{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_68976/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_68976","id":"gutenberg_68976","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/68976","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Biographies","Category: Essays, Letters & Speeches","Category: Religion/Spirituality","Presbyterian Church -- Clergy -- Early works to 1800","Presbyterian Church -- Sermons -- Early works to 1800","Sermons, English -- 18th century","Whitefield, George, 1714-1770 -- Early works to 1800"],"text":"The Works of the Reverend George Whitefield, M.A.\n\n\n\n\n \u250c\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2510\n \u2502 \u2502\n \u2502 Transcriber\u2019s Notes \u2502\n \u2502 \u2502\n \u2502 \u2502\n \u2502 Punctuation has been standardized. \u2502\n \u2502 \u2502\n \u2502 The original text may show quotations within quotations, set \u2502\n \u2502 off by similar quote marks. The inner quotations have been \u2502\n \u2502 changed to alternate quote marks for improved readability. \u2502\n \u2502 \u2502\n \u2502 Characters in small caps have been replaced by all caps. \u2502\n \u2502 \u2502\n \u2502 Non-printable characteristics have been given the following \u2502\n \u2502 Italic text: --> _text_ \u2502\n \u2502 \u2502\n \u2502 This book was written in a period when many words had \u2502\n \u2502 not become standardized in their spelling. Words may have \u2502\n \u2502 multiple spelling variations or inconsistent hyphenation in \u2502\n \u2502 the text. These have been left unchanged unless indicated \u2502\n \u2502 with a Transcriber\u2019s Note. \u2502\n \u2502 \u2502\n \u2502 Footnotes are identified in the text with a superscript \u2502\n \u2502 number and are shown immediately below the paragraph in which \u2502\n \u2502 they appear. \u2502\n \u2502 \u2502\n \u2502 Transcriber\u2019s Notes are used when making corrections to the \u2502\n \u2502 text or to provide additional information for the modern \u2502\n \u2502 reader. These notes are identified by \u2666\u2660\u2665\u2663 symbols in the \u2502\n \u2502 text and are shown immediately below the paragraph in which \u2502\n \u2502 they appear. \u2502\n \u2514\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2518\n\n\n\n\n Illustration: The Rev. George Whitefield A.M.\n late Chaplain to the R\u1d57 Hon\u1d47\u02e1\u1d49, The\n Countess of Huntingdon.\n Born Dec. 16. 1714 O. S. Died Sep. 30. 1770.\n N. Hone pinx\u1d57. I. Taylor Sculp\u1d57.\n\n\n THE\n WORKS\n OF THE REVEREND\n GEORGE WHITEFIELD, M.A.\n\n Late of PEMBROKE-COLLEGE, OXFORD,\n And Chaplain to the Rt. Hon. the Countess of HUNTINGDON.\n\n CONTAINING\n\n All his SERMONS and TRACTS\n Which have been already published:\n\n WITH\n\n A SELECT COLLECTION of LETTERS,\n Written to his most intimate Friends, and Persons of Distinction,\n in _England_, _Scotland_, _Ireland_, and _America_, from the Year\n 1734, to 1770, including the whole Period of his Ministry.\n\n ALSO\n\n Some other PIECES on IMPORTANT SUBJECTS,\n never before printed; prepared by Himself for the Press.\n\n To which is prefixed,\n\n An ACCOUNT of his LIFE,\n Compiled from his Original PAPERS and LETTERS.\n\n\n VOL. I.\n\n\n LONDON:\n\n Printed for EDWARD and CHARLES DILLY, in the Poultry;\n and Messrs. KINCAID and BELL, at Edinburgh.\n\n MDCCLXXI.\n\n\n Entered at STATIONERS-HALL,\n agreeable to Act of Parliament.\n\n\n\n\n ADVERTISEMENT.\n\n\nTHIS complete Edition of the late Rev. Mr. WHITEFIELD\u2019s Works (printed\nunder the Direction of his Executors) it is presumed, will be highly\nacceptable to all his Friends, as the just and proper Monument of\nhis Memory and Merit; and both pleasing and useful to the Public in\ngeneral, but especially to those who desire to cherish and promote the\nSpirit of primitive Christianity.\n\nTo the Sermons and Tracts formerly published, and which are now\nranged in their proper Order, are also added other Pieces, on the\nmost Important Subjects: together with a valuable Collection of\nLetters, selected and prepared by himself for Publication; in which is\ndisplayed, that native Spirit and Simplicity, so eminently conspicuous\nin his Life and Conversation. His Friends, and even his Enemies\n(should there be any Such) will here openly behold his unwearied\nDiligence, undaunted Firmness, noble Disinterestedness, and exceeding\nUsefulness in the Work of the Ministry; also, his remarkable Fidelity\nin Friendship, exemplary Piety, and fervent Zeal for the Prosperity of\npure and undefiled Religion.\n\nThe Letters and Works can stand in no need of any Recommendation:\nConnected with the account of his Life, (now drawn from original\nPapers) they exhibit a plain and undisguised View of the worthy\nAuthor, in all Parts of his public Service, as well as in his private\nRetirements, and inward Trials; faithfully shewing the Whole of that\n_living Temple_, which was sacred to GOD, and happily instructing\nMankind in the Ways of Godliness and eternal Life.\n\n\n\n\n LETTERS.\n\n\n LETTER I.\n\n _To Mr. G. H._\n\n _Oxon, July 18, 1734._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nHAVING heard the melancholy news of your brother\u2019s death, I could\nnot help sending you a line, to let you know how much I am concerned.\nIndeed, I cannot say, I am so much grieved on his account, as for\nthat sorrow, which the loss of so valuable a youth must necessarily\noccasion to all his relations. No! I rather envy him his blessed\ncondition. He, unquestionably is divinely blessed, whilst we are\nstill left behind to wrestle with unruly passions, and by a continued\nlooking unto JESUS and running in our christian race, to press forward\nto that high prize, of which he, _dear Youth_, is now in full fruition.\nThese are my true sentiments about his death; I leave you to judge\nthen, whether I had need be concerned on his account; and surely was\nit to be put to your choice, whether so religious a young man should\nlive or die, no one could be so cruel, as to wish to detain him from\nhis wished-for glory. Be not then too much concerned at his death, but\nlet us rather learn that important lesson, which his whole life taught\nus: \u201cThat there is nothing comparable to an early piety.\u201d I thought\nto have spent many agreeable hours with him in christian and edifying\nconversation, when I came to _Gloucester_; but he is gone to more\nagreeable company, and long before now has joined the heavenly choir.\n\nI shall only add, that as your brother imitated our blessed SAVIOUR\nin his life, so I pray GOD, he may resemble him in his death, and\nbe a means, like his beloved Redeemer, of reconciling all former\nanimosities, which is the hearty wish of, dear Sir,\n\n Your sincere friend and humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER II.\n\n _To Mr. G. H._\n\n _Bristol, Sept. 10, 1734._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nTHIS morning I wrote to you in haste, expecting Mr. _I._ would soon\nbe going; but to my great satisfaction, he came hither this night,\nand soon afterwards, your very much wished-for letter was brought to\nhand; which (after ten thousand thanks for so many repeated favours)\nI shall now beg leave to answer. You tell me \u201cMr. _P._ likes _N._\u201d\nGOD be praised! That he hath recommended something to my perusal. I\u2019ll\nread it, GOD willing, with care, at my return. \u201cThat he wants to know\nmy quality, state, condition, circumstances, &c.\u201d Alas! that anyone\nshould enquire after such a wretch as I am. However, since he hath\nbeen so kind, pray tell him, that as for my quality, I was a poor,\nmean drawer; but by the distinguishing grace of GOD, am now intended\nfor the ministry. As for my estate, that I am a servitor; and as to\nmy condition and circumstances, I have not of my own any where to\nlay my head. But my friends, by GOD\u2019s providence, minister daily to\nme, and in return for such unmerited, unspeakable blessings, I trust\nthe same good Being will give me grace to dedicate myself without\nreserve to his service. To \u201cspend and be spent\u201d for the welfare of\nmy fellow-creatures, endeavouring to promote the gospel of his Son\nas much as lies in my poor power. But \u201cobserve his humility,\u201d says\nMr. _H._ Aye, catch an old Christian without profound humility, if you\ncan. Believe me, _Sir_, it is nothing but this flesh of ours, those\ncursed seeds of the proud apostate, which lie lurking in us, that make\nus to think ourselves worthy of the very air we breathe. When our eyes\nare opened by the influences of divine grace, we then shall begin to\nthink of ourselves as we ought to think, even, that GOD is all, and\nwe are less than nothing. Well, you may cry, O happy temper, could I\nbut learn of CHRIST to be meek and lowly in heart, I should certainly\nfind rest to my soul. May GOD, for his dear SON\u2019s sake, give it to\nyou, to me, and to all our dear friends! \u201cSome like, some dislike the\nextract,\u201d you say. I did not do it, to please man, but GOD. \u201cMr. _W._\nis too much engaged in temporals.\u201d Is he? Oh dear Sir, pray that when\nI enter the ministry, I may be wholly engaged in spirituals: But \u201cMrs.\n_H._ has been ill, and is now recovered.\u201d GOD be praised for both! Our\nSaviour, _Sir_, learnt obedience by the things which he suffered, so\nmust we. Pain, if patiently endured, and sanctified to us, is a great\npurifier of our corrupted nature. It will teach us excellent lessons.\nI hope Mr. _H._ has been enabled to learn some of them. So much in\nanswer to your kind letter. You say \u201cit was too long.\u201d Believe me,\n_Sir_, it was much too short; but a line is more than I deserve.\nHowever, I have made out in mine, what was wanting in yours. _My\nMother\u2019s_ journey to _Gloucester_, I fear, is spoiled by the weather.\nGOD\u2019s blessed will be done! I hope to be with you about next _Tuesday_\nsevennight. \u201cI am missed,\u201d you say; and you may well miss such a\ntroublesome guest. Well, GOD will reward you richly, I trust. Never\ndespair of _my brother_; when GOD acts upon the soul, he makes quick\nwork of it. Be pleased to tell Mr. _M._ that his remissness hath\noccasioned me many a sigh, and his return from his relapse, matter of\nabundant thanks to GOD in his behalf. Oh let us young, unexperienced\nsoldiers, be always upon our guard; the very moment we desert our post,\nthe enemy rushes in; and if he can but divert our eyes from looking\nheavenward, he will soon so blind us, that we shall not look towards\nit at all. A great deal may be learned from a little fall. But I must\nnot detain you any longer, than to assure you how much I am, _Dear\nSir_,\n\n Your and Mrs. _H._\u2019s sincere friend and servant,\n in our common LORD,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER III.\n\n _To Mr. H._\n\n _Oxon, Sept. 17, 1734._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nI Had the favour of your letter last _Friday_, which brought me the\nagreeable news of your and Mrs. _H._\u2019s welfare, together with the\nmuch-desired account of your approving the scheme, inclosed in my\nlast. Indeed, I did not doubt of its meeting with a candid reception,\nfrom all those persons to whom it was recommended. Their known\nconcern for religion, giving me sufficient assurance, that nothing\ncan be unacceptable to them, which any way tended to promote their\nimprovement in the divine life. It must be confessed, indeed, as you\nvery justly observed, that we must make a great progress in religion,\nand be inured by frequent prayer and meditation, to the extatic\ncontemplation of heavenly objects, before we can arrive at true\nheavenly-mindedness; and, perhaps, after all our endeavours, whilst\nour souls are immersed in these fleshly tabernacles, we shall make\nbut very small advances in so delightful and glorious an undertaking.\nBut believe me, _Sir_, you cannot imagine, how vastly serviceable the\nconstant use of all the means of religion will be, in acquiring this\nblessed habit of mind. Such, as an early rising in the morning, public\nand private prayer, a due temperance in all things, and frequent\nmeditation on the infinite love and purity of that unparalleled\npattern of all perfection, our dear Redeemer. As for your mentioning,\n_Sir_, the degeneracy of the age, as the least objection against our\nmaking further advances in any religious improvement, I cannot by any\nmeans admit of it. The scriptures (as I take it) are to be the only\nrules of action. And the examples of our blessed LORD and his apostles,\nthe grand patterns whereby we are to form the conduct of our lives. It\nis true, indeed, that instances of an exalted piety are rarely to be\nmet with in the present age, and one would think, if we were to take\nan estimate of our religion, from the lives of most of its professors,\nthat christianity was nothing but a dead letter. But then it is not\nour religion, but ourselves that are to be blamed all this while.\nWould we live as the primitive christians did, we might no doubt\nhave the same assistance vouchsafed us, as they had. GOD\u2019s grace is\nnever restrained, and though we should not arrive at those heights of\nheavenly-mindedness, as some of the primitive christians were eminent\nfor, yet, methinks we should imitate them as far as we can, and rely\non the divine goodness for grants of such a supply of grace, as he,\nin his good pleasure, shall judge most convenient for us. Be pleased\nto send for Mr. _Law\u2019s Christian Perfection_ for me against my coming\ninto the country, if printed in a small edition. I am, with due\nrespects to self, spouse, and all other friends,\n\n Your\u2019s sincerely,\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER IV.\n\n _To the Same._\n\n _Oxon, Dec. 4, 1734._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nI Am heartily glad to hear that the _country parson_ has had so good\nan effect upon you, and that you are resolved to set in earnest, about\nworking out your salvation: Be sure quench not these first motions;\nbut go on vigorously and manfully, without the least regard to what\nthe world may say; if you can once break with that, you are safe. The\n_prayers_, I hope to send you next week. Only let me give you this\ncaution, not to depend on any advice or book, that is given you; but\nsolely on the grace of GOD attending it. The book which I have sent to\nmy brother, and would recommend to you and all my _Gloucester_ friends,\nwill soon convince you how dangerous it is to be a lukewarm christian,\nand that there is nothing to be done without breaking from the world,\ndenying ourselves daily, taking up our cross, and following JESUS\nCHRIST. These things may seem a little terrible at first, but believe\nme, they are nothing but suggestions of our enemy to deter us from\nsetting out; and if you can credit me, mortification itself, when once\npractised, is the greatest pleasure in the world. But hold, I shall\ntransgress the time prescribed me, therefore give me only leave to\nadd my hearty prayer for your successful progress in religion, and to\nsubscribe myself in great haste, _Dear Sir_,\n\n Your sincere friend and humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER V.\n\n _To the Same._\n\n _Oxon, Feb. 20, 1735._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nI Believe you think me a strange sort of a person, for not being so\ngood as my word in coming down this winter; and what is worse, in not\nletting you have a line to acquaint you of my reasons for it. And,\nindeed, I am not as yet determined; providence having ordered (I hope)\nthat this seeming unkindness shall, in the end, prove very serviceable\non all sides. However, though I have been thus hindred, yet, I think\nyou heard from me last, and am really surprized to find you should,\nnow so long since, have desired that _collection of prayers_, and\nbe wholly unconcerned about them ever after. Indeed, they will be of\nno service to you, unless you grant me this one postulatum: \u201cThat we\nmust renounce ourselves.