_To Lady H――――n._
_London, November 1, 1755._
_Ever-honoured Madam_,
WHAT shall I say? Indeed and indeed, it hath given me great concern, that I could not perform my promise to return to _Donnington-park_ so soon as I expected.――But had I done so, I must have failed preaching at least to above fifty thousand souls, who at different places ran most greedily many miles after the everlasting gospel. This I thought your Ladyship would by no means approve of, and therefore acquiesced. On _Thursday_ evening, with no small regret I came to town, after having preached about a hundred times, and travelled about eight hundred miles in the country. Blessed be GOD, my feeble carcase was strengthened to hold out, though for more than ten days together, I preached thrice a day.――O that I could preach three hundred times! all would be little enough, (alas, alas, infinitely too little) to testify my feeble love to the ever-loving, ever-lovely JESUS. I hope that your Ladyship, and the other elect Ladies, will enjoy much of his blessed spirit, in your present sweet retreat. After about a week’s stay here, I hope to move westward. O winter, winter! haste and fly, that I may again set out, and begin to spring for my GOD! I know I shall have your Ladyship’s prayers, and I am sure your Ladyship and family and friends have mine. Yesterday I waited upon the Countess _D――――_, and on _Thursday_, GOD willing, I am to dine with her Ladyship. Blessed be GOD, all was well. O for growth in grace! O for the total destruction of self and selfishness! Alas, what inward purgations and martyrdoms must be undergone! LORD JESUS, we are the clay, and thou art the potter; stamp thine image in what way thou pleasest! I know your Ladyship will say, Amen. I trust an “Even so, LORD JESUS, come quickly,” is sincerely added by, ever-honoured Madam,
Your Ladyship’s most dutiful, obliged, and ready servant, for CHRIST’s sake,