_To Lady H――――n._
_London, November 1, 1755._
_Ever-honoured Madam_,
WHAT shall I say? Indeed and indeed, it hath given me great concern,
that I could not perform my promise to return to _Donnington-park_ so
soon as I expected.――But had I done so, I must have failed preaching at
least to above fifty thousand souls, who at different places ran most
greedily many miles after the everlasting gospel. This I thought your
Ladyship would by no means approve of, and therefore acquiesced. On
_Thursday_ evening, with no small regret I came to town, after having
preached about a hundred times, and travelled about eight hundred miles
in the country. Blessed be GOD, my feeble carcase was strengthened to
hold out, though for more than ten days together, I preached thrice a
day.――O that I could preach three hundred times! all would be little
enough, (alas, alas, infinitely too little) to testify my feeble love
to the ever-loving, ever-lovely JESUS. I hope that your Ladyship, and
the other elect Ladies, will enjoy much of his blessed spirit, in your
present sweet retreat. After about a week’s stay here, I hope to move
westward. O winter, winter! haste and fly, that I may again set out,
and begin to spring for my GOD! I know I shall have your Ladyship’s
prayers, and I am sure your Ladyship and family and friends have
mine. Yesterday I waited upon the Countess _D――――_, and on _Thursday_,
GOD willing, I am to dine with her Ladyship. Blessed be GOD, all
was well. O for growth in grace! O for the total destruction of self
and selfishness! Alas, what inward purgations and martyrdoms must be
undergone! LORD JESUS, we are the clay, and thou art the potter; stamp
thine image in what way thou pleasest! I know your Ladyship will say,
Amen. I trust an “Even so, LORD JESUS, come quickly,” is sincerely
added by, ever-honoured Madam,
Your Ladyship’s most dutiful, obliged, and
ready servant, for CHRIST’s sake,
_G. W._