G. W.
LETTER DCCXVIII.
To the Rev. Mr. H——.
London, December 18, 1748.
Reverend and dear Sir,
THOUGH I am not personally acquainted with you, yet I owe you much love. Thanks be to our great high Priest for giving you such light and heat, and enabling you to preach among poor sinners the unsearchable riches of redeeming love. Earth and hell will be up in arms against you; your own mother’s children will soon be angry with you, and many of the members of that church of which you are a minister, whenever you preach her doctrine with power and purity, will think it doing God’s service to cast you out. Thus it has been, thus it will be in all ages, so long as those two seeds of the woman and the serpent remain struggling in this lower world. Welcome, welcome dear Sir, into the field of battle! Now the common people will hear you gladly. Now the self-righteous will speak all manner of evil against you. I am told the corporation have rejected you for preaching Christ crucified. I wish you joy. May you, like blessed Paul, increase the more in strength, and be made a spiritual father to thousands! Excuse this freedom from one who loves you in the bowels of Jesus Christ. I thank you for your intended interview. Could no way be contrived for a private visit? however that be, assure yourself your interest will be much upon my heart, and if you will remember a poor unworthy worm before his throne, whose compassions fail not, you will much oblige, reverend and dear Sir,
Your most affectionate brother and servant in Jesus Christ,
G. W.