_To the Reverend Mr. C――――._
_London, March 4, 1742._
_My dear Friend and Brother_,
I Remember my promise. You are to be one of my close correspondents.
I am unworthy to write to any; but love, the love of JESUS will
constrain me frequently to write to you. I hope you are not offended,
because you did not see me in _Bath_ again. The glorious _Emmanuel_
pointed out my way hither. Since I came (O amazing goodness!) he has
been wonderfully kind to me, and to his people. I am much assisted
daily, in preaching to poor sinners the unsearchable riches of CHRIST.
Life and power fly all around, and the Redeemer is getting himself
the victory daily in many hearts. Letters from abroad give me glorious
accounts. In _New-England_, the work goes on amazingly. In _Scotland_,
the awakening is greater and greater. The spirit of GOD has been
striving among the little orphans in _Georgia_, and in _Carolina_ I
hear that twelve negroes belonging to a planter, converted at the
Orphan-house, are savingly brought home to JESUS CHRIST. Indeed the
LORD is about to do great things. “Blessed are the eyes that see the
things which we see; blessed are the ears that hear the things that we
hear;” blessed are those that the LORD employs as his own children, to
bring about his great designs. O that my dear Mr. _C――――_ may be made
a flaming fire, and a spiritual father to thousands! Dear Mr. _T――――_,
who was so kind as to come and see me last night, I trust is coming on.
I hope both you and him will experience a solid establishment in the
grace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. There is no rest here, no true solid
lasting rest, till we come to this. Our hearts are deceitful above
all things. We seek rest in outward things. We change our places,
circumstances, and stations;――but if JESUS loves us, he will put a
thorn in the place where we would fain nestle. A soul that has had
some awakenings, and been wandring from CHRIST, is like _Noah_’s dove
which could find no rest for the sole of its foot, till it came back
to the ark again. This ark is CHRIST, and when we are safely locked
in there, and the soul hath received an abiding witness, then out of
the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. This is the reason why
JESUS bid his disciples to wait for the promise of the Father. Filled
with this, the woman of _Samaria_ could not but call on others to come
and see. And were we but animated, led and influenced by this spirit,
what a blessed union would there be among all the churches of JESUS
CHRIST? It is a want of more of this, that now at present disunites
us. I despair therefore of a greater union, till a greater measure
of the spirit be poured from on high. Hence, therefore, I am resolved
simply to preach the gospel of CHRIST, and leave others to quarrel
by and with themselves. To contend, where there is no probability
of convincing, only feeds and adds fuel to an unhallow’d fire,
which a misguided zeal kindles in the heart. Love, forbearance,
long-suffering, and frequent prayer to your dear LORD JESUS, is the
best way to extinguish and put it out. O love, true, simple, christian,
undissembled love, whither art thou fled! The language of my heart
is,――But whither am I going? You see, my friend, how freely I write.
The blessed JESUS warms and fills me, whilst I am writing. I know,
though I am unworthy, you will send me a line in return. Methinks
I could wash your feet. Methinks, I long to see your shackles drop
off, and your soul free for the uninterrupted service of the best of
masters. Faith in his bloody wounds is the only means. LORD, evermore
give my dear friend and his wife living faith, which may purify their
hearts, enable them to overcome the world, and will work by love! The
LORD make you both as little children before him! This is the prayer
of, dear Mr. _C――――_,
Yours affectionately in CHRIST,
_G. W._