Chapter CCXCVIII: Letter MCCLXIV: To Mrs. C――――

_Bristol, May 4, 1762._

_Dear Mrs. C――――_,

YOUR kind letter came to hand a few days ago. The convoy being driven back, gives me an opportunity of returning you hearty thanks. Mr. _R――――_’s draught will lie hard upon me; but I will endeavour to get it paid. I am glad _A――――w_ and _G――――r_ are put out. It would have saved me pounds to have had it done long ago. As it is war time, nobody can blame you for lessening the family to the utmost. The intended change at _Ephrata_ pleaseth me much. I see if we will wait, Providence will open for us some way or another. O that the door was open for my coming over! Perhaps it may be ere the Summer is over. Grant it, O GOD, for JESUS CHRIST’s sake! I have sometimes the hopes of being braced up again for a little future service. With some difficulty I preach four or five times a week; but you would scarce know me, I am so swoln with wind, and so corpulent. Blessed be GOD for the prospect of a glorious resurrection! For the present, adieu. I fear the ship will be gone. GOD bless you all. Pray do you and Mr. _D――――_ be particular in your accounts. Hearty love to Mrs. _P――――l_: GOD comfort her. You will shew this to Mr. _D――――_. I must add no more, but hearty love and ten thousand thanks from, my dear friends,

Yours, &c. &c. in our glorious Head,

_G. W._

♦LETTER MCCLXV.

_To Mr. S―――― S――――._

_Rodborough, May 21, 1762._

_My very dear Friend_,

THOUGH I hope to be in _London_ on _Tuesday_ or _Wednesday_ next, yet I cannot come thither without troubling you with another line. Blessed be GOD, it leaves me in better bodily health, than when I wrote last. Through divine mercy, preaching four or five times a week did not hurt me; and twice or thrice I have been enabled to take the field: in my opinion, a greater honour than to be monarch of the universe. _London_ cares, and _London_ labours, I expect, will soon bring me low again. But as Messrs. _D――――_ and _K――――_ are coming up, I hope soon to slip away and get strength, and then hunt for precious souls again. How gladly would I bid adieu to cieled houses, and vaulted roofs! Mounts are the best pulpits, and the heavens the best sounding-boards. O for power equal to my will! I would fly from pole to pole, publishing the everlasting gospel of the Son of GOD. I know you would lend me the wings of prayer. JESUS in answer give the wings of faith and love, and we shall then quickly soar to thy bosom, where

Sin and strife and sorrow cease,
And all is calm and joy and peace.

I write this at a house built for dear Mr. _A――――s_. From his window is a prospect perhaps of thirty miles. I have wished you here with your telescope. But if the footstool is so glorious, what must the throne be? Come, LORD JESUS, come quickly! I am interrupted by company. Good night, my very dear friend, good night! Most cordial respects await dear Mrs. _S――――_ and your daughter. Dear Mr. _A――――s_ is weak like myself, but joins in sending due and hearty respects. We have had most blessed seasons. Grace! grace! In heaven you will be rewarded for all favours conferred on

Yours, &c. &c. in the best bonds,

_G. W._

♦ “LETTRER” replaced with “LETTER”