_To the Rev. Mr. H――――._
_London, December 18, 1748._
_Reverend and dear Sir_,
THOUGH I am not personally acquainted with you, yet I owe you much love.
Thanks be to our great high Priest for giving you such light and heat,
and enabling you to preach among poor sinners the unsearchable riches
of redeeming love. Earth and hell will be up in arms against you; your
own mother’s children will soon be angry with you, and many of the
members of that church of which you are a minister, whenever you preach
her doctrine with power and purity, will think it doing GOD’s service
to cast you out. Thus it has been, thus it will be in all ages, so long
as those two seeds of the woman and the serpent remain struggling in
this lower world. Welcome, welcome dear Sir, into the field of battle!
Now the common people will hear you gladly. Now the self-righteous
will speak all manner of evil against you. I am told the corporation
have rejected you for preaching CHRIST crucified. I wish you joy. May
you, like blessed _Paul_, increase the more in strength, and be made
a spiritual father to thousands! Excuse this freedom from one who
loves you in the bowels of JESUS CHRIST. I thank you for your intended
interview. Could no way be contrived for a private visit? however
that be, assure yourself your interest will be much upon my heart,
and if you will remember a poor unworthy worm before his throne, whose
compassions fail not, you will much oblige, reverend and dear Sir,
Your most affectionate brother and servant in
JESUS CHRIST,
_G. W._