not thou united to them. I know Christ is all in all. Man is nothing: he hath a free will to go to hell, but none to go heaven, till God worketh in him to will and to do after his good pleasure. It is God must prevent, God must accompany, God must follow with his grace, or Jesus Christ will bleed in vain. That God may continue his blessing to us both, is the hearty prayer of, reverend and dear Sir,
Your obliged brother and servant,
G. W.
LETTER XCV. Dear Mr. , Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739.
WAS not my heart with your heart, when we rode by the way and talked to each other concerning the Scriptures? I thought our souls tallied together, and that we had both drank of the same spirit. I have often, since that time, admired the grace of God in you, and even now feel my soul, whilst I am writing, intimately united with yours. What is all this, but the effect and fruit of God's everlasting love through Christ our Lord? What is it, but an instance of the sovereign will and good pleasure of God, who will have mercy on whom he will have mercy? Oh how doth the free, the distinguishing grace of God excite the love of those, who are made partakers of it! What was there in you and in me, dear Mr. O, that should move God to chuse us before others? Was there any fitness foreseen in us, except a fitness for damnation? I believe not. No, God chose us from eternity, he called us in time, and I am persuaded will keep us from falling finally, till time shall be no more. Consider the Gospel in this view, and it appears a consistent scheme, though directly contrary to the natural man; and nothing convinces me more of the truth of these doctrines, than the enmity that is in the heart of carnal minds against them. However, the power of God is able to pull down every thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Henceforward I hope I shall speak boldly and plainly as I ought to speak, and not fail to declare the whole counsel of God. I pray daily, that I may know his will more perfectly, not only that I may do it myself, but
