Your Ladyship’s most obliged, obedient, humble and willing servant,
G. W.
LETTER DCLXXI.
To Lady H——.
London, Sept. 1, 1748.
Honoured Madam,
ALTHOUGH it is time for me to be setting out, yet I dare not leave town without dropping a few lines, gratefully to acknowledge the many favours I have received from your Ladyship, especially the honour you have done me in making me one of your Ladyship’s chaplains. A sense of it humbles me, and makes me to pray more intensely for more grace, to walk more worthy of that God, who has called me to his kingdom and glory. As your Ladyship hath been pleased to confer on me the honour before mentioned, I shall think it my duty to send you weekly accounts of what the Lord Jesus is pleased to do for and by me. Glory be to his great Name, the prospect is promising. My Lord Bath received me yesterday morning very cordially, and would give me five guineas for the orphans, though I refused taking any thing for the books. I send your Ladyship (by the hands of faithful and honest Betty W——) a little box of my sermons, and the last account of God’s dealing with me, and of the money expended for the Orphan-house, with my oath before the magistrates of Savannah. The little book in marble paper is for Madam P——: I have folded down where I would have her begin to read. What a lovely christian will she make, when grace hath once refined her heart? I hope God intends to honour your Ladyship in making you instrumental of doing good to the nobility. His providence, his peculiar providence hath placed your Ladyship at Chelsea. I am persuaded your Ladyship will not quit that post, till he that hath placed you there, plainly gives you a dismission. I have good news to-day from Bristol. Mr. C—— intends to be fettered no longer with the fear of man. O that there may be always in him such a mind! Mr. L——, he informs me too, is coming from under the cloud. He begs his dutiful respects may be presented to your Ladyship, and is much obliged to your Ladyship for being so much concerned for him. I hope he will fix by and by: But whither am I running? Pardon me, honoured madam, I fear I am too bold and too long. Upon the road, I propose writing your Ladyship my thoughts of what scheme seems to be most practicable, in order to carry on the work of God, both here and in America. I dare add no more but my hearty prayers for the temporal and eternal welfare of your Ladyship, and whole houshold, and subscribe myself, honoured madam,
Your Ladyship’s most obliged humble servant,
G. W.