Honoured Madam,
I Did not think of being so long out of London, without sending your Ladyship a letter; but I have been so employed in travelling and preaching and answering letters, that I have scarce had any time at all. However, I bless the glorious Redeemer, that I can now send your Ladyship good news. Every where the word of God has ran and been glorified. I am just returned from near the land’s end, where thousands and thousands heard the gospel gladly. I have generally preached twice a day, and rode several miles; but my greatest grief is, that I can do no more for the blessed Jesus. Wherever I am, your Ladyship and honoured sister, with the other honourable ladies, are continually remembered by me at the throne of grace. I hope all are determined with full purpose of heart to cleave unto the Lord. The earthquake hath been an alarming providence. Happy they, that have an interest in Christ, and are always ready! On Him alone is my strength and safety founded. Did not this support and comfort your Ladyship under the awful alarm? Go on then, honoured Madam, and by a constant looking to Jesus, make continual advances in the divine life, which I believe hath been communicated to you from above. The more you see of his excellencies, the more will all created things sicken and die in your view and taste. I commend your Ladyship to his never-failing mercy, and beg leave to subscribe myself, honoured Madam,
Your Ladyship’s most dutiful, and obliged humble servant,
G. W.
LETTER DCCCXXVII.
To Lady H——.
Exeter, March 24, 1750.
Honoured Madam,
AS I am persuaded your heart’s desire and prayer to God is, that the kingdom of the Lord Jesus may be set up on earth, I cannot return to London without informing your Ladyship, that the gospel has been most gladly received in these western parts. I have been very near the land’s end, and every where souls have fled to hear the word preached, like doves to the windows. The harvest is great, yea very great; but the labourers are few. O that the Lord of the harvest would thrust out more labourers! Something out of the common road must be done, to awaken a thoughtless world. God has been terribly shaking the metropolis. I hope it is an earnest of his giving a shock to secure sinners, and making them to cry out, “What shall we do to be saved?” I trust, honoured Madam, you have been brought sweetly to believe on the Lord Jesus, and have experienced the beginnings of a real salvation in your heart. What a mercy is this! To be plucked as a brand out of the burning, to be one of those few Mighty and Noble that are called effectually by the grace of God; what consolation must this administer to your Ladyship under all afflictions! What can shake a soul whose hopes of happiness, in time and eternity, are built upon the rock of ages? Winds may blow, rains may and will descend even upon persons of the most exalted stations; but they that trust in the Lord Jesus Christ never shall, never can be totally confounded. That your Ladyship may every day and hour experience more and more of this blessed truth, is the earnest prayer of, honoured Madam,