Page:The Works of the Reverend George Whitefield, M.A. (1771 Vol 1).djvu/404

 us his presence, and filling us as with new wine. What has happened of late to disunite, will in the end, I am persuaded, only promote a closer union. "Out of the eater will come forth meat, and out of the strong will come forth sweetness." Blessed be our Saviour's free grace! I feel my heart more and more enlarged towards, and more and more disposed to love and honour all denominations of believers, than ever I experienced before. In all societies of christians under heaven, there must necessarily be persons of a different standing in the school of. Those who are not solidly established in the love of, will fall too much in love with the outward form of their particular church, be it what it will. But as the love of gets the ascendency, the more they will be like him and his holy angels, and consequently rejoice when souls are brought to, whatever instruments may be made use of for that purpose. If therefore some that you and I know, are too confined (as I believe is too much the case); if they do not preach more frequently, and abound more in good works, I think it is for want of having their hearts more inflamed with the love of, and their graces kept in more constant exercise. To stir up the gift of that is in us, is an apostolical injunction; and if we do not keep upon our watch we shall fall into a false stillness. Nature loves ease; and as a blind zeal often prompts us to speak too much, so tepidity and lukewarmness often cause us to speak too little. Divine wisdom alone, is profitable to direct; and I would be very cautious how I speak, least I should take too much upon me. I love those you mention, from my soul; and all I can say is, ", do thou lead and guide both them and us." We are blind helpless creatures. I wish there was more confidence between us all; but I see that none but the spirit of can outwardly unite us, and therefore I have now given it up into the Redeemer's hand. Only this I pray, that I may be one of the first and not the last in bringing back the king. If I have at any time set improper bounds to the spirit of God, or grieved it in his children, I desire to be very low, and to be broken hearted for it. I am sure it hath not been done willingly. I must own, I have sometimes opposed you, because I think you have made, and are yet making, too much haste. You seem to be like-minded with those, who in our Saviour's