\u201d What the meaning of this phrase may be, the\npreface to the prayers will best inform you. I did not doubt of its\nmeeting with but a cold reception, it being (at first view) so very\ncontrary to flesh and blood. For, perhaps, you may think, that this\nrenouncing of ourselves, must necessarily lead us (as it certainly\ndoes) to acts of self-denial and mortification; and, that we probably\nmay be saved without them. And lest you should after all imagine,\n(which I trust you will not) that true religion does consist in any\nthing, besides an entire renewal of our natures into the image of\nGOD; I have sent you a book entitled, _The Life of GOD in the Soul of\nMan_, written by a young, but an eminent christian, which will inform\nyou, what true religion is, and by what means you may attain it. As\nlikewise, how wretchedly most people err in their sentiments about it,\nwho suppose it to be nothing else (as he tells us page 3d) but a mere\nmodel of outward performances; without ever considering, that all our\ncorrupt passions must be subdued, and a complex habit of virtues,\nsuch as meekness, lowliness, faith, hope, and the love of GOD and of\nman, be implanted in their room, before we can have the least title\nto enter into the kingdom of GOD. Our divine master having expressly\ntold us, that \u201cunless we renounce ourselves, and take up our cross\ndaily, we cannot be his disciples.\u201d And again, \u201cunless we have the\nspirit of CHRIST, we are none of his.\u201d You will scarce have time, I\nimagine, before Mr. _H._ leaves _Gloucester_, to revise, what I have\nrecommended to your perusal. However, be pleased to let me hear from\nyou by him, together with an account of your free sentiments about\nthis matter. I trust (by GOD\u2019s grace) we shall, at last, rightly\nunderstand one another\u2019s meaning. I should be glad to hear too,\nwhether you keep morning prayers, and how often you receive the holy\ncommunion, there being nothing, which so much be-dwarfs us in religion,\nand hinders our progress towards the heavenly Canaan, as starving our\nsouls by keeping away from the heavenly banquet. I have nothing more\nto add at present on this subject, till you favour me with a line,\nwhich, I hope, you will not fail doing by Mr. _H._ who will willingly\nbring it to, Dear Sir,\n\n Your sincere friend and very humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER VI.\n\n _To the Same._\n\n _Oxon, March 6, 1735._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nI Had the favour of your letter by Mr. _H._ and, as desired, I have\nmade enquiry about the post-masters and clerks of Merton. As to the\nformer, I hear, that the five senior fellows have each a power to\nelect one in his turn, and that there is now a vacancy, but one ready\non the spot to supply it, and no likelihood of there being another\nthis long while. The latter, are solely in the power of the warden,\nand though all the places are at present filled up, yet, there will\nbe a vacancy next term, so that, perhaps, by a seasonable application,\nyour brother may get a friend in. Thus much for business. As for the\nother particular, specified in the latter part of your last; I find by\nwhat I can gather from your own and my brother\u2019s expressions, as well\nas from Mr. _H._\u2019s discourse, that my late letters have met with but\na cold reception; and that you seem desirous of hearing no more of so\nseemingly ungrateful a subject, as submitting our wills to the will\nof GOD; which, indeed, is all that is implied in that phrase (which\nour enemy would represent as so formidable to us) of _renouncing\nourselves_. Alas, Sir! what is there that appears so monstrously\nterrible in a doctrine that is, (or at least ought to be) the constant\nsubject of our prayers, whenever we put up that petition of our\nLORD\u2019s: \u201c_Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven._\u201d The import\nof which seems to be this. 1st. That we do every thing that GOD wills,\nand nothing but what he willeth, 2dly, That we do every thing he\nwills, _only_ in the manner he willeth. 3dly, That we do those things\nhe willeth, only _because_ he willeth. This is all, Sir, I have been\nendeavouring to inculcate in my late letters; and though it seems\nas clear as the light, upon an impartial and considerate view, yet,\nour grand impostor (whose very corruption is having a will distinct\nfrom, and therefore contrary to GOD\u2019s) would fain set it out in the\nmost hideous colours, as though we were \u201cSetters forth of strange\ndoctrines;\u201d or proposing some higher degrees of perfection, than every\nordinary christian is obliged to aspire after; whereas, in truth, it\nis nothing but the simple and evident language of the gospel. It must\nbe confessed, that through the corruption of our depraved nature, and\nthat power, which self-will has, since the Fall, usurped in the soul,\nwe must necessarily break through a great many obstacles. But, dear\nSir, be not dismayed, the difficulty lies only in our first setting\nout. Be but vigorous at the first onset, and never fear a conquest.\nThe renewal of our natures is a work of great importance. It is not\nto be done in a day. We have not only a new house to build up, but\nan old one to pull down. But then, methinks, this would be an odd\nway of reasoning, \u201cBecause a thing requires some pains, I therefore\nwill never set about it.\u201d No, Sir, rather up and be doing. Exert\nyour utmost efforts at your first setting out, and take my word, your\nstrength as well as resolution will increase daily. The means also\nwhich are necessary to be used in order to attain this end, our cursed\nadversary the devil would represent to us in the most hideous forms\nimaginable. But believe me, Sir, the difficulty here too, only lies\nin our first breaking from ourselves, and that there is really more\npleasure in these formidable duties of self-denial and mortification,\nthan in the highest indulgences of the greatest epicure upon earth.\nGive me leave, dear Sir, only to remind you of one particular, which,\nif duly observed, will vastly facilitate your future endeavours. Let\nthe scriptures, not the world, be your rule of action. By those you\nare to form your practice here, and to be judged hereafter. Upon this\naccount, for the future, I should be glad, if you would communicate\nwhat passes between you and me, to none but my brother and your spouse.\nAnd if you have any, the least scruple, be pleased to send me word of\nit by a letter in an open, friendly manner; and, by GOD\u2019s blessing,\nall things will be yet set right; only be fervent in prayer. As for\nwhat the Rev. Mr. _Hoar_ has been pleased to say, either to you or\nMr. _H._ it is not my business (out of deference, as he is so much my\nsuperior, as to the dignity of his office, his age, and his learning)\nto make any reply. I shall only add, what I am sure I can prove,\n\u201cThat the gospel tells us that there is but one thing needful. That we\ncannot sit down content with just such a degree of goodness, and claim\njust such a proportionable degree of glory;\u201d but that \u201cwe are to love\nthe LORD with all our souls, strength, &c.\u201d and that \u201che who endureth\nto the end, (and he only) shall be saved.\u201d There is a little treatise\nlately come out, which I have made bold to send to Mr. _Hoar_, where\nwe may be fully convinced by argument deducible merely from reason,\n\u201cthat GOD is our sole end,\u201d and that barely upon a principle of\nprudence, (supposing we could be happy without it) we ought to\npress forward, in order to attain the greatest degrees of happiness\nhereafter. Whether this letter, Sir, may prove as offensive as the\nformer, is not my business to enquire. GOD\u2019s will be done in all\nthings. He, and he alone can (and indeed will, if we are desirous of\nit ourselves) work this conviction in our minds. Give me leave just\nto add, that I thought it my duty to answer these few objections, that\nhave been raised against the difficulty of conforming our wills to\nthe will of GOD, by shewing that the greatest struggle lies only at\nour first beginning, and that it is no more than what is indispensably\nnecessary for our salvation. As for the means to be employed for the\nattainment of this end, I shall be wholly silent: Being sensible,\nthat if you are once fully convinced of the greatness of it, you\nwill be necessarily carried on to the use of such means as GOD hath\nconstituted for that purpose. I hope my writing after this manner, Sir,\nwill not be esteemed a piece of self-conceit, or be an instrument of\nunloosing our former band of friendship, which was once designed to be\nbound the faster, by tying it with a religious knot. But whether this\nproves to be the event, or not, of my telling my friends the truth, I\nwholly leave to GOD\u2019s Providence. Be pleased however to favour me with\na line in return, and give me leave to subscribe myself, Dear Sir,\n\n Your sincere friend and most obliged humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER VII.\n\n _To the Same._\n\n _Bristol, June 12, 1735._\n _My dear Friend_,\n\nLAST night about eight o\u2019clock, your good spouse and myself came safe\nto our journey\u2019s end, and met with a very kind reception from all\nparties. After you left us, the ladies grew more serious, and at last\nby the assistance of _Mr. Norris_, our discourse ran into a proper\nchannel. My brother does not propose sailing this fortnight; but tho\u2019\nhe stays longer than he proposed, yet I hope to be at _Gloucester_\non Wednesday, for methinks my heart is still there, tho\u2019 my body be\nat thirty miles distance. On whose account, I leave you to guess. I\ncannot help reflecting on Sunday. Did not those sighs, think you, Sir,\nproceed from some unusual meditations on the importance of religion?\nWere they not some infant strugglings after the new birth? Surely they\nwere. And I trust ere long, after a few strugglings with corrupted\nnature, the Holy Ghost will replenish your heart with comfort and\npeace. Proper retirement and solitude are no bars; but rather great\nhelps to a religious life. We find, our Saviour was led into a\nwilderness, before he entered on his publick ministry, and so must\nwe too, if we ever intend to tread in his steps. As for my brother,\nI trust the cares of the world, the desire of riches, &c. will not\nalways choak the good seed. However, I hope you my dear friend will\nnot defer so important a thing. But, why do I say hope, when I am\nassured you will not. Methinks, I would willingly undergo the pangs,\nso you might enjoy the pleasures of the new birth. But this must not\nbe. All we can do is to sympathize with and pray for each other, which\nI hope will not be wanting on either side, as such a close friendship\nhas commenced between dear _Mr. H._ and\n\n Your sincere friend and humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER VIII.\n\n _To the Same._\n\n _Bristol, Sept. 5, 1735._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nHOW welcome is a line from a faithful friend? even as welcome as a\nshower of rain in a droughty season. But here\u2019s the misfortune, the\nvery kindnesses of friends may be cruelty: Commendations, or even the\nhinting at them, are poison to a mind addicted to pride. A nail never\nsinks deeper than when dipt in oil. A friend\u2019s words may be softer\nthan butter, and notwithstanding, be very swords. Pray for me, dear\nSir, and heal the wound you have made. To GOD alone give glory. To\nsinners nothing belongs, but shame and confusion. So much in answer to\none part of your too kind letter. _Mrs. Powell_ you say continues very\nill. No wonder, Sir; desperate diseases must have desperate remedies.\nSatan has desired to sift her as wheat; but CHRIST will pray for her,\nI trust, and then her faith will not fail. Oxford friends have not\nbeen wanting in letters, and I find I must not stay much longer here.\nFor some are going to travel, some are dead, and one is married, so\nthat we must join and warm one another, as well as we can in their\nabsence. I hope to feast with you at _Crypt_ next Sunday. Amazing,\nthat ever sinners should sit with their Saviour! To what dignity has\nCHRIST exalted human nature. And how did he do it? Why, by humbling\nhimself. Let us go and do likewise. Give me leave, with due respects\nto all friends, to subscribe myself,\n\n Your and spouses very humble servant and sincere friend,\n\n _G. W._\n\nP. S. If Mr. Pauncefort\u2019s petitions run after this manner for me, I\nshould be thankful: \u201cThat GOD would finish the good work he has begun\nin me, that I may never seek nor be fond of worldly preferment; but\nemploy every mite of those talents it shall please GOD to entrust\nme with, to his glory and the church\u2019s good, and likewise, that the\nendeavours of my friends to revive true religion in the world, may\nmeet with proper success.\u201d\n\n\n LETTER IX.\n\n _To the Same._\n\n _Bristol, Sept. 18, 1735._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nAS you did not expect to hear from me till _Mr. B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015d_ came, I hope\nyou have not as yet accused me of being too dilatory in writing. Now\nI have taken the freedom, what can be more proper for me to begin\nwith, than to return ten thousand thanks for those innumerable favours\nconferred on me at your house? I trust they are all registered in the\ncourt of heaven, and will in due time meet with a suitable return\nfrom my all-gracious and good benefactor. Next to this, I imagine you\nwill enquire, how I like Bristol? As for the place itself, that, like\nall others, is indifferent to me, who have here no continuing city,\nbut seek one to come; and as for the inhabitants, tho\u2019 they teach me\nnothing else, yet I may learn this one important lesson, that unless\nI am very vigilant, the children of this world, will be much wiser in\ntheir generation, than I, who, by the grace of GOD, hope am a child\nof light. Alas! was I half so solicitous to attain heavenly, as they\nare worldly riches, I should be rich indeed. That you all may be rich\ntowards GOD, is the hearty prayer of, dear Sir, Your very unworthy,\n\n but sincere friend and humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER X.\n\n _To the Same._\n\n _Oxon, March 13, 1736._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nI Have now but just time to acquaint you, that GOD gave me a pleasant\nand safe journey, and what was still a greater blessing, a joyful\nmeeting with my zealous, hearty, sincere friends. The alderman bore\nmy expences, and was very agreeable company; so that on all accounts I\nhave great reason to thank my good and gracious GOD, and to beg others\nto join with me in that important, that delightful duty. You will\nnot forget retaining your old custom of reading and singing. It\u2019s bad\nto leave off a good custom, and the best way to make a progress in\nreligion, is to persist in, and to improve on the means we enjoy. I\nsuppose honest James by this time is with you. My hearty love to him,\nand tell him, it would do his heart good to see what a number of true\naltogether christians here are of his rank. I hope he will let none\nof them outstrip him: He must watch and pray against self-indulgence,\nsloth, &c. especially if he goes to a place where plenty of all things\nabound. My due respects and hearty thanks to _Mrs. H._ and all friends.\nI hope none of their kindnesses will ever be forgotten by\n\n Your sincere friend in great haste,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XI.\n\n _To the Same._\n\n _Oxon, April 2, 1736._\n _Dearest Sir_,\n\nWHAT a comfort is it for christian friends to relate to each other the\nloving-kindness of the LORD? O let his praises be ever in our mouths,\nthat we may be telling of his salvation from day to day. O _dear Sir_,\nI heartily join with you in the delightful duty of thanksgiving. I\nhope that you will have every day more and more experimental proofs of\nthat intercourse which is carried on between GOD in heaven, and saints\non earth.\n\nI must now inform you, that the person, who under GOD has given me the\nannuity, is _Sir John Philips_ of London. The occasion of it was as\nfollows. Upon my coming up, two or three of our trusty friends were\ncalled from us, and being solicitous to keep up our society here,\nthe gentleman to whom you sent the book, wrote to _Sir John Philips_\nand proposed me (alas! how unfit) as a proper person to stay here and\nencourage our friends in fighting the good fight of faith. Accordingly\nhe immediately offered me an annuity of twenty pounds. To shew his\ndisinterestedness, he has promised me _that_, whether I continue\nhere or not; and if I resolve to stay at _Oxon_, he\u2019ll give me thirty\npounds a year. If that will not do, I may have more; so that you see,\nmy dear friend, what a critical point it is. All that we have to do is\nto pray, and watch Providence between this and _June_, when I propose,\nGOD willing, to enter into orders, and then no doubt my call will be\nclear. What makes me to think that this is a call from GOD is, that\nit will be convenient for taking my degree, and improving me in my\nstudies. Whether it be or no, GOD only knows; Father, therefore into\nthy hands I commend my spirit, for thou hast redeemed me, O LORD thou\nGOD of truth. I approve greatly of your reading HENRY. GOD works by\nhim here greatly, and may the LORD prosper it in your hands. Good dear\nSir, never leave off watching, reading, praying, striving, till you\nexperimentally find CHRIST JESUS formed within you. In a particular\nmanner, my dear friend, watch against all temptations to sloth. When\nyou receive the sacrament, earnestly endeavour to be inwardly bettered\nby it the week following. Live every day as holily as you can. Be\nfrequent in self-examination morning and evening. Pray earnestly\nfrom your heart. Wrestle with GOD, beg him to hasten the new birth.