Your Ladyship’s most obliged, dutiful, and willing servant for Christ’s sake,
G. W.
LETTER DCCLXXXVI.
To Mr. L——.
London, Nov. 22, 1749.
Very dear Sir,
I Received your kind letter on Monday last, and to shew you how willing I am to carry on a correspondence, I take the very first opportunity of answering it. Yours found me just returned out of Yorkshire, Lancashire, &c. Since you heard of me last, I have been at Sheffield and Nottingham, and found the fields every where white ready unto harvest. I believe my particular province is, to go about and preach the gospel to all. My being obliged to keep up a large correspondence in America, and the necessity I am under of going thither myself, entirely prevents my taking care of any societies. Whether it will ever be my lot to come over to Ireland, I cannot say. I have some thought of being there next Spring; but I would not intrude on any one’s labours. The world is large, and blessed be God, there is a range and work sufficient for all. As for my manner of preaching, I believe, was you to hear me, you would find it calculated to serve all, but intended at least to offend none. I profess to be of a catholic spirit; I am a debtor to all; I have no party to be at the head of, and through God’s grace, I will have none; but as much as in me lies strengthen the hands of all, of every denomination, that preach Jesus Christ in sincerity. In this spirit I hope my dear Mr. L—— will find me, should he ever see me in Ireland; but whether I shall go there or to America in the Spring, is not yet determined. Future things belong to Him whose I am, and whom I desire to serve to my dying day, in the gospel of his dear Son. I earnestly beg an interest in your prayers, and in the prayers of all that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity. Pray how do the poor people at Cork? Lady H—— writes this concerning them. “I hope the poor persecuted people in Cork will be helped, and I should be glad if you could write in my name to any of them, and inform them that I would have written myself, but I know not how to direct. You may give them my kind assurance of serving them upon any occasion, and a hint that I believe they will meet with no more of the like rough usage.” Thus far my good Lady. I have informed her Ladyship, that I should write to you, who I am persuaded will gladly and in a prudent manner communicate this to all concerned. And now, my dear Sir, have I not returned you a long letter? I love you, though I know you not, and the more so because I hear you breathe a catholic spirit. May the Lord increase it in your and all his children’s hearts! I must now add no more, but subscribe myself, very dear Sir,
Yours most affectionately in our common Lord,
G. W.