To Mr. L——.
London, Nov. 28, 1752.
My dear Friend,
YOUR letter came safe to hand yesterday. The contents of it humbled and gladdened me, and led me directly to my knees, to intercede for you and yours, and all the dear people at Leeds, who are either seeking after, or have actually found redemption in the blood of Jesus. Many here, blessed be God, are in like circumstances. Our Lord seems to ride triumphantly on in the chariot of his everlasting gospel; and the shout of a king is indeed amongst us. Blessed are the eyes that see the things which we see. What shall we render unto the Lord? Our two mites, a vile body, and a sinful soul, are all that he requires: and shall he not have these? Yes, I trust the language of both our hearts is this:
Be gone, vain world, my heart resign,
For I must be no longer thine;
A nobler, a diviner guest,
Now claims possession of my breast.
As this is your case, I wonder not at your being so solicitous for your dear children’s welfare. The Lord give you faith and patience, and help you in every respect so to behave, that you may win them over to the choice of true and undefiled religion! Courage, my dear brother, courage.—Who knows, but they may be made willing in a day of the Redeemer’s power? He that hath given your dear yoke-fellow a heart to seek after the pearl of great price, can make your children like-minded. But faith must be tried, patience must be exercised, and our stubborn will brought into a chearful resignation to the holy sovereign will and good pleasure of God.
What though thou rulest not,