_To Mr. S――――._
_London, Dec. 9, 1752._
_My dear Brother_,
IF your heart was full, so was mine when we parted. Such seasons make
me long for that happy time when we shall neither part from each other,
nor depart from the blessed JESUS any more. Our wanderings and tossings,
fightings without, and fears within, will then all be over. Here the
church is, and will be militant; in heaven it shall be altogether
triumphant. Let us go on, my dear brother, fighting the good fight of
faith. Ere long we shall be called to lay hold on life eternal. CHRIST
is our captain; we are therefore assured of conquest.
_A feeble saint shall win the day,_
_Though death and hell obstruct the way._
Endeavour to obstruct they will, and young converts little know how
resolutely, how unweariedly. The way to heaven is a round-about way:
we must go through a wilderness. GOD suffers this, to prove and try
us, and to shew us what is in our hearts. Humility must be taught us,
as _Gideon_ taught the men of _Succoth_, with briars and thorns: these
will frequently fetch blood from the old man. O that we may be made
willing to have him bleed to death! “Away with him, away with him;
crucify him, crucify him.” May this be the language of your heart and
mine! To have this prayer answered, what trials must we necessarily
meet with from the devil, the world, the flesh, and even from GOD’s own
children? All little enough to lead us into that mortified, pacific,
resigned, and disinterested mind, which was in CHRIST JESUS. The more
we suffer, and the less we are esteemed for doing, or attempting to
do good for his great name’s sake, the more we are conformed to his
blessed example. In heaven, justice will be done to all. Strange! that
we cannot wait more patiently till the great day of retribution. LORD,
help us to walk more by faith, and less by sense! “Help, O help us to
leave ourselves and all with thee.” I know you will say, “_Amen_!” But
I forget myself. How willingly does the pen write, when love, love for
CHRIST’s sake dictates and indites! I thank you for enquiring after my
welfare: thanks be to GOD, I am as well as a poor, but happy pilgrim
can expect to be. The shout of a king is amongst us. The glory of the
LORD fills the Tabernacle; and we hear every day of persons brought
under fresh awakenings, as well as of GOD’s people being comforted. We
have had two most awful sacramental occasions. Help me to cry, Grace!
grace! I shall be glad to hear that the gospel runs and is glorified at
_Wakefield_. Who knows but the last may be yet first? Is any thing too
hard for the LORD? Continue to remember us at the throne of grace; and
accept this speedy answer as a token of respect and love unfeigned,
from, my dear brother,
Yours, &c.
_G. W._