_To Mr. ――――._
_London, February 2, 1754._
_Dear Sir_,
BY your writing, I guess you are a brand plucked out of the fire of
the polite and gay world.――Happy deliverance! I intreat you to rejoice,
give thanks, and sing,
Be gone, vain world, my heart resign,
For I must be no longer thine;
A fairer, a diviner guest,
Now claims possession of my breast.
I do not wonder to hear of your being under trials; you are to be made
perfect by them. Right-hand and right-eye corruptions are not so easily
cut off, or plucked out; but this must be done. Not one _Agag_, however
beautiful, and importunate for life, must be spared: the sword of the
spirit must be lifted up, and as an enemy to the LORD of life and glory,
he must be hewn to pieces. JESUS, the ever-loving, ever-lovely JESUS,
cannot away with idols:――And why? Because they rob us of our peace,
estrange us from our GOD, and unfit us for the enjoyment of that better
world, where I hope to see you encircled in the arms of redeeming love.
Flee therefore, dear Sir, flee, I intreat you, youthful lusts. JESUS
will give you wings and feet, and after all reward you, as though you
fled in a strength of your own. O often, often contemplate, and dwell
upon his dying for you. This will sweetly constrain you to be willing
even to die for him, and powerfully constrain you to be ready to every
good word and work. O that I may take this advice myself! You must pray
that I may; a trial is at hand. In about three weeks I am bound for
_America_.――A multiplicity of business lies before me; but to convince
you that your correspondence is not troublesome, I snatch a few minutes
to send you these lines, from, dear Sir,
Your affectionate friend and servant for CHRIST’s sake.
_G. W._