MY last from Cork, informed your Ladyship of my having preached twice there to large and attentive auditories. From thence I went to Bandon and Kinsale, where a like blessing attended the word. At my return to Cork, I preached five or six times more, and every time, both the power of the word and numbers of hearers increased. I believe on Sunday evening there might be more than three thousand people. Hundreds prayed for me, when I took my leave, and many of the papists said, “if I would stay, they would leave their priests.” After preaching twice in the way, I came here on Wednesday evening, where I have again published the ever-lasting gospel. Next Monday, God willing, I set out for Belfast, and hope in about ten days to be in Scotland. From thence, by God’s leave, your Ladyship shall hear from me again: but what return shall I make for your Ladyship’s two kind letters? I can only repeat my old tribute, my poor but I trust unfeigned thanks. O for sincerity! O for a simple, disinterested heart. I think that low politics are below the children of God, and if we will be quiet, our Lord will speak for us. One to whom I had been represented in black colours, writes thus from Dublin to a preacher in Cork,—“What blessed seasons have we had since Mr. Whitefield came,—his coming hath been unspeakably blest to many. Thousands constantly attended the word. His word is attended with power. I never heard a man preach holiness of heart in a clearer manner.—He powerfully preaches Christ for us and in us. I confess I had strange ideas about him, but blessed be God, I have not now. God be praised that ever I saw his face, &c.——” Thus it hath been elsewhere. O that I was humble! O that I was thankful! Not unto me, O Lord, not unto me, but to thy free unmerited grace be all the glory?—May I learn more and more to leave all to God, even a God in Christ! If his cause be promoted, my end is answered. Let souls go where they please to hear, and welcome. Thanks be to Jesus for giving your Ladyship a disinterested catholic spirit. However afflicted, and in pain on earth, you shall shine ere long in the kingdom of heaven. Christ hath prepared a place for you, and is daily and hourly preparing your Ladyship for the place. I am glad you are like to have some company. I beg that my most hearty respects and acknowledgments may find acceptance with them and good Lady H——. I hope the waters will agree with the young Ladies. Above all, I pray that they, and the whole circle of your Ladyship’s relations and friends, may drink plentifully of that water, whose streams refresh the city of God. I can now add no more, but to subscribe myself, ever-honoured Madam,
Your Ladyship’s most dutiful, obliged and ready servant for Christ’s sake,
G. W.
LETTER DCCCXCVII.
To Mr. T——.
Belfast, July 4, 1751.
Dear Mr. T——,
VERY providentially, your kind letter reached me this morning. As I am detained by the importunity of the people, I must snatch a few moments to answer it. Thanks be to the Lord of all Lords, if my poor administrations have been any ways blessed, either to you or others. “Not unto me, not unto me, but unto thy free and unmerited grace, O Lord, be all the glory!” Preaching Christ, I find to be the best means of winning sinners, and of building up saints. This done with a single eye and disinterested heart, will make its way through all opposition, and stand fast, when all other schemes built on a legal bottom and supported by low politics, will fall to the ground. I wish you may have grace given you to act aright in your present circumstances. Let all bitterness and wrath and clamour be put away from you. Go on simply preaching the everlasting gospel; and if rejected for that, and freely discharged from your present connection, I shall do all in my power to promote your usefulness. I suppose, you will hear from other hands what hath been doing in Dublin. I hope the Lord of all Lords hath been with us. Thousands flock in this place also, to hear the word preached. I thought to have left Belfast to-day, but have complied with the people’s earnest requests, to continue in these parts till Monday. O for a pilgrim heart with my pilgrim life! At present, I have no thoughts of nestling. Fain would I be kept from flagging in the latter stages of my road. I beg the continuance of your prayers. My prayer to God for you and yours is, “that you may live together as heirs of the grace of life, and walk in all the ordinances and commandments of the Lord blameless.” You are entered upon a new scene, and will require more grace to act your parts well, than at present you may be aware of: But there is an all-sufficiency in Christ, who hath promised, that as our day is, so our strength shall be. I commend you and yours, and all the followers of Christ, to his never-failing mercy, and subscribe myself, for his great name’s sake, dear Sir,
Your affectionate friend and servant,