G. W.
LETTER DIV.
To Mr. S——.
Gloucester, March 29, 1743.
My dear Sir,
I Now sit down to fulfil my promise made to you last night.—I think in a former letter I gave you an account of what the Lord had done for and by me since I left London, though indeed I cannot tell you the hundredth part. On Tuesday evening I preached at Gloucester with as convincing, soul-edifying power, as ever I felt in my life. The barn, though made more commodious, was and is generally quite crouded. On Friday morning I preached again; and afterwards went to Hampton; the snow falling and freezing on us all the way. In the evening I preached at Chalford, upon “walking with God:” he was with me and the auditory. On Saturday I preached at Ruscom in the morning, and at King-stanley in the afternoon. In the evening, I visited brother C——’s gracious society; and afterwards rode to Hampton, which made about twenty miles. The congregations on account of the weather were not so great, but our Saviour most richly fed us. The word distilled like the dew; and at Stanley I think I was in the very suburbs of heaven. O free grace! On Sunday morning I preached at Dursley, about seven miles from Hampton, where our dear brother A—— had been taken down the Sunday before; but no one was permitted to touch or molest us. The congregation consisted of some thousands, and the word came with a most gloriously convincing power. I came away rejoicing, and in the afternoon preached to about ten thousand on Hampton common, at what the people now call Whitefield’s Tump, because I preached there first. I cannot tell you what a solemn occasion that was. I perceive a great alteration in the people since I was in these parts last. They did indeed hang on me to hear the word. It ran and was glorified. In the evening, we had a most precious meeting with the two united societies in the new house at Hampton. Surely many thereabouts will walk with God. Last night and this morning I preached again with great power; preaching in Gloucestershire is now like preaching at the tabernacle at London. This evening I am to preach again; and after that to hold our first love-feast.—What our Lord does for us hereafter, you shall hear in my next. And now, my dear Sir, help me to be thankful, and bless the Lord for all his mercies conferred on
Your unworthy friend, and his worthless servant,
G. W.