_To Dr. W――――._
_Ashby-Place, Jan. 29, 1751._
_My very dear Sir_,
IT is high time to answer your kind letter. I am doing it at _Ashby_, whither I rid post, not knowing whether I should see good Lady _H――――n_ alive. Blessed be GOD, she is somewhat better, and I trust will not yet die, but live and abound more and more in the work of the LORD. Entreat all our friends to pray for her. Indeed she is worthy. Her sister-in-law, Lady _Frances H――――_, lies dead in the house. She was a retired christian, lived silently, and died suddenly without a groan. May my exit be like hers! Whether right or not, I cannot help wishing that I may go off in the same manner. To me it is worse than death, to live to be nursed, and see friends weeping about one. Sudden death, is sudden glory. Methinks it is falling a sleep indeed, or rather a translation. But all this must be left to our heavenly Father. He knows what is best for us and others. Let it be our care to have all things ready. Let the house of our hearts, and our temporal affairs be put in order immediately, that we may have nothing to do but to obey the summons, though it should be at evening, cock-crowing, or in the morning. Physicians that are always attending on the dying, one would imagine should in a peculiar manner learn to die daily. May this be your daily employ! I believe it is; though, like me, you must complain that the old man dies hard. Well, has he got his deadly blow? Die then he shall, even that death to which he put our LORD. O that the language of our hearts may always be, “Crucify, crucify him.” This is painful. But the Redeemer can help us to bear it.
_Thou wilt give strength, thou wilt give power;_ _Thou wilt in time set free;_ _This great deliverance let us hope,_ _Not for ourselves, but thee!_
I write this out of the fulness of my heart. You will receive it as such, and remember me in the best manner to all friends. We have had good times. All glory be to JESUS through all eternity!
Yours, &c. _G. W._