362. Letter Dccclvii.
LETTER DCCCLVII.
T o Mr. L――.
Newcastle, Aug. 9, 1750.
My dear dying Friend, THOUGH absent in body, yet I am present with you in spirit; and whilst you are in this tabernacle of clay, as our Lord enables, you shall not be forgotten before his throne. Ere long you will be called to sit upon it; Jesus himself will rise and take you in.—And why? He hath redeemed you unto
God by his blood, and given you the first fruits of heaven already in your heart. Fear not therefore, my dear friend, to go through Jordan. The great
High Priest stands ready to guide you, and will land you safe in Canaan. I præ, sequar.—Yet a little while, and my turn will come. In heaven we shall part no more. Till then, my dear dying friend, farewel! O that I may hear that you go off in triumph. But whether this be vouchsafed or not, I know you will die in peace. To the God of peace and love do I most earnestly commend you. Let this be your joyful language,
A guilty, weak and helpless worm,
Into thy arms I fly:
Be thou my strength and righteousness, My Jesus and my all.
I send affectionate respects to both your sisters, and to Mr. B――. I pray that the Lord Jesus may love them as he loved Lazarus, Mary, and their sister Martha, and I entreat you to accept this as a token of unfeigned
Christian love, from, my very dear Sir, Yours most affectionately in our common Lord,
G. W.