Chapter CDXLVII: Letter DCCCCXLIII: To Mr. ――――

_London, Dec. 5, 1752._

_My dear Friend_,

HOW does love meet love! Your long expected letter came last night, and as the box of books hath been gone some days, I answer you before day this morning. My dear friend, good-morrow! Blessed be GOD, that the day dawns, and that the day-star hath risen in your heart. May the Redeemer give you a _Benjamin_’s mess every hour! He is our great _Joseph_, and loves to say to his guilty brethren, “Come near me.” Out of his fulness we may all receive even grace for grace. O how does he continually watch over us for good! I thought the obstructions that lay in my way to _York_, were not for nothing. Our times are in our LORD’s hands. We are immortal till our work is done. This, this shall be the cry of my soul:

_LORD, at thy command I’ll go,_
_And to the world will gladly tell,_
_That they a risen CHRIST may know,_
_That they the love of CHRIST may feel._

Assured of such a bidding, we may say with _Luther_, “If there was as many devils lying in wait, as there are tiles on the houses, we need not fear.” Who knows but in Spring we may have a fair field fight? We can do all things through CHRIST strengthening us. Methinks I long to range in your parts, and come to _Leeds_ again. The persons mentioned need not bid me to remember them. I cannot forget either them or you night or day. O that we may make some large advances in the divine life, before we see each other. When will that be? Perhaps in Spring; perhaps not till we meet in heaven.

_There we shall see CHRIST’s face,_
_and never, never sin;_
_There, from the riches of his grace,_
_Drink endless pleasures in._

Hasten, LORD, that blessed time! Till then, grant us, we beseech thee, an heaven upon earth! Such we have at the Tabernacle indeed. Last Lord’s-day we had, if possible, a more blessed sacrament than the former.

_How sweet, how awful was the place,_
_With CHRIST within the doors,_
_When everlasting Love display’d,_
_The choicest of his stores!_

I must break off this delightful subject. Farewel. Pray for us. Remember me in the kindest manner to all. My wife heartily joins with

Yours, &c.
_G. W._