Page:The Works of the Reverend George Whitefield, M.A. (1771 Vol 1).djvu/335

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

LETTER CCCLVI.

To the Right Honourable lord L——


My Lord, Edinburgh, Oct. 2, 1741.

LAST night I returned from the south country, and receiv'd your Lordship's kind letter. My invitation to Coupar was in the name of many: who the persons were that signed the letter I cannot tell. I have sent it inclosed in this. Had I known it to have been more agreeable to your Lordship, I would have appointed the meeting at Melvill; but I fear, as such public notice has been given, it will be now impracticable. I cannot possibly stay with your Lordship all Tuesday, being to preach at Dundee. But in my return from Aberdeen, I hope to be at your Lordship's house. I am glad your Lordship intends to be at Kinglassie. I shall have both sermons very early, and hope the glorious Jesus will be with us in our going to Melvill. O my Lord, I want a thousand tongues to set off the Redeemer's praise. Having him, tho' I have nothing else, I find I possess all things. I have not forgotten your Lordship since I wrote last. You are, and will be much upon my heart. I have heard of the piety of your Lordship's ancestors, and hope many prayers are yet in store for you. Above all, I trust, Jesus prays for you, and then you cannot but be a conqueror; nay, more than conqueror over the world, the flesh and the devil. Take courage then, my Lord, and fear not to follow a crucified Jesus without the camp, bearing his sacred reproach. Beware of honour, falsely so called: dare to be singularly good, and be not ashamed of Jesus or his gospel. O that you may find it to be the power of God to your salvation! Look but to Christ by faith, and your Lordship's great possessions will not retard, but further and promote your progress in the divine life. What sweet communion will your Lordship then enjoy with God, in your walks and gardens? It will then be a little paradise to your soul, and every thing you meet with, will only draw you so much nearer to Jehovah, in whom all fulness dwells. This I find by daily experience; and that your Lordship may daily experience the same, is the earnest prayer, my Lord, of

Your Lordship's most obliged humble servant,
G. W.