LETTER MCVI.
To Lady H——n.
London, November 1, 1755.
Ever-honoured Madam,
WHAT shall I say? Indeed and indeed, it hath given me great concern, that I could not perform my promise to return to Donnington-park so soon as I expected.—But had I done so, I must have failed preaching at least to above fifty thousand souls, who at different places ran most greedily many miles after the everlasting gospel. This I thought your Ladyship would by no means approve of, and therefore acquiesced. On Thursday evening, with no small regret I came to town, after having preached about a hundred times, and travelled about eight hundred miles in the country. Blessed be God, my feeble carcase was strengthened to hold out, though for more than ten days together, I preached thrice a day.—O that I could preach three hundred times! all would be little enough, (alas, alas, infinitely too little) to testify my feeble love to the ever-loving, ever-lovely Jesus. I hope that your Ladyship, and the other elect Ladies, will enjoy much of his blessed spirit, in your present sweet retreat. After about a week’s stay here, I hope to move westward. O winter, winter! haste and fly, that I may again set out, and begin to spring for my God! I know I shall have your Ladyship’s prayers, and I am sure your Ladyship and family and friends have mine. Yesterday I waited upon the Countess D——, and on Thursday, God willing, I am to dine with her Ladyship. Blessed be God, all was well. O for growth in grace! O for the total destruction of self and selfishness! Alas, what inward purgations and martyrdoms must be undergone! Lord Jesus, we are the clay, and thou art the potter; stamp thine image in what way thou pleasest! I know your Ladyship will say, Amen. I trust an “Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly,” is sincerely added by, ever-honoured Madam,
Your Ladyship’s most dutiful, obliged, and ready servant, for Christ’s sake,
G. W.
LETTER MCVII.
To the Honourable J—— R——.