THOUGH I left London in a very weak condition, and the weather was but bad in coming down, yet the Angel of the everlasting covenant preserved and strengthened me, and I came to Gloucester last Friday evening. On Saturday evening I preached, and likewise on Sunday evening, and twice the same day in the country,—at the new house, and at Hampton. Hundreds attended that could not come in; and at Hampton all was still and quiet. I like that place very well. Yesterday morning I preached at Mr. Fowler’s, and our Lord gave us a blessed season from those words, “I am the bread of life.” On Wednesday I am to preach at the New-house, and on Thursday at Mr. Fowler’s again. From thence I think to go once more to Hampton, but am not yet determined. More come here than can enter, and some young fellows behave rudely; but that is no wonder; the carnal mind is enmity with God. C—— was rejoiced much with the guinea. How thankful are some only with the crumbs that fall from others tables! Blessed be God, our branch of work is a poor branch; but if we are honest and disinterested, dead to parties, and aiming only at the Redeemer’s glory, and the good of souls, the Lord will appear for us in a manner that shall even make his children astonished. I never was easier about his work than now. I see every thing in Christ’s hands, and therefore every thing must end well. Go on then, my dear Sir, and let us be all heart. Remember me to your wife and all enquiring friends; and cease not praying for, my dear Sir,
Yours most affectionately in our common Lord,
G. W.
LETTER DCCCXV.
To Colonel G——.
Feb. 8, 1750.
My very dear C——,
YOUR kind letter reached me this day, just as I came out of the country from preaching the everlasting gospel, and where the blessed Redeemer was pleased to visit and greatly refresh his people. Last Monday we had a like feast; and in this place the word has been attended with an alarming and quickening power. Contrary to my intentions, I have been prevailed on to stay all this week; so that I do not expect to be at Bristol till Monday or Tuesday next. A letter, if you are pleased to favour me with another, may find me there next week. I am sorry to hear you are ill of an ague; but this, and every thing we meet with here, is only to shake and free us of our corruptions, and to fit us more and more for a blessed hereafter. As long as we are below, if we have not one thing to exercise us, we shall have another. Our trials will not be removed, but only changed. Sometimes troubles come from without, sometimes from within, and sometimes from both together.—Sometimes professed enemies, and sometimes nearest and dearest friends, are suffered to attack us. But Christ is the believer’s hollow square; and if we keep close in that, we are impregnable. Here only I find my refuge. Garrisoned in this, I can bid defiance to men and devils. Let who will thwart, desert, or over-reach, whilst I am in this strong-hold, all their efforts, joined with the prince of darkness, to disturb or molest me, are only like the throwing chaff against a brass wall. O my dear Sir, what did I experience on the road this day! How did I rejoice at the prospect of a judgment to come, and in the settled conviction, that, to the best of my knowledge, I have no designs, no views, but to spend and be spent for the good of precious and immortal souls. O that I may be content to be poor, to make others rich! O that I may never be suffered to seek my own things, but the things of the Lord Jesus! His hand, without adding our carnal policy to it, will support his own cause, and make it more than conqueror over all. When fleshly wisdom, carnal reason, or human cunning is made use of, what is it, but, like Uzza, to give a wrong touch to God’s ark, and in the end provoke God to smite us? I love you, dear Sir, because I hope and believe you have a tenderness for all that belong to Jesus. I pray God to increase this spirit in you. For what we lose of this, so much we lose of heaven, and so far are we destitute of the mind that was and is in Jesus. A bigotted, sectarian, party spirit cometh not from above, but is sensual, earthly, devilish. Many of God’s children are infected with it; but then they are sick of a bad distemper. May the Spirit of God convince and cure them! But whither am I running? Excuse, dear Sir, the overflowings of a heart, at present, I hope, filled with the love of God. It is free, unmerited, distinguishing, infinite love, or it would never flow into my ungrateful soul. As our Lord enables, I shall remember all you desire. The King and his family I always remember in the most explicit manner. I hope you will succeed for Miles, and for the poor sufferers in Ireland. Learn of Esther, and go in the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Your relations are in the same condition as mine. Are we not as brands plucked out of the burning? Free grace! free grace! I hope to spend an eternity with you in praising the Lord of all lords for it. You will remember me to all, chiefly to the friend of all. You know my name, “The chief of sinners;” but for Christ’s sake, very dear Sir,
Your most obliged, affectionate friend, and very chearful servant,