\nMoreover be careful, diligent in your calling, labour hard with your\nown hands, that you may have to give to him that needeth. And labour\nnot so much for the meat that perisheth, as to neglect pursuing that\nwhich endureth to eternal life. O _Mr. H._ my bowels are enlarged\ntowards you. Believe me to be your sincere, tho\u2019 unworthy friend,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XII.\n\n _To the Same._\n\n _Oxon, April 22, 1736._\n _Dear Mr. H._,\n\nNOW tell me the truth, have not you called me ungrateful? If you have\nnot, it is more than I deserve. I have nothing to plead but business,\nas an excuse for not answering your last kind letter. Well, forgive me\nthis once, and if I offend so again, then call me ungrateful indeed.\nYou order\u2019d me to make no acknowledgments for kindnesses received.\nYou\u2019ll suffer me to ask another favour, if not to return any more\nthanks. Be so kind then, dear Sir, to desire your brother to write\nto me as soon as possible. My good friend, _Sir John Philips_, has\npromised me thirty pounds a year, if I\u2019ll continue at Oxford, and yet\nI am in doubt, whether that annuity, and the being appointed to serve\nthe prison here, will be a sufficient title for orders, therefore I\nbeg both his advice and prayers. This is all I think that concerns\noutward affairs. But this solemn season naturally leads me to say a\nword or two on a more important subject, \u201cthe death and passion of\nour blessed Lord and Saviour.\u201d If I mistake not, you commemorate\nit to-morrow at _Crypt_. And blessed be GOD, I do at Christ Church.\nAnd oh that we may commemorate it as we ought; that we may fix our\nthoughts intensely on that great examplar and all atoning blood; that\nwe may grow in love with his meekness and patience, and endeavour\ndaily to be conformed to his most blessed image. Surely we cannot\ngrow angry at trifles, when the Son of GOD endured such bitter usage,\nwithout the least murmur or complaint. Surely, we cannot repine at any\ndispensations of Providence tho\u2019 ever so severe, when we consider, how\nit pleased GOD to bruise our Saviour and lay upon him the iniquities\nof us all. Whatever befalls us, is but the due reward of our crimes;\nbut this Redeemer had done nothing amiss: he was bruised for our\niniquities. I could run through every part of our LORD\u2019s sufferings,\nand shew how \u2666necessary it is that we should sympathize with him\nin every particular. But as it now grows late, and I want a little\ntime to prepare for to-morrow\u2019s solemnity, you\u2019ll excuse me if I now\nonly paraphrase a little on the prayer of the thief on the cross.\nLORD remember us and pray for us; LORD remember us and rule us; LORD\nremember us and prepare a place for us. LORD remember us in the hour\nof death, and in the day of judgment. My due respects to all friends,\nand am sincerely\n\n Yours,\n\n _G. W._\n\n \u2666 \u2018necesary\u2019 replaced with \u2018necessary\u2019\n\n\n LETTER XIII.\n\n _To Mr. S._\n\n _Gloucester, June 20, 1736._\n _My dear Friend_,\n\nTHIS is a day much to be remember\u2019d, O my soul! for about noon, I was\nsolemnly admitted by good _Bishop Benson_, before many witnesses, into\nholy orders, and was, blessed be GOD, kept composed both before and\nafter imposition of hands. I endeavoured to behave with unaffected\ndevotion; but not suitable enough to the greatness of the office\nI was to undertake. At the same time, I trust, I answered to every\nquestion from the bottom of my heart, and heartily prayed that GOD\nmight say Amen. I hope the good of souls will be my only principle of\naction. Let come what will, life or death, depth or heighth, I shall\nhenceforwards live like one who this day, in the presence of men and\nangels, took the holy sacrament, upon the profession of being inwardly\nmoved by the Holy Ghost to take upon me that ministration in the\nchurch. This I began with reading prayers to the prisoners in the\ncounty \u2666gaol. Whether I myself shall ever have the honour of stiling\nmyself a prisoner of the LORD, I know not; but indeed, my dear friend,\nI can call heaven and earth to witness, that when the Bishop laid\nhis hand upon me, I gave myself up to be a martyr for him, who hung\nupon the cross for me. Known unto him are all future events and\ncontingences; I have thrown myself blindfold, and I trust without\nreserve, into his almighty hands; only I would have you observe, that\ntill you hear of my dying for, or in my work, you will not be apprized\nof all the preferment that is expected by\n\n Yours, &c.\n\n _G. W._\n\n \u2666 \u2018goal\u2019 replaced with \u2018gaol\u2019\n\n\n LETTER XIV.\n\n _To the Same._\n\n _Gloucester, June 23, 1736._\n _Dear Friend_,\n\nNEVER a poor creature set up with so small a stock. When the\ngood Bishop, who ordained me on Sunday, gave out last year in his\nvisitation charge, that he would ordain none under full three and\ntwenty, my heart leap\u2019d for joy, for then I thought my friends would\nnot only be disappointed in their hope of having me enter into orders\nso soon; but that I should also have time (as was my intention) to\nmake at least a hundred sermons, with which to begin my ministry; but\nthis is so far from being the case, that I have not a single one by\nme, except that which I made for a small christian society, and which\nI sent to a neighbouring clergyman, to convince him how unfit I was\nto take upon me the important work of preaching. He kept it for a\nfortnight, and then sent it back with a guinea for the loan of it;\ntelling me he had divided it into two, and had preached it morning\nand evening to his congregation. With this sermon I intend to begin,\nGOD willing, next Sunday, not doubting, but that he, who increased a\nlittle lad\u2019s loaves and fishes for the feeding of a great multitude,\nwill from time to time, in the proper use of appointed means, supply\nme with spiritual food for whatever congregation he in his all-wise\nProvidence shall be pleased to call me to. Help, help me, my dear\nfriend, with your warmest addresses to the throne of grace, that I\nmay not only find mercy, but grace to help in time of need. At present\nthis is the language of my heart,\n\n _A guilty weak and helpless worm into thy arms I fall,\n Be thou my strength, my righteousness, my JESUS, and my all._\n\nOh cease not, for I must again repeat it, cease not to pray for\n\n Yours, &c.\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XV.\n\n _Gloucester, June 28, 1736._\n _Dear Mrs. H._,\n\nACCORDING to my promise I am now seated to write you a farewell letter.\nFor providence seems to demand my presence at _Oxford_ immediately,\nand therefore I propose being there, GOD willing, on _Monday_ night.\nBut first let me return dear Mrs. _H._ my heartiest thanks for all\npast kindnesses, and assure her, that my incessant prayers shall\nnever be wanting, that GOD may not forget her labour of love, in that\nshe has so plentifully administered to me his unworthy servant, and\nyet does minister. To-morrow I am to preach at _Crypt_, but believe\nI shall displease some, being determined to speak against their\nassemblies. But I must tell them the truth, or otherwise I shall not\nbe a faithful minister of CHRIST. Had providence so ordered, I should\nhave been glad to have given you the cup of blessing; but since that\nfavour is denied to me, I am resigned. However, I hope I shall not be\nunmindful of you, when I come near your place, nor be wanting in my\nprayers, that GOD would mercifully supply the want of outward means to\nyou, by the operation of his Holy Spirit. I suppose you are, by this\ntime, pretty well reconciled to _Worcester_, and that providence has\nshewn you that we may serve GOD acceptably in any place. Yes, Madam,\nlet but our hearts be upright towards him, and by faith united to our\ndear LORD JESUS, we shall find that wherever we are, he will be with\nus, and we shall be with him. So far I had written on _Saturday_ night;\nbut being detained here in expectation of seeing my brother _James_,\n(who has not as yet been so good as his word) I believe I can now\nacquaint you that I must set out on _Wednesday_ morning. I preached\nyesterday at _Crypt_, and was mercifully supported and assisted,\nfor which great blessing, I hope you will return hearty thanks in my\nbehalf. I trust Miss _James_ continues her former earnest desires to\nbe renewed in the spirit of her mind; for nothing will do but that.\nIndeed we may flatter ourselves, that we may go to heaven without\nundergoing the pangs of the new birth; but we shall certainly find\nourselves desperately mistaken in the end. For till we are changed,\ntill we are made meet for, we cannot in the nature of the thing be\npartakers of the heavenly inheritance with the saints in light. Let\nus therefore never cease praying and striving, till we find this\nblessed change wrought in us, and thereby we ourselves brought off\nfrom relying on any or all outward ordinances for salvation. Our good\nbishop _Benson_ was pleased to give me another present of five guineas,\na great supply for one who has not a guinea in the world. May the\ngreat Bishop of souls amply reward both him and you, for all favours\nconferred on\n\n Your sincere friend and humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XVI.\n\n _To Mr. H._\n\n _Gloucester, June 30, 1736._\n _My Dear Friend_,\n\nGLORY! glory! glory! be ascribed to an almighty triune GOD.\u2015\u2015Last\n_Sunday_ in the afternoon, I preached my first sermon in the church\nof St. _Mary De Crypt_, where I was baptized, and also first received\nthe sacrament of the LORD\u2019s supper. Curiosity, as you may easily guess,\ndrew a large congregation together upon the occasion. The sight at\nfirst a little awed me; but I was comforted with a heart-felt sense\nof the divine presence, and soon found the unspeakable advantage of\nhaving been accustomed to public speaking when a boy at school, and of\nexhorting and teaching the prisoners and poor people at their private\nhouses, whilst at the university. By these means I was kept from being\ndaunted over much. As I proceeded, I perceived the fire kindled, till\nat last, though so young, and amidst a croud of those, who knew me\nin my infant childish days, I trust, I was enabled to speak with some\ndegree of gospel authority. Some few mocked, but most for the present\nseemed struck; and I have since heard, that a complaint had been made\nto the bishop, that I drove fifteen mad the first sermon. The worthy\nprelate, as I am informed, wished that the madness might not be\nforgotten before next _Sunday_. Before then, I hope, my sermon upon\n_He that is in CHRIST, is a new creature_, will be compleated. Blessed\nbe GOD, I now find freedom in writing. Glorious JESUS,\n\n _Unloose my stamm\u2019ring tongue to tell\n Thy love immense, unsearchable._\n\nBeing thus engaged, I must hasten to subscribe myself, my dear Sir,\n\n Your\u2019s, &c.\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XVII.\n\n _To Mrs. H._\n\n _Oxon, July 7, 1736._\n _Dear Mrs. H._,\n\nWHAT shall I say in defence of my seemingly ungrateful silence? Why, I\nhope, your kindness will accept of the reasons I gave in Mrs. _Well_\u2019s\nletter, as a sufficient excuse for it, nothing but those, I assure\nyou, being the cause of it. Well then, presuming on your kind pardon,\ngive me leave, (after all acknowledgments of gratitude for kindnesses\nreceived) to bid you once more welcome to _Gloucester_, and to wish\nyou and Mr. _H._ with all my soul, the greatest comfort, that either\nthis or the other world can afford you. It\u2019s true, indeed, we must not\nexpect much comfort here, except what results from a good conviction\nthat we are in a safe state, by being born again of the Holy Ghost.\nThis, will afford us inexpressible satisfaction, even on this side the\ngrave. It will give us ease in pain, because we know, if we bear it\npatiently, it will end in glory. This, will make us meek and gentle\nunder crosses and disappointments, because we know we are taught to\nexpect them, and that our blessed Master has gone before us in them.\nIn short, it will make us easy in every station, because we have a\ngeneral promise, that all things shall work for good to them that\nlove GOD. But supposing we were to have no pleasure on this side of\nHeaven, yet the thoughts of being happy, and that too for all eternity\nhereafter, methinks should teach us to bear up under every calamity\nhere, not only with submission, but a holy joy. Good GOD! the very\nidea of what we are to be in glory, transports me while I am writing.\nThere, there, Mrs. _H._ we shall see the blessed JESUS, whom our souls\nhave so eagerly thirsted after in this life, surrounded with glory,\nand attended with myriads of his holy angels, who will rejoice at our\nsafe arrival to their happy mansions, and with repeated echoes welcome\nus to heaven. There, there, we shall not only see, but live with him\nand enjoy him too, not for a day, a month, a year, an age, but to all\neternity. And who can tell the pleasure, comfort, peace, joy, delight,\nand transport, a glorified saint will feel in the possession of his\nwished-for, longed-for, ever adorable, ever gracious, blessed, beloved,\ntriune GOD, and that for ever? Surely the happiness will be so great,\nthat eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither can the heart of man\nconceive the thousandth part thereof. And yet, great as it is, I\nnot only wish, but have good hope through CHRIST, that not only you\nand Mr. _H._ but all my christian friends, and even I myself through\ngrace, shall one day be partakers of it. The way and means we know.\n\u201cIf any one, says CHRIST, will come after me (to glory) let him\nrenounce himself.\u201d _i. e._ make his own will no principle of action,\nbe no self-pleaser, \u201cand take up his cross\u201d patiently (whether of\nsickness or outward circumstances, &c.) \u201cand then let him follow\nme,\u201d follow me in a way of duty here, and he shall follow me to glory\nhereafter. May we all be such followers of the blessed JESUS! And why\nshould we despair of becoming such? What is there in CHRIST\u2019s doctrine\nor example but that we may all, through the assistance of the Holy\nSpirit, imitate him in? Suppose it does oblige us to be a little\nstricter than our neighbours? Suppose it does forbid us spending too\nmuch time in the seemingly-innocent entertainments of the age? Suppose\nit does command us to be constant and frequent in prayer, in watchings,\nfastings, and other acts of mortification? Suppose it does bid us not\nto indulge our unruly passions; but to learn of CHRIST to be meek,\npatient, and lowly? Suppose it does compel us to redeem our time, to\nfill up every day with proper duty and devotion? Yet, what in all this,\nthat is terrible? Has not such a behaviour a natural tendency to make\nus calm, easy, peaceful, happy? And then, why should we refuse so easy\na yoke, so light a burden? I am sure the little (alas! too, too little)\ntime I have drawn in it, I have found it not galling but healing, and\nthe longer I bear it, the easier and pleasanter it is. Let us then,\nDear Mrs. _H._ chearfully take it upon us, and then\n\n _No mortal living of us all can miss\n A permanent, a sure substantial bliss._\n\n Your sincere, though very unworthy friend and humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XVIII.\n\n _To Mr. H._\n\n _Oxon, Oct. 14, 1736._\n _Dearest Sir_,\n\nI Was agreeably detained, as you was pleased to term it, last\n_Tuesday_, in reading your kind letter, and had I not been assisted\nby the grace of GOD to receive every thing with an equal, undisturbed\nmind, perhaps the contents of it might have given me some small\nuneasiness. But religion quite changes the nature of man, and makes\nus to receive all the dispensations of providence with resignation\nand thankfulness. Of this, dearest Sir, I hope you have had an\nexperimental proof, in bearing up with courage and resolution under\nthose acute pains the Almighty was pleased to visit you with last\n_Sunday_, and with which, perhaps, his infinite wisdom and goodness\nmay continue to visit you longer. My dear friend (if I mistake not)\nused to say, he was afraid GOD did not love him, because he did not\nchasten him. Behold then, now the hand of the LORD is upon you, not\nso much to punish, as to purify your soul. Not in anger but in love.