_To Lady H――――n._
_London, November 10, 1755._
_Ever-honoured Madam_,
YOUR Ladyship’s kind and condescending letter, found me just returned from _Chatham_, and led me (as your Ladyship’s letters always do) to a throne of grace. I immediately threw myself prostrate before GOD, and earnestly prayed, in my poor feeble manner, that grace, mercy, and peace might be multiplied upon your Ladyship, and your happy family. The Court, in the best sense of the word, is now removed to _Clifton_. For there only is the real court kept, where JESUS reigns, and where he has erected a spiritual kingdom in the heart. All besides this, is only tinsel and glitter. Here alone is real and abiding happiness to be found. O for further searches into the heighths and depths of GOD? O for further leadings into the chambers of that selfish, sensual, and devilish imagery, that yet lie latent in my partly renewed heart. This self-love, what a _Proteus_! This self-will, what an Hydra? This remaining body of sin and death, what an antichrist! what a scarlet whore! what a hell! what a red dragon! what a cursed monster is it! How hard, how slow he dies! O what gratitude do I owe to the bruiser of this serpent’s head! O for a heart gladly to embrace every cross, every trying dispensation, that may have a tendency to poison, or starve, or nip the buddings of the old, and cherish, promote, or cause to bloom and blossom the graces and tempers of the new man in my soul! Ordinances, providences, doctrines, (I am more and more convinced) are of no service to believers, than as they are attended with this mortifying and life-giving power. Happy family, that have this one thing in view! Happy retirement, that is improved to this blessed purpose! Happy, therefore, good Lady _H――――n_, and the other elect Ladies, who are determined thus to go on hand in hand to heaven! All hail, ye new-born, heaven-born souls! ye know, by happy experience, that JESUS is an inward as well as an outward saviour, and that he came indeed and indeed to redeem us from this present evil world. Was even annihilation to follow at death, who would but have this redemption whilst they live? But, glory, glory be to GOD, it is only the dawning of an eternal day, the beginning of a life that is ere long to be absorbed and swallowed up in never-ceasing, uninterrupted fruition of the ever-blessed triune Deity. O the depth, the height of this love of GOD! It passeth human and angelic knowledge. My paper only permits me to add, (GOD knows it is with gratitude and sincerity) that I am, ever-honoured Madam,
Your Ladyship’s most dutiful and ready servant,