My dear Mr. L——,
I Find by your last kind letter that the king’s business requires haste. I therefore immediately dispatched it to good Lady H——, who I am persuaded will think it her highest privilege to serve the dear people of Cork. Whether your account of their sufferings has reached her Ladyship I cannot tell, but you will know soon. However this we know, that they have reached the ears of the blessed Jesus, who sitteth in heaven, and laughs all his enemies to scorn. He will take care that the bush, though burning, shall not be consumed, nay he will take care that it shall flourish even when in the midst of fire. In all our afflictions he is afflicted, and though the under shepherds be smitten, and his poor sheep for a while scattered, yet even this scattering shall be over-ruled for the propagation of the glorious gospel. It will be melancholy to have any preachers transported; but really the thoughts do not affect me so much, because I know what a field of action there is for them abroad. It has been my settled opinion for a long time, that Christ’s labourers (at least some of them,) love home too much, and do not care enough for those thousands of precious souls, that are ready to perish for lack of knowledge in yonder wilderness. We propose having an academy or college at the Orphan-house in Georgia. Supposing the worst, hundreds may find a sweet retreat there. The house is large; it will hold an hundred. I trust my heart is larger, and will hold ten thousand. Be who or what they will, if they belong to Jesus, the language of my heart shall be, “Come in, ye blessed of the Lord.” But perhaps this may not be the issue. The threatning storm may blow over, and all may be at peace again. It is always darkest before break of day. May the glorious Emmanuel lighten the darkness of our minds! then we need not fear what men or devils can say of, or do unto us. Adored be his free grace for enabling you, dear Sir, to confess him before men, and to make Moses’s choice your choice. Great shall be your reward of grace, though not of debt: he will confess you before his Father and his holy angels in heaven. When you write, be pleased to salute the dear confessors at Cork. I love them in the bowels of Jesus Christ, and pray the Lord of all lords to give them grace to quit themselves like men, and be strong. If any of my poor writings might be useful, I will send some to Ireland at any time. O free grace, that the adorable Jesus should ever make use of such a wretch as I am! This is free grace indeed. Help me, dear Sir, to adore it; and if at any time I can be serviceable, make no apologies, but write frequently, and command as well as pray for, my dear friend,
Your very affectionate brother and chearful servant,
G. W.
LETTER DCCXCII.
To Mr. G——.
London, Dec. 12, 1749.
My dear Mr. G——,
I Thank you for your kind letter. It bespoke the language of an honest heart. If I am not mistaken, your name is Nathaniel. This is what I fain would be, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no allowed guile. Such will Jesus guide in his way. I therefore have no doubt of your receiving a blessing, a blessing, in what you intend doing next Christmas. You have openly called Jesus and his disciples to the marriage: and such proceedings are always owned of God, whilst contrary methods are as surely either blasted or embittered by him, who loves a single eye and an upright heart. You will remember me kindly to Mrs. H——, and all that love the blessed Jesus in sincerity. I desire to be thankful for the favour that was left behind a preached gospel. It is the Lord’s doings. Let us continue praying, and we shall yet see far greater things than these. You do well to meet at Rotheram. My cordial salutations, attend Mr. C——, Mr. H——, and their respective families. May the Lord bless them, as he did the house of Obededom, for the ark’s sake! My advice is, quit yourselves like men, and be strong. If our Lord shall open a door, I fully purpose to have another stroke at Satan’s strong-holds in R——. Jesus can and will make us more than conquerors over all. Blessed be his name for leading you, my dear friend, more and more into the knowledge of his divine, compleat, and everlasting righteousness. That is a rock against which the gates of hell shall never prevail. If we have a mind to go pleasantly to Canaan, we must lean, not on our frames, not on a stock received, but on our Beloved. Looking to him is the only way of being saved from every evil that annoys and disturbs us. It is his blood, sprinkled by the blessed Spirit upon the conscience, and that alone, which cleanseth from all sin. Whatever, therefore, you want, go to Jesus: that is his name. And why? Because he is to save his people from their sins. And what amazing grace is it, that we should be in the number of his people? Surely that God-exalting, that self-abasing expression, “Why me, Lord, why me?” should always be in the mouth of one redeemed of the Lamb. But I must stop, though with regret. Whilst I am writing the fire kindles. I beg all your prayers;—no one wants them more. My wife returns her love. I believe good Lady H—— hath no place suitable for the person you mention. Why should she fly from her cross? Sometimes we do best when surrounded by enemies: they keep us upon our watch. Jesus is able to preserve us, though in a burning bush. To his never-failing mercy do I commend you all, and am, dear Sir,