\nPray therefore in your easy intervals, that you may know, wherefore\nthe LORD contendeth with you, and that you may not come cankered out\nof the furnace of affliction. Offer up every groan, every sigh, in\nthe name of your dying, risen Redeemer, and doubt not, but they will\nbe as prevalent as set times of prayer. Our being enabled to pray\nwhen sickness comes on us, doubtless, is to teach us the necessity\nof praying always, when we are in health. But, dear Mr. _H._ wants no\nsuch lessons, or excitements, I believe, to prayer. Methinks I could\nbear some of your pain for you, if that would give you comfort. But\nas it is impossible, O let me never cease most earnestly to beseech my\nheavenly Father, that he would sanctify this his fatherly correction\nto you, and that the sense of your weakness may add strength to your\nfaith, and seriousness to your repentance. Poor Mr. _Pauncefoot_, I\nfind, is visited in a far more grievous manner. Dear good man, surely\nthe time of his dissolution (I should say of his coronation) draweth\nnear. See, dear Mr. _H._ through what tribulations we must enter into\nglory. Be pleased to give my hearty love and thanks to him for his\nlast kind letter. Beg him not to cease praying for me, unworthy as I\nam. And, I hope, I shall not be wanting in returning his kindness in\nthe same manner. But alas, I have nothing to depend on, but the merits\nof a crucified Redeemer to have my poor petitions answered. But does\ndear Mrs. _H._ complain of deadness and coldness in devotion? Alas\npoor woman! let her not be disheartened. This is a complaint, which\nall the children of GOD have made. And we must take a great deal of\npains with our hearts, must pray often and long, before we shall be\nable to pray well. And the only way I can think of, to shame ourselves\nout of deadness in prayer, is to censure and condemn, to humble and\nbewail ourselves for it every time we go upon our knees, at least\nevery time we solemnly retire to converse with GOD. But why does dear\nMrs. _H._ so much as think of omitting but once the receiving of the\nholy sacrament? Or if satan does put such thoughts in her head, why\ndoes not she repel them with the utmost abhorrence? Alas! should the\ndevil gain his point here, would not the ridiculing world say, Mrs.\n_H._ began to build, but had not wherewith to finish. I have seen too\nmany fatal instances of the inexpressible danger and sad consequences\nof leaving off any one means of grace, not to encourage Mrs. _H._\nstedfastly to persevere in the good way she has begun; and would\nexhort her, in the name of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, to labour daily to\nmortify and subdue her corruptions, not wilfully to indulge herself in\nany ill habit, custom, or temper, and then assure herself, one time or\nanother, CHRIST will be made known unto her in breaking of bread. But\nwhat shall I say, dear Sir, about Mr. _W._ &c. &c.? Alas! I find, they\nare all in the gall of bitterness, in the very bondage of iniquity,\nand all I can do, is to pity and pray for them. I find more and more,\nthat where true religion is wanting, there is confusion and every\nevil work. But why is my honoured mother so solicitous about a few\npaultry things, that will quickly perish? Why will she not come and\nsee her youngest son, who will endeavour to be a _Joseph_ to her,\nbefore she dies? What makes my dear friend and his kind wife, give me\nanother invitation to _Gloucester_? Alas! have I not wearied and been\nexpensive enough to you already? I hope to send you, in a short time,\ntwo guineas towards paying for Mr. _Henry_\u2019s Exposition. I wish I\ncould spare more, but time will bring all things to pass. You see what\na large letter I have written to you to make amends for the many short\nones, I have sent lately. Though I believe you may say of mine, the\nquite contrary to what I say of yours; the shorter the better. My due\nrespects to all friends, and believe me to be, in the utmost sincerity,\nDearest Sir,\n\n Your and Mrs. _H._\u2019s affectionate friend and humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XIX.\n\n _To the Same._\n\n _Oxon, Nov. 5, 1736._\n _Dearest Sir_,\n\nHEREWITH I have sent you seven pounds to pay for Mr. _Henry_\u2019s\nCommentary. Dear Esqr. _Thorold_ lately made me a present of ten\nguineas, so that now (for ever blessed be the divine goodness) I\ncan send you more than I thought for. In time, I hope to pay the\napothecary\u2019s bill. If I forget your favours, I shall also forget my\nGOD. Say nothing of your receiving this money, only give thanks, give\nhearty thanks to our good and gracious GOD for his infinite, unmerited\nmercy to me, the vilest of the sons of men. Oh, dear Sir, may such\ninstances of free grace strengthen your faith, and make you put your\nsole trust and confidence in the LORD your GOD. For he hath said,\n_I will never leave thee nor forsake thee_. Have not you experienced\nhis loving kindness and mercy, in supporting you under your sickness?\nMethinks I feel you have. May you experience it more and more! Did\nnot CHRIST give you the meeting last _Sunday_? I hope he did, nay I am\nsure he did, if our hearts were duly prepared by faith and repentance\nto receive him; but without an entire resignation of ourselves to GOD,\nand a thorough renunciation of all worldly and corrupt affections,\nall GOD\u2019s ordinances will profit nothing. Your reverend brother\u2019s kind\nletter I hope to answer soon, and to send him also a small parcel of\nbooks. The good LORD sanctify them to his own glory, and the good of\nsouls. I find dear Mr. _Pauncefoot_ is still afflicted, but bid him be\nof good cheer. In his latter end he may yet greatly increase. When we\nare weak, then are we strong. There is hope concerning his legacy. Let\nus in the mean while continue instant in prayer in behalf of this our\ndear and worthy friend. Good man! salute him kindly in my name. Beg\nhis prayers for my unworthy self, and tell him I will write as soon as\npossible. The gospel flourishes at _Oxon_. Our society here, blessed\nbe GOD, goes on well. I received the papers and thank you. How does\ndear Mrs. _H._? The divine blessing rest on you both. My prayer night\nand day is, that you may be saved. Salute all friends by name. From\nDearest Sir,\n\n Your unworthy friend and humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XX.\n\n _To the Same._\n\n _Bristol, Feb. 10, 1737._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nWHAT shall I say? I cannot be with you this week. Methinks, it would\nbe almost sinful to leave _Bristol_ at this critical juncture, there\nbeing now a prospect of making a very considerable collection for the\npoor _Americans_. The whole city seems to be alarmed. Churches are as\nfull week days, as they use to be on _Sundays_, and on _Sundays_ so\nfull, that many, very many are obliged to go away, because they cannot\ncome in. Oh pray, dear Mr. _H._ that GOD would always keep me humble,\nand fully convinced that I am nothing without him, and that all the\ngood which is done upon earth, GOD doth it himself. Quakers, baptists,\npresbyterians, &c. all come to hear the word preached. Sanctify it,\nholy Father, to thy own glory and thy people\u2019s good! I hope to be with\nyou without fail on _Tuesday_ morning. What letters you have, pray\nsend to, Dear Sir,\n\n Your unworthy friend, &c.\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XXI.\n\n _To the Same._\n\n _Stonehouse, April 26, 1737._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nBE pleased to send the _Poor Country Curate_, and _Flavel\u2019s Husbandry\nSpiritualized_. I know not what to do for want of a clock in the\nhouse. How shall I know, how my precious time passes away? You\u2019ll mind\nyour promise to come. Here are lovely, solitary, and pleasant walks\nto commune with your own heart, and search out your spirit. Has Mr.\n_Pauncefoot_ wrote to me? My dear friend _Stratford_\u2019s death affects\nme still. Methinks I long to be above, employed as he is. But alas,\nI am not ripe for glory; if I was, my heavenly Father would gather\nme into his garner. Farewell, Dear Sir; remember I am alone, and pray\naccordingly for\n\n Your sincere, though weak friend,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XXII.\n\n _To the same._\n\n _Stonehouse, May 4, 1737._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nWHY does not Mr. _H._ let me hear from or see him? Surely no evil\nhas befallen either him or his family in their way to eternity. Why\nthen tarry their horses? Why are they so long in coming to visit the\ncountry, which now looks like a second paradise, and which, to me,\nseems the pleasantest place I ever was in, through all my life? Surely\nI can never be thankful enough for being sent hither; people flock to\nhear the word of GOD from the neighbouring villages, as well as our\nown. They gladly receive me into their houses, and I have no let or\nhindrance to my ministerial business; and what is still better, GOD\nhas opened my heart, and enabled me to finish a sermon on \u201cRemember\nthy Creator, &c.\u201d\u2015\u2015If you will come on _Sunday_ you may hear it\nperhaps.\u2015\u2015Your sister-in-law talks of being here again on _Friday_;\nbut I believe it will be more agreeable, if you chuse another\nopportunity, that we may have our own conversation. I hope that dear\nMrs. _H._ took nothing ill, that was in my last. I meant it well, and\nwrapt up the pill in as much sugar as I could. My hearty love to her\nand Miss _J._ Poor Mr. _M._ and Mr. _W._ will set out to morrow, I\nsuppose. The LORD prosper them and be with them wherever they go, and\nmake them good soldiers of JESUS CHRIST, and finally bring them and us\nto his heavenly kingdom! So wishes, so prays,\n\n Your\u2019s affectionately,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XXIII.\n\n _To the Same._\n\n _Stonehouse, May 11, 1737._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nI Thank you for your last, and bless GOD that you got home safe:\nyour observations on the weather were pertinent and spiritual. Honest\n_James_ and I, were out in the midst of the lightning, and never were\nmore delighted in our lives. May we be as well pleased, when the Son\nof GOD cometh to judgment. What! no news from your brother? Well,\n_Stonehouse_ people and I agree better and better. I believe we shall\npart weeping. Had I time I would now write to Miss _J._ but I must\naway among my flock, and so deny myself that pleasure till another\nopportunity is given to, Dear Sir,\n\n Your sincere friend and humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XXIV.\n\n _To the Same._\n\n _Bristol, May 24, 1737._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nBY the particular good providence of GOD, I got safe to _Bristol_\nyesterday by ten in the morning, and was received (unworthy as I am)\nwith the utmost civility and kindness. I have learnt from hence the\nbenefit of setting out on our journey to eternity betimes, and what a\npleasing reflection it will be to look back, though not to depend, on\none\u2019s past life, and find a great deal of work done in a little time.\nThe people here are exceeding kindly affected towards me; and, I hope,\nI have seen the effects of my doctrine in the reformation of some\nof their lives. Remember me always in your prayers. Accept my hearty\nthanks for all favours, and believe me to be,\n\n Ever your\u2019s,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XXV.\n\n _To Mrs. H._\n\n _Oxon, July 14, 1737._\n _Dear Mrs. H._,\n\nIF you remember, I promised you a long and particular letter when\nI was at _Gloucester_, and nothing hinders but I may now perform\nit. Permit me then first, to begin this, as I would all my letters,\nwith thanks to you and kind Mr. _H._ for your inexpressible favours\nconferred on the most unworthy of my master\u2019s servants; and, withall,\nto assure you, how incessantly I pray, that the GOD of all grace and\nmercy, for the sake of his dear Son JESUS CHRIST, would reward you in\nspirituals, for what you have done to me in temporals, and feed your\nsoul with his heavenly graces, as plentifully as you have fed my body\nwith nourishing food. But as, in all probability, this will be the\nlast letter I shall write to dear Mrs. _H._ before I sail, what can\nI fill the remainder with better, than by exhorting you, to lay aside\nevery weight, particularly the sin that does most easily beset you,\nand so run with patience the race set before you. I say, the sin\nthat most easily besets; for unless we lay the ax to the root, unless\nwe sincerely resolve in the strength of JESUS CHRIST to subdue our\nfavourite, our darling passion, and spare not one _Agag_, though ever\nso engaging, ever so beautiful, all our other sacrifices will avail\nus nothing. Suppose therefore, for instance, PASSION be our greatest\nfoible. A sincere person will never cease night or day, till he is\nmade meek and lowly in heart. But if it be asked, how he shall do\nthis? I answer, _first_, let him consider how odious it is in the\nsight of GOD, and how contrary to the lamb-like meekness of the holy\nJESUS. _Secondly_, Let him reflect how troublesome it must be to\nothers, (for alas what unnecessary disorders, what needless troubles\ndoth the passionate person occasion to all that are round about him?)\n_Thirdly_, Let him consider how exceeding hurtful and unpleasant it\nis to himself; how it ruffles and discomposes his mind; unfits him\nfor every holy duty, and in short makes him a torment to himself and\na burden to others. Well, after he has thus seen the deformity of his\ndarling passion, the next enquiry must be, how to get the mastery over\nit. The first and grand thing, is to get a true and lively faith in\nCHRIST JESUS, seeking for it by earnest prayer. To this, we must have\nrecourse in all our struggles; for it\u2019s GOD alone, who can subdue\nand govern the unruly wills of sinful men, and it is his grace which\nalone can enable us to mortify our corrupt passions. But then we must\ntake care not to rest in general petitions for conquering this or that\ncorruption; but must descend to particulars. For instance, supposing\nI am angry with a servant or husband without a cause; What must I\ndo? Why, take the very first opportunity of retiring from the world,\nand after having bewailed my being angry, earnestly beseech the LORD\nof all power and might to enable me to withstand such and such a\nprovocation for the future, and notwithstanding I should fail again\nand again in the very same instance, yet I would again and again\nrenew my petitions to the throne of grace, and never cease praying\nand striving, till instead of a blind, perverse, troublesome passion,\nI had the lovely, calm, and delightful grace of meekness and humility\nplanted in its room. Now would dear Mrs. _H._ take some such method as\nthis (for I suppose by this time, she guesses to whom all this points)\nI dare say, she would quickly find as much difference in herself as\nthere is between a wise man and an idiot.\u2015\u2015And that she may both begin\nand succeed in this method, is the earnest prayer of, Dear Mrs. _H._\n\n Your affectionate friend, &c.\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XXVI.\n\n _To Mr. H._\n\n _London, Sept. 28, 1737._\n _My Dear Friend_,\n\nI Thank you for your last kind letter and kinder wishes. May they be\nturned into prayers, and heard at the throne of grace. Blessed be GOD\nfor your new correspondence with our _Oxford_ friends. I hope you will\nbe instrumental to build each other up in the knowledge and fear of\nour LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST. GOD still works powerfully here.\nPeople flock more than ever, and shew the sincerity of their hearts\nby giving liberally to the poor. I have preached four charity sermons\nwithin this little while, and the collections were larger than ever\nwere known. Not unto me, O LORD, not unto me; but unto thy Name be the\nglory and praise thereof! I am glad, since \u2666it\u2019s the divine will, that\nmy brother is coming up, though my ability as to temporals you know is\nsmall. But I have an all-sufficient GOD to apply to in all emergencies.