To Mr. J—— W——.
London, Sept. 1, 1748.
My very dear Brother,
YOUR kind letter I received with great satisfaction. I chearfully sit down to answer it before I set out for Scotland. I have been a mile or two upon the road, but turned back because my chaise was not registered. My hands have been full of work, and I have been among great company. A privy counsellor of the king of Denmark, and others, with one of the Prince of Wales’s favourites, dined and drank tea with me on Monday. On Tuesday I preached twice at Lady Huntingdon’s to several of the nobility. In the morning the Earl of Chesterfield was present. In the evening Lord B——. All behaved quite well, and were in some degree affected. Lord C—— thanked me, and said, “Sir, I will not tell you what I shall tell others, how I approve of you,” or words to this purpose. He conversed with me freely afterwards. Lord B—— was much moved, and desired I would come and see him the next morning. I did; and his Lordship behaved with great candour and frankness. All accepted of my sermons, and seemed surprized but pleased. Thus, my dear brother, the world turns round. “In all time of my wealth, good Lord deliver me!” Glad am I, for his own sake, that dear Mr. C—— begins to resolve to play the man. Alas! a [♦]trimming conduct is uncomfortable to one’s self, displeasing to Christ, and ridiculous in the sight of the world. Christ is worth all, or he is worth nothing. May the Lord enable me to be simple, and honest, and open in all my dealings, and to trust him with the consequences. I have ever yet found, that honesty is the best policy in the end. O that dear Mr. L—— may at length show himself a man too! My dear, very dear brother, may you lose no more time, but join in confessing a crucified Saviour. Glad am I to find that Mr. C——’s conversation is blest to you. I wish you had always a christian fidus achates at your side. Pardon me, dear brother, this freedom. My love is so great to you, and I have put up so many prayers for you, that I cannot rest till you improve those excellent parts God has given you, for the glory of his church and the good of his people. I am glad you will send something to our mother. I need not tell you, that the wisest of men has bid us “not to despise one’s mother, when she is old.” I thank you for the pictures; I have made free with some of them already. I shall not be sorry, if you do not go to Gloucester. Alas, so much money spent at music-meetings will make but a poor article at the day of judgment. But where does my affection carry me? My dear brother, good night. God willing, you shall hear from me soon again; if you do not answer me immediately, I will impute it to any thing rather than want of love; that, I am sure, is strong towards me, however unworthy of it. God has blessed me much in London. Congregations are very large. On Sunday I was enabled to preach four times: but this body—Well! thanks be to God, it is soon to be put off. Once more good night. My love to all friends. I am
Yours most affectionately,
G. W.
[♦] “triming” replaced with “trimming”
LETTER DCLXXIV.
To Mr. S——.