Dear Sir,
YOUR acknowledgment for my poor present, is more than it deserved. If it is made of use to your precious soul, I have my desired end. My heart’s desire and prayer to God is, that his goodness may lead you to a thorough repentance, and that you may have no rest, till you truly believe on Jesus Christ. Reformation is not renovation: and unless the heart be totally and thoroughly changed, when the fear of hell and other outward restraints are gone, good impressions will gradually wear off, and the seeming convert return again to folly. The love of Christ therefore constrains me, dear Sir, to exhort you to make thorough work of it, and to give all diligence to make your calling and election sure. Now indeed is the accepted time! Surely you may say, “Am I not a brand plucked out of the burning?” Satan will not care that you should leave him without some attacks. When you are abroad, old habits, and old corruptions will strive to renew their ancient acquaintance with you: merry company will endeavour to redebauch you, and your grand adversary the devil will labour to render all the amazing mercies you have received, fruitless and abortive.—Be upon your guard. Distrust yourself. Be instant in prayer. Look continually to Jesus, and then as your day is, so shall your strength be. Be pleased to accept this in love. If I may judge of your aspect and letter, you will. Glad shall I be to find you a new creature in Georgia. My prayers shall follow you, and I hope ere long we shall meet with our brother and all the redeemed of the Lord in paradise. Be pleased to remember me to Mr. R——; and if you would mind me, as the chief of sinners and less than the least of all saints, when you get access to the throne of grace, you would oblige, dear Sir,
Your real friend for Christ’s sake,
G. W.
LETTER DCCCLXXXVI.
To the Reverend Mr. H——.
Bristol, March 17, 1751.
My very dear Friend,
THIS comes with a summons from good Lady H——, for you to appear in Bristol, and abide for a month or two at my brother’s house. You must not refuse. The God who has carried that elect Lady through such bad roads from Ashby hither, will take care of you, and I am persuaded you will not repent your journey. Her Ladyship made the motion to me, and intends writing herself. Blessed be God, she is much better, and I trust will do well. She will have nobody to give her the Sacrament unless you come. I hope this will find you at the tabernacle house, and trust shall hear of your sister’s safe delivery. My tender and cordial respects await her, your dear brother, and his whole houshold. I ventured the other day to put out a guinea to interest for you. It was to release an excellent christian, who by living very hard, and working near twenty hours out of four-and-twenty, had brought himself very low. He has a wife and four children, and was above two guineas in debt. I gave one for myself and one for you. We shall have good interest for our money in another world. O for a mind like his, who though he was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that we through his poverty might become rich! I have been recommending him this morning, and purpose doing so again this evening. In Gloucestershire the word hath been gladly received, and here we have had pleasant gales. O my dear Sir, follow me with your prayers. The Lord be with your spirit. I commend you to his never-failing mercy, and am, my very dear friend,