Chapter CCXL: Letter DCCXXXVI: To Lady G――――

_Plymouth, Feb. 22, 1749._

_Honoured Madam_,

YOUR Ladyship’s letter I received yesterday; I trust under some sense of the honour your Ladyship has done me, through the King of kings making me instrumental in quickening or building up your Ladyship’s precious and immortal soul. Like a pure chrystal, I would transmit all the glory he is pleased to pour upon me, and never claim as my own, what is his sole propriety. Thanks be to his great and glorious name, for putting it into your Ladyship’s heart to say sincerely, “LORD, increase my faith.” When I had read your Ladyship’s letter, I could not help observing what a connection there was between the present frame of your Ladyship’s heart, and your present circumstances in respect to your servant. For how is it, honoured Madam, that our faith is to be increased, but by our being exercised with trials? By these the christian grows; and faith, like the burning bush amidst the furnace of affliction, flourishes unconsumed. Blessed be GOD, that your Ladyship hath taken hold of a great and precious promise. Our LORD has promised, “that he will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able to bear.” And he is faithful that hath promised. We have nothing to do, but to plead his promise in prayer. Be pleased, therefore, honoured Madam, to solace yourself, under your present distress, with these lines:

I.

_With joy we meditate the grace_
_Of our High-priest above;_
_His heart is made of tenderness,_
_His bowels melt with love._

II.

_Touch’d with a sympathy within,_
_He knows our feeble frame;_
_He knows what sore temptations mean,_
_For he has felt the same._

III.

_He, in the days of feeble flesh,_
_Pour’d out his cries and tears;_
_And in his measure feels afresh,_
_What every member bears._

IV.

_Then let our humble faith address_
_His mercy and his power;_
_We shall obtain delivering grace,_
_In the distressing hour._

This is, and shall be, honoured Madam, my daily prayer on your behalf. Fear not; our LORD will take care that all shall work for good. Those who are sincere, will soon get over such stumbling blocks; and those that are not, will stumble at any thing, nay every thing. I bless GOD, that some have got their faces set _Zion-wards_. Of the honourable women, ere long, I trust, there will be not a few who will dare to be singularly good, and confess the blessed JESUS before men. O with what a holy contempt may the poor despised believer look down on those, who are yet immersed in the pleasures of sense, and amidst all the refinements of their unassisted, unenlightened reason, continue slaves to their own lusts and passions. Happy, thrice happy they! who begin to feel and experience what it is to be redeemed from this present evil world. Well may they count all things but dung and dross for the excellency of the knowledge of CHRIST JESUS their Lord. Well may they look upon the few righteous, as the only truly excellent ones of the earth; and choose rather to suffer affliction with the people of GOD, than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. You, honoured Madam, I trust, are one of this happy number. May all your children add to it, and follow your Ladyship, as they see you follow CHRIST. I hope that some have been inclined to list under his banner, since I left town. Indeed the glorious Redeemer has dealt bountifully with his people, and with unworthy me. The good Lady _H――――n_, I suppose, hath informed your Ladyship of some pleasing particulars. I hope to acquaint you of more at my return to town. In the mean while, I beg leave to subscribe myself, honoured Madam,

Your Ladyship’s most obliged, &c.
_G. W._