_To Lady H――――._
_London, July 11, 1755._
_Ever-honoured Madam_,
YESTERDAY about noon, after being worn down with travelling, and preaching twice and thrice a day in _Gloucestershire_, at _Bath_ and _Bristol_, a gracious and never-failing Providence brought me to town, where I had the pleasure of receiving two kind, very kind and undeserved letters from your Ladyship’s hand. Had I the least leisure or strength, I should have written a letter of condolence to your Ladyship from _Bristol_. There I heard of the death of good Lady _Ann_, and was glad to find that Miss _W――――_ bore the news of it with so much composure. Alas! how many have your Ladyship lived to see go before you! An earnest this, I hope, that you are to live to a good old age, and be more and more a mother in _Israel_. A short, but sweet character. GOD knows how long I am to drag this crazy load, my body, along. Blessed be his holy name, I have not one attachment to this inferior earth. I am sick of myself, sick of the world, sick of the church, and am panting daily after the full enjoyment of my GOD. _John C――――_ is now added to the happy number of those who are called to see him as he is. I do not envy, but I want to follow after him. Give me patience, holy JESUS, to wait till my appointed time shall come. In the mean while, if it be thy holy will, improve me to promote, in some small degree, thy glory and the good of souls! Thanks be to his adorable majesty, the fields at _Bristol_ and _Kingswood_ were whiter, and more ready to harvest than for many years last past. Was the new Tabernacle at _Bristol_ as large as that in _London_, it would be filled. Thrice last _Sunday_, and twice the _Sunday_ before, I preached in the fields to many, many thousands. The youngest of the Miss _W――――_’s, and little Miss _H――――_ attended twice, and again by six on the _Sunday_ morning. At _Bath_ we had good seasons; good Lady _G――――_, Mrs. _B――――_, _G――――_, Miss _H――――_, &c. were very hearty, and GOD was with us of a truth. Mr. _T――――_’s wife, of _Cornwall_, is dead, and my brother hath been very ill of a fever; but they tell me (and he doth himself) that the blessed JESUS hath visited his soul. If so, his journey hither will be a happy one. LORD, help me to pray, and not to faint! O for an humble, thankful heart! I am now looking up for direction what course to steer next. I suppose it will be northward. I wish your Ladyship’s plan may do; but I fear the parts about your Ladyship are too cold. O how unworthy of such a guest! Well, honoured, ever-honoured Madam, in the _New-Jerusalem_, your Ladyship will have company enough. There the Redeemer shall hold up before the mighty and the noble, and let them see what almighty, rich, and sovereign grace could do. Be pleased, my good Lady, to excuse the length of this. Gratitude always gives motion to my pen, when writing to your Ladyship. I am ashamed, that I have not so much as a pepper-corn to offer as an humble tribute. JESUS, the ever-loving, the altogether lovely JESUS must pay you all. I must away to preach the everlasting gospel. O how unworthy of such a divine employ! Pardon, honoured Madam, this poor, and too prolix scribble, and assure yourself, that neither your Ladyship nor family are ever forgotten by
Your Ladyship’s most dutiful, unworthy, but ready servant for CHRIST’s sake,