_To Lady H――――n._
_Bristol, Feb. 17, 1750._
_Honoured Madam_,
BLESSED be the GOD and Father of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, who, in mercy
to his church and people, is pleased yet to hold your soul in life,
and make your Ladyship instrumental in plucking sinners as brands out
of the burning. All these things I look upon only as the earnests of
good things to come. Goodness and mercy will follow your Ladyship all
the days of your life, and you shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for ever. Lady _Ann_’s sudden shock proves that the old observation is
true, “Seldom one affliction comes alone.” I rejoice to hear that her
Ladyship is recovered, and pray the LORD of all lords so to sanctify
it to her Ladyship’s better part, that she may be ready at a moment’s
warning to go forth and meet the heavenly bridegroom. O to be always
ready! to have nothing to do, but to die! Surely the Redeemer hath
purchased this blessing for us. Doth not your Ladyship find it
difficult to be resigned to live, and to continue so long absent from
the LORD? But there is one consideration which may make life desirable
to the greatest saint on earth; he may here do and suffer for JESUS,
and call sinners to him; but in heaven all this will be over. Come
life then, come death, JESUS may thy will be done in, by, and upon thy
people! I know your Ladyship’s heart echoes back, Amen. But what shall
I say to the opposition arising at _Ashby_? I trust it is a sign that
good has already been done, and that more is still doing. The Searcher
of hearts knows how highly I value your Ladyship’s letters; yet I
think it honour enough to have leave to write to your Ladyship, without
expecting punctual answers. O that I may gladden your Ladyship’s heart
with glad tidings from the _West_! I believe I shall. I have been much
helped in preaching here, and have heard of two that were thoroughly
awakened when I was here last. Mr. _H――――_, I think, does not lose
ground. The persons that seem calculated to do him service, must be
such as have a knowledge of themselves, of the world, and of GOD, whose
practice proves their eye to be single, and their minds disinterested,
and who have gone several stages before him to heaven. These would
command respect from him; these he would hear, and to their judgment he
would pay a great deference. The Captain, blessed be GOD, begins to be
weary of his fine house; and I hope will be so uneasy in every worldly
state, as to find no rest for the soles of his feet. May the glorious
JESUS reach out the hand of his mercy, take him into the ark, and shut
the door fast upon him! But I forget that your Ladyship is yet confined
to your room. May the LORD JESUS make it a _Bethel_, a house of GOD,
and a gate of heaven to your soul! He will, he will. I hear that the
Tabernacle people are blessed in _London_. I am quite easy about that,
and every other public concern, and desire nothing but to approve
myself upright and disinterested in the sight of GOD and man. I hope
your Ladyship will never find any thing to the contrary in, honoured
Madam,
Yours, &c.
_G. W._