_To Mr. D――――._
_Abergavenny, May 27, 1749._
_My very dear Friend_,
YOUR kind letter I received at _Bristol_, but have not had time to
answer it till now. You know what a moving life I lead. It is for one,
who laid down his life for me. I want my last remove to come. Blessed
be GOD for your recovery from your late indisposition. Many of GOD’s
people will have reason to be thankful on your behalf. I trust I am;
and earnestly pray the LORD of all Lords, that as your day is, so your
strength may be. I thank you for minding the poor widows, and the other
poor tabernacle petitioners. What an honour is put upon you! To be
CHRIST’s almoner is no mean office. You shall be rewarded ere long
before men and angels. Mrs. _D――――_ shall share with you; and as you
have been helpers of each others faith, so shall you be partakers of
the same glory. May your latter end greatly increase, and may you be
enabled to bring forth fruit even to a good old age! I hope good has
been done at _Bristol_. We had three good seasons there. To-morrow
I set out on a three weeks circuit through _Wales_. I have been here
these two days for a little retirement: it has been very sweet. On
_Thursday_ I saw Mr. _E―――― I――――_, the dissenting minister I before
spoke of, and found him very meanly apparelled. He is a most worthy man,
and from his zeal for GOD some time ago, he sold fifteen pounds worth
of his books to finish a small Meeting-house in which he preaches. He
has but three pounds per annum from the fund, and about as much from
his people. He lives very low, but enjoys much of GOD, and hath as
great understanding in the figurative parts of scripture as any one I
know of in the world. He is a _Zachary_, and his wife an _Elizabeth_.
Four or five guineas might be bestowed on them. What a scene will open
at the great day! How many _rich Priests_ will stand confounded, whilst
the poor despised _faithful Ministers_ of CHRIST shall enter, after all
their tribulation, into the joy of their LORD. I tremble for the one,
I rejoice in the foresight of the happiness of the other. May my latter
end and future state (however I may be disposed of in the mean while)
be like theirs! I know you will say, _Amen_. But what am I doing? I am
robbing the poor of your time. Away to your work in the strength of GOD,
and whilst you are feeding others, may the LORD JESUS feast your soul!
My heartiest respects attend Mrs. _D――――_. She always shares in the
petitions put up for you by, my very dear Sir,
Yours most affectionately in our common LORD,
_G. W._