_To the Reverend Mr. H――――._
_Ashby-Place, Nov. 8, 1749._
_My very dear Friend_,
I Thank you heartily for your kind letter to me, and your kind
benefaction to poor Mr. _C――――_. That GOD, whom you both serve, will
plentifully reward and bless you. I am in great hopes, enough will
be raised to pay his debts, and that a provision will be made for his
future subsistence. Rather than _Elijahs_ shall want, ravens shall
be sent to feed them. Your present circumstances almost distress me,
and at the same time make me ashamed. I think it requires more grace
heartily to say, “Father, thy will be done,” in such a situation, than
to die a martyr forty times. But my dear friend, though your body is
weak and confined at home, your pen hath been active, and your works
walk abroad. I hear of them from all quarters. GOD hath blessed, and
will bless them. Let that comfort you, and if health any way permits,
pray write again. Fear not, my dear dear Man; let faith and patience
hold out a little longer, and then the struggle shall be over. Yet a
little while, and you shall join with that sweet singer Dr. _Watts_,
who whilst on earth dragged a crazy load along, as well as you, for
many years. As for my poor tabernacle, I wonder it is not dissolved
every day; but we are immortal till our work is done. Now is my time
for doing; my suffering time may come by and by. O for strength in a
trying hour! Wherefore should we fear? Wherefore should we doubt? He
that hath loved us, will love us to the end. This encourages me to hold
on my way. Blessed be GOD, I have seen great things since I wrote last.
The fields have been more and more white, ready unto harvest. I am now
at _Ashby_ with good Lady _H――――n_. Her Ladyship has a great regard
for you, and begs you would come and stay a week at her house. She will
take great care of you. I think to remove hence on _Monday_, and should
be very glad to see you in my way to _London_. However this be, we
shall meet in heaven. There the wicked heart and wicked world will
cease from troubling, and there the weary will enjoy an uninterrupted
and eternal rest. This morning we have been remembering our blessed
Redeemer’s death, and I was enabled to pray earnestly for my dear Mr.
_H――――_. I beseech the Father of mercies and GOD of all consolations
to excite you to do the same for my dear old friend.
Yours most affectionately in our common LORD,
_G. W._