Page:The Works of the Reverend George Whitefield, M.A. (1771 Vol 1).djvu/64

 LETTER XLIX.

To the Rev. Mr. 

Dear Sir,       Leachlade, July 18, 1739.

THE scene this morning much affected me; you both put me in mind, how that happy pair, Adam and Eve, looked when arraign'd by the Almighty after having eaten the forbidden fruit. Behold the same remedy reached out to you as to them.—The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head.—Look up to him whom you have pierced.—He will heal your backslidings and love you freely—Had he not loved you both, both of you ere now would have been given over to a reprobate mind. I know the time, when you both were enlightned, when you tasted the good word of, and felt the powers of the world to come.—Honour, falsely so called, has caused you to draw back, but I believe not unto perdition. is still striving with your heart. Come to him by faith, renounce the world, and he will yet delight to honour you. "Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation." Mention not old things, let all things become new. I love both of you from my heart. Come forth and be ye separate, saith the almighty. Break with the world at once, and you shall become fools for 's sake. What if your wife sent some such letter as the following to her parents.

Honoured Father and Mother,

The contents of this letter will surprize you, but I can no longer halt between and the world; the happy convictions, that once put into my heart, now arise in my mind, I will no longer be an almost christian. I am resolved to become a fool for 's sake. Blessed be Mr. M is like-minded.—Hitherto have I hindered him in his spiritual progress, forbid I should do it any longer. Hence forward will we go hand in hand together, and naked follow a naked.

Dearest Mr., I am ever yours, G. W.