Ditton,
Feb. 24, 1780.
HAIL thou highly favoured, blessed art thou among women. This night my dear brother M. brought your kind letter to me, which I have long longed for; it came like the obedient dove with an olive leaf in her mouth. I took it unkind your not writing, I feared you was slid back, but your letter savours of my dear master Jesus, therefore I forbear to upbraid thee, but will say with a brother of old, "It is enough, my child is yet alive:" and may the Lord of all lords grant thy dear soul may live for evermore. Thy letter has got a little savoury meat in it, which my soul loveth. I need not ask thee how it was thou got it so soon, for I believe thy God brought it to thee.
Oh! my dear sister, whom I love in the bowels of Christ, let me exhort thee to beware of the vanities of this sinful, heaven daring, God-dishonouring, and God-provoking world. Cleave into the very heart of my dear master Jesus, and say, "Spread thy skirt over thine handmaid, for thou art a near kinsman" of mine, Ruth iii. 9. He is one of our next kinsmen, nigher than the angels by far, for they could not redeem us without marring their own inheritance. Bless his dear name, my soul loves him beyond the power of pen to describe, or tongue to express; he has lifted my head above the sinful herd of the earth. I have, through the eternal power of my invincible anchor, outrid the storm in this place, but such a battle I had last summer as you never saw; but God enabled me to go on blowing my horn till the wall fell flat, and now I shout, and hope to save Rahab the harlot alive. Many that used to shoot at my heart, now bow at my feet, my God has so lifted me up. I preach now more than ever, I preach clean from London to Farnham, and God greatly blesses my labours; I think my churches must be called Leahs, for they will have a good dowry, Gen. xxx: 20. I get very weak in body, but my dear master strengthens both body and soul at times: I agreed with him for a penny a day, and I mostly get my pay before the sun sets.
Oh! that I was but as strong as I could wish, and my heart as warm at all times, surely I would sound his praise till all the winged musicians of the wood chanted it from vale to vale; and at every place where the beams of his glory shone upon my soul, I would inscribe it on the very tress, to perpetuate the memory of it from age to age. I have ere now preached him when I had but one shirt in the world, and that was not worth one shilling, but now God has lifted me up wonderfully; I forget my poverty, and ere long I shall remember my misery no more for ever. Oh my dear sister let me hear of the welfare of thy precious soul, I pray thee. Now may the good will of him that dwelt in the bush, be with thee, and may the banner of everlasting love be displayed before thee, may the high praises of God be in thy mouth, and a two-edged sword in thy band; and may thy faith be like the expanded arch of a bridge, stand the firmer for burdens; and may thy love be like the flambeau in the gloomy night, burn the brighter for beating.
This night I had your letter, and when I had done preaching, I sat up in the cold to write this, and now it is a quarter past twelve; sure I deserve an answer. Write soon, and send me word bow, and I will send some pamphlets from London as presents. I shall come, God willing, near to Seven-oaks in the summer; if I come I will travel to you and preach; send a letter tome, do not mind the pay. May the everlasting love of God be with thee. My dear wife joins in love to you.
W. HUNTINGTON, S. S.
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