LETTER DCCCXLI.
To Lady H——.
Manchester, June 8, 1750.
Honoured Madam,
I Thought to have troubled your Ladyship with a letter long before this time, but travelling, and preaching twice every day, prevented. Blessed be God, it is pleasant work, and I trust it hath prospered in my unworthy hands. Thousands and thousands for some time past have flocked to hear the word twice every day, and the power of God has attended it in a glorious manner. Good Lady H——n I left some time ago weak in body, but strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus. The good people of Ashby were so kind as to mob round her Ladyship’s door, whilst the gospel was preaching. Alas! how great and irreconcileable is the enmity of the serpent! This is my comfort, “The seed of the woman shall at length be more than conqueror over all.” I hope that your Ladyship every day experiences more and more of this conquest in your heart. This is the christian’s daily employ; this the believer’s daily triumph, to die to self and sin, and to rise more and more daily into the image of the blessed Jesus. As it is our duty, so it is our unspeakable privilege. All the crosses we meet with, all the afflictions with which we are visited, are all intended by the good physician, to beat down, and keep under, and weaken the old man, and to raise up, strengthen, and give fresh vigour to the new man, which is created after God in righteousness and true holiness. Our business is to look continually to Jesus, and to lean on him hourly, nay every moment. May this be your Ladyship’s continual employ! May the Lord Jesus strengthen, stablish, and settle you more and more in his love. May he give you to see your honoured Relations partakers of a divine nature in this world, and grant you mansions of eternal bliss in the world to come! No less mercies shall, no greater can be desired for your Ladyship and family by, honoured Madam,
Your Ladyship’s most obliged and ready servant for Christ’s sake,
G. W.
LETTER DCCCXLII.
To Mr. C——.