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/288

 LETTER DCCLXXVIII.

To Captain W.

Newcastle, Sept. 29, 1749.

My very dear Brother,

SINCE I wrote to you last, I have had many proofs that 's providence directed my way into Yorkshire. I preached four times at Abberford, four times at Leeds, and thrice at Howarth, where lives one Mr. G. At his church I believe we had above a thousand communicants, and in the church-yard about six thousand hearers. It was a great day of the son of man. At Leeds the auditory consisted of above ten thousand. About Leeds are Mr. W's societies. I was invited thither by them and one of their preachers; and Mr. Charles W coming thither published me himself. I therefore complied, and I believe the gospel was welcome. I have preached here once, and am to preach again this evening. On Monday, willing, I propose to return to Yorkshire, and from thence to London. Pray send me word immediately whether the Port-Merchant be gone, because I know not but some out of Wales may go in her. I forgot to tell you in my last, that I had given over the immediate care of all my societies to Mr. H; so that now I am a preacher at large indeed. I find every thing is turning round strangely. O for simplicity and honesty to the end! I long to know how it is with you. Am I to have my brother at last? Do convictions fasten, and can you at length sing,

''Be gone, vain world; my heart resign, For I must be no longer thine''?

For the present, adieu. My love to all. I wish you the very best of blessings, and am, my very dear brother,

Yours most affectionately, G. W.