Page:The Works of the Reverend George Whitefield, M.A. (1771 Vol 1).djvu/137

 LETTER CXXXIII.

To Mrs. Martha B.

My dear Sister,     Philadelphia, Nov. 28, 1739.

I call you not Martha, but, for I hope you have chosen the better part, which shall not be taken from you: And yet not so properly may you be said to chuse, as the to have chosen you; for we love, because he first loved us. I can trace my conversion through its several steps, but cannot find one step I first took towards. I have been a backslider from my very infancy. Had not called after me, and by his spirit said unto me, as unto Adam, "Where art thou? Into what a dreadful condition hast thou plunged thyself?" I should have fled from him (if possible) for ever. I am persuaded you, my dear Sister, can readily say the same; for otherwise how can we truly value our 's redeeming blood? How can we relish the doctrine of 's free grace, and our being freely justified by faith which is in ? Oh let us beg of to teach us these divine truths more and more, (for he alone can teach them) and let us lay out ourselves to teach them to others. You are happy in being in fellowship with some, who I hope will be ready, if need be, to seal these truths with their blood. Be humble, my dear Sister, be humble; and cease not to pray for

Your affectionate brother and servant in , G. W.

LETTER CXXXIV.

Dear Mrs. H.         Philadelphia, Nov. 28, 1739.

RACHEL brings me glad tidings: She tells me the hath touched your heart by the power of his word, and that your relations have threatened to cast you out for our 's sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad. If you endure to the end, and naked follow a naked, great shall be your reward in heaven. There is no being a christian without enduring contempt; no being happy hereafter, without suffering reproach here. The world can only love its own. As they hate, so they must hate those that are desirous to be like him: But be not dismayed; 's strength shall