THOUGH I am afraid of taking too much freedom, yet the duty I owe to your Ladyship constrains me to send you a few lines from hence. I came hither last night, after having preached five times in Gloucester, and once in Gloucestershire. The glorious Emmanuel pleased to shine upon my administrations, and many told me they received a blessing. The bishop behaved respectfully when I was at sacrament at the cathedral, and my old tutor, Dr. R——, one of the prebendaries, was very cordial when I waited upon him. I told him that my judgment (as I trust) was a little more ripened than it was some years ago, and that as fast as I found out my faults I would be glad to acknowledge them. He said, as I grew moderate, the offence the Governors of the Church had taken against me, would lessen and wear off. Blessed be God, I am pretty easy about that: so that I can but act an honest part, and be kept from trimming, I will, through the divine assistance, leave all consequences to him who orders all things well. Thanks be to his great name, a wonderous change is wrought on Mr. L——. He came to see and hear me at Gloucester: his worldly shackles are dropping off apace, and his feet begin to be set in a large room. The news of his conversion hath reached Mr. W——, who wrote him a long letter; but to send dissuasives to a man that hath seen and felt so much, is like throwing chaff against a brass wall. He begged me to send his duty to your Ladyship when I wrote, as does my brother, at whose house I am. I trust he is coming forwards, and that he will at length fairly shake hands with the world, and act as one alive to God. I think your Ladyship meets with great encouragement. My continual prayer to the blessed Redeemer in your Ladyship’s behalf is, “that your bow may abide in strength, and the arms of your hands be strengthened by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob.” He is the rock of ages. He is the Lord our righteousness. In him is our strength found. Thanks be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for shewing your Ladyship the way to fetch continual strength and supplies from him! I could enlarge, but am streightened in paper. If Mr. C—— hath courage enough, I expect to see him, and then I shall have it in my power to send your Ladyship word how matters stand at Bath. In the mean while, I beg leave with all dutiful respects to subscribe myself, honoured madam.
Your Ladyship’s most obliged humble servant,
G. W.
LETTER DCCXVI.
To Mr. B——.
Bristol, Dec. 12, 1748.
My dear Tommy,
THE love I bear to you, will not suffer me to omit answering your letter the very first opportunity. I find you are in danger of being led into temptation. If only your preparations for business keep you from attending on the word preached, how will it be when you are totally immersed in it? O my dear man, let that promise of our Lord’s be written on the tables of your heart, “seek you first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all those things shall be added unto you.” If you act inconsistent with this, assure yourself your endeavours will be blasted; and God out of love will curse your temporal blessings. But enough of this. I hope a word to the wise is sufficient.—Since I wrote thus far, I have received a letter from good Lady H——n, desiring I would come up to town. I therefore propose to be with you, God willing, by Saturday night, and to preach at the Tabernacle next Sunday. Be pleased to apprize all friends of it. If you are at the tabernacle-house on Saturday evening, it would be very agreeable to,
Yours, &c. in great haste,