For I must be no longer thine?
For the present, adieu. My love to all. I wish you the very best of blessings, and am, my very dear brother,
Yours most affectionately,
G. W.
LETTER DCCLXXIX.
To Lady H——.
Newcastle, Oct. 1, 1749.
Honoured Madam,
I Wrote to your Ladyship lately a few lines under great weariness of body. I then promised to send your Ladyship many pleasing particulars. Till now I have not had opportunity; and now what shall I say to your Ladyship? Never did I see more of the hand of God in any of my journies than in this. At Mr. G——’s I believe there were above six thousand hearers. The sacramental occasion was most awful. At Leeds the congregation consisted of above 10,000. In the morning at five I was obliged to preach out of doors. I was invited to Leeds by one of Mr. W——’s preachers, and by all his people. The gospel was welcome to them. In my way hither I met Mr. Charles W——, who returned back with, and introduced me to the pulpit in Newcastle. As I am a debtor to all, and intend to be at the head of no party, I thought it my duty to comply. I have preached now in their room four times, and this morning I preached to many thousands in a large close. This evening I am to do the same again. The power of God has attended his own word, and there seems to be a quickening and stirring among the souls. To-morrow, God willing, we set out for Leeds, and after about a week’s stay in those parts I intend returning to London. As it is so late in the year, my Scotch friends advise me to defer my going thither. Had I known that, I should have embarked for America this fall; but I find there were other reasons for my being prevented crossing the waters this winter. I desire to follow the Lamb whithersoever he is pleased to lead me. At New-haven there is a great awakening. If any thing offers worthy of notice, your Ladyship shall be sure to hear. In the mean while, I continue to put up my usual prayer, that your Ladyship may be filled with all the fulness of God, and to subscribe myself, honoured Madam,