon you. O dear Sir, if any one had need to despair of mercy, I had; but Jesus has washed me in his blood, and I know that my Redeemer liveth. Your temptations, and atheism, and hard thoughts of God, do not surprize me. Dear Sir, what else can be expected from a heart desperately wicked, and deceitful above all things? Dear Sir, let all this drive you to the fountain which is open for sin and all uncleanness. I once, in your circumstances, thought Christ was hard-hearted; but now I find, nay have long since found, that his heart is full of love. Take courage, dear Sir; draw near to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. Return, thou wandering prodigal, thy heavenly father is running to meet thee.—Come back, thou fluttering dove, Jesus is ready to take thee into the ark. May God bless this to you! If he does, I will bless his name. I am a vile sinner, and have need to lie low before him, whom I have pierced by my transgression and unprofitableness, times without number. In his blood and righteousness I find perpetual refuge. Many in these parts are flying to him. May you, Sir, add to the happy number. You are but a sinner, and Jesus died for sinners. Come and welcome to Jesus Christ. I expect to remain in Scotland a few months, and hope to be your way, if the Lord direct. If your way should be directed hither, I should be glad to see you; if not, you are welcome to write to me. As my multiplicity of affairs will admit, you shall be answered by, dear Sir,
Your truly affectionate friend and servant in Christ,
G. W.
LETTER CCCCXXXIV.
To the Reverend Mr. McL——.