172. Letter Dclxix.
LETTER DCLXIX.
T o Mr. ――.
London, August 22, 1748.
Very dear Sir, IF any thing I have said or written has been made any way serviceable to your better part, I thank the Lord of all Lords, whose mercy endureth for ever. I trust the language of my heart towards Jesus Christ, is this:
If thou excuse, then work thy will, By so unfit an instrument; It will at once thy goodness shew, And prove thy power omnipotent.
I thank you, dear Sir, for your concern about my health. If it should please God to bring me back from Scotland to winter in town, I have thoughts of submitting to some regimen or another. At present I think it impracticable.
On Tuesday, God willing, I purpose to set out, and to go by the way of York.
I suppose it will be about a two months circuit. My journals, and last five sermons, I shall send to Mr. D――, with the journal that I have corrected.
Alas, dear Sir, so many things want altering, that what you propose for Andrew to do, would be for him a too laborious task. I heartily wish that you and doctor D―― and Mr. H―― would be pleased to revise them. I intend publishing a new edition soon. Mr. H―― is of a different opinion from Dr. D―― concerning the seventh of the Romans. Adhuc sub judice lis est. I always do as you desire in respect to Mr. W――'s sermons. My prayer for him, for myself, and friends, is this; "Lord, give us clear heads and clean hearts." I would recommend bishop Beveridge's sermons more, but they are too voluminous for the common people, and I have not read them all. I expect you will do this yourself, dear Sir, by and by, from the pulpit, and what is more, recommend his and your master to the choice of poor sinners.
You have now by your excellent letter publickly confessed him. The eyes of all will be now upon you, to see whether the truths you have delivered to others, are transcribed into your own heart and copied in your life. Now indeed may you cry, O for a strong, a lasting faith!
To credit what the Almighty saith!
Now the language of your soul should be, "how holy ought I to be in all manner of conversation and godliness." Now, dear Sir, let me entreat you to keep from trimming, or so much as attempting to reconcile two irreconcilable differences, God and the world, Christ and Belial. You know me too well to suppose I want you to turn cynic. No, live a social life. But then, dear Sir, beg of the Lord Jesus to free you from the love of the world; thence, thence arises that fear of man which now so shackles and disturbs your soul. Dare, dear Sir, to be singularly good. If Christ be your Saviour, make him a present of your pretty character. Honour him, and he will honour you. He indulges you much, and gently leads you on. Let the same
love constrain you, dear Sir, to press forwards, and never rest till you can give up children, name, life, and all into his hands who gave his precious blood for you. I could enlarge, but am called away. I make no apology for this; you say you are my friend.—Accept this, dear Sir, as a token of my believing you sincere in that profession, from Yours most affectionately in Christ Jesus,
G. W.