I Received yours this morning; though I am engaged this evening, yet I think it my duty to send you an immediate answer. You might well inform, and almost assure, my Lord of Exeter, that I knew nothing of the printing of his Lordship’s pretended charge, or of the pamphlets occasioned by it. When the former was sent to me in manuscript from London to Bristol, as his Lordship’s production, I immediately said, it could not be his. When I found it printed, I spoke to the officious printer who did it out of his own head, and blamed him very much. When I saw the pamphlet, I was still more offended; repeatedly in several companies I urged the injustice as well as imprudence thereof, and said it would produce what it did, I mean a declaration from his Lordship, that he was no Methodist. I am sorry his Lordship had such an occasion given him to declare his aversion to what is called Methodism; and though I think his Lordship in his declaration hath been somewhat severe concerning some of the Methodist leaders; yet I cannot blame his Lordship for saying, “that he thought some of them were worse than ignorant and misguided,” supposing that his Lordship had sufficient proof, that they either caused to be printed, or wrote again when printed, a charge which his Lordship had never owned nor published. If you think proper, dear Sir, you may let his Lordship see the contents of this. I will only add, that I wish a way could be found out, whereby his Lordship and other of the Right Reverend the Bishops, might converse with some of us. Many mistakes might thereby be rectified, and perhaps his Lordship’s sentiments in some degree altered. If this cannot be effected (I speak only for myself,) I am content to wait till we all appear before the great shepherd and bishop of souls. In the mean while, I heartily pray, that their Lordships may be blessed with all spiritual blessings, and wishing you the like mercies, I subscribe myself, very dear Sir,
Your affectionate, obliged humble servant,
G. W.
LETTER DCXCV.
To Mr. H——.
Cambuslang, Oct. 9, 1748.
My dear Mr. H——,
HAVE you not suspected, that I have forgotten you? but indeed I have not. As a testimony of it, though late, accept a line of love, even love unfeigned. I hope you are well, and that affairs go on at the Tabernacle as well as can be expected. I trust the shout of a king is amongst you. Blessed be God, he has caused his gospel to triumph in Scotland. I have been humbled and exalted; humbled first, in order to be exalted afterwards. Thus it is.—The Lord wounds and then heals. At present I am in the place where the great awakening was about six years ago. The fruits of it yet remain. To morrow, God willing, I take my leave at Glasgow. I believe we shall have a sorrowful parting. As I expect to stop in Yorkshire, I suppose I cannot reach London till the latter end of this month, if so soon. O for a warm winter! You must remember me to all. I cannot now descend to particulars. I can only pray, that you and yours may be filled with all the fulness of God, and subscribe myself,
Yours most affectionately in the glorious Jesus,