LETTER DCCCLXXIV.

_To Lady S――――._

_London, Dec. 25, 1750._

_Honoured Madam_,

I Had the favour of your Ladyship’s letter on _Saturday_ afternoon, and

immediately communicated what concerned him, to my ingenious and devout

friend Mr. _H――――_. With this, your Ladyship will receive a line from

him. I persuaded him, that your Ladyship would not take it ill. Poor Mr.

_B――――_ is much obliged to your Ladyship for speaking in his behalf. He

happened to be with me, when your Ladyship’s letter came. The Reception

that your Ladyship’s kind motion met with, convinces me more and more,

that “Be ye warmed, and be ye filled,” without giving any thing to be

warmed and filled with, is the farthest that most professors go. Words

are cheap, and cost nothing; and therefore many can say, “they pity,”

and that extremely too, when at the same time, their practice shews it

is only a verbal, and not a real compassion. I often told the poor man,

that his dependance was too strong; and that I was afraid least help

would not come from that quarter where he expected most. He sends ten

thousand thanks for what your Ladyship hath done already. Surely he

is worthy. He is a lover of CHRIST, and his outward circumstances very

pitiable indeed. Your Ladyship will not be offended at the freedom I

take. You love to help the distressed to the utmost of your power; and

your Ladyship shall find that good measure, pressed down and running

over, shall be returned into your bosom. That your Ladyship may

experience the truth of this, in respect to temporals and spirituals,

more and more every day, is the earnest prayer of, honoured Madam,

Your Ladyship’s most obliged, dutiful, and ready servant

for CHRIST’s sake,

_G. W._

The works of the Reverend George Whitefield, M.A., Vol. 2 (of 6) · 第 404 / 497 题