LETTER MXCV.
To Miss P——.
Weston-Favell, August 30, 1755.
Dear Miss,
A FEW days past, as I was going into the Tabernacle to read letters, yours came to hand; immediately I read it among the rest, and you and my other dear New-England friends had the prayers of thousands. But how did I wish to be transported to America! How did I long to stir up all against the common enemy, and to be made instrumental in doing my dear country some little service! But surely God sent me over at this juncture, and therefore I hope to be resigned. Already, blessed be his name, he hath vouchsafed to own my feeble labours in London, Gloucestershire, Bristol, Bath, and Norwich. I have been at the last place very lately, and notwithstanding offences have come, there hath been a glorious work begun, and is now carrying on. The Polite and Great seem to hear with much attention, and I scarce ever preached a week together with greater freedom. Praise the Lord, O my soul! I am now going my northern circuit, and perhaps may take a trip to Ireland. O what a pity is it, that we have but one body and one soul for Jesus Christ! I write this from dear Mr. H——’s, who sends kind love to all his dear New-England friends, and earnestly begs the continuance of their prayers. He is now writing another volume upon sanctification: that, you say, dear Miss, is what you want. That is what the ever-loving, ever-lovely Jesus longs to give. Out of his fulness we are all to receive even grace for grace. But how slow are we to believe! Lord, I believe, help my unbelief! must be my language still. I thank your honoured father for the kind present of the sermons, charter, &c. I see you are resolved to increase my obligations, till they amount to a prodigious sum. My blessed Master must pay you all. O that I may be remembered before him; night and day, in public and in private! Dear New-England, dear Boston lies upon my heart; surely the Lord will not give it over into the enemies hand. He hath too many praying ministers and praying people there, for such a dreadful catastrophe. Immediately upon hearing of your late defeat, I preached from those words, “When the enemy comes in like a flood, then the spirit of the Lord lifts up a standard against him.” This we shall find true in a temporal and spiritual sense.
Blest is faith that trusts Christ’s power,
Blest are saints that wait his hour.
I could enlarge, but must away. My heart is full for dear New-England, and I must go to God and vent it. I can only send you and your honoured parents, and all your religious associates, and all enquiring friends, ten thousand thanks for all favours, and beg them never to cease praying for, dear Miss,
Their and your assured and ready servant for Christ’s sake,
G. W.