Page:The Works of the Reverend George Whitefield, M.A. (1771 Vol 1).djvu/274

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Sir, exhort all to pray for me, that I may be faithful to my Lord, and yet kept gentle in my temper. At present, our dear Lord causes me to triumph in every place. His gospel gets ground, and his power is manifested among us day by day. The fields are white, every where ready unto harvest. Our Lord I trust will gather his wheat into his heavenly garners.

My kind respects attend Mr. M—— and Mr. D——. Had I time I would write a long letter to each. But I am interrupted. However, I am glad to snatch a few moments to beg a continuance of your prayers for a poor unworthy worm, and to assure you that I am, dear Sir,

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

LETTER CCLXXX. To Mr. E—— E——, at Sterling.


Reverend and dear Sir, Bristol, May 16, 1741.

I Owe you much love. Only want of time, prevents my writing to you oftner. This morning I received a kind lettter from your brother Ralph, who thinks it best for me wholly to join the associate presbytery, if it should please God to send me into Scotland. This I cannot altogether come into. I come only as an occasional preacher, to preach the simple gospel to all that are willing to hear me, of whatever denomination. It will be wrong in me to join in a reformation as to church government, any further than I have light given me from above. If I am quite neuter as to that in my preaching, I cannot see how it can hinder or retard any design you may have on foot. My business seems to be, to evangelize, to be a Presbyter at large. When I shall be sent into your parts I know not. I write this, that there may not be the least misunderstanding between us. I love and honour the associate Presbytery in the bowels of Jesus Christ. With this I send them my due respects, and most humbly beg their prayers. But let them not be offended, if in all things I cannot immediately fall in with them. Let them leave me to God. Whatever light he is pleased to give me, I hope I shall be faithful to it. Our dear and precious master still carries me on. God enables me to fight my way through. The gospel