Dear Madam,
A Thousand thanks for your kind solicitude concerning me and mine. My wife has been in trying circumstances, partly through the unskilfulness of a chaise-driver, I mean myself. Being advised to take her out into the air, I drove her as well as myself, through in advertence, into a ditch. Finding that we were falling, she put her hand cross the chaise, and thereby preserved us both from being thrown out. The ditch might be about 14 feet deep, but blessed be God, though all that saw us falling, cried out, they are killed, yet, through infinite mercy, we received no great hurt. The place was very narrow near the bottom, and yet the horse went down, as tho’ let down by a pulley. A stander-by ran down and catched hold of its head, to prevent its going forwards. I got upon its back and was drawn out by a long whip; whilst my wife hanging between the chaise and the bank, was pulled up on the other side by two or three kind assistants. Being both in a comfortable frame, I must own, to my shame, that I felt rather regret than thankfulness in escaping what I thought would be a kind of a translation, to our wished-for haven. But O amazing love! we were so strengthened, that the chaise and horse being taken up, and our bruises being washed with vinegar in a neighbouring house, we went on our intended way, and came home rejoicing in God our Saviour. Not expecting my wife’s delivery for some time, I intend making a short excursion, and then you may expect further news from
Yours, &c.
G. W.
LETTER DXXXV.
To the Same.
London, Oct. 5, 1743.
Dear Madam,
MY last left me just entering upon another short excursion. Blessed be God, it was pleasant because it was profitable to my own, and I trust to many other souls. The last evening of it, I preached from a balcony to many thousands, who stood in the street as comfortable as at noon-day. Upon retiring to my lodgings, news was brought me, that God had given me a son. This hastened me up to London, where I now am, and from whence after I have baptized my little one, God willing, I purpose to set out again on my Master’s public business. You will not fail to pray, that I may be taught how to order the child aright, and thereby add to the many obligations already laid on, dear Madam,