_To Mr. G――――._
_London, December 27, 1753._
_Reverend and very dear Sir_,
I AM surprized to find by your last kind letter, that my poor journals
are not come to hand. My wife informs me that they were sent to, or by
one Mr. _E――――_, who was to send off goods the very next day. Perhaps
it will please you to hear that Messrs. _T――――_ and _D――――_ supped with
me last night; may the good LORD prosper the work of their hands upon
them! I hope they will be introduced soon to the Marquiss of _L――――_,
and by him to Lord _L――――_. I shall help them all I can. At the great
day all things will be laid open. O how do I long for it! And yet, how
ashamed shall I be to appear before my LORD, when I have done so little
for him, and made such poor returns for his dying love! Would you think
it? I am this day thirty-nine years of age. Did not my business require
my attendance, I could lock myself up, and lie prostrate all the day
long in deep humiliation before him, who hath vouchsafed to call me by
his grace, reveal his son in me, and I trust made me the instrument,
(O amazing love!) of calling some others to the experimental knowledge
of the same unspeakable gift. My dear, very dear Sir, let none of my
friends cry to such a sluggish, lukewarm, unprofitable worm, “Spare
thyself.” Rather spur me on, I pray you, with an “Awake thou sleeper,
and begin to begin to do something for thy GOD.” The LORD being my
helper, I will. Do thou strengthen me, my LORD and my GOD, and I will
go for thee, at thy command, to the uttermost parts of the earth! O
break, break my heart, look to him, whom thou hast pierced.――Look and
love, look and mourn, look and praise; thy GOD is yet thy GOD! Every
day, Sir, we hear of fresh work; scores of notes are put up by persons
brought under conviction, and GOD’s people are abundantly refreshed.
Last night the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle; I cannot tell
you half.――I am lost, I am lost in wonder. I must retire to give vent
to my heart. For the present, my dear Sir, adieu! The LORD bless you
and yours, and all my other dear friends. Ere long, I hope to spend an
eternal new year with you in the _Jerusalem_ which is above. That in
the mean time, all things belonging to the old man may die in us, and
all things belonging to the new man may more and more live and grow in
us, is the earnest prayer of, my very dear Sir,
Yours most affectionately in our glorious Head,
_G. W._