_To C―――― W――――._
_London, March 3, 1753._
_My dear Friend_,
I THANK you and your brother most heartily for the loan of the chapel.
Blessed be GOD, the work goes on well.――On _Thursday_ morning, the
first brick of our new tabernacle was laid with awful solemnity.
I preached from _Exodus_ the twentieth, and the latter part of the
twenty-fourth verse; “In all places where I record my name, I will come
unto thee and bless thee.” Afterwards we sung, and prayed for GOD’s
blessing in all places, where his glorious name is recorded. The wall
is now about a yard high. The building is to be eighty feet square.
It is upon the old spot. We have purchased the house, and if we finish
what we have begun, shall be rent-free for forty-six years. We have
above eleven hundred pounds in hands. This I think is the best way
to build. Mr. _Steward_’s death so affected me, that when I met the
workman that night to contract about the building, I could scarce bear
to think of building tabernacles. Strange! that so many should be so
soon discharged, and we continued! Eighteen years have I been waiting
for the coming of the son of GOD; but I find we are immortal till our
work is done. O that we may never live to be ministered unto, but to
minister! Mr. _Steward_ spoke for his LORD as long as he could speak at
all. He had no clouds nor darkness. I was with him, till a few minutes
before he slept in JESUS. I have good news from several parts; a door
is opening at _Winchester_. Surely the little leaven will ferment, till
the whole kingdom be leavened. Even so, LORD JESUS, Amen! Pray how does
our elect Lady? I hope to write to her Ladyship next post. Joint love
attends you and yours, and your brother and his houshold.――That all may
increase with all the increase of GOD, is still the earnest prayer of,
my dear Sir,
Yours most affectionately in our common LORD,
_G. W._