_To Lady B―――― H――――._
_Gloucester, Sept. 22, 1750._
_Madam_,
AS I know your Ladyship had a great esteem for the late honourable Miss
_H――――_, I cannot but think a short account of her behaviour, under her
last sickness, must not only alleviate the concern your Ladyship must
necessarily have for so intimate a friend, but also excite you to pray,
that your latter end may be like hers. I think it is now near three
weeks since good Lady _G――――_ desired me to visit her sick daughter.
She had been prayed for very earnestly the preceding day after the
sacrament, and likewise previous to my visit in Lady _H――――_’s room.
When I came to her bedside, she seemed glad to see me, but desired
I would speak and pray as softly as I could. I conversed with her a
little, and she dropped some strong things about the vanity of the
world, and the littleness of every thing out of CHRIST. I prayed as low
as I could, but in prayer (your Ladyship has been too well acquainted
with such things to call it _enthusiasm_) I felt a very uncommon energy
and power to wrestle with GOD in her behalf. She soon broke out into
such words as these, “what a wretch am I?” She seemed to speak out of
the abundance of her heart, from a feeling sense of her own vileness.
Her honoured Parent and attending servants were affected. After
prayer, she seemed as though she felt things unutterable, bemoaned her
ingratitude to GOD and CHRIST; and I believe would gladly have given
a detail of all her faults she could reckon. Her having had a form of
godliness, but never having felt the power, was what she most bewailed.
I left her; she continued in the same frame; and when Mrs. _S――――_
asked her whether she felt her heart to be as bad as she expressed
herself, she answered, “yes, and worse.” At her request, some time
after this, I gave her the holy communion; a communion indeed it was.
Never did I see a person receive it with seemingly greater contrition,
more earnest desire for pardon and reconciliation with GOD through
CHRIST, or stronger purposes of devoting her future life to his service.
Being weak, she was desired to keep lying on her bed. She replied,
“I can rise to take my physic; shall I not rise to pray?” When I was
repeating the Communion Office, she applied all to herself, and broke
out frequently aloud in her applying. When I said, the burden of them
is intolerable, she burst out――“yea very intolerable,” with abundance
of such like expressions. When she took the bread and wine, her concern
gave her utterance, and she spake like one that was ripening for heaven.
Those around her wept for joy.――My cold heart also was touched, and I
left her with a full persuasion, that she was either to be taken off
soon, or to be a blessing here below. I think she lived about a week
afterwards: she continued in the same frame as far as I hear, and I
trust is now gone, where she will sing the song of _Moses_ and of the
Lamb for ever. The thoughts of this, comforts good Lady _G――――_, and
the same consideration, I am persuaded, will have the same effect upon
your Ladyship. Only methinks I hear your Ladyship add, “No, I will
not stop here. By divine grace I will devote myself to JESUS CHRIST
now, and give him no rest, till I see the world in that light as dear
Miss _H――――_ did, and as I myself shall, when I come to die. I will
follow my honoured mother as she follows JESUS CHRIST, and count the
Redeemer’s reproach of more value than all the honours, riches and
pleasures of the world. I will fly to CHRIST by faith, and through
the help of my GOD, keep up not only the form, but also the power of
godliness in heart and life.” That the glorious _Emanuel_ may enable
your Ladyship to put all this into practice, is the earnest prayer of,
Madam,
Your Ladyship’s most ready servant for CHRIST’s sake,
_G. W._