_To Mrs. M――――._
_Liverpool, Sept. 12, 1755._
_Dear Madam_,
ERE this can reach you, I hope the days of your mourning will be
ended. By your last to Mr. _W――――_ I find your harp was hanging upon
the willows, your chariot wheels taken off, and your poor soul driving
heavily. Add to all this,――Satan was besetting you on every side,
and so daring as to say, “Where is now thy GOD?”――This is his common
artifice; thus he attacked the great High-priest and blessed apostle
of our profession, “If thou be the Son of GOD, &c.” But if you love not
JESUS, whence this pain of absence? Why so often crying out,
For to my soul it’s hell to be
But for one moment void of thee?
This is not the language of a hypocrite. No: it is the native, genuine
cry of a new and heaven-born soul. Woman, therefore, why weepest thou?
Thy LORD hath drank of this bitter cup before thee.
He knows what this temptation means,
For he hath felt the same.
Look then to Him, dear Madam, who upon the cross cried out in the
bitterness of his soul, “My GOD, my GOD, why hast thou forsaken me?”
The Redeemer is now only giving you blessings in disguise, and teaching
you instructive lessons by the thorns and briars of the wilderness. Now
is the time for you to prove the strength of JESUS yours, and to learn
to live upon a GOD that changeth not. Be pleased to excuse this freedom.
At Mr. _W――――d_’s desire I take it. Your advice to him, amidst all your
gloom, bespeaks your concern for the ark of GOD; I wish he may take
it. But I love not to interfere in other people’s plans, any further
than I can contribute a mite towards promoting the common salvation.
This principle made me incline to see _Ireland_, but I believe the
season is too far gone. The Redeemer’s time is best. O that all may
have grace given them to wait his leisure! Then will affairs have
a more comfortable aspect, and many wrong touches of the ark be
happily prevented. Blessed be GOD, in many places the word runs and is
glorified. O that I could begin to begin to do something for JESUS! I
wish that Mr. _C――――_ may be raised to work for him once more. And yet,
methinks it is cruel to wish him to stay longer out of heaven. GOD give
me patience to wait till my wished-for change shall come! My cordial
respects await all that love CHRIST JESUS in sincerity.――Be pleased to
accept the same for your whole self, from, dear Madam,
Your sympathizing friend, and ready servant,
for CHRIST’s sake,
_G. W._