_To the Rev. Mr. ――――_.
_Leachlade, July 18, 1739._
_Dear Sir_,
THE scene this morning much affected me; you both put me in mind,
how that happy pair, _Adam_ and _Eve_, looked when arraign’d by the
Almighty after having eaten the forbidden fruit. Behold the same
remedy reached out to you as to them.――The seed of the woman shall
bruise the serpent’s head.――Look up to him whom you have pierced.――He
will heal your backslidings and love you freely.――Had he not loved you
both, both of you ere now would have been given over to a reprobate
mind. I know the time, when you both were enlightned, when you
tasted the good word of GOD, and felt the powers of the world to
come.――Honour, falsely so called, has caused you to draw back, but I
believe not unto perdition. JESUS is still striving with your heart.
Come to him by faith, renounce the world, and he will yet delight to
honour you. “Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.”
Mention not old things, let all things become new. I love both of you
from my heart. Come forth, and be ye separate, saith the LORD almighty.
Break with the world at once, and you shall become fools for CHRIST’s
sake. What if your wife sent some such letter as the following to her
parents.
_Honoured Father and Mother_,
THE contents of this letter will surprize you, but I can no longer
halt between GOD and the world; the happy convictions, that GOD once
put into my heart, now arise in my mind, I will no longer be an almost
christian. I am resolved to become a fool for CHRIST’s sake. Blessed
be GOD Mr. _M――――_ is like-minded.――Hitherto have I hindered him in
his spiritual progress, GOD forbid I should do it any longer. Hence
forward will we go hand in hand together, and naked follow a naked
CHRIST.――
Dearest Mr.――――, I am ever yours,
_G. W._