LETTER DCCLXXIV.
To Lady Fanny S——.
Exeter, Aug. 26, 1749.
Honoured Madam,
THOUGH I took the freedom of writing to your Ladyship before I left Bristol, and though I hope to be in town by next Thursday evening, yet gratitude and respect even compel me to trouble your Ladyship with another letter from this place. Here I came last night, after having preached the everlasting gospel to many thousands in the West. Sometimes I have been weak in body; but He, whose I am, and whom I endeavour to serve in the gospel of his dear Son, hath carried me through, and greatly refreshed and comforted my soul. Alas! to what a heaven are they strangers, who deny the influence of the Blessed Spirit, and cry down the felt and abiding joys of the Holy Ghost, as fancy, enthusiasm, and delusion. Ye poor dry Rationalists! I honour your parts in other respects, but pity your ignorance in the things of God. By this time, I suppose your Ladyship hath seen the Bishop’s second performance. I think it is an original, and so very scurrilous, unchristian, and profane, that I cannot think it will be worth my while to answer him again. I have satisfied my conscience in publishing my last pamphlet; and I now commit our cause to him who judgeth righteously. O honoured Madam, what a happy thing is it to be despised for the sake of Jesus! When John Huss was burnt, the Bishop of Constance painted devils upon paper, and put them round his head; how soon were they exchanged for a crown of glory! Yet a little while, and He that cometh will come, and will not tarry. Till then, may your Ladyship be kept by the mighty power of God through faith, and stand impregnable as a wall of brass! May you be kept a stranger to names and parties, and by a holy, humble, uniform imitation of the blessed Jesus, evidence to the world, that you are indeed experimentally acquainted with the power of his resurrection. High is your station, great are your difficulties; but he that dwelleth on high is mightier, and hath engaged to make you more than conqueror through his love. To his tender mercy do I now, and likewise every day, commend your Ladyship; and this, by divine assistance, shall always be the employ of, honoured Madam,
Your Ladyship’s most obedient, obliged, ready servant for Christ’s sake,
G. W.