_To the Right Honourable the Lord L――――._
_Abergavenny, Dec. 24, 1741._
_My Lord_,
THIS day I received a letter from your Lordship, which, I find, your
Lordship wrote before my third and last came to hand, wherein I gave
your Lordship an account of the circumstance of my marriage. As soon
as I received your Lordship’s letter, I kneeled down and prayed, that
your Lordship might be entirely delivered from unbelief, and be made
a partaker of that faith, which will make you more than conqueror over
all. Blessed be GOD, for convincing you thus far. I hope the event
will prove, that JESUS is taking possession of your whole heart. Your
Lordship’s opinion of those who call themselves christians, is very
just. Free grace has opened your eyes. Your Lordship can therefore
join in the following verses, which I think applicable to your
Lordship’s case.
I.
_Long did my soul in JESU’s Form,
No comeliness or beauty see;
His sacred name by others priz’d,
Was tastless still, and dead to me._
II.
_Men call’d me christian, and my heart
On that delusion fondly staid;
Moral my hope, my Saviour self,
Till mighty grace the cheat display’d._
III.
_Thanks to the hand that wak’d my soul,
That shew’d me wretched, naked, poor;
That sweetly led me to the rock,
Where all salvation stands secure._
IV.
_Glad, I forsook my righteous pride,
My moral, tarnish’d, sinful dress;
Exchang’d my loss away for CHRIST,
And found the robe of righteousness._
If your Lordship from your soul can sing thus, fear not that JESUS
will leave you.
_O unbelief, injurious bar,
Source of tormenting fruitless fear;
Wherein thy loud objections fall,
“Tis finished,” still shall answer all._
Remember, my Lord, the Redeemer’s love is everlasting. If he has
passed by, and said unto you “Live,” you shall live for evermore;
for whosoever liveth and believeth in JESUS, shall never die. Does
my Lord believe this? Then welcome into the new world, welcome among
the despised _Israel_ of GOD, welcome into the Mediator’s kingdom,
where you shall have all peace and joy in believing. When first I was
awakened,
_Refreshed, I thought my joys compleat,
When lo! Immanuel’s bounties rise;
Still fresh discoveries he unfolds,
The lovely treasures yet surprize!_
My Lord, I now wonder no longer at the choice of _Moses_. Well might
he count the reproach of CHRIST of more value than all the riches of
_Egypt_. GOD forbid, therefore, that you or I should henceforth glory,
save in the cross of CHRIST. It will be more honour to be a suffering
servant of CHRIST, than to be the king’s commissioner. Your Lordship
will pardon this freedom. Methinks I hear you say, “There is no
comparison.” Indeed there is none. I would not change my post for ten
thousand kingdoms. Blessed be GOD, that has given you a distant view
of the emptiness of all things here below, and the insufficiency of
every thing to make us happy besides GOD. May these things be realized,
and stamped upon your Lordship’s heart! Then what a happy creature
will your Lordship be? How will it rejoice me to see your Lordship
next Spring. I know not but my friends prayers may draw me there,
about that time. In the mean while, I pray GOD from time to time to
grant you a growth of grace, that you may know what it is to abide in
GOD, and have a constant indwelling of the Holy Ghost. I rejoice to
hear that lady _Ann_ seems to look heavenward. May JESUS make her a
wise virgin! For her encouragement, I have sent an extract of a letter
lately sent to me by a friend in _London_; and that your Lordship
may know how it is with me, I have sent a copy of a letter I wrote to
that friend a day or two ago. Last night I came hither, and preached
this afternoon. I purpose shortly to go to _Gloucester_, _Bristol_,
_Wiltshire_, and so to _London_. The church there as well as elsewhere
flourishes. The time for favouring _Zion_, I believe, is indeed come.
You see, my Lord, how long my letters are, when I have freedom and
leisure. I have thought several times to write to your Lordship, but
was restrained till I received your Lordship’s letter this morning.
Be pleased to direct your next to be left with Mr. _P―――― S――――_,
_Leadenhall-street_, _London_. My prayers shall follow this. O may
JESUS breath upon it, and then it must be blessed to your soul! I
heartily and humbly salute the elect lady your wife.――May you both be
filled with all the fulness of GOD! My dear wife and Mr. _S――――_ join
heartily with me. We all plead at the throne of grace in your behalf,
and GOD alone knows, how often you are remembered and wrestled for,
by, my Lord,
Your Lordship’s most obliged humble servant,
_G. W._