And trust upon the Lord.
May God of his infinite mercy so work upon you, that, at at the last day, you may be found having on the wedding-garment! Was I to study to eternity, I could wish you nothing better. May the ever-blessed God say Amen to it. I hope your little daughters are in good health. Dear Mrs. ——, exhort them to renounce the lust of the eye and the pride of life, and to abstain from all appearance of evil. I have a sincere concern for you and yours, and with all possible thanks for your kind presents and affection, I subscribe myself
Your sincere friend and servant in Christ,
G. W.
LETTER LXXVI.
Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739.
Dear Mrs. ——,
AS I do not forget to pray for, so I do not forget to write to you, to make a proper acknowledgment of your and your husband’s love; exhorting you to save yourselves from this untoward generation. Before I left London, I perceived God was working upon your soul. I trust the same God, since my departure, has carried it on, and that you are convinced of the sin of unbelief. Oh dear Mrs. ——, it is a difficult thing to believe aright; it can only be given from above. I know many of my acquaintance, who love to hear me talk and preach, and who receive me gladly into their houses; but alas! I fear they are self-righteous, and were never yet truly convinced of sin. They have good desires, and therefore flatter themselves, that they are good christians: But I fear many of them are only foolish virgins. I would not have dear Mrs. —— or her husband of this number. If she hath followed on to know the Lord, I am persuaded ere now, she is in some measure brought out of herself, and taught of God to rely only on Jesus Christ for wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. If thus minded, your soul is at peace with God, itself, and the world. If not, let her ask and it shall be given her, let her seek and she shall find, let her knock and a door of mercy shall be opened unto her.—All things are possible to him that believeth—Oh dear Mrs. ——, my heart is inlarged towards you; I long for your salvation: press on and faint not. Whenever I come, I shall expect to suffer. But though we die for Christ, oh let us pray that we may not deny him in any wise. Nothing but the free almighty grace of God can uphold,
Your sincere friend in Christ,