_To Lady H――――n._
_London, Jan. 12, 1750._
_Honoured Madam_,
THOUGH I have missed two posts, yet the only cause of my not writing
was a fear of being troublesome, and too particular and prolix in the
accounts sent your Ladyship in my last letters. Your Ladyship’s kind
letter this afternoon, together with the inclosed, which I received
yesterday, give me fresh occasion to renew that pleasing employ of
acquainting your Ladyship with some more particulars. Every day we have
new hearers, and I find some or another are almost continually brought
under convictions, or are edified at the tabernacle. I have offered
Mr. _W――――_ to assist occasionally at his chapel, and I don’t know but
it may be accepted. Your Ladyship will hear soon. O that I may learn
from all I see, to desire to be nothing! and to think it my highest
privilege to be an assistant to all, but the head of none. I find a
love of power sometimes intoxicates even GOD’s own dear children, and
makes them to mistake passion for zeal, and an over-bearing spirit for
an authority given them from above. For my own part, I find it much
easier to obey than govern, and that it is much safer to be trodden
under foot, than to have it in one’s power to serve others so. This
makes me fly from that, which at our first setting out we are too apt
to court. Thanks be to the LORD of all Lord’s for taking any pains with
ill and hell deserving me! I cannot well buy humility at too dear a
rate. This is a grace after which your Ladyship pants, and with which
our LORD will delight to fill you more and more. Your Ladyship’s letter
convinces me, that those who know and do most, think they know and
do least. If it were not so, grace itself would prove our bane, and
goodness and zeal, through the pride and corruption of our hearts,
be our destroyers. Honoured Madam, my hands and heart are continually
lifted up for you, that you may abound evermore in every good word and
work, and be cloathed with that humility which your Ladyship delights
to wear every day; I mean that humble mind which was in CHRIST JESUS.
I rejoice exceedingly in the comfort which your Ladyship has in Mr.
_B――――_. I shall take care to cultivate our acquaintance, and earnestly
pray that it may be blessed to our mutual improvement. I trust he will
be a good soldier of JESUS CHRIST, and doubt not ere long I shall hear
of his receiving some wounds and scars of honour in the field of battle.
After I left Mr. _Z――――_, by appointment I went to Mrs. _K――――_, to
whom with the Countess, Lady _G――――_, Mr. _C――――_, and one Mrs. _B――――_,
I gave the blessed sacrament, and afterwards a word of exhortation. Our
LORD was there, and your Ladyship &c. were remembered before him. On
_Tuesday_ next the blessed feast is to be repeated at the Countess’s
house, and on _Wednesday_, GOD willing, I shall leave town for about
five weeks. All I think are as hearty as ever, and I trust some will
take deep root downwards, and bear fruit upwards. His Majesty seems
to have been acquainted with some things about us, by what passed in
his discourse with Lady _Chesterfield_. The particulars are these;
her Ladyship had a suit of cloaths on, with a brown ground and silver
flowers, which was brought from abroad. His Majesty coming round to her,
first smiled and then laughed quite out. Her Ladyship could not imagine
what was the matter. At length his Majesty said, “I know who chose that
gown for you:――Mr. _Whitefield_; and I hear that you have attended on
him this year and half.” Her Ladyship answered, “Yes I have, and like
him very well;” but after she came to her chair, was grieved she had
not said more; so that I find her Ladyship is not ashamed. O that she
and all that have heard the gospel, may have grace given them to speak
of their dear Redeemer, even before kings, when called to it, and not
be daunted! I have also been with the Speaker about the poor people in
_Ireland_. Mr. _G――――_ introduced me, and opened the matter well. His
honour expressed a great regard for your Ladyship, and great resentment
at the indignities the poor sufferers underwent; but said, “Lord
_H――――_ or the secretary of state, were the properest persons to be
applied to, and he did not doubt but that your Ladyship’s application
would get their grievances redressed.” I wished for a memorial to
acquaint him with particulars. He treated me with great candour, and
assured me no hurt was designed us by the state. Mr. _G――――_ was quite
hearty, and has the utmost respect for your Ladyship. To-morrow I am
to preach at Mr. _W――――_’s chapel, and I suppose on _Sunday_ also.
O that I may be a freed-man, and ready to help all that preach and
love the LORD JESUS in sincerity! I bless GOD for Mr. _B――――_, and am
exceedingly obliged to good Lady _A――――_. I am ashamed of the length
of this, but as it is on business, your Ladyship will excuse, honoured
Madam,
Your Ladyship’s most obliged, ready servant,
_G. W._