_To the Rev. Mr. L――――._
_London, Nov. 19, 1748._
_My very dear Brother_,
WORDS cannot well express what I felt when your welcome letter came to
hand. It drew me to my knees; it made me shed tears of joy, and with
two or three of my dear friends I was enabled to wrestle for you at
the throne of grace. Blessed, for ever blessed be the GOD and Father
of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, for opening your eyes, and giving you such
an experimental and soul-ravishing knowledge of the doctrine of grace.
No wonder that people take notice of you. I hope the fame thereof, as
it hath reached heaven, will also be spread abroad upon the earth, and
thro’ the thanksgivings of thousands redound to the glory of GOD. I
think it a happiness, that you are surrounded with many souls that have
indeed tasted that the LORD is gracious, and consequently will be fed
with the sincere milk of the word, now communicated to them, under GOD,
by you. Now, my dear friend will you begin to live, now will you begin
to preach indeed. Go on in the name of JESUS, and as _Paul_ did, so
shall you, “increase with all the increase of GOD.” Glad shall I be
to give you all the assistance that lies in my power. _Henry on the
Scriptures_ will now suit your taste, and _Jenks upon the Righteousness
of CHRIST_ might do you immediate service. _Flavel’s Sermons_ would
be food for you, and _Boston upon the Covenant_, and his _fourfold
State_, I believe would delight you. _Bishop Hall’s Contemplations_ are
excellent, _Bishop Hopkins_ and _Beveridge_ will do for you, and indeed
almost all the writers a century ago. The doctrines you now preach are
no new doctrines; you are now got into the good old way. May the LORD
keep and succeed you in it, ever more and more. I believe he will. I
could say more, but I expect another letter from you before I come down.
Lady _H――――_ is rejoiced to hear of you. I read part of your letter
to her last night before I preached. Some of the great ones hear the
gospel gladly. That you may be made a very great blessing to thousands
and ten thousands, is the hearty prayer of, my dear Mr. _L――――_,
Ever yours,
_G. W._