LETTER CCCLXXXVI.
To Mr. I H, in London.
My dear Brother H, Bristol, Jan. 2, 1742.
I Owe you a letter, and very much love. I thank you for calling to see me, when last in London. May the love of Jesus be shed abroad abundantly in your heart by the Holy Ghost. My soul is now thirsting after the Redeemer's love. I trust you and I, and all the brethren, shall watch and pray against every thing in our hearts, that is any way selfish, or contrary to the boundless love of our exalted head. I long after a solid, real, undissembled union with all that bear the Redeemer's image. If I know any thing of my heart, I care not how the old man be crucified and cut to pieces, so that I may put on the new man, which is created after God in righteousness and true holiness. Blessed be the free, rich, and sovereign grace of our glorious Redeemer! who has begun the good work in my soul. Great, very great things hath Jesus done for me, a worthless worm: but I see infinitely greater things lying before me. There is an inexhaustible fulness in Jesus Christ, out of which I hope to draw to the endless ages of eternity. O the meekness, the love, purity and holiness, that is in Jesus. Why should we be dwarfs in holiness? If Christ came into the world, that we might have life, and so much the more abundantly, why should we not ask and seek for it, especially since we are sure to obtain? My dear brother, you see how free I write. Love constrains me to do so. O that I was a flame of fire! I have lately been at Gloucester. The Lord was with us of a truth. In Bristol, God attends me with his mighty power. Last night Jesus rode on triumphantly indeed. Sometimes my heart is so full, that I am tempted to think
My joy complete:
When lo! Emmanuel's mercies rise,
Still fresh discoveries he unfolds,
The lovely treasures yet surprize.
Unbelief says, this will not hold to-morrow; when lo, "to-morrow is as the day past, and much more abundant." I
