THOUGH I never had the pleasure of seeing you, yet I have often prayed for you, and can assure you I love you in the bowels of Jesus Christ. I hope you will not be offended with me, for troubling you with this. Your honoured lady tells me, you will not. Love, I am persuaded, inclines me to write, and I doubt not but you will receive it in the same spirit. Dear Sir, I rejoice to hear that you are a good soldier of Jesus Christ, and that you delight to fight the Redeemer’s battles. May you be covered with all his armours and filled with all his fulness! I have the pleasure often to go without the camp, and to bear a little of his sacred reproach, and I prefer it to all the treasures in the world. Weak as I am, my Jesus makes me more than conqueror through his love. He has brought mighty things to pass here, and gotten himself the victory in many hearts. I trust, there is not a day passes but some poor creature or another is plucked as a brand out of the burning. I wish I could hear God was more in the camp. Blessed be his name for raising you up, honoured Sir, to lift a standard for him. May you be endued with the meekness of Moses, the courage of Joshua, the zeal of Paul, and a large portion of the blessed spirit of Christ! I hope, honoured Sir, you will now and then remember me a poor sinner, and speak a word for me to the King of kings and Lord of lords, that I may not turn my head in the day of battle, but rather die for, than deny him in any wise. Neither you nor yours are forgotten by me. Indeed I am a poor creature, but happy, very happy in the once crucified, but now exalted Jesus. For his sake, and in his great name, I beg leave to subscribe myself, honoured Sir,
Your affectionate humble servant, &c.
G. W.
LETTER CCCCLXIII.
To the Reverend Mr. J—— W——.
Edinburgh, October 11, 1742.
Reverend and dear Sir,
ABOUT ten days ago, I sent you a packet by my dear wife, which I hope you will have received ere this comes to hand. Yesterday morning I had your kind letter dated October 5. In answer to the first part of it, I say, “Let old things pass away, and all things become new.” I can heartily say, “Amen” to the latter part of it. “Let the king live for ever, and controversy die.” It has died with me long ago. I shall be glad to see the extract of your journal. Be pleased to send it immediately, under cover, to Mr. E——, member of parliament in Edinburgh. I shall not leave Scotland in less than three weeks. Before yours came, I had engaged to go through Newcastle in my way to London. I rejoice to hear the Lord has blessed your dear brother’s labours. I am enabled to preach twice daily with great power, and find I walk in light and liberty continually. Like the ark, I am surrounded on all sides, but enabled to swim triumphantly over all. O free grace! I thank you, dear Sir, for praying for me, and thank our common Lord for putting it in your heart so to do. I have been upon my knees praying for you and yours. O that nothing but love, lowliness, and simplicity may be among us. It grieves me to see what a sad spirit prevails among Mr. E——’s people. Father, forgive them! I trust you will remember my poor orphans. God gives me strong faith for them, though no news yet of the Spaniards leaving Georgia. Yesterday morning a dear little hospital girl went off in triumph. The work is still increasing in Scotland, especially at Kilsyth. Surely we shall see great things ere long. Dear friend, my soul is on fire. O let us not fall out in the way! Let us bear with, and forbear one another in love. God be praised for giving you such a mind. My kind love to all that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity. In much haste, and with great thanks for your last letter, I subscribe myself, reverend and very dear Sir,
Your most affectionate, though younger brother, in the gospel of our glorious Emmanuel,