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/412

 LETTER DCCCLXXXVIII.

To Mr. Hly.

Plymouth, March 30, 1751.

My very dear Friend,

I Am persuaded you was surprized to find our elect Lady gone from Ashby, and I was as much surprized to see her Ladyship at Bristol. I hope her journey was of. The waters agree with her wonderfully already, and I trust she will be restored to perfect health. As dear Mr. H cannot be prevailed upon to come down, if it would any way suit you to be with her Ladyship a month, it would much refresh her, and I believe be very agreeable to you. Some pulpits would be open for you, and who knows but you might catch some great fish in the gospel net? But I need not enforce this, since her Ladyship hath written to you herself. May the blessed Redeemer direct your going in his way! Put up the same request for me. I have thoughts of going to Wales, Ireland and Scotland. We have had good seasons in Gloucestershire, and at Bristol, and the enabled me to sow some gospel seed at Taunton and Wellington in my way hither. O that ever such a wretch as I should be thus honoured!

If thou excuse,, work thy will By so unfit an instrument; It will at once thy goodness shew, And prove thy power omnipotent.

For the present adieu. It is a grief to me that I cannot write oftener and longer. I suppose the death of our prince has affected you. It has given me a shock. "The reigneth." That is our comfort. That he may reign more and more every day, and every hour, in our souls, is the hearty prayer of, my very dear friend,

Yours most affectionately, G. W.