\nI am sorry \u2660for my brother\u2019s loss; but I fear he must have greater,\nbefore he is awakened out of his spiritual lethargy. GOD sanctify\nall his dispensations to him. I know not why we go not to _Georgia_;\nbut there is no likelihood of it yet, as I see. Friends universally\ndissuade me from going by myself; but I hope it will not be long now,\nbefore we shall launch into the deep. To-night I preach again at _Bow_\nchurch, before the religious societies. GOD opens my heart to compose\nfreely. O praise him, dear Mr. _H._ for this and all his other mercies,\nconferred on, Dear Sir,\n\n Your and Mrs. _H._\u2019s affectionate friend,\n\n _G. W._\n\n \u2666 \u2018its\u2019 replaced with \u2018it\u2019s\u2019\n\n \u2660 removed duplicate \u2018for\u2019\n\n\n LETTER XXVII.\n\n _To the Same._\n\n _London, Oct. 25, 1737._\n _Dearest Sir_,\n\nMULTIPLICITY of business prevented my writing to you before. But\nthough you have not heard from me by letter, yet you may assure\nyourself, dear Sir, I never forget mentioning you in my prayers. GOD\nknows that I and some other friends intercede most fervently for you,\nand very frequently even at midnight. May GOD, for CHRIST\u2019s sake,\nhear and answer them! We sail not for _Georgia_ this month. I suppose\nyou have heard of my _mighty deeds_, falsely so called, by reading\nthe news-papers; for I find some back-friend has published abroad my\npreaching four times in a day; but I beseech Mr. _Raikes_, the printer,\nnever to put me into his news upon any such account again, for it is\nquite contrary to my inclinations and positive orders. GOD still works\nhere. The collections for the charity schools, in all the churches\nwhere I preach, are very large. All _London_ is alarmed. Many youths\nhere sincerely love our LORD JESUS CHRIST; and thousands, I hope, are\nquickened, strengthened, and confirmed by the word preached. I was\nnever in better health, and never composed more freely. O praise the\nLORD, dear Sir, and pray that I may not be self-sufficient but humble.\nI am glad dear Mrs. _H._ is recovered. May she, with _Peter_\u2019s wife\u2019s\nmother, arise and minister to JESUS CHRIST. GOD reward her for all\nher works and labours of love. Blessed be GOD my hands are full of\nbusiness. A third edition of my sermon on regeneration is coming out.\nWrite to me quickly, accept my hearty thanks and love, and expect to\nhear again from, Dear Sir,\n\n Ever your\u2019s,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XXVIII.\n\n _To the Same._\n\n _Nov. 14, 1737._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nI Heartily thank you for your last, and having a few moments, sit down\nto answer it. Let not my friends trouble me with temporal offers, I\nshall accept (GOD assisting me) of no place this side _Jordan_. We\nembark for _Georgia_ in about three weeks or a month at farthest. You\nwish me good luck in the name of the LORD. I hope to send to you again\nbefore I sail. Mr. _M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015n_ is going amongst the colliers again at\n_Bristol_, and a church, I hope, will be built for them. Prosper,\nO LORD, the work of his hands upon him!\u2015\u2015Mrs. _Farmer_, whenever my\ncircumstances will admit, shall be paid all that is due to her on\nmy mother\u2019s account. GOD still works more and more by my unworthy\nministry. Last week, save one, I preached ten times in different\nchurches; and the last week seven; and yesterday four times, and read\nprayers twice, though I slept not above an hour the night before,\nwhich was spent in religious conversation, and in interceding for you,\nMrs. _H._, good Mr. _Pauncefoot_, &c. I now begin to preach charity\nsermons twice or thrice a week, besides two or three on _Sundays_, and\nsixty or seventy pounds are collected weekly for the poor children.\nThousands would come in to hear, but cannot. This night I preached\na funeral sermon before a most crouded audience, and GOD, I believe,\nworked upon the people\u2019s hearts. O pray for me still, _dear Sir_, that\nI may renew my strength, that I may walk and not be weary, run and\nnot be faint. Admire GOD\u2019s free grace in CHRIST JESUS, and let his\ngoodness to me, the worst of sinners, strengthen your faith, and make\nyou never to despair of mercy. Farewell. My love to all, and am, Dear\nSir, in sincerity,\n\n Your friend, &c.\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XXIX.\n\n _To Mrs. H._\n\n _London, Dec. 23, 1737._\n _Dear Mrs. H._,\n\nONCE more I send you a line. Nothing but an excess of business, should\nhave prevented me writing to you oftner. Your favours, I hope, will\nnever be forgotten, and never cease to be mentioned before the throne\nof grace, GOD only knows, how earnestly I have recommended you and\nyour\u2019s to his never-failing mercy. On _Wednesday_ night eighteen of\nus continued all night in praises, and praying for you and our other\nfriends. I know, that passion is the sin, which most easily besets\nyou, and therefore I always pray that you may have grace given you to\nconquer it, and to learn of JESUS CHRIST to be meek and lowly in heart.\nThen, and not till then, you will find rest to your soul. Pardon me,\n_dear Mrs. H._ for being thus free. Your kindness compels me to it.\nHad I not a sincere regard for you, I should not express myself thus.\nBesides, it\u2019s the last time, perhaps, I shall write to you in this\nworld, and therefore would have this letter contain some instructive\nhints. We sail, GOD willing, next week. Great things have been done\nfor us here. Perhaps upwards of a thousand pounds have been collected\nfor the poor, and the charity schools, and I have preached above an\nhundred times, since I have been here. A visible alteration is made\nalso in hundreds. Last _Sunday_ at six in the morning, when I gave my\nfarewell, the whole church was drowned in tears: they wept and cried\naloud, as a mother weepeth for her first born. Since that, there is\nno end of persons coming and weeping, telling me what GOD has done\nfor their souls: others again beg little books, and desire me to\nwrite their names in them. The time would fail me, was I to relate\nhow many have been awakened, and how many pray for me. The great day\nwill discover all. In the mean while, I beseech you Mrs. _H._ by the\nmercies of GOD to pray, that the goodness of GOD may make me humble.\nAs yet the divine strength has been magnified in my weakness. Many\nhave opposed, but in vain. GOD\u2019s power conquers all. I am now going\nas _Abraham_ did, not knowing whither I go; but I commit myself to the\nguidance of GOD\u2019s good providence and spirit. He that has and doth,\nwill deliver me out of all my troubles. I only wish, I could debase\nmyself low enough, that I might be more fitted for the high and lofty\none who inhabiteth eternity, to work by. I am a proud, imperious,\nsinful worm; but GOD, I hope, in time, will conform me to the image\nof his dear Son. He has begun (for ever adored be his free grace),\nand I trust, he will finish his good work in me. Out of the money\nthat GOD has sent me, I will pay all the debts I can. I have sent some\nof it to Mrs. _Wells_, with particular orders how to be disposed of;\ntwo guineas are for Mrs. _Farmer_ towards the debt due to her from\nmy mother. My farewell sermon will be published shortly, with two or\nthree more. Dear Mrs. _H._ farewell. GOD reward you and your\u2019s for all\nyour works of faith and labours of love, and grant we may so believe,\nand so live here, as to meet in eternal glory hereafter,\n\n Ever your\u2019s,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XXX.\n\n _To Mr. H._\n\n _Margate, Jan. 9, 1738._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nHITHER the good providence of GOD has safely brought us; our ship\ncast anchor near this town, and my dear fellow-traveller and I came\non shore (to our great comfort) to buy some things we wanted. We have\nbeen most courteously treated by the curate of the place, and had\nsome christian conversation. The winds and storms are blustering about\nour ears, and teaching us lessons of obedience to him, whom winds and\nstorms obey. GOD give us grace to learn them. Mr. _B._ can inform you,\nwhat other particulars have happened to us, since we left you; I need\nonly add, that the divine goodness attends us wherever we go. Oh dear\nSir! who would but leave their few ragged, tattered nets to follow\nJESUS CHRIST? Who would but follow the Lamb wheresoever he shall be\npleased to lead? Pray, _dear Sir_, that I may always do so, and then,\nI am sure, GOD will never leave or forsake me. You see, dear Sir, I\nhave answered your kind letter much sooner than expectation, in order\nto express how sincerely I value your friendship, though you differ\nfrom me in some outward modes. Indeed, Sir, I hope the favours I have\nreceived from you and others of your christian brethren, will never go\nout of my mind; but I shall often plead them (as I have done already)\nat the throne of grace. I would willingly be of so catholic a spirit,\nas to love the image of my divine master, wherever I see it: I am far\nfrom thinking GOD\u2019s grace is confined to any set of men whatsoever:\nno, I know the partition-wall is now broken down, and that JESUS\nCHRIST came to redeem people out of all nations and languages and\ntongues; and therefore his benefits are not to be confined to this or\nthat particular set of professors. I only wish, that I may have grace\ngiven me to preach the truth, as it is in JESUS; and then, come what\nwill, I hope I shall (as I do, blessed be GOD) rejoice.\n\nYou know, Sir, what a design I am going upon, and what a stripling I\nam for so great a work; but I stand forth as _David_ against _Goliah_\nin the name of the LORD of HOSTS, and I doubt not, but he that has and\ndoth, will still deliver unto the end. GOD give me a deep humility, a\nwell-guided zeal, a burning love, and a single eye, and then let men\nor devils do their worst.\u2015\u2015Dear Sir, I could write more, but nature\ncalls for rest. Be pleased to give my hearty love to all you and\nI know, and acquaint them, how safe I am here; for otherwise the\ntempestuous night might put them and others in pain for, _Dear Sir_,\n\n Your unworthy, though affectionate friend,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XXXI.\n\n _To Mrs. H._\n\n _Deal, Jan. 11, 1738._\n _Dear Mrs. H._,\n\nHITHER has GOD safely brought us. Pray give thanks on my behalf. We\nhave had two little storms, the one we escaped by being at _Margate_,\nthe other we were enabled to bear manfully, and to pray for you and\nyours on open deck in the midst of it. All the officers are exceeding\ncivil. The captain gives me the free use of his cabin, and some\nimpression is made on the soldiers. I read prayers and preach twice\nevery day, and, would you think it, the very soldiers stand out to\nsay their catechism. Oh that they may be soldiers of JESUS CHRIST. GOD\ngives me great joy, and excites me to adore him more and more, when\nI behold his wonders in the deep. I am but a fresh-water sailor; but\nGOD\u2019s strength will be magnified in my weakness, and I verily believe\nwe shall arrive at the haven, where we wou\u2019d be. Oh that we may all\nso pass thro\u2019 the waves of this troublesome world, that at last we\nmay arrive at the port of everlasting rest! Expect to hear from me at\n_Gibraltar_, and assure yourself your favours shall never be forgotten\nby\n\n Your sincere friend,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XXXII.\n\n _To Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Deal, Jan. 21, 1738._\n\nSUPPOSE I answer _dear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ before I reach _Georgia_, Will he\nbe angry? I fancy not. I had a mind to write to you again, before I\nreceived yours. For as you have been so liberal in your presents, it\nwould be unpardonable in me, was I niggardly in my letters. No, my\ndear friend, I hope I never shall cease praying for you and yours,\nso long as I live. Hitherto I have not. I was praying for you just\nas I received yours: I am glad to hear you prayed before you wrote to\nme. Surely GOD will bless such a correspondence. O my friend, let us\nstill wrestle with GOD, that we may be stedfast, unmoveable, always\nabounding in the work of the LORD. For it is perseverance crowns our\nlabours. _He, and He only can be saved._ The world, the flesh and\nthe devil are three such potent enemies, that we must strive, we must\npersevere, if we will gain a conquest. Strive then; let us, my dear\nfriend, strive as persons striving for eternity. Let us abstain from\nall appearance of evil, and avoid all company, that doth not directly\ntend to the promoting our spiritual welfare. Whether one of the\nsocieties you frequent, my dear friend, has a tendency that way, I\nleave you to judge. I think I have heard you say, it keeps you from\nfamily and secret prayer. If that is not a sufficient reason for\nabsenting from it, I\u2019ll say no more. I believe you to be sincere, and\ntherefore, if you consult GOD by prayer and reading his word, your way\nwill be made clear before you. I only add, that I could wish, instead\nof frequenting _that_, you would set up another society of a quite\ncontrary nature on the same night of the week. I know Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 had\nsome such design on foot, and desired me to mention it. I wish you\ngood success in this and every pious undertaking in the name of the\nLORD. May GOD reward you for all your kindnesses, and make you to\nabound in every good word and work! may you walk by faith and not\nby sight; and tho\u2019 you are in the world, may you not be of it! I\npreach here, GOD willing, to-morrow; there\u2019s likely to be a great\ncongregation. O pray, that they may not be sent away empty, but\nconverted by, dear _Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your affectionate friend,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XXXIII.\n\n _Deal, Jan. 25, 1738._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nI Am ashamed of my ingratitude in not writing to you before; but\nyou\u2019ll not wonder I am ungrateful to my friends, when I tell you I\nam ungrateful to my GOD. However, as I always remark\u2019d you for your\ncharity, I know you will imitate Him you so resemble, and upon my\npromise of amendment for the future, will pardon what is past. Oh\ndear Sir, how shall I express my gratitude to dear \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015? But above\nall, what return shall I make to my ever-blessed REDEEMER for all the\nfavours he hath bestowed upon me? Help, I entreat you, help me to be\nthankful, and as you abound in prayer, abound in praises. I find my\nheart too backward to this divine exercise. I am ready enough to ask\nfor mercies, but alas! how slow to return thanks! Indeed sometimes\nGOD touches me from above, and my heart, hard as it is, is melted down\nand quite overcome with the sense of his free grace in CHRIST JESUS\ntowards me. But I want always to go on my way rejoicing; I want the\nheart of a seraphim;\n\n _I want to sing as loud as they,\n Who shine above in endless day._\n\nI could almost say more than they, and why should I not return angelic\nthanks? But my heart is as yet unhumbled, I see not what I am, what\nI deserve, and therefore set not a due value on the divine mercies.\nPray therefore, _dear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, that I may receive my sight, that my\neyes may be opened, and that seeing what GOD hath done for me, I may\nbreak out into songs of praise, and by such heart-transforming divine\nexercises be gradually trained up for eternal uninterrupted communion\nwith that heavenly choir, who cease not chanting forth day and night\nhallelujahs to Him that sitteth upon the throne and to the Lamb for\never. _Dear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, I can relate to you fresh matter for praise and\nthanksgiving; a divine fire seems to be kindling in _Deal_. I preached\non _Sunday_, and this day. The inhabitants are quite affectionate, and\nso desirous to hear the word, at my private lodgings, as well as at\npublic churches, that I am obliged to divide them into two companies.\nAnd GOD, blessed be his free grace in CHRIST JESUS, helps me through.\nI suppose my dear friend has heard how affairs go on shipboard. I need\nonly add, that GOD makes his power to be known among those that sail\nwith me, and there are great hopes of the captain\u2019s conversion. O pray,\nthat he may not be an almost, but an altogether christian. Dear Mr.\n\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, farewell. It\u2019s late, and many other friends must have a line\nto-night. May GOD reward you for all kindnesses, and keep you stedfast\nunto the end. Pray return my hearty thanks to all your Brethren; tell\nthem I sincerely pray for their growth and perseverance in holiness,\nand am, dear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015,\n\n Your affectionate, tho\u2019 unworthy friend\n and servant in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XXXIV.