_To the Right Honourable the Lord L――――._
_Edinburgh, October 26, 1741._ _My Lord_,
IT is now past eleven at night; all is wrapt in awful silence. My soul is in a quiet composed frame. I have been giving your Lordship’s letter a second reading, with aspirations to GOD whilst I perused it. Surely GOD has not let me wrestle with him in vain. The Holy Spirit seems to be moving upon the face of your soul. I trust GOD hath said, “Let there be light,” and therefore there is light. O that the work may be carried on, till you enter into that rest which remains for the people of GOD. I trust your Lordship will now awake into a new world, and know what it is to live by faith. Did I not know the power of CHRIST’s blood, I should fear for you. But I commend you to a glorious Redeemer, that will certainly take care of you. As I left your Lordship’s house, I was thinking, that the narrow escape your Lordship had between the stones, foreboded something good. JESUS has taken care of you when in your blood. I hope he is now passing by you, and saying unto you, “Live.” O that the stone of infidelity, which before lay at the door of your heart, may be now rolled away! O that you may rise, be loosed from your corruptions, and go about doing good! Satan will not let you go without much opposition. He will desire to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But if JESUS prays for you, all will be well. The comfort which you had with him in reading the psalms, is a taste of the food believers daily eat, and which the carnal world knows nothing of. My Lord, if you could be brought once to love secret prayer, and to converse feelingly with GOD in his word, your heaven will begin on earth; you will enjoy more pleasure than in all manner of riches. What will those avail, if you are not rich towards GOD? Be, therefore, my Lord, much in secret retirement. Commune with your own heart in your chamber, and be still, and you will then hear the secret whispers of the Holy Ghost. As for praying in your family, I intreat you, my Lord, not to neglect it. You are bound to do it. Apply to CHRIST for strength to overcome your present fears. They are the effects of pride, or infidelity, or of both. After once or twice, the difficulty will be over. O that the blessed Spirit may enable you to make intercession with groaning that cannot be uttered! It rejoices me to think, that I shall one day perhaps see a church in _Melvill_ house. Happy, happy are you, my Lord, in having such a consort, who will forward your Lordship in every good word and work. How sweet will it be for you to go early to your devotions, striving to live like the first happy pair, before they had eaten the forbidden fruit. As GOD shall enable me, I shall bear you both upon my heart. GOD forbid that I should sin against him in ceasing to pray for you. My riding upon your Lordship’s horse, will often remind me to pray for the donor. My Lord, you are upon my heart. Methinks I would undergo the pangs of the new birth for you; but JESUS can carry you through. Fear not. Go on in his strength, and your Lordship will be enabled to stand the shock of all. I should be glad to hear, from time to time, what the LORD is doing for your soul. Since your Lordship has laid your commands upon me, I shall write as often as possible. If your Lordship is pleased to write within this week, a letter may be directed to me at Mrs. _J――――_’s, in _Abergavenny_. If afterwards, at Mr. _S――――_’s, Grocer, in _Wine-street_, _Bristol_. Your Lordship may depend on my secresy; no one hath seen your Lordship’s letter, but Mr. _S――――_, who copies this, and who is as my own soul. His prayers, I trust, will benefit your Lordship. His humble respects await both you and your lady. Once more, I pray GOD to bless you both together. But it is late, the clock has struck twelve. Methinks I could wish the cry was now made, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh.” My soul longs to go forth to meet him. This evening I was greatly refreshed by preaching on these words, “This is my beloved, and this is my friend, oh daughters of _Jerusalem_.” O when shall I see him as he is! Well may your Lordship say, “He is altogether lovely.” The more you know him, the more you will have reason to commend him. Eternity is too short to utter all his praise. With a heart full of affection and thanks for all favours, I beg leave to subscribe myself, my Lord,
Your Lordship’s most obliged humble servant,