Lambeth, August 20, 1765

My dear friend in our common Lord — of whose mercies I am an amazing monument — what can I say to you of me and mine, but write upon all — grace — grace. I will give you an account of my life some weeks past, and you will see the goodness of my kind Jesus in all his dealings with me. When I was at Hartlepool, I heard from London that Dr. Griffith thought my wife was sick unto death, and he had no hopes of her recovery. This alarmed me; and I set out immediately, and stopped not till I got to London, where I found things as bad as I had been made to believe; but Dr. Griffith gave her something, to which the Lord gave his blessing, and it abated the fury of her distemper, God having mercy on her, and on

me also. Lady H pressing me still

to come down to, my wife gave leave

for me to go, and I went down to Derby Saturday se’nnight. We had there a most refreshing time; fifteen pulpits were open — showers of grace came down — sinners in great numbers awakened, and believers comforted. Mrs. was taken ill, and was

oi’dered to Bath, which broke up the family. They went away two days after I got down; but I staid to preach all the week, and especially on Sunday last at Derby, where I was much opposed by the mayor and the churchwardens, and the Arian party; but the Lord stood by me, and I was in the morning at the great church, and in the afternoon at St. Werburgh’s. In the evening I got into the fly alone {in good company); and upon coming home last night, I found my wife had relapsed, and was again in danger; but again the Great Physician had interposed, and we are in hopes all will be well again soon. Mercy, mercy is above all his works.

1 these proceedings of Divine Providence, I admire several things; such as.

First, How odd it appears that friends so dear and beloved as you at, should be

passed by. When I went through, it

was night; and, thinks I, who would have

thought I should have gone by Lady M ’s

door without calUng? It is the Lord’s doing. As to you, I only sent my prayers for you, of which I hope you had the benefit.

Secondly. Here is a plain lesson for you. Did you not expect me? Did not you build upon my coming? You was disappointed. Why? That you might cease from man. Oh! it’s good to be weaned from creature props and dependencies. Whatever does this, is a great blessing. If, therefore, ray not coming has made you come nearer to Christ, I would then rejoice; yea, and therein I do rejoice. What of me? Down with me, and up with Christ. But,

Thirdly, I can assure you my heart was divided. I wanted to be at home, and I wanted to stay. Duty and affection called me one way; in spirit I was and am, with great respect, your obliged friend and servant, W. R.