_To Mrs. H._
_Oxon, July 7, 1736._
_Dear Mrs. H._,
WHAT shall I say in defence of my seemingly ungrateful silence? Why, I
hope, your kindness will accept of the reasons I gave in Mrs. _Well_’s
letter, as a sufficient excuse for it, nothing but those, I assure
you, being the cause of it. Well then, presuming on your kind pardon,
give me leave, (after all acknowledgments of gratitude for kindnesses
received) to bid you once more welcome to _Gloucester_, and to wish
you and Mr. _H._ with all my soul, the greatest comfort, that either
this or the other world can afford you. It’s true, indeed, we must not
expect much comfort here, except what results from a good conviction
that we are in a safe state, by being born again of the Holy Ghost.
This, will afford us inexpressible satisfaction, even on this side the
grave. It will give us ease in pain, because we know, if we bear it
patiently, it will end in glory. This, will make us meek and gentle
under crosses and disappointments, because we know we are taught to
expect them, and that our blessed Master has gone before us in them.
In short, it will make us easy in every station, because we have a
general promise, that all things shall work for good to them that
love GOD. But supposing we were to have no pleasure on this side of
Heaven, yet the thoughts of being happy, and that too for all eternity
hereafter, methinks should teach us to bear up under every calamity
here, not only with submission, but a holy joy. Good GOD! the very
idea of what we are to be in glory, transports me while I am writing.
There, there, Mrs. _H._ we shall see the blessed JESUS, whom our souls
have so eagerly thirsted after in this life, surrounded with glory,
and attended with myriads of his holy angels, who will rejoice at our
safe arrival to their happy mansions, and with repeated echoes welcome
us to heaven. There, there, we shall not only see, but live with him
and enjoy him too, not for a day, a month, a year, an age, but to all
eternity. And who can tell the pleasure, comfort, peace, joy, delight,
and transport, a glorified saint will feel in the possession of his
wished-for, longed-for, ever adorable, ever gracious, blessed, beloved,
triune GOD, and that for ever? Surely the happiness will be so great,
that eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither can the heart of man
conceive the thousandth part thereof. And yet, great as it is, I
not only wish, but have good hope through CHRIST, that not only you
and Mr. _H._ but all my christian friends, and even I myself through
grace, shall one day be partakers of it. The way and means we know.
“If any one, says CHRIST, will come after me (to glory) let him
renounce himself.” _i. e._ make his own will no principle of action,
be no self-pleaser, “and take up his cross” patiently (whether of
sickness or outward circumstances, &c.) “and then let him follow
me,” follow me in a way of duty here, and he shall follow me to glory
hereafter. May we all be such followers of the blessed JESUS! And why
should we despair of becoming such? What is there in CHRIST’s doctrine
or example but that we may all, through the assistance of the Holy
Spirit, imitate him in? Suppose it does oblige us to be a little
stricter than our neighbours? Suppose it does forbid us spending too
much time in the seemingly-innocent entertainments of the age? Suppose
it does command us to be constant and frequent in prayer, in watchings,
fastings, and other acts of mortification? Suppose it does bid us not
to indulge our unruly passions; but to learn of CHRIST to be meek,
patient, and lowly? Suppose it does compel us to redeem our time, to
fill up every day with proper duty and devotion? Yet, what in all this,
that is terrible? Has not such a behaviour a natural tendency to make
us calm, easy, peaceful, happy? And then, why should we refuse so easy
a yoke, so light a burden? I am sure the little (alas! too, too little)
time I have drawn in it, I have found it not galling but healing, and
the longer I bear it, the easier and pleasanter it is. Let us then,
Dear Mrs. _H._ chearfully take it upon us, and then
_No mortal living of us all can miss
A permanent, a sure substantial bliss._
Your sincere, though very unworthy friend and humble servant,
_G. W._