_To Lady F―――― S――――._
_Estwood in Lancashire, Oct. 25, 1749._
_Honoured Madam_,
SINCE I had the honour of writing to your Ladyship from _Newcastle_,
fresh wonders of grace and mercy have been shewn us daily. I have
now I think preached about thirty times in _Yorkshire_, and above ten
times in _Cheshire_, and _Lancashire_. Congregations have been very
large, and a solid, convincing, and comforting influence hath every
where attended the word. In one or two places I have had a little
rough treatment, but elsewhere all has been quiet, and many I hear are
brought under concern about the welfare of their better part. At the
importunity of many, I am now returning from _Manchester_ (where I
preached to many thousands) to _Leeds_; from thence I purpose going to
_Sheffield_, and next week I hope to see good Lady _H――――n_ at _Ashby_,
and the week following I hope to be in _London_. Thus do I lead a
pilgrim life: GOD give me a pilgrim heart, and enable me to speak
of redeeming love to a lost world, till I can speak no more! Surely
this is a work that brings with it its own reward. It brings a heaven
into the soul, and causes it, amidst all the scoffs and tauntings
of a benighted, ill-natured, and ridiculing world, to rejoice with
joy unspeakable, even a joy that is full of glory. “To me, (says the
blessed apostle) to live is CHRIST.” When a person can once say so in
reality, then he begins to live indeed. Even death itself is then life,
because death to such a one is eternal gain. O how great, how striking,
how transporting and transforming are the invisible realities of
another world, to a soul that is born of GOD! What meer shadows and
empty nothings are all sublunary enjoyments, when compared with these!
Thanks be to GOD, who has given you, honoured Madam, a taste of these
infinitely important things. My constant prayer for your Ladyship is,
that you may hold on, and hold out, and with full purpose of heart
cleave unto that Redeemer who hath loved you, and given himself for
you. Mrs. _G――――_ at _Manchester_ goes on well, and is not ashamed to
confess him, who I trust has called her out of darkness, and made her
partaker of his marvellous light. May the glorious _Emmanuel_ add daily
to the number of his honourable confessors, and give the rich to know,
that to be rich in faith and good works is the only way to be rich
indeed! All is ours, if we can truly say, we are CHRIST ’s. Honoured
Madam, I must beg your excuse for this freedom; but at present I have
a view of the Redeemer’s glory, and therefore know not well how to stop
when writing of him. Your Ladyship will ♦pardon me, and accept these
poor lines, which shall be followed with hearty prayers from, honoured
Madam,
Your Ladyship’s most obliged and ready servant
for CHRIST’s sake,
_G. W._
♦ “parden” replaced with “pardon”