\n\n _Gibraltar Harbour, Feb. 24, 1738._\n _Dear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Bless GOD for inclining your heart to take my advice. I know it was\nintended well, and I hope proceeded from the spirit of GOD. The many\nfatal consequences I have daily seen, proceeding from conversing with\nlukewarm christians, makes me jealous of my dear friends, lest they\nshould be infected by them; and the great tendency I find in my own\nheart to catch every infection, makes me to resolve for myself, and\nto put others on resolving to keep no set company but with religious\npersons. I hope by this time I may wish you joy of settling a new\nsociety with _Messrs. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_; and I doubt not but your hearts have\nalready burnt within you, whilst you talked to one another of the\nscriptures of truth. I am sure there is scarce a night has passed over\nmy head but I have wrestled with GOD for you, and prayed that he would\nprosper this work of your hands upon you. My hearty desire and daily\npetition at the throne of grace is, that you may be saved; and tho\u2019 I\nknow not much of your dear wife\u2019s temper, yet I pray, that she may be\nmeek and lowly in heart, not easily provoked, nor answer unnecessarily\nagain. I pray, that you both may walk as _Zachary_ and _Elizabeth_ did\nbefore the LORD blameless, that you may love one another, as CHRIST\nand the church, and see your children like olive-branches round about\nyour table. I pray, that you may persevere in the good way you have\nbegun, that you may abstain from all appearance of evil, and dare\nto be exemplarily good. I pray, that you may practice an universal\nself-denial, and perfect holiness in the fear of GOD. I could say\nmuch more, but must away to _Gibraltar_; one of the _Majors_ of the\nregiments has sent for me, having provided a lodging at a merchant\u2019s\nhouse unknown to me. Oh admire GOD\u2019s goodness! Accept my thanks and\nlove, and believe me to be, more than words can express,\n\n Your affectionate friend in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XXXV.\n\n _To Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Gibraltar, Feb. 25, 1738._\n _Dear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Should think myself unworthy of your friendship, did I not send you\na line now GOD has brought me in safety hither. I know you will give\nthanks, and therefore, GOD forbid I should sin against the LORD in not\ninforming you of it.\u2015\u2015Your prayers have already been heard; for GOD\n(ever adored be his free grace in CHRIST JESUS) hath been with us of\na truth. He hath led us through the sea, as through a wilderness, and\nbrought us to a haven, where I am honoured with many honours.\u2015\u2015Any one\nthat knows _Gibraltar_ would be apt to say, Can any good come out from\nthence? Yes, I assure you, there may; for there are some that are not\nashamed of the gospel of CHRIST. About six o\u2019clock this morning I went\nto the church, where was assembled a number of decent soldiers praying\nand singing psalms to CHRIST as GOD. They meet constantly three times\na day, and I intend, GOD willing, henceforward to meet them. For my\ndelight is in the saints who are in the earth, and those that excel\nin virtue. I have talked with some of them, and, blessed be GOD, can\nfind the marks of the new birth in them. They pray without ceasing,\nhave overcome the world, hate sin, as sin, love their enemies and one\nanother. They glory in the cross of CHRIST, and rejoice that they are\naccounted worthy to suffer shame for the sake of CHRIST. O, who would\nbut travel to see how the spirit of GOD is moving on the faces of\npoor sinners souls up and down the world! GOD, I find, has a people\nevery where; CHRIST has a flock, though but a little flock, in all\nplaces.\u2015\u2015GOD be praised, that we are of this flock, and that it will\nbe our Father\u2019s good pleasure to give us the kingdom!\u2015\u2015_Gibraltar_\nis blessed with a governor, who hath not absented himself from\npublic worship, unless when he was sick, for these seven years, and\nyet is very moderate towards the dissenters. Both conformists and\nnonconformists perform public worship, though at different times of\nthe day, in the same place: They also have a religious society. The\ngood LORD prosper this work of their hands upon them. Whenever we\ngo away, may we leave a blessing behind us. He is a prayer-hearing\nGOD.\u2015\u2015Yesterday a major of one of the regiments, unknown to me, took\ntwo handsome rooms, and sent for me from on board, desiring me to\nlodge in them; and I find the people of the house fear GOD.\u2015\u2015\u201cWhen\nI sent you without scrip or shoe, lacked you any thing?\u201d said our\nLORD. They said nothing.\u2015\u2015O, dear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, I beseech you abound in\nthanksgiving, and pray that all these blessings may humble my proud\nheart, and make me willing to follow the Lamb whithersoever he shall\nlead me. Assure yourself, that you and all your christian friends are\nconstantly prayed for by, dear Sir,\n\n Your\u2019s most affectionately in the LORD JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XXXVI.\n\n _Gibraltar, Feb. 27, 1738._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nEVER since I left _Gravesend_, I remember the fulness of your heart.\nI have been a constant petitioner at the throne of grace for you, and\nintended writing to you before, but was \u2666let hitherto. However, GOD\nhas now brought me safe to _Gibraltar_, and as I have time, I should\nthink myself inexcusable, did I not send a line to dear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, to\nassure him, I forgot not his tears, and wish him to be not only an\nalmost, but an altogether christian. Dear Sir, you are young and in\nthe bloom of youth, and it would rejoice my heart to see you triumph\nover the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life,\nand to become a poor despised servant of JESUS CHRIST. Others, indeed,\nmay wish you wealth, may wish you pomp and grandeur; but believe me,\nmy dear friend, these will not, these cannot, make you happy: No,\nnothing but GOD can satisfy the heart of man; nothing but an assurance,\nthat we are born again, that we are members of CHRIST, that we are\nunited to him by one and the same spirit with which he himself was\nactuated. Without this, if we were to have our appetites regaled with\nthe richest dainties, be cloathed with purple and fine linen, and\nfare sumptuously every day, yet the hand-writing upon the wall, the\nconsideration, that all these things are quickly to be taken away,\nwould make our visage to change, and our knees, like _Belshazzar_\u2019s,\nto smite one against another. Strive then, my dear friend, to get\nthe spirit of CHRIST, who will keep close to you, when all other\ncomforts fail; will make you happy here, and unspeakably happy\nhereafter.\u2015\u2015Never fear the contempt you will meet with; yet a little\nwhile, and they that call you fool, will call themselves so, and curse\nthat worldly wisdom, which tempted them to evade the cross of CHRIST.\nStrange! that any one should let a little reproach deprive them of\nan eternal crown! LORD, what is man! How blind as to the knowledge of\nhis true interest! How backward in the pursuit of his eternal good!\nO, dear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, let us not be of the number of those, who desire the\nhonour that cometh of man; but be content with that which cometh from\nGOD. In a short time, we shall have praise enough. Heaven will echo\nwith the applause that shall be given to the true followers of the\nLamb, and then you will see how sincerely I was, dear Sir,\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n \u2666 \u2018lett\u2019 replaced with \u2018let\u2019\n\n\n LETTER XXXVII.\n\n _To Mrs. H._\n\n _At Sea, April 14, 1738._\n _Dear Mrs. H._,\n\nTHOUGH through excess of business, and the shortness of the time,\nthat was allotted me, I wrote but a few lines to you from _Gibraltar_,\nyet, what hinders, but that I may send you a longer letter now? It\u2019s\ntrue we are now near a thousand miles from _Georgia_; but as I shall\nhave an opportunity of sending immediately on our arrival, I chuse\nto take time by the forelock, and embrace the first opportunity of\nacknowledging my obligations to dear Mrs. _H._ and her husband; for\nwhom I pray without ceasing. Your past favours are seldom out of my\nmind; I plead them daily before GOD in prayer, and hope, if it is ever\nin my power, I shall imitate the example of pious _David_ in yesterday\nevening\u2019s first lesson, and requite my friends, particularly dear Mrs.\n_H._ and her spouse, for the kindnesses they have shewn me. However,\nsupposing this should not happen, they will in no-wise lose their\nreward. But I know you do not care I should dwell on this. You want\nto be informed, how GOD has dealt with me since I left _Gibraltar_?\nExceeding graciously indeed. He has comforted me on every occasion,\nmost remarkably blessed my unworthy ministry on board the ship,\nsent us most delightful weather, and made us to ride as it were on\nthe wings of the wind. We live in perfect love and harmony one with\nanother. I know but little difference between sea and land, and have\ngreat reason to bless GOD for sending me abroad. A grievous sickness\nhas been sent amongst us, by which most of the ship have been\nchastened and corrected but only two given over unto death; and GOD\nhath been so good to me, that, except for a little time after we\nsailed from _Gibraltar_, I have been in perfect health, and now GOD\nsatisfieth my mouth with good things, making me strong and lively as a\nyoung eagle. I have nothing to disturb my joy in GOD, but the disorder\nof my passions. Were these once brought into a proper subjection to\ndivine grace, O well would it be with me, and happy should I be. But\nso long as I am angry for trifles, and throw myself into needless\ndisorders, so long must my heart be like the troubled sea, so long\nconsequently must I be unhappy. Pray therefore, dear Mrs. _H._ that\nI may lay the ax of mortification to the root of my most darling\ncorruptions, and since I have but little, if any thing, to disturb me\nwithout, O pray that I may meet with no disturbance from myself within.\nThe farther particulars of my voyage, you will see in my journal,\nwhich I have sent to Mr. _Hutton_, and for the blessings contained\ntherein, I beseech you to return GOD most humble and hearty thanks.\nAbout _Christmas_ next, GOD willing, I purpose to come to _England_\nto take priests orders, and to return as soon as possible to _Georgia_.\nIn the mean while, dear Mrs. _H._ let us strive to enter in at the\nstrait gate, that we may be christians indeed, and know what it is\ntruly to be born again from above, and to be renewed by the spirit\nin our minds. Remember me most affectionately to all friends. I am,\n\n Your\u2019s, &c.\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XXXVIII.\n\n _To Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _On board the Whitaker, April 17, 1738._\n _Dear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nTO assure you I do not forget you, I write to you, as yet, eight\nhundred miles off shore. Your honest heart has won my affections. I\nmake mention of you and your\u2019s continually at the throne of grace in\nmy prayers, and shall have no greater pleasure than to hear you walk\nin the truth. In your last, I think you said, you would desist from\nfrequenting any other societies, but what immediately tended to the\npromoting of true religion, and ere now, I doubt not but you have seen\nthe benefit of it. I have often pleased myself with the hopes, that\nyou, dear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, had set up another society among yourselves, and\noften have I thought, I felt the benefit of your prayers; for GOD\nhath blessed me exceedingly, and brought us on our way rejoicing; and\nhas shewn me, that he doth not send me abroad in vain.\u2015\u2015How GOD will\ndeal with me at _Savannah_, I know not; however, let my friends be\nalways lifting up their hands in intercession, and then our spiritual\n_Amalek_ will not prevail. Hitherto I have been made to go on from\nconquering to conquer. GOD gives me a chearful spirit, and crowns\nmy feeble labours with success. And why should I despair of future\nassistance? Are not these earnests of future mercies? And may I not\nexpect, when I am duly prepared, to see greater things than these?\nCry therefore mightily unto the LORD, that I may be humble, and that\nI may tremble at his word, and then he will delight to honour me. I\nlive in hopes of seeing you and your wife again (growing in grace)\nin _England_. You told me, she desired I would draw her picture; but\nalas! she has applied to an improper limner. However, though I cannot\ndescribe what she is, I can tell what she ought to be.\u2015\u2015Meek, patient,\nlong-suffering, obedient in all things, not self-willed, not soon\nangry, no brawler, swift to hear, slow to speak, and ready to every\ngood word and work. But I can no more, I dare not go on in telling\nanother what she ought to be, when I want so much myself; only this\nI know, when possessed of those good qualities before-mentioned, she\nwill then be as happy as her heart can wish, and afford great reason\nof thanksgiving to, dear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015,\n\n Your and Mrs. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2019s affectionate friend,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XXXIX.\n\n _To Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _On board the Whitaker, May 6, 1738._\n _My dear Friend_,\n\nHOW goes time? I can scarce tell; for I have been some time past,\nas one would think, launching into eternity. GOD has been pleased\ngraciously to visit me with a violent fever, which he notwithstanding\nso sweetened by divine consolations, that I was enabled to rejoice\nand sing in the midst of it. Indeed, I had many violent conflicts with\nthe powers of darkness, who did all they could to disturb and distract\nme; but JESUS CHRIST prayed for me: And though I was once reduced\nto the last extremity, and all supernatural assistance seemed to be\nsuspended for a while, and satan as it were had dominion over me, yet\nGOD suffered not my faith to fail; but came in at length to my aid,\nrebuked the tempter, and from that moment I grew better. Surely GOD is\npreparing me for something extraordinary: For he has now sent me such\nextraordinary conflicts and comforts as I never before experienced. I\nwas as I thought on the brink of eternity. I had heaven within me; I\nthought of nothing in this world; I earnestly desired to be dissolved\nand go to CHRIST; but GOD was pleased to order it otherwise, and I am\nresigned, though I can scarce be reconciled to come back again into\nthis vale of misery. I had the heavenly _Canaan_ in full view, and\nhoped I was going to take possession of it; but GOD saw I was not yet\nripe for glory, and therefore in mercy spared me, that I may recover\nmy spiritual strength before I go hence and am no more seen. Oh pray,\nmy dear friend, that I may not grow lukewarm, or slothful, but arise\nfrom my late bed of sickness, and administer with ten times more\nalacrity to my blessed Master, than ever I did before. I would write\nmore, but my strength faileth me. We hope to be at _Savannah_ on\n_Monday_.\n\n Your\u2019s,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XL.\n\n _To Mr. H._\n\n _Savannah, June 10, 1738._\n _Dearest Sir_,\n\nABOUT five weeks I have been at _Savannah_, where providence seems\nto intend continuing me for some time. GOD has graciously visited\nme with a fit of sickness; but now I am lively as a young eagle. All\nthings have happened better than expectation. _America_ is not so\nhorrid a place as it is represented to be. The heat of the weather,\nlying on the ground, &c. are mere painted lions in the way, and to\na soul filled with divine love not worth mentioning. The country,\nmornings and evenings, is exceeding pleasant, and there are uncommon\nimprovements made (considering the indifference of the soil) in divers\nplaces. With a little assistance the country people would do very well.