Honoured Madam,
THE unfeigned regard I have for your Ladyship, will not suffer me to be long out of London without sending a line to enquire after your Ladyship’s welfare. I hope this will find you perfectly recovered from, or meekly resigned under, your late bodily indisposition. I believe your Ladyship hath reason to say, “It is good for me, that I have been afflicted;”—and sanctified afflictions are undoubtedly signs of special love. To come purified out of the furnace, and to find that some of our dross is purged away by the Lord’s putting us into the fire, is indeed an evidence that he is praying for us, and that our faith, however tried, shall not finally fail. O Madam, what a blessing is it to be able to say, “I know in whom I have believed!” How does such an assurance sweeten every bitter cup, and make even death itself to appear with an angel’s face! O that all who are destitute of this unspeakable gift, were convinced of their want thereof, and set upon hungering and thirsting after it! I hope your honoured sister will be one of these. I have her Ladyship much upon my heart, and do earnestly pray that she may be strengthened, established, and settled in the love of God, and determine to know nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified. I send her Ladyship my most dutiful respects, and beg you would accept of the same, from, honoured Madam,
Your Ladyship’s most obliged humble servant,
G. W.
LETTER DCCL.
To Lady H——n.
Portsmouth, May 8, 1749.
Honoured Madam,
GLAD, very glad was I to hear, in a letter sent me by Mr. H——, that your Ladyship was better; and glad am I, yea very glad, that I can send your Ladyship good news from this part of the country. The night after I came here, I preached to many thousands, a great body of whom was attentive, but some of the baser sort made a little disturbance. A very great opposer sent for me to his house immediately, and could scarce refrain weeping all the time I was with him. On the Friday evening I preached at Gosport, where the mob has generally been very turbulent, but all was hushed and quiet, and as far as I could find, all approved. Every time the word has seemed to sink deeper and deeper into the people’s hearts, and their affections seem to be more and more drawn out. In short, I hope I can inform your Ladyship that Portsmouth is taken, and that we shall hear of many who will in earnest seek after the one thing needful. I have a great mind to go to the isle of Wight, but am not yet determined. Here is a knot of sincere souls, that seem to love the Lord Jesus in sincerity. Several date their awakenings from their hearing T—— G——, who I hear is to be ordained by the Bishop of W——, but I doubt it. Last night I had sweet conversation with two of the devout soldiers that have been abroad. They are soldiers indeed. Blessed be God, that there are so many of his children scattered up and down, who I trust will give him no rest, till he makes Jerusalem a praise through the whole earth. I do not forget Lady F——, the Countess, or any of those who seemed inclined to follow Jesus of Nazareth. O that they may be steady, and be enabled with full purpose of heart to cleave unto the Lord! I beg that my most humble and dutiful respects may find acceptance with them and your Ladyship, from, honoured madam,