_To the Right Honourable Lord R――――._
_Gloucester, Dec. 19, 1741._
_My Lord_,
THIS comes to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship’s kind letter,
dated _November 9th_. Business has prevented my answering it sooner.
The LORD is yet pleased to deal bountifully with me. In _England_,
as well as _Scotland_, the Redeemer is riding on from conquering to
conquer. About Spring I hope to see _Scotland_ again, and then, if
possible, I will come as far as your Lordship’s house. I have lately
been at _Bristol_, and _London_, and have had the pleasure of seeing
the church walk in the comforts of the Holy Ghost. I have preached
here twice every day, for some days last past. The LORD greatly
countenances my administrations, and gives me constant peace and
uninterrupted joy in believing. This is what, I trust, our glorious
_Emmanuel_ will confer upon your Lordship. CHRIST wills that our joy
should be full; but we entangle ourselves with the world, we indulge
ourselves in sensual pleasures, we trifle away our time in what the
world calls innocent diversions, and thereby we grieve the spirit of
GOD, and lose the comforts we should otherwise enjoy, from a close
walk and communion with GOD. Most complain of a deadness and leanness
in their souls; what is it owing to? Not to GOD, but to ourselves. We
leave GOD, and then GOD leaves us. Not that we can keep ourselves by
our own faithfulness; but notwithstanding, we must be faithful, and
workers together with GOD. I know not why I am led to write thus to
your Lordship, but nothing else occurs to my mind at present. I am
athirst for holiness myself, and long to see others athirst also. O
my LORD! I see such beauty and transcendent excellencies in CHRIST,
that I long to have his whole mind and image stamped upon my soul.
Nothing can satisfy me, but the highest degrees of sanctification and
inward holiness. Here, I believe, I am laudably ambitious. My Saviour
wills my sanctification, my Saviour would have me filled with all
the fulness of GOD. Even so LORD JESUS come quickly! Dear Mr. _S――――_
humbly salutes your Lordship, and prays for your temporal and eternal
welfare, with, my LORD,
Your Lordship’s most obedient, obliged humble servant,
_G. W._