G. W.
P. S. My hearty love to all. The Lord be with you! Amen, and Amen!
LETTER MCXLVI.
To Mr. Z——.
Sunderland, August 14, 1756.
Honoured and very dear Sir,
HOW swiftly doth my precious time fly away! It is now a fortnight since I came to Leeds in Yorkshire, where the gospel had indeed free course, did run, and was glorified. On the Sunday evening, a few hours after my arrival, many thousands were gathered in the fields, to whom, I trust, Jesus enabled me to speak with some degree of power. The following week I preached in and about Leeds, thrice almost every day, to thronged and affected auditories; and on Sunday last the fields were indeed white ready unto harvest. At Bradford, about seven in the morning, the auditory consisted of about ten thousand; at noon, and in the evening at Burstall, to near double the number. Though hoarse, the Redeemer helped me to speak, so that all heard. Upon every account it was a high-day. In the evening several hundreds of us rode about eight miles, singing and praising God. Indeed it was a night much to be remembered. The next morning I took a sorrowful leave of Leeds, preached at Tadcaster at noon, and at York the same night. God was with us. On Tuesday I preached twice at York (delightful seasons!); on Wednesday at Warstall, about fifty miles off; on Thursday twice at Yarm, and last night and this morning here. All the way I have heard of a great concern since I was in these parts last year, and of many glorious trophies of the power of redeeming love. In heaven, honoured Sir, you will know all. There I shall throw my crown before the Lamb, and there you shall be rewarded for strengthening the hands of the most unworthy creature that ever was employed by God. After spending my sabbath here, and visiting Shields, Newcastle, and some adjacent places, I purpose to go on to Scotland. From thence I hope to have the honour of writing to you again. This is the first time I have had a proper opportunity of refreshing myself in that way. Praying that you may increase with all the increase of God, and begging your acceptance of repeated thanks for repeated unmerited favours, I subscribe myself, honoured and very dear Sir,
Your most dutiful, though most unworthy son in the glorious gospel,
G. W.