_To the Right Honourable Lady Mary H――――._
_Abergavenny, Dec. 24, 1741._ _Honoured Madam_,
THIS morning I received your Ladyship’s kind letter; when perused, I laid it before the LORD of all Lords, and prayed for you and yours with all my power. My dear wife and Mr. _S――――_ joined heartily with me, and by this send their most humble respects. We do not despair of waiting upon your Ladyship next Spring: but ere that time, we may be all launched into the world of spirits, where we shall sing glory to him that sitteth upon the throne for ever. Does not your Ladyship long for that happy hour? Methinks I hear you ready to say
I. _How long, great GOD! how long must I, Immers’d in this dark prison lie? When shall I leave this dusky sphere, And be all mind, all eye, all ear?_
II. _I long to see that excellence, Which at such distance strikes my sense; My soul attempts to disengage Her wings from this her earthly cage._
III. _Wouldst thou, Great Love, once set her free, Hast’ning she’d quick unite to thee; She’d for no guardian angels stay, But fly and love thro’ all the way._
This, I believe, was the language of your honoured mother’s heart, who is now joined with the heavenly choir above. Methinks I hear her say, “Daughter, follow me as I followed CHRIST; aspire after the highest degrees of holiness, for the more holy you are, the nearer shall you sit to the GOD-Man CHRIST JESUS, the deeper insight shall you have into the beatific vision.” This, honoured Madam, is a great motive to my soul to copy after my glorious JESUS. Blessed be GOD, that made my letter savory to your soul. For this, and all other mercies, I desire to lie in the dust, and kiss the Redeemer’s feet. I do not wonder that _Mary_ loved to sit there: I do not wonder that another _Mary_ wiped them with the hairs of her head. Was my LORD here, I should wish for a thousand alabaster boxes of ointment, to break for him. But JESUS says, “Give me thy heart, and I desire no more.” My soul replies,
_Take my poor heart, and let it be For ever clos’d to all but thee; Seal thou my breast, and let me wear That pledge of love for ever there._
_How blest are they who still abide, Close shelter’d in thy bleeding side; Who life and strength from thence derive, And by thee move, and in thee live._
O honoured Madam, I am amazed at JESUS’s love. I willingly, join with you in saying, “Amen, Hallelujah! Worthy, indeed, is the Lamb that was slain.” I bless GOD for enlarging your heart, and giving you freedom to write. It is sweet to communicate our thoughts of JESUS. I hope the LORD will bless this to your Ladyship, and reward you for all past favours. My humble respects attend Mr. _H――――_, and my hearty love to your little lambs. I prayed for them this morning. When I go to town, I hope to wait upon the _Marquis_.――――I have been a short circuit into _Gloucestershire_, and find the divine presence accompanying me more and more. O that I was humble! O that I was thankful!
I. _And can it be that I should gain An interest in the Saviour’s blood? Died he for such as caus’d his pain, Sinners who him to death pursu’d?_
II. _’Tis mystery all, Messiah dies; Who can explore this strange design? In vain the curious seraph tries To sound the depths of love divine._
But whither am I going? Your Ladyship will excuse me; whilst I am writing, the fire kindles.
_Thro’ all eternity to GOD, A grateful song I’ll raise; But O eternity’s to short, To utter all his praise._
With expectation of another letter, and with hearty prayers for your temporal and spiritual welfare, I subscribe myself, honoured Madam,
Your Ladyship’s obedient servant,