_To the Countess D――――._
_Halifax, Oct. 26, 1749._
_Honoured Madam_,
THOUGH I am jealous of myself, lest I should make too free with persons
in high life, yet when I have good news to send concerning the kingdom
of JESUS CHRIST, I am constrained as it were to write to your Ladyship.
Will it not rejoice you very much, honoured Madam, to hear the glorious
_Emmanuel_ is riding on in the chariot of his gospel, from conquering
to conquer? Every day people flock to hear the word, like doves to
their windows. I have preached about thirty times in _Yorkshire_, and
at the desire of many am returned thither again. The latter end of
next week I hope to see good Lady _H――――n_. I suppose her Ladyship will
detain me a few days at _Ashby_, and then I purpose coming directly to
_London_. Thanks be to GOD, all places are near alike to me, so that
I can but be doing something for Him, who hath done and suffered so
much for me. This I would have to be my meat and my drink. To me to
live, let it be CHRIST; for life is no further desirable than as we can
improve it to the promoting his glory. _Mary_ thought so, who in the
days of his flesh sat at the Redeemer’s feet and heard his words. This
I believe is your Ladyship’s daily employ; a glorious employ indeed.
How sweet must his fruit be unto your Ladyship’s taste! Surely it is
sweeter than the honey or the honeycomb. And if the first-fruits are so
delightful, how infinitely delightful must the full harvest be! Go on,
honoured Madam, and whatever others may do, still keep pursuing after
more and more of that better part, which shall never be taken away from
you. JESUS is full of grace, and full of truth. Believers are welcome
to him every moment. He is ready to water them continually with the
dew of his heavenly blessing. It is our privilege to go on from grace
to grace, till grace be swallowed up in endless glory. O that your
honoured sister may march on with your Ladyship towards this blessed
state! There she will have a house, not made with hands, eternal in the
heavens. I send her Ladyship my most dutiful respects, and sincerely
pray that she may be filled with all the fulness of GOD.――I hope
your Ladyship is inclined to remember me at the throne of grace, your
Ladyship knows my name, “The chief of sinners, less than the least of
all saints;” but, for CHRIST’s sake, honoured Madam,
Your Ladyship’s most dutiful, obliged and
willing servant,
_G. W._