_Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._
_Dear Mrs. F._,
THE LORD
reward you for all your works of faith and labours of love! They
shall be brought forth as so many evidences of your lively faith,
when we meet before our LORD in judgment. Does not the prospect of
that glorious day, often fill your soul with joy? It does mine. Why?
Because I know my Redeemer is to be my judge. Satan will accuse me; my
answer shall be, the LORD JESUS is my righteousness, how darest thou
to lay any thing to the charge of GOD’s Elect? I stand here not in my
own, but his robes; and though I deserve nothing as a debt, yet I know
he will give me a reward of grace, and recompence me for what he has
done in and by me, as though I had done it by my own power. Oh, dear
Mrs. _F._ how ought this to excite our zeal and love for the holy
JESUS. Why should we desire to plead for a righteousness of our own,
and cry up freewill, when we have an infinitely better righteousness
than our own to appear in, and a GOD that will crown us with eternal
glory for working in us both to will and to do after his good
pleasure? Happy are you and your’s, that have been taught these
glorious principles from your youth! Oh shew them forth more and
more by your works, and let the world see what it is to have a faith
working by love. Study, oh study, day by day, the simplicity of JESUS
CHRIST. Cast away every thing from you that savours of the lust of
the eye and pride of life. Be quick to hear, slow to speak, and let
your conversation always be seasoned with grace. Oh, dear Mrs. _F._ my
heart is enlarged towards you: My kind, my liberal hostess, what shall
I say or do to express my gratitude? I will, I do speak for you to the
king of kings. Though I am so great a sinner, he frequently admits
me into his privy chamber, and then I often sigh out, “O that my dear
_Hertford_ friends may live before thee.” This is all the return, dear
Mrs. _F._ that I can make. It is a prophet’s reward. Being my all,
though but two mites, I know you will accept it from
Your most obliged friend and servant,
_G. W._