_London, July 23, 1739._
_Dear Madam_,
YOUR letter filled me with joy and with pity. Pity, to see you tempted,
joy, to find you are thought worthy of enduring temptation. Satan hath
desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But be not afraid,
JESUS CHRIST is praying for you, and your faith shall not fail. Your
master hath been in the wilderness before you, and knows by experience,
how to succour those that are tempted. Lift up then the hands that
hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees. Infidel books have
poisoned your understanding, and rivetted great pride therein. Strong
temptations are necessary to mortify that pride, and to teach you that
lowliness of heart, which our LORD calls all that are weary and heavy
laden to learn of him. Look up then to JESUS, the author and finisher
of your faith. He will send you help in every time of need. Indeed
he will never leave you, nor forsake you. Follow him as the poor
_Syrophœnician_ woman did, and though he may now turn away his face
seemingly for a while, yet he will always support you inwardly by a
living faith, and shortly give you the spirit of adoption, whereby
you will be enabled to cry, “Abba, Father.” I speak this by happy
experience. I have mourned, but now I am comforted. I have gone
through the spirit of bondage, and, for ever be adored GOD’s free
grace, he has given me the spirit of adoption. And that you also will
have this in GOD’s due time and way, is the firm belief of
Your unworthy brother, and servant in CHRIST,
_G. W._