and shamefully exposed his nakedness before all the people. Such a beastly action quite abashed the serious part of my auditory; whilst hundreds of another stamp, instead of rising up to pull down the unhappy wretch, expressed their approbation by repeated laughs. I must own at first it gave me a shock; I thought satan had now almost outdone himself; but recovering my spirits, I appealed to all, since now they had such a spectacle before them, whether I had wronged human
nature in saying, after pious Bishop Hall, "that man, when left to himself, is half a devil and half a beast;" or as the great Mr. Law expressed himself, "a motley mixture of the beast and devil."—Silence and attention being thus gained, I concluded with a warm exhortation, and closed our festival enterprizes, in reading fresh notes that were put up, praising and blessing God amidst thousands at the tabernacle, for what he had done for precious souls, and on account of the deliverances he had wrought out for me and his people. I could enlarge; but being about to embark in the Mary and Ann, for Scotland, I must hasten to subscribe myself,
Yours, &c. G. W.
P. S. I cannot help adding, that several little boys and girls who were fond of sitting round me on the pulpit, while I preached, and handing to me peoples notes, though they were often pelted with eggs, dirt, &c. thrown at me, never once gave way: but on the contrary, every time I was struck, turned up their little weeping eyes, and seemed to wish they could receive the blows for me. God make them in their growing years great and living martyrs for him, who out of the mouth of babes and sucklings perfects praise! LETTER CCCCXIII. To the Rev. Mr. M, in the Isle of Man.
On board the Mary and Ann, bound to Scotland, May 26, 1742.
Rev. and dear Sir,
I Received your letter on Saturday last, and felt great concern on my soul, while perusing it. One thing especially pleased me; I found by the contents, that a report I had
