Dear Sir,
I Love and honour you too much, to have let yours lie so long unanswered, had not travelling and preaching prevented me. This is the only quiet day that I have had for a long season. At London, the work seemed to be as it were but just beginning. At Bristol we had blessed seasons indeed, and in Wales the fields are white, ready unto harvest. Had I not been pre-engaged in these parts, I should certainly have come, and mounted my despised throne. I love state too well, especially in Scotland, not to take it upon me as often as possible. I think sometimes, that it is almost a pity one cannot have more bodies and more souls. They should all run about, and be employed for Jesus. What an honour to be employed in doing or suffering for him? Happy Mr. G——; I fancy he must preach quite well now. I dare say, you had no hand in casting him out; God forgive those that had. In heaven there will be none of this stuff. Thanks be to God, the church is militant only here below. The Lord help us to fight the good fight of Faith, till we lay hold on life eternal! Dear Mr. H—— hath taken up his weapons again; he is now Rector of a parish, and preaches twice every Lord’s day. I thank you and yours, for your kind invitation of us to your pleasant villa; had I wings I could fly thither to talk of Jesus, and sing an hymn, but the cloud seems to move westward, and I fear my visit to beloved Scotland must be deferred till next spring. May the Lord enable me to fill up every hour, every moment with duty! I believe dear Mr. R—— had a narrow escape the other day: if with you, pray remember me to him and his, in the kindest manner. I most heartily salute all enquiring friends, beseeching you all, for Jesus Christ’s sake, never to cease praying for, reverend and very dear Sir,
Yours most affectionately in our common Lord,
G. W.
LETTER DCCCCXXV.
To Mr. S——.
Bristol, August 1, 1752.
My very dear Friend,
SINCE I wrote my last, I have been off my horse but one day. The glorious Emmanuel hath carried me through the Welch circuit in peace and comfort. In the fortnight past, from my leaving this place, I preached twenty times, and have travelled above three hundred miles. Congregations were very large. Last Lord’s day was a high day indeed; the number of hearers at seven in the morning, as well as in the evening, at Haverford-west, was almost incredible. The Lord was in the midst of them. My body was weak in speaking to them, but Jesus hath strengthened me again. O that I was humble and thankful! In my way hither, we held an association; there were present about nine clergy, and near forty other labourers. I trust all are born of God, and desirous to promote his glory, and his people’s good. All was harmony and love. Yesterday I came here. It is fair time, and to-morrow, God willing, I purpose to expose the gospel wine and milk to sale. This I have been doing this morning. O that the hearers may be made to come down to the price, and willing to be saved by grace:—God knows I have nothing else to depend upon.