_To Lady G―――― H――――._
_London, December 15, 1757._
_Honoured Madam_,
HAVING lately heard of your Ladyship’s being returned to _Bath_, I
cannot help wishing your Ladyship joy of Sir _Charles_’s most agreeable
marriage. May your Ladyship’s present joy be consummated, in seeing
them and all your honourable relations sitting down together at the
marriage-feast of the supper of the Lamb. I have had frequent prospects
of this, since I saw your Ladyship. Often do I groan in this earthly
tabernacle. I long to be cloathed with my house from heaven. O that the
great GOD may vouchsafe to improve me, till he is pleased to call me
to my wished-for rest. Hitherto he owns my feeble labours. The work in
_London_ seems to be but as it were beginning. We live in troublesome
times; I trust the streets of the spiritual _Jerusalem_ will be built
in them. Happy they who have fled to JESUS CHRIST for refuge: they
have a peace that the world cannot give. O that the pleasure-taking,
trifling flatterer knew what it was! He would no longer feel such
an empty void, such a dreadful chasm in the heart which nothing but
the presence of GOD can fill. But I forget myself. I shall tire your
Ladyship; besides I must drop a few lines to good Lady _H――――n_; she
is in the furnace. When she is tried, her GOD will bring her forth like
gold. But I must detain your Ladyship no longer, than while I add my
dutiful respects to your Ladyship’s daughters, and beg your Ladyship’s
acceptance of the same from, honoured Madam,
Your Ladyship’s most dutiful, obliged, and
ready servant for CHRIST’s sake,
_G. W._