Page:The Works of the Reverend George Whitefield, M.A. (1771 Vol 1).djvu/409

 I.

Long did my soul in Jesu's form No comeliness nor beauty see; His sacred name by others priz'd, Was tasteless still and dead to me.

II.

Men call'd me Christian, and my heart On that delusion fondly stay'd; Moral my hopes, my Saviour self, 'Till mighty grace the cheat display'd.

III.

Thanks to the hand that wak'd my dream, That shew'd me wretched, naked, poor; That sweetly led me to the Rock, Where all salvation stands secure.

IV.

Glad, I forsook my righteous pride, My moral, tarnish'd, sinful dress, Exchanged my dross away for Christ, And found the robe of righteousness.

These lines, dear Sir, I think are very emphatical. I trust you can now repeat them from your heart. If so, hail happy man! hath washed you in his blood, and given you eternal life. You now then have nothing to do, but to live to him, who hath lived and died for you, and if necessary would die again for you with all his heart. Surely our Saviour loves you, otherwise he would not have shewed you all these things. I love you for his sake (though unknown); and if he hath been pleased to work by my unworthy ministry, let him have all the glory, and forget not to pray for the poor, weak instrument, who has not forgotten to pray for you, being, dear Sir,

Your most affectionate friend and servant, in , G. W.