_To Mrs. C――――._
_Bristol, May 4, 1762._
_Dear Mrs. C――――_,
YOUR kind letter came to hand a few days ago. The convoy being driven
back, gives me an opportunity of returning you hearty thanks. Mr.
_R――――_’s draught will lie hard upon me; but I will endeavour to get it
paid. I am glad _A――――w_ and _G――――r_ are put out. It would have saved
me pounds to have had it done long ago. As it is war time, nobody can
blame you for lessening the family to the utmost. The intended change
at _Ephrata_ pleaseth me much. I see if we will wait, Providence will
open for us some way or another. O that the door was open for my coming
over! Perhaps it may be ere the Summer is over. Grant it, O GOD, for
JESUS CHRIST’s sake! I have sometimes the hopes of being braced up
again for a little future service. With some difficulty I preach four
or five times a week; but you would scarce know me, I am so swoln with
wind, and so corpulent. Blessed be GOD for the prospect of a glorious
resurrection! For the present, adieu. I fear the ship will be gone.
GOD bless you all. Pray do you and Mr. _D――――_ be particular in your
accounts. Hearty love to Mrs. _P――――l_: GOD comfort her. You will
shew this to Mr. _D――――_. I must add no more, but hearty love and ten
thousand thanks from, my dear friends,
Yours, &c. &c. in our glorious Head,
_G. W._
♦LETTER MCCLXV.
_To Mr. S―――― S――――._
_Rodborough, May 21, 1762._
_My very dear Friend_,
THOUGH I hope to be in _London_ on _Tuesday_ or _Wednesday_ next, yet
I cannot come thither without troubling you with another line. Blessed
be GOD, it leaves me in better bodily health, than when I wrote last.
Through divine mercy, preaching four or five times a week did not hurt
me; and twice or thrice I have been enabled to take the field: in my
opinion, a greater honour than to be monarch of the universe. _London_
cares, and _London_ labours, I expect, will soon bring me low again.
But as Messrs. _D――――_ and _K――――_ are coming up, I hope soon to slip
away and get strength, and then hunt for precious souls again. How
gladly would I bid adieu to cieled houses, and vaulted roofs! Mounts
are the best pulpits, and the heavens the best sounding-boards. O for
power equal to my will! I would fly from pole to pole, publishing the
everlasting gospel of the Son of GOD. I know you would lend me the
wings of prayer. JESUS in answer give the wings of faith and love, and
we shall then quickly soar to thy bosom, where
Sin and strife and sorrow cease,
And all is calm and joy and peace.
I write this at a house built for dear Mr. _A――――s_. From his window
is a prospect perhaps of thirty miles. I have wished you here with your
telescope. But if the footstool is so glorious, what must the throne
be? Come, LORD JESUS, come quickly! I am interrupted by company. Good
night, my very dear friend, good night! Most cordial respects await
dear Mrs. _S――――_ and your daughter. Dear Mr. _A――――s_ is weak like
myself, but joins in sending due and hearty respects. We have had most
blessed seasons. Grace! grace! In heaven you will be rewarded for all
favours conferred on
Yours, &c. &c. in the best bonds,
_G. W._
♦ “LETTRER” replaced with “LETTER”