LETTER DCCCXVIII.
To Lady Hn.
Honoured Madam, Bristol, Feb. 17, 1750.
BLESSED be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, in mercy to his church and people, is pleased yet to hold your soul in life, and make your Ladyship instrumental in plucking sinners as brands out of the burning. All these things I look upon only as the earnests of good things to come. Goodness and mercy will follow your Ladyship all the days of your life, and you shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Lady Ann's sudden shock proves that the old observation is true, "Seldom one affliction comes alone." I rejoice to hear that her Ladyship is recovered, and pray the Lord of all lords so to sanctify it to her Ladyship's better part, that she may be ready at a moment's warning to go forth and meet the heavenly bridegroom. O to be always ready! to have nothing to do, but to die! Surely the Redeemer hath purchased this blessing for us. Doth not your Ladyship find it difficult to be resigned to live, and to continue so long absent from the Lord? But there is one consideration which may make life desirable to the greatest saint on earth; he may here do and suffer for Jesus, and call sinners to him; but in heaven all this will be over. Come life then, come death, Jesus may thy will be done in, by, and upon thy people! I know your Ladyship's heart echoes back, Amen. But what shall I say to the opposition arising at Ashby? I trust it is a sign that good has already been done, and that more is still doing. The Searcher of hearts knows how highly I value your Ladyship's letters; yet I think it honour enough to have leave to write to your Ladyship, without expecting punctual answers. O that I may gladden your Ladyship's heart with glad tidings from the West! I believe I shall. I have been much helped in preaching here, and have heard of two that were thoroughly awakened when I was here last. Mr. H, I think, does not lose ground. The persons that seem calculated to do him service, must be such as have a knowledge of themselves, of the world, and of God, whose practice proves their eye to be single, and their minds disinte-
