Honoured Madam,
THOUGH I had the pleasure of hearing of your welfare, by your last to good Lady H——n, yet I cannot help taking the freedom of sending your Ladyship a few lines. They come to inform you, that you never are, and, by divine assistance, never shall be forgotten by me at the throne of grace. To that, I trust, your Ladyship finds free access every day, and every hour, through the blood of the Lamb, who was slain to take away the sins of the world. Your Ladyship’s present situation, I hope, will be sanctified to this end. It is in the school of affliction that we must learn the way to, and reap benefit from the cross.—Happy they who come purified out of the furnace, and, like the burning bush, flourish unconsumed in fire. This, Madam, is the privilege of all believers. Trials, which harden others, purify and soften them. The love of God turns every thing into what is more valuable than gold. It brings light out of darkness, and causes others blindness to increase our spiritual sight. O glorious privilege! happy change! How much are you indebted, honoured Madam, to free grace, for making you in any degree a partaker of it! Alas! alas! but few of your Ladyship’s station in life choose to strive to enter into that strait gate which leadeth unto life eternal. The noise of coaches, and the continual attention to what they call innocent diversions, drowns the small still voice of God’s blessed Spirit speaking in their hearts. Since I have been here, many in high life have attended; whether to any valuable purpose, the great day will discover. Good Lady H——n still continues to abound in the work of the Lord, and is brightening her crown every day and hour. She is quite well, and intends staying some days longer for the benefit of the waters. Your Ladyship is remembered when we are feasting at the Redeemer’s table. In a few days I shall move hence; and it may be, that I shall go to Georgia this fall. May the Lord direct me, and bless all those who are the orphan’s friends! That your Ladyship may be blessed with all the blessings of the everlasting gospel, is the hearty prayer of, honoured Madam,
Your Ladyship’s most obliged, obedient humble servant,
G. W.
LETTER DCCLXVI.
To Mr. L——.
Bristol, Aug. 4, 1749.
Dear Mr. L——,
PROVIDENCE, for wise reasons, prevented my seeing you both at Gloucester, and at the Hill. This comforts me, “What is, is best.” Since I came here, I have seen your letter about the intended charity-school, and wish you success in the name of the Lord. I communicated it to our elect lady, who immediately contributed five guineas, another two, and Colonel G—— one. These I have sent for you, to Mr. ——, who, I suppose, will take care to convey them to you. Mrs. E——, I believe, intends to do something. Mr. C—— likewise spoke to the Bishop, who, I think, has promised to contribute: so that you see no time has been lost. Only, my dear friend, take this caution, “sit down, and count the cost, before you begin to build.” Do not lay out more than you know you can pay. Go the cheapest way to work; and if you cannot build, rather keep a stock in hand to pay the schoolmaster, and hire a house convenient from year to year, and, if possible, find the children in books. You well know what I have suffered for running too far into debt for others. I am glad you are likely to settle at S——. May the Lord Jesus bless you and yours more and more! He continues to be kind to me, and will at length, I am persuaded, (though I pass through many tribulations) land me safe in glory. There we shall meet, never to part again. In the mean while, that we may both behave like good soldiers of Jesus Christ, is the hearty prayer of, my dear friend,