_To Mr. J――――, of Toven in Wales._
_London, Nov. 18, 1742._
_My dear Brother_,
HOW sweetly does the blessed JESUS guide the meek in his way! I
believe your turning back from _Ludlow_ was of GOD. Dear brother
_H――――_ was about that time going into _Wales_, and the LORD sending
me hither (unworthy as I am) to transact affairs for you. I have seen
your letter to Mr. _L――――_, and likewise that from brother _C――――_,
to the bishop of _Bangor_. I am just now sending it to him, with a
letter from myself, desiring leave to wait upon his Lordship. What
the event will be, our LORD only knows. This, however, we know, “All
things shall work together for good to those that love GOD;” and the
gates of hell shall never prevail against the church of JESUS CHRIST.
What you have met with, is no more than might be expected long ago.
There has been a hook in the Leviathan’s jaws, or otherwise our mouths
had been stopped long before this time. I had once the honour of
being publickly arraigned, for not reading the Common Prayer in
a Meeting-house. At another time, I was taken up by a warrant for
correcting a letter wherein were these words, “Shall our Clergy break
the Canons.” The prosecutions were unjust, but there is our glory.
I remember when _Socrates_ was about to suffer, his friends grieved,
that he suffered unjustly. What, says he, would you have me suffer
justly? If we are buffetted for our faults, and take it patiently,
says a greater than _Socrates_, we are not to glory; “but if we are
reproached for CHRIST, and suffer as Christians, happy are we.” I
think our present sufferings are for him. Surely the spirit of CHRIST
and of glory will rest upon you. However, I trust this storm will
soon blow over. If possible, let an open separation from the church
be avoided. Mr. _H――――_ can tell you more by word of mouth. I trust
the glorious JESUS has sent him amongst you, in the fulness of the
blessing of the gospel of peace. He is a dear soul. I am persuaded you
are dear to him: I find you are dear to me, though I never saw you.
It is enough, that we have drank into one spirit. This creates an
indissoluble union. Pray remember my kind love to dear brother _C――――_.
I wish him joy with all my heart; but would not have him deny that
exhorting is preaching. The Chancellor will be too many for him; for
to be sure, exhorting is at least one part of preaching. Granting this,
he has warrant enough, notwithstanding, from scripture, to tell others
what GOD has done for his soul, and to bid them come and see and
believe in a precious CHRIST. O that word! How sweet is it to my soul?
It is like ointment poured forth. Had I time, I could tell you much of
his love. He has been exceeding good to me in _Scotland_: He is still
so to me here. Vile, base, ungrateful as I am, he lets me lean on his
bosom night and day. My dear brother, help me to praise him, and
engage all the brethren’s prayers in behalf of one, less than the
least of all saints, but
Yours most affectionately in CHRIST,
_G. W._