“PORTSMOUTH, _April 28, 1750_.
“MY VERY DEAR FRIEND AND BROTHER,—Your letter should have had
an immediate answer, if the least leisure had offered when in
town. But there I am continually hurried, and had scarce time
to eat bread. However, our Lord gave me meat which the world
knows not of, and enabled me to preach three or four times a
day to great multitudes, and, I trust, with great blessings.
“Fear not your weak body. We are immortal till our work is
done. Christ’s labourers must live by miracle; if not, I must
not live at all; for God only knows what I daily endure. My
continual vomitings almost kill me, and yet the pulpit is my
cure. I speak this to encourage you. Persons whose writings
are to be blessings must have some thorns in the flesh. Your
disorders, like mine, I believe, are, as yet, only to humble,
not to kill us. Though I long to go to heaven, yet I am apt to
think we are not to die presently, but live and declare the
works of the Lord—you by your pen; I by my tongue. Courage, my
dear, very dear Mr. Hervey; courage! When we are weak, then are
we strong.
“But to your letter. How shall we contrive to meet? I purpose
being at Olney next Sunday seven-night, and in a day or two
after at Northampton. I wish I could have a line from you. Your
(Meditations) are now printing at Philadelphia. Why do you not
sit for your picture? The Lord be with you. I love you most
tenderly. I thank you ten thousand times for all favours, and
am, very dear friend, yours most affectionately, and eternally,
in our Lord Jesus,
“G. WHITEFIELD.”
The programme was carried out; and the old friends met. Whitefield
writes:—
“ASHLEY, _May 11, 1750_.
“I preached last Lord’s-day at Olney.[189] We had two sweet
seasons. A great multitude attended. On the Monday, about six
miles from Northampton, I had a private interview with Dr.
Stonehouse, Dr. Doddridge, Messrs. Hervey and Hartley. On the
Tuesday, I preached, in the morning, to Dr. Doddridge’s family,
and, in the afternoon, to about two thousand in the field.
Dr. Stonehouse, Mr. Hervey, etc., attended me, and walked
with me along the street; so that, I hope, the physician will
now turn his back upon the world. I expounded at his house in
the evening, and am, hereafter, to come to it as my own. On
Tuesday, I preached twice at Kettering to several thousands.
On Wednesday, I came hither, and found good Lady Huntingdon,
though very weak, yet, better than I expected.”