_To Mr. ――――._
_Gibraltar, Feb. 25, 1738._
_Dear Mr. ――――_,
I Should think myself unworthy of your friendship, did I not send you
a line now GOD has brought me in safety hither. I know you will give
thanks, and therefore, GOD forbid I should sin against the LORD in not
informing you of it.――Your prayers have already been heard; for GOD
(ever adored be his free grace in CHRIST JESUS) hath been with us of
a truth. He hath led us through the sea, as through a wilderness, and
brought us to a haven, where I am honoured with many honours.――Any one
that knows _Gibraltar_ would be apt to say, Can any good come out from
thence? Yes, I assure you, there may; for there are some that are not
ashamed of the gospel of CHRIST. About six o’clock this morning I went
to the church, where was assembled a number of decent soldiers praying
and singing psalms to CHRIST as GOD. They meet constantly three times
a day, and I intend, GOD willing, henceforward to meet them. For my
delight is in the saints who are in the earth, and those that excel
in virtue. I have talked with some of them, and, blessed be GOD, can
find the marks of the new birth in them. They pray without ceasing,
have overcome the world, hate sin, as sin, love their enemies and one
another. They glory in the cross of CHRIST, and rejoice that they are
accounted worthy to suffer shame for the sake of CHRIST. O, who would
but travel to see how the spirit of GOD is moving on the faces of
poor sinners souls up and down the world! GOD, I find, has a people
every where; CHRIST has a flock, though but a little flock, in all
places.――GOD be praised, that we are of this flock, and that it will
be our Father’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom!――_Gibraltar_
is blessed with a governor, who hath not absented himself from
public worship, unless when he was sick, for these seven years, and
yet is very moderate towards the dissenters. Both conformists and
nonconformists perform public worship, though at different times of
the day, in the same place: They also have a religious society. The
good LORD prosper this work of their hands upon them. Whenever we
go away, may we leave a blessing behind us. He is a prayer-hearing
GOD.――Yesterday a major of one of the regiments, unknown to me, took
two handsome rooms, and sent for me from on board, desiring me to
lodge in them; and I find the people of the house fear GOD.――“When
I sent you without scrip or shoe, lacked you any thing?” said our
LORD. They said nothing.――O, dear Mr. ――――, I beseech you abound in
thanksgiving, and pray that all these blessings may humble my proud
heart, and make me willing to follow the Lamb whithersoever he shall
lead me. Assure yourself, that you and all your christian friends are
constantly prayed for by, dear Sir,
Your’s most affectionately in the LORD JESUS,
_G. W._