_To Mr. T――――._
_Belfast, July 4, 1751._
_Dear Mr. T――――_,
VERY providentially, your kind letter reached me this morning. As
I am detained by the importunity of the people, I must snatch a few
moments to answer it. Thanks be to the LORD of all Lords, if my poor
administrations have been any ways blessed, either to you or others.
“Not unto me, not unto me, but unto thy free and unmerited grace, O
LORD, be all the glory!” Preaching CHRIST, I find to be the best means
of winning sinners, and of building up saints. This done with a single
eye and disinterested heart, will make its way through all opposition,
and stand fast, when all other schemes built on a legal bottom and
supported by low politics, will fall to the ground. I wish you may have
grace given you to act aright in your present circumstances. Let all
bitterness and wrath and clamour be put away from you. Go on simply
preaching the everlasting gospel; and if rejected for that, and freely
discharged from your present connection, I shall do all in my power to
promote your usefulness. I suppose, you will hear from other hands what
hath been doing in _Dublin_. I hope the LORD of all Lords hath been
with us. Thousands flock in this place also, to hear the word preached.
I thought to have left _Belfast_ to-day, but have complied with the
people’s earnest requests, to continue in these parts till _Monday_.
O for a pilgrim heart with my pilgrim life! At present, I have no
thoughts of nestling. Fain would I be kept from flagging in the latter
stages of my road. I beg the continuance of your prayers. My prayer to
GOD for you and yours is, “that you may live together as heirs of the
grace of life, and walk in all the ordinances and commandments of the
LORD blameless.” You are entered upon a new scene, and will require
more grace to act your parts well, than at present you may be aware of:
But there is an all-sufficiency in CHRIST, who hath promised, that as
our day is, so our strength shall be. I commend you and yours, and all
the followers of CHRIST, to his never-failing mercy, and subscribe
myself, for his great name’s sake, dear Sir,
Your affectionate friend and servant,
_G. W._