LETTER DCCXIX.
To Doctor D——.
London, Dec. 21, 1748.
Reverend and very dear Sir,
GLAD was I, yea very glad to receive your letter dated November 7th, though it did not reach me till last night. I thank you for it a thousand times. It has led me to the throne of grace, where I have been crying, “Lord, counsel my counsellors, and shew them what thou wouldst have me to do.”—Alas, alas! how can I be too severe against myself, who, Peter like, have cut off so many ears, and by imprudencies mixed with my zeal, have dishonoured the cause of Jesus? I can only look up to him, who healed the high-priest’s servant’s ear, and say, “Lord, heal all the wounds my misguided zeal has given.” Assure yourself, dear Sir, everything I print shall be revised. I always have submitted my poor performances to my friends corrections. Time and experience I find ripen men’s judgments, and make them more solid, rational, and consistent, both in their conduct and writings. O that this may be my case! O that the blessed Jesus may enable me to hold on, and hold out, and keep me from flagging in the latter stages of my road. I thank you, dear Sir, for your solemn charge in respect to my health. Blessed be God, it is much repaired since my return from Scotland, and I trust by observing the rules you prescribe (if I must live) I shall be enabled to declare the works of the Lord. But what shall I say concerning your present trial? shall I wish you joy? Surely I may with great propriety, since an inspired writer hath said, “count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations.” But at the same time, reverend Sir, I most earnestly sympathize with you, having had the same trial from the same quarter long ago. The Moravians first divided my family, then my parish at Georgia, and after that the societies which, under God, I was an instrument of gathering. I suppose not less than four hundred, through their practices, have left the tabernacle. But I have been forsaken otherways. I have not had above an hundred to hear me, where I had twenty thousand, and hundreds now assemble within a quarter of a mile of me, who never come to see or speak to me; though they must own at the great day that I was their spiritual father. All this I find but little enough to teach me to cease from man, and to wean me from that too great fondness which spiritual fathers are apt to have for their spiritual children. Thus blessed Paul was served, thus must all expect to be treated who are of Paul’s spirit, and are honoured with any considerable degree of Paul’s success. But I have generally observed, that when one door of usefulness is shut, another opens. Our Lord blesses you, dear Sir, in your writings; nay your people’s treating you as they are now permitted to do, perhaps is one of the greatest blessings you ever received from heaven. May patience have its perfect work, and may you be enabled to sanctify the Lord God in your heart! I know of no other way of dealing with the M——s, than to go on preaching the truth as it is in Jesus, and rest upon that promise, “Every plant which my heavenly father hath not planted shall be plucked up.” Seven years will make a great alteration. I believe their grand design is to extend their occonomy as far as possible. This I believe is now kept up by dint of money, and I am apt to think that the very thing by which they think to establish, will destroy their scheme. John Lapidee went on in the same manner in Maryland. His plan was raised as high, and fell as remarkably. God is a gracious Father, and will not always let his children proceed in a wrong way. Doubtless there are many of his dear little ones in the M——n flock; but many of their principles and practices are exceeding wrong, for which I doubt not our Lord will rebuke them in his own time. But I fear that I weary you. However, dear Sir, I must thank you for your sermon. It contains the very life of preaching, I mean sweet invitations to close with Christ. I do not wonder you are dubbed a Methodist on account of it. As it was designed for the poor, I wish it was cheaper. I think practical books cannot be too reasonable. The poor must have them cheap, and the rich will like them the better for it. And now methinks I hear you say, “But how is it at the other end of the town?” Blessed be God, the prospect is promising. Last Sunday evening I preached to a most brilliant assembly indeed. They expressed great approbation, and some I think begin to feel. Good Lady H——n is indeed a mother in Israel. She is all in a flame for Jesus. You may guess by a word or two in this, that she hath shewn me your last letter. I suppose she will write to you soon. But whither am I running? I quite forget myself. Love makes my pen to move too fast, and too long. Excuse it, dear Sir, and for Jesus’s sake never cease praying for, Reverend and very dear Sir,
Your most affectionate though unworthy younger brother, and willing servant in our common Lord,
G. W.
LETTER DCCXX.
Dear Mr. T——.