_To Mr. H._
_Margate, Jan. 9, 1738._
_Dear Sir_,
HITHER the good providence of GOD has safely brought us; our ship
cast anchor near this town, and my dear fellow-traveller and I came
on shore (to our great comfort) to buy some things we wanted. We have
been most courteously treated by the curate of the place, and had
some christian conversation. The winds and storms are blustering about
our ears, and teaching us lessons of obedience to him, whom winds and
storms obey. GOD give us grace to learn them. Mr. _B._ can inform you,
what other particulars have happened to us, since we left you; I need
only add, that the divine goodness attends us wherever we go. Oh dear
Sir! who would but leave their few ragged, tattered nets to follow
JESUS CHRIST? Who would but follow the Lamb wheresoever he shall be
pleased to lead? Pray, _dear Sir_, that I may always do so, and then,
I am sure, GOD will never leave or forsake me. You see, dear Sir, I
have answered your kind letter much sooner than expectation, in order
to express how sincerely I value your friendship, though you differ
from me in some outward modes. Indeed, Sir, I hope the favours I have
received from you and others of your christian brethren, will never go
out of my mind; but I shall often plead them (as I have done already)
at the throne of grace. I would willingly be of so catholic a spirit,
as to love the image of my divine master, wherever I see it: I am far
from thinking GOD’s grace is confined to any set of men whatsoever:
no, I know the partition-wall is now broken down, and that JESUS
CHRIST came to redeem people out of all nations and languages and
tongues; and therefore his benefits are not to be confined to this or
that particular set of professors. I only wish, that I may have grace
given me to preach the truth, as it is in JESUS; and then, come what
will, I hope I shall (as I do, blessed be GOD) rejoice.
You know, Sir, what a design I am going upon, and what a stripling I
am for so great a work; but I stand forth as _David_ against _Goliah_
in the name of the LORD of HOSTS, and I doubt not, but he that has and
doth, will still deliver unto the end. GOD give me a deep humility, a
well-guided zeal, a burning love, and a single eye, and then let men
or devils do their worst.――Dear Sir, I could write more, but nature
calls for rest. Be pleased to give my hearty love to all you and
I know, and acquaint them, how safe I am here; for otherwise the
tempestuous night might put them and others in pain for, _Dear Sir_,
Your unworthy, though affectionate friend,
_G. W._