George-Whitefield-Field-Preacher

202 GEORGE WHITEFIELD
the corrupt sons and daughters of Adam am I to find it ? Your ladyship
must direct me. You are all goodness and kindness, and I often wish I
had a portion of it. Women of wit, beauty, and quality cannot hear too
many humiliating truths—they shock our pride. But we must die—we
must converse with earth and worms.
' Pray do me the favour to present my humble service to your excellent
spouse. A more amiable man I do not know than Lord Huntingdon. And
lielieve me, my dear madam,
' Your most faithful and most humble servant,
In a second letter to the Countess she says :
' S. Marlborough.'
' When alone, my reflections and recollections almost kill me, and I am
forced to fly the society of those I detest and abhor. Now, there is Lady
Frances Saunderson's great rout to-morrow night—all the world will be
there, and I must go. I do hate that woman as much as I do hate a
physician ; but I must go, if for no other purpose than to mortify and spite
her. This is very wicked, I know, but I confess all my little peccadillos to
you, for I know your goodness will lead you to be mild and forgiving, and
perhaps my wicked heart may gain some good from you in the end.
' Lady Fanny has my best wishes for the success of her attack on that
crooked, perverse, little wretch at Twickenham.'
Another occasional hearer at the Tabernacle was the
Duchess of Buckingham, the rival of Atossa in pride, but less
patient than she under reproof, and hating Methodist doctrines
with all her heart. To Lady Huntingdon's invitation to attend
one of Whitefield's services, she replies :
' I thank your ladyship for the information concerning Methodist
preachers ; their doctrines are most repulsive, and strongly tinctured with
impertinence and disrespect towards their superiors, in perpetually
endeavouring to level all ranks, and do away with all distinctions. It is
monstrous to be told that you have a heart as sinful as the common
wretches that crawl on the earth. This is highly offensive and insulting ;
and I cannot but wonder that your ladyship should relish any sentiments
so much at variance with high rank and good breeding. Your ladyship
does me infinite honour by your obliging inquiries after my health. I shall