_To Doctor D――――._
_London, Dec. 21, 1748._
_Reverend and very dear Sir_,
GLAD was I, yea very glad to receive your letter dated _November_
7th, though it did not reach me till last night. I thank you for it a
thousand times. It has led me to the throne of grace, where I have been
crying, “LORD, counsel my counsellors, and shew them what thou wouldst
have me to do.”――Alas, alas! how can I be too severe against myself,
who, _Peter_ like, have cut off so many ears, and by imprudencies mixed
with my zeal, have dishonoured the cause of JESUS? I can only look up
to him, who healed the high-priest’s servant’s ear, and say, “LORD,
heal all the wounds my misguided zeal has given.” Assure yourself,
dear Sir, everything I print shall be revised. I always have submitted
my poor performances to my friends corrections. Time and experience
I find ripen men’s judgments, and make them more solid, rational, and
consistent, both in their conduct and writings. O that this may be
my case! O that the blessed JESUS may enable me to hold on, and hold
out, and keep me from flagging in the latter stages of my road. I thank
you, dear Sir, for your solemn charge in respect to my health. Blessed
be GOD, it is much repaired since my return from _Scotland_, and I
trust by observing the rules you prescribe (if I must live) I shall
be enabled to declare the works of the LORD. But what shall I say
concerning your present trial? shall I wish you joy? Surely I may with
great propriety, since an inspired writer hath said, “count it all joy
when you fall into divers temptations.” But at the same time, reverend
Sir, I most earnestly sympathize with you, having had the same trial
from the same quarter long ago. The _Moravians_ first divided my family,
then my parish at _Georgia_, and after that the societies which, under
GOD, I was an instrument of gathering. I suppose not less than four
hundred, through their practices, have left the tabernacle. But I have
been forsaken otherways. I have not had above an hundred to hear me,
where I had twenty thousand, and hundreds now assemble within a quarter
of a mile of me, who never come to see or speak to me; though they must
own at the great day that I was their spiritual father. All this I
find but little enough to teach me to cease from man, and to wean me
from that too great fondness which spiritual fathers are apt to have
for their spiritual children. Thus blessed _Paul_ was served, thus must
all expect to be treated who are of _Paul_’s spirit, and are honoured
with any considerable degree of _Paul_’s success. But I have generally
observed, that when one door of usefulness is shut, another opens.
Our LORD blesses you, dear Sir, in your writings; nay your people’s
treating you as they are now permitted to do, perhaps is one of the
greatest blessings you ever received from heaven. May patience have its
perfect work, and may you be enabled to sanctify the LORD GOD in your
heart! I know of no other way of dealing with the _M――――s_, than to go
on preaching the truth as it is in JESUS, and rest upon that promise,
“Every plant which my heavenly father hath not planted shall be plucked
up.” Seven years will make a great alteration. I believe their grand
design is to extend their occonomy as far as possible. This I believe
is now kept up by dint of money, and I am apt to think that the very
thing by which they think to establish, will destroy their scheme.
_John Lapidee_ went on in the same manner in _Maryland_. His plan was
raised as high, and fell as remarkably. GOD is a gracious Father, and
will not always let his children proceed in a wrong way. Doubtless
there are many of his dear little ones in the _M――――n_ flock; but many
of their principles and practices are exceeding wrong, for which I
doubt not our LORD will rebuke them in his own time. But I fear that
I weary you. However, dear Sir, I must thank you for your sermon. It
contains the very life of preaching, I mean sweet invitations to close
with CHRIST. I do not wonder you are dubbed a Methodist on account of
it. As it was designed for the poor, I wish it was cheaper. I think
practical books cannot be too reasonable. The poor must have them cheap,
and the rich will like them the better for it. And now methinks I hear
you say, “But how is it at the other end of the town?” Blessed be GOD,
the prospect is promising. Last _Sunday_ evening I preached to a most
brilliant assembly indeed. They expressed great approbation, and some I
think begin to feel. Good Lady _H――――n_ is indeed a mother in _Israel_.
She is all in a flame for JESUS. You may guess by a word or two in this,
that she hath shewn me your last letter. I suppose she will write to
you soon. But whither am I running? I quite forget myself. Love makes
my pen to move too fast, and too long. Excuse it, dear Sir, and for
JESUS’s sake never cease praying for, Reverend and very dear Sir,
Your most affectionate though unworthy younger brother,
and willing servant in our common LORD,
_G. W._