_To Mr. G――――._
_Norwich, April 17, 1753._
_Dear Mr. G――――_,
IT hath given me concern, that your letter, with Mr. _D――――_’s and Miss _A――――_’s, have lain by me so long unanswered. Business, and not want of love, hath prevented my writing. Was it not sinful, I could wish for a thousand hands, a thousand tongues, and a thousand lives: all should be employed night and day, without ceasing, in promoting the glory of the ever-lovely, ever-loving JESUS. Thanks be to his great name for reviving his work in the midst of the years. I trust that his people every where will be made to sing, “The Winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the flowers appear on the earth, and the voice of the turtle is heard in the land.” All things promise well at _London_; and I hope you will yet see greater things than ever in the _North_. Some time this Summer I hope to see you all again. In the mean while, you must not fail to pray for me. I must now begin to enter upon my Spring circuit. For these three days past, I have been preaching here twice a-day. In the mornings we have been quiet, but in the evenings the sons of _Belial_ have been somewhat rude. The place built here for public worship, is much larger than yours at _Newcastle_; and, I believe, hundreds of truly awakened souls attend. What cannot GOD do? What will the end of this be? The destruction of _Jericho_.――The rams-horns must go round, till her tow’ring walls fall down. Who would but be one of these rams-horns? My dear Sir, let us not be ashamed of the cross of CHRIST: it is lined with love, and will ere long be exchanged for a crown. JESUS himself will put it on our heads. I am called away, and therefore cannot enlarge. To-morrow, GOD willing, I return to _London_, and hope soon to get time to answer my other _Newcastle_ correspondents. In the mean while, pray remember me to them and all in the most cordial manner, and beg them never, never to cease praying for, my dear Sir,
Their and your most affectionate friend and ready servant for CHRIST’s sake,