I set out for Bristol, with Mr. Seward, and from thence propose coming to Gloucester. Oh that it may be in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of peace! Mr. Howel Harris, and I, are correspondents, blessed be God! May I follow him, as he does Jesus Christ. How he outstrips me! Fye upon me, fye upon me. How does my brother? My love to him and all. I long to see you and yours, and to give you repeated assurances of my being, dear Sir,
Your's eternally, G. W.
LETTER XLIV. To the Mr.
Dear Sir, Basingstoke, Feb. 8, 1739.
THOUGH I desired you to write first, yet the love I bear you, will not suffer me to wait so long before you hear from me.—Just now has God brought us to Basingstoke, where I hope an effectual door will be opened before we leave it, as well as at Windsor.—Oh my dear friend, more and more do I see the benefit of confessing our blessed Lord before men.—You have not been ashamed of the cross.—No, dear Mr. has put his hand to the plough; he will not, surely he cannot look back; but Jesus Christ alone can keep me and my dear friend from falling. He has begun and he will carry on, he will finish the good work in our souls.—We have nothing to do, but to lay hold on him by faith, and to depend on him for wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. Not but we must be workers together with him; for a true faith in Jesus Christ will not suffer us to be idle.—No, it is an active, lively, restless principle; it fills the heart, so that it cannot be easy, till it is doing something for Jesus Christ.—Methinks I hear my dear friend crying out, "Lord, evermore give me this faith!" Believe me, I heartily say, Amen. Ask then, my dear Sir, and it shall be given you, seek and strive for it, and yet a little while and I shall see you a new creature; your heart I hope is somewhat broken already.—All praise be to God's free grace in Christ.—Go on, my dear friend, and never cease till you know you are Christ's, by the spirit that shall be given you. Never fear your carnal friends, renounce
