_To Mr. ――――._
_London, Dec. 5, 1752._
_My dear Friend_,
HOW does love meet love! Your long expected letter came last night, and as the box of books hath been gone some days, I answer you before day this morning. My dear friend, good-morrow! Blessed be GOD, that the day dawns, and that the day-star hath risen in your heart. May the Redeemer give you a _Benjamin_’s mess every hour! He is our great _Joseph_, and loves to say to his guilty brethren, “Come near me.” Out of his fulness we may all receive even grace for grace. O how does he continually watch over us for good! I thought the obstructions that lay in my way to _York_, were not for nothing. Our times are in our LORD’s hands. We are immortal till our work is done. This, this shall be the cry of my soul:
_LORD, at thy command I’ll go,_ _And to the world will gladly tell,_ _That they a risen CHRIST may know,_ _That they the love of CHRIST may feel._
Assured of such a bidding, we may say with _Luther_, “If there was as many devils lying in wait, as there are tiles on the houses, we need not fear.” Who knows but in Spring we may have a fair field fight? We can do all things through CHRIST strengthening us. Methinks I long to range in your parts, and come to _Leeds_ again. The persons mentioned need not bid me to remember them. I cannot forget either them or you night or day. O that we may make some large advances in the divine life, before we see each other. When will that be? Perhaps in Spring; perhaps not till we meet in heaven.
_There we shall see CHRIST’s face,_ _and never, never sin;_ _There, from the riches of his grace,_ _Drink endless pleasures in._
Hasten, LORD, that blessed time! Till then, grant us, we beseech thee, an heaven upon earth! Such we have at the Tabernacle indeed. Last Lord’s-day we had, if possible, a more blessed sacrament than the former.
_How sweet, how awful was the place,_ _With CHRIST within the doors,_ _When everlasting Love display’d,_ _The choicest of his stores!_
I must break off this delightful subject. Farewel. Pray for us. Remember me in the kindest manner to all. My wife heartily joins with
Yours, &c. _G. W._