_To Mr. S――――._
_Bristol, August 1, 1752._
_My very dear Friend_,
SINCE I wrote my last, I have been off my horse but one day. The
glorious _Emmanuel_ hath carried me through the _Welch_ circuit in
peace and comfort. In the fortnight past, from my leaving this place,
I preached twenty times, and have travelled above three hundred miles.
Congregations were very large. Last Lord’s day was a high day indeed;
the number of hearers at seven in the morning, as well as in the
evening, at _Haverford-west_, was almost incredible. The LORD was in
the midst of them. My body was weak in speaking to them, but JESUS hath
strengthened me again. O that I was humble and thankful! In my way
hither, we held an association; there were present about nine clergy,
and near forty other labourers. I trust all are born of GOD, and
desirous to promote his glory, and his people’s good. All was harmony
and love. Yesterday I came here. It is fair time, and to-morrow, GOD
willing, I purpose to expose the gospel wine and milk to sale. This I
have been doing this morning. O that the hearers may be made to come
down to the price, and willing to be saved by grace:――GOD knows I have
nothing else to depend upon.
_Grace!――it’s a sweet, a charming theme,_
_My soul exults at JESU’s name;_
_Of him, who did salvation bring,_
_I could for ever speak and sing_.
But how poorly do I speak of and for him? GOD be merciful to me a
sinner! He does show he will have mercy, and therefore it is that I am
not consumed.
_If all the world his goodness knew,_
_They must adore and love him too._
Blessed be GOD for manifesting himself to us, as he doth not unto the
world! You will join in crying Grace! Grace! Grace! Love bids me to
enlarge, though business obliges me to be brief. In about ten days I
hope to be in _London_. In the mean while, pray accept these poor lines
as a token of love unfeigned, and of grateful respect, from, my very
dear friend,
Yours most affectionately in our common LORD,
_G. W._