_To Mr. A――――, in London._
_Bristol, Nov. 30, 1741._
_My very dear Brother_,
I Thank you for your kind letter. Though I hope to see you on _Friday_,
yet love constrains me to send you an answer. I rejoice that your
soul is thirsting for holiness. GOD grant it may never cease till
you experience the full and glorious liberty of his children. I see
plainly how satan loves to drive to extremes. Since there is no such
thing as having the in-being of sin destroyed, he would not have
people press after a delivery from the power of it. This is also owing
to the corruption of our own hearts. The old man doth not love to be
crucified and slain; but I hope the language of your heart and mine is
this,
_Reign in me, LORD, thy foes controul,
That would refuse thy sway;
Diffuse thy image thro’ my soul,
And bring the perfect day._
_Scatter the last remains of sin,
And seal me thine abode;
O set me purified within;
A temple meet for GOD._
_My root of holiness thou art,
For faith hath made thee mine;
With all thy fulness fill my heart,
Till I am wholly thine._
No wonder, when we come to be thus minded, if carnal ministers, and
carnal professors of all kinds, cry out against us. Nay, even some
who have tasted that the LORD is gracious, having slumbered and slept,
and mixed too much with the world, even such frequently fight against
their privileges, and rest in an infant state of piety. But, I believe,
the LORD will rouse them, and let the world know, what the blood of
JESUS can and will do. Blessed be his name, we have a growing church
at _Bristol_. Yesterday, and several other times, the LORD hath filled
many as with new wine. Sometimes I scarce have known whether I have
been in or out of the body; but, I find, the more I receive of grace,
the more I desire to lie as a poor, very poor sinner at the feet of
the wounded Lamb. Several have just now been with me, who have this
last week, especially yesterday, drank deep of divine love. They are
now full of the comforts of the Holy Ghost. I pray that they may walk
humbly with their GOD; for it is a good thing to know how to manage
a manifestation aright: nature so frequently and artfully blends with
grace, that, for want of a close watch and tender walk, we grieve the
Holy Spirit. Hence arise deadness and darkness in the soul. Unbelief
creeps in, the chariot wheels of divine love are taken off, and the
soul drives heavily. Let us, therefore, my dear brother, live a life
of great nearness to JESUS; and labour day by day to perfect holiness
in the fear of GOD. There is a glorious rest to be entered into even
here. May the LORD make us partakers of it! But why should I in the
least doubt it?
_Thou wilt give strength, thou wilt give power, thou wilt in
time set free:
This, great Deliverer, let me hope; this, not for self, but
Thee._
For the present, adieu!
Yours most affectionately in CHRIST,
_G. W._