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/9



LETTER CCCCXCVIII.

To the Reverend Mr. H.

London, Dec. 23, 1742.

My dear brother H,

I Thank you for your kind and very agreeable letter. It was refreshing to my soul, and stirred me to give thanks on your behalf. I am surprized that you are not turned off, since you now so clearly preach the everlasting gospel. But our Saviour has the hearts of all men in his hands, and he turneth them when and wheresoever he pleaseth. O my dear brother, I hope nothing will deter you from preaching the glad tidings of salvation to a world lying in the wicked one. I would not but be a poor despised minister of for ten thousand worlds. This I am persuaded is the language of my dear friend's heart:

I.

For this let men revile my name, No cross I shun, I fear no shame: All hail reproach, and welcome pain; Only thy terrors,, restrain.

II.

The love of doth him constrain To seek the wand'ring souls of men; With cries, entreaties, tears to save. And snatch them from the gaping grave.