_To the Countess D――――._
_Ashby, Oct. 11, 1750._
_Honoured Madam_,
IT would give me concern, was I to return to _London_, though from ever
so short an excursion, without letting your Ladyship know that you are
always remembered by me at the throne of grace. Upon such a throne the
Redeemer sits, holding out his golden sceptre, and asking us, “What is
your petition? And what is your request?” My request for your Ladyship
is, that you may increase with all the increase of GOD. This I trust
your Ladyship is daily doing, and consequently increasing in inward
happiness, peace and joy. The riches of the divine life are indeed
unsearchable. May your Ladyship dig for them as for hid treasure, till
faith be turned into vision, and hope into the endless fruition of the
ever blessed GOD! That time will shortly come. I have been labouring
at _Birmingham_, in _Gloucestershire_, at _Nottingham_, &c. to awaken a
sleepy world to a sense of it, and I trust not without success. On last
_Thursday_ I came here, and next _Monday_, GOD willing, shall set out
for _London_. Good Lady _H――――_ goes on acting the part of a mother in
_Israel_, more and more. For a day or two she has had five clergymen
under her roof, which makes her Ladyship look like a _good Archbishop_
with his Chaplains around him. Her house is indeed a _Bethel_. To us
in the ministry, it looks like a college. We have the Sacrament every
morning, heavenly conversation all day, and preach at night. This is
to _live at Court_, indeed. Last night I had the pleasure of seeing a
little flock that seemed to be awakened by the grace of GOD; so that
even out of ungrateful _Ashby_, I trust there will be raised up many
children unto _Abraham_. Your Ladyship, and the other elect Ladies, are
never forgotten by us. I would write to good Lady _F――――_, but I hear
she is out of town. That the choicest of divine blessings, even the
sure mercies of _David_, may follow you both all the days of your lives,
is the hearty prayer of, honoured Madam,
Your Ladyship’s most dutiful, obliged, and ready servant,
_G. W._