Page:The Works of the Reverend George Whitefield, M.A. (1771 Vol 1).djvu/271

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auditories. I received your kind letter, and thank you for it.

I rejoice in the good news from New-England. Last night, I rejoiced much in seeing a soul wonderfully exult in God, just at the borders of death. Great manifestations of the divine presence have attended my sermons. "Praise the Lord O my soul! I am glad to find Mr. S—— goes on well. Pray give my love to brother G——. My body is sometimes weak, but my soul rejoices in God my Saviour. I know not, whether I shall come so soon as proposed to London. I find it necessary, through the increase of awakened souls, to get a society-room built adjoining to our new tabernacle. I pray God to fill it with his glory, and beg leave to subscribe myself, dear Mr. M——,

 Your affectionate friend, brother and servant in Christ, G. W.

LETTER CCLXXVI. To Mr. H—— H——.


My dear Brother, Bristol, April 28, 1741.

BLESSED be God for knitting us together in love. May it continue, and increase till consummated in eternity! The Lord Jesus direct you. It is now a trying time with the church. Our Lord is now chiefly wounded in the house of his friends. The Lord keep us both from a party spirit on one hand, and from too much rashness and positiveness on the other. I speak thus, because you seem offended that some affirm, "That there is no such thing as dominion over indwelling sin, nor rest from working for life wholly." Now this is certainly true in one sense. We shall never have such a dominion over indwelling sin, as entirely to be delivered from the stirring of it; and the greatest saint cannot be assured, but some time or other for his humiliation, or punishment for unfaithfulness, God may permit it to break out into some actual breach of his law, and in a gross way too. Let us not be high-minded, but fear. It is equally true, that we shall not rest wholly from working for life. For whilst there is any part of us unregenerate, that part will be always leading us to the old covenant. Luther often complained of the propensity of his heart this way. If we know ourselves, we shall find it to be so with us; but I suppose you have been