November 25, 1765

My dear Friend: — I have much to tell you of that ever dear and precious Lover — your best friend and mine. I had a token of his goodness in your last, for which I thank Lady

AM but, above all, her Lord and mine. I

have a tate to relate of his free and kind heart, vrhich will last longer than this world. It is really heaven to be relating it, and I cannot hold my tongue. He makes himself so lovely by continual favors, that my heart is quite won, and by his sweet constraint is now fixed upon him. I would turn to other lovers, but sweet Jesus will not let me, O the boundless grace of his most amiable breast! Finite nature cannot tell (how should it?) his infinite love. But as we get emptied of self, we know and experience more of his love.

This I wish you, and my very dear Miss

, growth in grace, that is, self-abasement,

and growth in the knowledge of God our Saviour — may he empty you of self, and fill you with more of his good things. We have very much of his presence and glory in our assemblies this winter, more than ever. His work revives amongst us: and, cold and frosty as the weather is, our heart burns within us. Last night St. Dunstan’s was a very Bethel; it was like the dedication of the Temple, when the glory of Jehovah came down and filled the house. I was preaching on these words — My meditation of him shall be sweet. And so it was indeed. When I was setting forth his undertakings, his suitableness to fulfill them as God-man, his actual fulfilling of them, his power to apply and to make them effectual; how he does this by his Word preached, in the hand of the Spirit made the means of working faith in the heart, and of producing the fruits of faith in fellowship with Jesus and his fullness, by which Jesus grows sweeter and sweeter, and so brings us to the end of our meditation, the sweetest of all even of divine sweets, the enjoyment of Jesus in his kingdom of glory; Oh, what a seal did he set to this preached Gospel! He made it the power of God. The meditation of his goodness yesterday has still a relish and delightful savor! to-day it is sweet, very, very sweet, indeed. Pray, mind, I do not make this my salvation — no, but these sweet streams lead me to the fountain — I do not rest in them; but, if these be so sweet, w hat must the fountain be? If little faith finds Jesus so precious, what must precious Jesus be, when faith yields to sight and sense? My dear, dear friend, prize this pearl, it is inestimable. Two things I would beg your notice of; I know you have received him. The

First is, press for more knowledge — read, pray, hear, to be made more teachable and humble, that Jesus may have the glory of such discoveries as he makes of his person and of his work. And do not stop; press on, as long as you live, sit very low, very low at Christ’s feet, to hear his words. The

Second is, make use of his fulness; you are welcome, you cannot use it too much. Hence comes sweet fellowship, and by it all things will do you good. Carry them to that best friend, pour them out into his loving bosom. He delights in familiarity. You have been ill; that is the best for you: live by faith, and Jesus vrill make it plain to you. Yours in that incomparable Lover,

W. R.