_To Lady Mary H――――._
_London, Nov. 10, 1748._
_Honoured Madam_,
THOUGH absent from, yet I am not unmindful of you. The regard your
Ladyship has been pleased to shew to a poor unworthy worm, calls for
and claims my sincerest and most repeated acknowledgments. This letter
brings them, and shall be followed, honoured Madam, as the LORD enables,
with fervent prayers for your temporal and eternal welfare. O that
you may be enabled to make a stand this winter for the LORD JESUS, and
not in the least countenance any of those diversions that have already
brought religion so low in poor _Scotland_! I need not inform your
Ladyship, what a blessed thing it is to be singularly good, and to be
consistent in our whole walk and conversation. To be uniform, and all
of a piece, is the very life of a christian. It is this, and not a
compliance with the polite world in any of their fooleries, that will
gain proselytes to JESUS CHRIST. I could enlarge on this head, but I
am persuaded it is needless for your Ladyship. The glorious JESUS hath
let you see too much of his love, for you ever to be taken up with
any thing short of his own eternal life! That he may knit your heart
yet closer to himself, he is pleased to visit you with crosses. They
are the christian’s portion, honoured madam: They are the believer’s
birthright. “In the world you shall have tribulation;” but what
follows? “Be not afraid, I have overcome the world.” Look, therefore,
to Him, honoured madam, who, as he hath been the author, will also be
the finisher of your faith. That you may increase with all the increase
of GOD, is the earnest prayer of, honoured madam,
Your Ladyship’s most obliged humble servant,
_G. W._