\nAs for my ministerial office, I can inform you, that GOD (such is his\ngoodness) sets his seal to it here, as at other places. We have an\nexcellent christian school, and near a hundred constantly attend at\nevening prayers. The people receive me gladly, as yet, into their\nhouses, and seem to be most kindly affected towards me. I have a\npretty little family, and find it possible to manage a house without\ndistraction. Provisions we do not want to feed on, though we are cut\noff from all occasions to pamper our bodies. Blessed be GOD, I visit\nfrom house to house, catechise, read prayers twice and expound the two\nsecond lessons every day; read to a house-ful of people three times\na week; expound the two lessons at five in the morning, read prayers\nand preach twice, and expound the catechism to servants, &c. at seven\nin the evening every _Sunday_. What I have most at heart, is the\nbuilding an orphan-house, which I trust will be effected at my return\nto _England_. In the mean while, I am settling little schools in\nand about _Savannah_; that the rising generation may he bred up in\nthe nurture and admonition of the LORD. The LORD prosper my weak\nendeavours for promoting his glory and his people\u2019s good. Oh, dear\nMr. _H._ pray for me. For I do, indeed I do, pray for you and your\u2019s.\nRemember me to dear Mrs. _H._ and exhort her to perfect holiness in\nthe fear of GOD. Remind Mr. _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, (since he will not hearken to me)\nto work out his salvation with fear and trembling, and beg him to pray\nfor, though he will not write to, dear Mr. _H._\n\n Ever, ever your\u2019s,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XLI.\n\n _To Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Kilrush, (Ireland) Nov. 16, 1738._\n _Dear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Have not forgot you; and as a proof of it, send you this to acquaint\nyou of my safe arrival here. I know you will rejoice and give thanks,\nand pray that my coming to _London_ may be in the fulness of the\nblessing of the gospel of peace. GOD has done for me more abundantly\nthan I could dare ask or think. The seed of the glorious gospel has\ntaken root in the _American_ ground, and, I hope, will grow up into a\ngreat tree. By my friends prayers I believe it hath been planted. Oh\nthat they may continue to water it with the same means, and then our\ngreat GOD will give it an effectual increase.\u2015\u2015I hope to see you in\na few days at my old lodgings, and to rejoice with you for what GOD\nhas done for our souls. Indeed, I have felt his power; I have tasted\nand known of a truth, that the LORD is gracious! _America_, infant\n_Georgia_, is an excellent soil for christianity; you cannot live\nthere without taking up a daily cross. Therefore, I shall hasten back\nas soon as possible after _Christmas_. Oh! that, in the mean while, I\nmay be enabled to be instant in season and out of season, and preach\nwith demonstration of the spirit, and with power! Methinks I see\nMr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 lifting up his eyes towards heaven, and silently saying,\nAmen.\u2015\u2015I hope you will excuse Mr. _D._\u2019s letter. I have forgot his\nhouse, though not his person and his love. No, all your kindnesses,\nO my friends, are engraven upon my heart, and I trust will never be\nforgotten by, dear Sir,\n\n Your affectionate friend and humble Servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XLII.\n\n _To Mr. H._\n\n _London, Dec. 30, 1738._\n _My dear Friend_,\n\nI Am appointed by the trustees to be minister of _Savannah_. The\nbishop of _London_ (Doctor _Gibson_) accepts the title, and has\ngiven me letters demisory to any other bishop. I have waited also on\nDoctor _Secker_, bishop of _Oxford_, who acquaints me that our worthy\ndiocesan, good Bishop _Benson_, ordains for him to-morrow fortnight\nat _Oxford_, and that he will give me letters demisory to him. GOD\nbe praised; I was praying night and day, whilst on ship-board, if it\nmight be the divine will, that good Bishop _Benson_, who laid hands\non me as a deacon, might now make me a priest.\u2015\u2015And now my prayer\nis answered.\u2015\u2015Be pleased to wait on his Lordship, and desire him to\ninform you, when I must be at _Oxford_ in order to receive imposition\nof hands. Oh pray that I may be duly prepared. It will be a month\nbefore I can see _Gloucester_. I long to see you. I love you and\nyour\u2019s in the bowels of JESUS CHRIST; but I have scarce time to\nsubscribe myself, dear Sir,\n\n Your\u2019s eternally,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XLIII.\n\n _To the Same._\n\n _London, Jan. 27, 1739._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nIF I forget Mr. _H._ and his wife, may my right-hand forget her\ncunning. Excess of business alone was the cause of my silence. I\nsleep but little, very little. Had I a thousand hands, I could employ\nthem all. I scarce know what it is to have an idle moment. It is late\nnow. I have just been expounding. GOD fills me with his spirit, and\nI must redeem a little time to write to dear Mr. _H._ Indeed, indeed\nI love you in the bowels of JESUS CHRIST. O when shall I return your\npast favours! I thank you for blessing GOD on my behalf. I want a\nthousand tongues to praise him. He still works by me more and more.\nSubscriptions for erecting an orphan-house come in a-pace. On _Monday_\nsevennight, GOD willing, I set out for _Bristol_, with Mr. _Seward_,\nand from thence propose coming to _Gloucester_. Oh that it may be in\nthe fulness of the blessing of the gospel of peace! Mr. _Howel Harris_,\nand I, are correspondents, blessed be GOD! May I follow him, as he\ndoes JESUS CHRIST. How he outstrips me! Fye upon me, fye upon me. How\ndoes my brother? My love to him and all. I long to see you and yours,\nand to give you repeated assurances of my being, dear Sir,\n\n Your\u2019s eternally,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XLIV.\n\n _To the Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_.\n\n _Basingstoke, Feb. 8, 1739._\n\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nTHOUGH I desired you to write first, yet the love I bear you, will\nnot suffer me to wait so long before you hear from me.\u2015\u2015Just now has\nGOD brought us to _Basingstoke_, where I hope an effectual door will\nbe opened before we leave it, as well as at _Windsor_.\u2015\u2015Oh my dear\nfriend, more and more do I see the benefit of confessing our blessed\nLORD before men.\u2015\u2015You have not been ashamed of the cross.\u2015\u2015No, dear\nMr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 has put his hand to the plough; he will not, surely he cannot\nlook back; but JESUS CHRIST alone can keep me and my dear friend from\nfalling. He has begun and he will carry on, he will finish the good\nwork in our souls.\u2015\u2015We have nothing to do, but to lay hold on him by\nfaith, and to depend on him for wisdom, righteousness, sanctification\nand redemption. Not but we must be workers together with him; for a\ntrue faith in JESUS CHRIST will not suffer us to be idle.\u2015\u2015No, it is\nan active, lively, restless principle; it fills the heart, so that it\ncannot be easy, till it is doing something for JESUS CHRIST.\u2015\u2015Methinks\nI hear my dear friend crying out, \u201cLORD, evermore give me this faith!\u201d\nBelieve me, I heartily say, _Amen_. Ask then, my dear Sir, and it\nshall be given you, seek and strive for it, and yet a little while and\nI shall see you a new creature; your heart I hope is somewhat broken\nalready.\u2015\u2015All praise be to GOD\u2019s free grace in CHRIST.\u2015\u2015Go on, my dear\nfriend, and never cease till you know you are CHRIST\u2019s, by the spirit\nthat shall be given you. Never fear your carnal friends, renounce\nthem and every thing else that stands in competition with your duty to\nGOD.\u2015\u2015What have we to do to know any one after the flesh? Let him, who\ndoth the will of our Father in heaven, be our brother, our sister, our\nmother. For this reason I subscribe myself, dear Sir,\n\n Your\u2019s most affectionately in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XLV.\n\n _To Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Oxon, April 24, 1739._\n _Dear Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nBLESSED be GOD for working upon your heart by my ministry. I hope the\nwish\u2019d-for time will come, when I shall see you full of faith and the\nHoly Ghost. Copies may be taken of my letter; but I would not have it\nprinted, because I intend, when retir\u2019d from the world, to make some\ndiscourses on the subject of free grace. Pray acquaint your mother,\nthat I interceded for her solemnly last night. I besought GOD, that\nshe might have her Saviour revealed in her heart; that is the only way\nto get above the fears of death. CHRIST in us is the hope of glory.\nI rejoice to hear _Mr. Cole_ builds you up in your most holy faith. I\nexhort you to go on, and who knows but dear _Mr. H._ may, under GOD,\nkeep up religion in _Gloucester_. _Mr. Kinchin\u2019s_ conduct in fearing\nthe church, and giving up the parsonage, has sadly grieved the\nspirit of many good souls here; but I bless GOD they are now a little\ncomforted. Oh dear _Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, my heart is drawn towards _London_\nmost strangely. Perhaps you may hear of your friend\u2019s imprisonment.\nI expect no other preferment. GOD grant I may behave so, that when I\nsuffer, it may not be for my own imprudencies, but for righteousness\nsake, and then I am sure the spirit of CHRIST and of glory will rest\nupon my soul. Oh dear _Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, I beseech you, break off from the\nworld. Shake off every fetter that keeps your soul from GOD, and then\nhow will it rejoice the heart of, dear Sir,\n\n Your\u2019s eternally,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XLVI.\n\n _To the Same._\n\n _London, April 27, 1739._\n _Dear Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Rejoice to hear of the affection of my countrymen. It is a good sign,\nthat the word has taken deep root in their hearts. But above all, do\nI rejoice that dear _Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ is truly sensible of the free grace of\nGOD in CHRIST. Now, my dear friend, you will begin to be a christian\nindeed. Blessed be GOD, I hear my honoured M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 is becoming a fool\nfor CHRIST\u2019s sake. I do not despair of Mr. _W._ nay, I cannot despair\nof any one, when I consider, what I once was myself. Let but GOD speak\nthe word, and the work shall be done. I always hope well of opposers.\nTo-day, my master by his providence and spirit compelled me to preach\nin the church-yard at _Islington_. To-morrow I am to repeat that mad\ntrick, and on _Sunday_ to go out into _Moor-Fields_. The word of the\nLORD runs and is glorified. People\u2019s hearts seem quite broken. GOD\nstrengthens me exceedingly.\u2015\u2015I preach till I sweat through and through.\nAll is well at _Savannah_. Brave news from _Gibraltar_. Innumerable\nblessings does GOD pour down upon me. Oh that I had a thankful heart.\nI love you both sincerely; I thank you both heartily. I salute all our\ndear friends most affectionately, and am, dear Sir,\n\n Ever, ever yours,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XLVII.\n\n _To the Same._\n\n _London, May 10, 1739._\n _Dear Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nTHE hour for my imprisonment is not yet come. I am not fit as yet to\nbe so highly honoured. GOD only knows the treachery of my heart; but\namidst all my late success, I have scarce felt one self-complacent\nthought. I speak this to the honour of GOD\u2019s free grace. In about\nthree weeks, GOD willing, we embark for _Pensilvania_. The trustees\nhave granted to me land and every thing upon my own terms; the\nofficers and general are exceeding kind to my friend _Habersham_ upon\nmy account, so that all things succeed beyond my expectations. I am\nsorry to hear of Mr. _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s conduct\u2015\u2015Poor man! The love of money\nis rooted in his heart. Where is the honesty he so much boasts of and\nrelies on? Does not this more and more convince you that nothing but a\ntrue faith in JESUS CHRIST will enable you to act aright? However, he\nis not to be envyed. I pity him. Money, thus got, will never prosper.\nI rejoice that you and your spouse are content. I wish you both may\nhave JESUS CHRIST formed in your hearts, and am\n\n Ever, ever yours, &c.\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XLVIII.\n\n _To \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Blendon, June 12, 1739._\n _My dear Brethren in CHRIST_,\n\nI Am jealous over you with a godly jealousy, and therefore write to\nyou this second letter. I find more and more that satan has desired\nto have some of you in particular, that he may sift you as wheat, and\nwill strive if possible to divide and separate you all.\u2015\u2015I hear there\nis a woman among you, who pretends to the spirit of prophecy, and\nwhat is more unaccountable, I hear that Brother \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 (whom I love in\nthe bowels of JESUS CHRIST) seems to approve of her. Need therefore,\ngreat need have you, my brethren, at this time to take the apostle\u2019s\nadvice, and to try the spirits whether they be of GOD. For the devil\nis beginning to mimic GOD\u2019s work, and because terrors will not do,\nhe is now transforming himself into an angel of light in order more\neffectually to gain his point. Brother \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 also, I cannot but think,\nat present is under a spirit of delusion. He, as well as brother \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015,\nI believe imagines there will be a power given to work miracles,\nand that now CHRIST is coming to reign a thousand years upon the\nearth.\u2015\u2015But alas! what need is there of miracles, such as healing\nsick bodies, and restoring sight to blind eyes, when we see greater\nmiracles every day done by the power of GOD\u2019s word? Do not the\nspiritually blind now see? Are not the spiritually dead now raised,\nand the leprous souls now cleans\u2019d, and have not the poor the gospel\npreached unto them? And if we have the thing already, which such\nmiracles were only intended to introduce, why should we tempt GOD\nin requiring further signs? He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.\nAnd as for our LORD\u2019s coming at this time to reign upon the earth,\nI answer, it is not for us to know the times and seasons, which the\nFather hath put in his own power.\u2015\u2015That a great work is begun is\nevident, that it will be carried on I doubt not; but how it will end,\nI know not, neither do I desire to know. It is sufficient for me to\ndo the work of the day in its day, and to rest satisfied in this,\nthat all will end in GOD\u2019s glory. Lately, brother \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 told me he was\nshortly, he believed, to be called to some public work.\u2015\u2015I pray GOD\nhe may not run before he is called. To teach, I know, is a pleasing\nthing; but to begin to teach too soon or without a commission, will\nbe destruction to ourselves, and of ill consequence to others. Uzzah\nmight mean well, when he touched the ark, but his good intention did\nnot preserve him from the just judgments of GOD. Be not many masters,\nsays the apostle. Oh that that verse was deeply engraven on the tables\nof our hearts! My dear brethren, be not offended at this plainness\nof speech. I would all the LORD\u2019s servants were prophets, but then\nI would not have people think themselves prophets of the LORD, when\nthey are only enthusiasts\u2015\u2015If Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 is acted by a good spirit,\nwhy is he not patient of reproof? Why does he fly in a passion, when\ncontradicted? Why does he pretend to be infallible, and that GOD\nalways speaks in him? May GOD give us all a right judgment in all\nthings. Pure unfeigned love causes me to use this freedom. Many of\nyou GOD has worked upon by my ministry, and therefore I would not\nhave you ignorant of satan\u2019s devices. O beware of him at this time. Do\nnot conceive prejudices against each other. Do not dispute, but love;\npurge out the old leaven from amongst you. Have no fellowship with any\nthat converse with Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015. If they have a mind to depart from you,\nlet them depart. Do you build up each other in your most holy faith.\nMy dear brethren,\n\n I am your common servant in our dear LORD JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XLIX.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_.\n\n _Leachlade, July 18, 1739._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nTHE scene this morning much affected me; you both put me in mind,\nhow that happy pair, _Adam_ and _Eve_, looked when arraign\u2019d by the\nAlmighty after having eaten the forbidden fruit. Behold the same\nremedy reached out to you as to them.