LETTER DCCLXXXI.
To Lady F—— S——.
Estwood in Lancashire, Oct. 25, 1749.
Honoured Madam,
SINCE I had the honour of writing to your Ladyship from Newcastle, fresh wonders of grace and mercy have been shewn us daily. I have now I think preached about thirty times in Yorkshire, and above ten times in Cheshire, and Lancashire. Congregations have been very large, and a solid, convincing, and comforting influence hath every where attended the word. In one or two places I have had a little rough treatment, but elsewhere all has been quiet, and many I hear are brought under concern about the welfare of their better part. At the importunity of many, I am now returning from Manchester (where I preached to many thousands) to Leeds; from thence I purpose going to Sheffield, and next week I hope to see good Lady H——n at Ashby, and the week following I hope to be in London. Thus do I lead a pilgrim life: God give me a pilgrim heart, and enable me to speak of redeeming love to a lost world, till I can speak no more! Surely this is a work that brings with it its own reward. It brings a heaven into the soul, and causes it, amidst all the scoffs and tauntings of a benighted, ill-natured, and ridiculing world, to rejoice with joy unspeakable, even a joy that is full of glory. “To me, (says the blessed apostle) to live is Christ.” When a person can once say so in reality, then he begins to live indeed. Even death itself is then life, because death to such a one is eternal gain. O how great, how striking, how transporting and transforming are the invisible realities of another world, to a soul that is born of God! What meer shadows and empty nothings are all sublunary enjoyments, when compared with these! Thanks be to God, who has given you, honoured Madam, a taste of these infinitely important things. My constant prayer for your Ladyship is, that you may hold on, and hold out, and with full purpose of heart cleave unto that Redeemer who hath loved you, and given himself for you. Mrs. G—— at Manchester goes on well, and is not ashamed to confess him, who I trust has called her out of darkness, and made her partaker of his marvellous light. May the glorious Emmanuel add daily to the number of his honourable confessors, and give the rich to know, that to be rich in faith and good works is the only way to be rich indeed! All is ours, if we can truly say, we are Christ’s. Honoured Madam, I must beg your excuse for this freedom; but at present I have a view of the Redeemer’s glory, and therefore know not well how to stop when writing of him. Your Ladyship will [♦]pardon me, and accept these poor lines, which shall be followed with hearty prayers from, honoured Madam,
Your Ladyship’s most obliged and ready servant for Christ’s sake,
G. W.
[♦] “parden” replaced with “pardon”