Page:The Works of the Reverend George Whitefield, M.A., late of Pembroke-College, Oxford, and Chaplain to the Rt. Hon. the Countess of Huntingdon (1771 Volume 2).djvu/178

 scatter thy enemies! may those that hate thee be made to flee before thee! I am afraid the scene will be yet darker. But you know it is always darkest before day-break. It has been so in England. Matters, as to religion, were come to almost an extremity. The enemy had indeed broken in upon us like a flood. The spirit of the is now lifting up a standard. The prospect of the success of the gospel, I think, was never more promising. In the church, tabernacle, and fields, congregations have been great, and perhaps as great power as ever hath accompanied the word. A door is also opening for the mighty and noble. I have preached four times to several of the nobility at good Lady H's. All behaved exceeding well, and I suppose in the winter opportunities of preaching to them will be frequent. May the prepare me for whatever he has prepared for me! As for returning to America, if I live, I believe there's no doubt of it. I intend keeping myself free from societies, and therefore I hope to see you again next year. But future things belong to. I thank you and dear Mr. R for your kind invitation. May the direct to what is best! I hope you will continue to write. Pray read, seal and send the inclosed. You will communicate so much of this letter as may be proper. O dear Sir, pray for me, that the glorious Emmanuel may give me humility, and lead me on from conquering to conquer. You must remember me to dear Mrs. S and all in the kindest manner, and entreat them to continue their prayers in behalf of, very dear Sir, Yours as usual, G. W.     LETTER DCLXXV. To Mr. R.

Very dear Sir,                Oulney, Sept. 4, 1748.

THOUGH I am on my journey to Scotland, yet I must stop a little by the way to answer your kind letter dated in July last, It brought strange things to my ears, and it made me smile. You know, dear Sir, what has often passed between you and me, upon that point, loving honour. Some persons being forced as it were to accept of government places, are