LETTER DCCCCXXVII.
To Mr. S.
Chester in the street, near Newcastle, Aug. 28, 1752.
My very dear Mr. S,
THUS far hath a good and gracious God brought a poor and worthless pilgrim on his way towards Edinburgh. Last Lord's day I preached twice at Lutterworth, the famous John Wicliffe's parish, and have since received a letter giving me an account of the Redeemer's blessing my poor labours. On the Monday, I began in the name of the almighty husbandman, to plow up some fallow ground at Leicester; several thousands attended, and some endeavoured to disturb us, but the opposition was nothing like what I expected. In the evening all was hushed, and I trust our Lord left a blessing behind us. In my way to Lutterworth, my heart was encouraged by the coming of a young man, who had been awakened under my preaching about four years ago at Oulney. He was before that time a bitter scoffer, but hath now been a student for a year and a half under Doctor Doddridge, and I believe will be admitted into the London academy. You may know more of him hereafter. Is not this as much as to say, "Go forwards.—In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening with-hold not thy hand, since though knowest not which may prosper, this or that." Yes, my blessed Jesus, through thy grace strengthening me, I will continue to go out into the highways and hedges; only vouchsafe to uphold me with thy right hand, and keep me from flagging in the latter stages of my road. I know you will say, Amen and Amen. This will increase my obligations, which are already more than I can express. God will reward both you and yours for them, a thousand fold. Accept repeated thanks for repeated favours, and depend on hearing as often as possible, how the ever-lovely, ever-loving Jesus is pleased to deal with, my very dear Sir,
Yours most affectionately in our common Lord,
G. W.