\u2015\u2015The seed of the woman shall\nbruise the serpent\u2019s head.\u2015\u2015Look up to him whom you have pierced.\u2015\u2015He\nwill heal your backslidings and love you freely.\u2015\u2015Had he not loved you\nboth, both of you ere now would have been given over to a reprobate\nmind. I know the time, when you both were enlightned, when you\ntasted the good word of GOD, and felt the powers of the world to\ncome.\u2015\u2015Honour, falsely so called, has caused you to draw back, but I\nbelieve not unto perdition. JESUS is still striving with your heart.\nCome to him by faith, renounce the world, and he will yet delight to\nhonour you. \u201cNow is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.\u201d\nMention not old things, let all things become new. I love both of you\nfrom my heart. Come forth, and be ye separate, saith the LORD almighty.\nBreak with the world at once, and you shall become fools for CHRIST\u2019s\nsake. What if your wife sent some such letter as the following to her\nparents.\n\n\n _Honoured Father and Mother_,\n\nTHE contents of this letter will surprize you, but I can no longer\nhalt between GOD and the world; the happy convictions, that GOD once\nput into my heart, now arise in my mind, I will no longer be an almost\nchristian. I am resolved to become a fool for CHRIST\u2019s sake. Blessed\nbe GOD Mr. _M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ is like-minded.\u2015\u2015Hitherto have I hindered him in\nhis spiritual progress, GOD forbid I should do it any longer. Hence\nforward will we go hand in hand together, and naked follow a naked\nCHRIST.\u2015\u2015\n\n Dearest Mr.\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, I am ever yours,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER L.\n\n _London, July 23, 1739._\n _Dear Madam_,\n\nYOUR letter filled me with joy and with pity. Pity, to see you tempted,\njoy, to find you are thought worthy of enduring temptation. Satan hath\ndesired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But be not afraid,\nJESUS CHRIST is praying for you, and your faith shall not fail. Your\nmaster hath been in the wilderness before you, and knows by experience,\nhow to succour those that are tempted. Lift up then the hands that\nhang down, and strengthen the feeble knees. Infidel books have\npoisoned your understanding, and rivetted great pride therein. Strong\ntemptations are necessary to mortify that pride, and to teach you that\nlowliness of heart, which our LORD calls all that are weary and heavy\nladen to learn of him. Look up then to JESUS, the author and finisher\nof your faith. He will send you help in every time of need. Indeed\nhe will never leave you, nor forsake you. Follow him as the poor\n_Syroph\u0153nician_ woman did, and though he may now turn away his face\nseemingly for a while, yet he will always support you inwardly by a\nliving faith, and shortly give you the spirit of adoption, whereby\nyou will be enabled to cry, \u201cAbba, Father.\u201d I speak this by happy\nexperience. I have mourned, but now I am comforted. I have gone\nthrough the spirit of bondage, and, for ever be adored GOD\u2019s free\ngrace, he has given me the spirit of adoption. And that you also will\nhave this in GOD\u2019s due time and way, is the firm belief of\n\n Your unworthy brother, and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LI.\n\n _London, July 23, 1739._\n _Dear Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Wish you joy of your new-born son. Oh that it may be made a real\nchild of GOD. I purpose, GOD willing, to stand to my promise, either\nin person, or by proxy. I know not yet, how providence will be pleased\nto dispose of me. I have written to the Lords of the Admiralty for\na licence. Saturday evening next, I hope you will see _Mr. Charles\nWesley_. He intends to preach at _Gloucester_, _Raindwick_, &c.\nPray desire _Mr. Cole_ and our other dear friends to appoint places.\nMatters go on most bravely here. I think people are ten times more\naffected than ever. The audiences full and numerous, and they give\ntheir mites for the orphan house with a chearful and ready heart.\nHave you heard how I preached upon the stage among the cudgel players\nat _Basingstoke_, and got a blow? Both I and my companions were also\nturned out of our inn, and in danger of being beaten heartily. Blessed\nbe GOD! My sermon comes out on _Wednesday_. Heartiest love to dear\nMrs. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015. That JESUS CHRIST may be fully formed in both your hearts,\nis the prayer of,\n\n Ever, ever yours,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LII.\n\n _London, July 24, 1739._\n _Honoured Sir_,\n\nTHOUGH but a child in grace, and a novice in the things of GOD, yet\nI could not escape this opportunity of shewing you, how dear you are\nto my soul. Though unknown in person, yet you have long since been\nknown to me in spirit. I hoped to have seen you ere I left _London_.\nI hasted up to town hoping to have some spiritual gift imparted to\nme by that means, but I was not worthy of it, I was not prepared for\nsuch a blessing.\u2015\u2015You went before I came. A great work of GOD is doing\nhere. The LORD JESUS gets himself the victory every day; free grace\ncompels poor sinners to come in. Our brother \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 can inform you of\nparticulars. As for my own soul, GOD mightily strengthens me in the\ninward man, and gives me often such foretastes of his love, that I\nam almost continually wishing to be dissolved, that I may be with\nCHRIST.\u2015\u2015But I am only beginning to begin to be a christian.\u2015\u2015I\nmust suffer also, as well as do for my dear Master. Perhaps a\nstorm is gathering. I believe GOD will permit it to fall on my head\nfirst.\u2015\u2015This comes then, honoured Sir, to desire your prayers, that\nnone of those things may move me; and that I may not count even my\nlife dear unto me, so that I may finish my course with joy, and the\nministry which I have received of the LORD JESUS. Though I die for him,\nyet, I beseech you, honoured Sir, to pray that I may not in any way\ndeny him. But what am I doing? I fear, honoured Sir, I am too free.\nA sense of your humility and love for the blessed JESUS makes me thus\nopen. How should I rejoice, if you would honour me with a line.\u2015\u2015I\nam young, and therefore a word of exhortation and advice, would much\nprofit, honoured Sir,\n\n Your very humble servant, in our dear LORD JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LIII.\n\n _London, July 25, 1739._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nNOT a want of love, but of time, has obliged me to shorten my late\nletters. Had I an hundred hands I could employ them all. The harvest\nis very great. I am ashamed I can do no more for him, who hath done\nso much for me; not by way of retaliation, but gratitude. Fain would\nI love my master, and will not go from him; his service is perfect\nfreedom; his yoke is easy, his burden light. Still he is pleased to\nshew us greater things. Every day affords fresh instances of the power\nof his word. I am now about to attack satan in one of his strong-holds,\nif I perish.\u2015\u2015To-night I preach, GOD willing, where an horse-race\nis to be. I find my Master strengthens me for the work. O, dear Sir,\npray for me, that my faith fail not, and that my zeal be tempered with\nknowledge. Our brother \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 will prove an agreeable correspondent.\nIf business prevents my writing, he will inform you what happens from\ntime to time to, dear Sir,\n\n Your most affectionate in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LIV.\n\n _London, July 26, 1739._\n _Rev. Sir_,\n\nJUST now I received your kind letter, and am endeavouring to catch a\nfew moments to answer it. I thank you for your encouraging hints. O!\ndear Sir, continue to exhort, and provoke me to love and to good works,\nthat I may with patience run the race that is set before me. Hitherto\nmy dear Master magnifies his strength in my weakness. Ever since\nhe honoured me to suffer a little reproach for his name\u2019s sake, at\n_Basingstoke_, he has caused me to rejoice with exceeding great joy.\nMy spirit was stirred within me. Methinks I could willingly have died\nto have borne my testimony against the lying vanities, and devilish\nentertainments of this generation. By the help of my Master, I will\ngo on and attack the devil in his strongest holds. O pray, dear Sir,\nthat my zeal may be always tempered with true christian prudence. It\nwould grieve me, should I bring sufferings causelessly upon myself.\nA trying time, perhaps, is at hand. O that I may be found faithful!\nIf providence permits, I will perform my promise. I am blind, I am a\nchild, I know nothing. I only desire the whole will of GOD may be done,\nin, by, and upon, dear Sir,\n\n Your unworthy brother and fellow-labourer\n in our dear LORD JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LV.\n\n _London, July 26, 1739._\n _Sir_,\n\nI Received your kind letter, but must beg to be excused from\ndissuading your son to go with \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015. The employment in which he is\nengaged will, in the end, if faithfully improved, tend much to GOD\u2019s\nglory and his own good. He now sits by me; I read over your letter to\nhim, and he continues as resolute as ever. The being _disinherited_\ndoes not terrify him at all. He has a more abiding inheritance, and is\nwilling naked to follow a naked CHRIST.\u2015\u2015Dear Sir, let me advise you\nto do nothing rashly. If you can pray for a blessing on your will when\nyou are about to disinherit your son, I shall wonder. Have a little\npatience, and then you will find that your son is about to act wisely.\nIf I thought otherwise, no one would be more forward to dissuade him,\nthan, Sir,\n\n Your very humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LVI.\n\n _London, July 31, 1739._\n\nOH that my head was water and my eyes fountains of tears, that I might\nweep over my dear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015. What? And has my familiar friend, who has\nbeen dear to me as my own soul, has he taken part with, and gone back\nto the enemy? Surely it cannot be!\u2015\u2015And yet I must believe it.\u2015\u2015But\nif any one had told my dear friend, that he would have behaved thus,\nwould he not have cried out, \u201cIs thy servant a dog that he should\ndo this?\u201d Oh, my dear friend, I am in pain for you! Alas! who hath\nbewitched you, that you should not obey the truth? You did run well;\nwho, or what hath hindered you? Not a fear of man, I hope; not a\ndesire of that praise, that cometh of man. I know the time when my\ndear friend\u2019s heart stood stedfast. I know the time when my dear\nfriend was willing to be accounted a fool for CHRIST\u2019s sake, and chose\nrather to suffer affliction with the people of GOD, than to enjoy the\npleasures of sin, of false politeness, for a season. And why should I\ndespair of my dear friend now? No, I know JESUS CHRIST was set for the\nfalling and rising again of many in _Israel_. Our LORD, I trust, has\nprayed for you, and I hope your faith will not totally fail. Forgive\nme, I must stop and sigh: GOD forbid I should be called, at the great\nday, to say, that my dear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 put his hand to the plough and\nturned back unto perdition. Good GOD! the thought strikes me as though\na dart was shot through my liver. Return, return. My dear friend, I\ncannot part from you for ever. Do not speak peace to your soul, when\nthere is no peace. Do not turn factor for the devil. Do not prejudice\nor hurt my brother, and thereby add to the grief you have already\noccasioned.\n\n Your most affectionate friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LVII.\n\n _Bristol, July 31, 1739._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nBLESSED be GOD for bringing you in safety home.\u2015\u2015He is a GOD hearing\nprayer. May he sanctify our meeting. I hope to see you here this week.\nI shall set out for _Deal_ on _Monday_.\u2015\u2015I long to hear how the soul\nof my dear brother prospers.\u2015\u2015I long to embrace you in these unworthy\narms.\u2015\u2015Methinks I could now sing my nunc dimittis with pleasure, if my\neyes could see my dear brother\u2019s salvation. I hope you have conversed\nwith Mr. _Wesley_. It will require some degree of boldness to own\neither of us before men. GOD vouchsafes to honour us: No wonder our\nnames are cast out as evil.\u2015\u2015Dear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, I hear, is staggered with\nthe fear of man.\u2015\u2015Sister, I trust, is in a good way. When shall I see\nyou? Come, Oh come and warm my heart, by telling me what GOD hath done\nfor your soul. Eternity will be too short to praise him for what he\nhas done for\n\n Your affectionate brother,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LVIII.\n\n _London, August 3, 1739._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nTHIS morning I received yours, and though I leave _London_ this\nevening, yet I cannot but snatch a few moments to send you an answer.\nI love all that love our LORD JESUS CHRIST. The spirit of CHRIST, with\nme is the center. I love the man, and you in particular, though in all\nthings he may not follow with me. I rejoice there is a revival of true\nreligion in _Scotland_. The spirit of GOD is moving on the faces of\nthousands of souls in _England_. The word runs very swift, and satan\nfalls like lightning from heaven. GOD hath sent me into the highways\nand hedges, to compel poor sinners to come in; many are left to water,\nwhat GOD hath been pleased to plant; I doubt not of his giving a great\nincrease. But I am a child, I cannot speak, yet GOD will magnify his\nfree grace. GOD will work, and all oppositions must forward, but not\nhinder it.\u2015\u2015Inclosed I have sent you a sermon just published.\u2015\u2015You may\njudge of my principles from that. The picture I highly honour.\u2015\u2015May\nI follow them as they follow CHRIST. I am no friend to sinless\nperfection.\u2015\u2015I believe the being (though not the dominion) of sin\nremains in the hearts of the greatest believers.\u2015\u2015Time and business\nwill not give me leave to enlarge.\u2015\u2015Besides, I am but a novice in\nthe school of CHRIST; and therefore most earnestly beg your prayers,\nthat I may grow in the knowledge of our common LORD. At his call,\nI am now going abroad, and expect to suffer many things ere I return\nhome.\u2015\u2015Reverend and dear Sir, I wish you much success in the name of\nthe LORD, and am\n\n Your brother and servant in the best bonds,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LIX.\n\n _London, August 3, 1739._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nI Cannot leave _London_ without answering your last letter. I am\nconvinced that GOD calls me now to _Georgia_, and so are our friends.\nGOD\u2019s ways are like the great deep.\u2015\u2015He will go a way by himself.\nExitus acta probat. The prophecy you mention, I dare not apply to\nmyself. What am I, that GOD should so delight to honour me? However,\nI believe the LORD will work a great work upon the earth. Whatever\ninstruments he shall make use of in effecting it, I care not. If\nCHRIST be preached, if my dear LORD be glorified, I rejoice; yea, and\nwill rejoice. I wish all the LORD\u2019s servants were prophets. Oh, dear\nSir, my heart is now melted down with a sense of the divine love!\nNever was a greater instance of GOD\u2019s free grace in CHRIST. What am I,\nO LORD, that thou shouldest delight to honour me? Even so, Father, for\nso it seemeth good in thy sight! Dear Sir, I could now write all day;\nbut other business demands my attendance.\u2015\u2015Yet a little while, and we\nshall sit down in the kingdom of GOD for ever. Dear Sir adieu. Oh give\nthanks, give thanks, and pray for\n\n Your\u2019s most affectionately in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LX.\n\n _Blendon, August 6, 1739._\n\nAND would not dear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 stay for my last letter? What, is he\nretired into the country to learn how to forget his GOD? Is he got\ninto favour with the polite world? Are not these sad symptoms, that\nmy dearest Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 is falling away a-pace? He runned into one extreme\nlately, and now satan is driving him into another. Did not I forwarn\nyou of this? O my dear friend, my brother, return to your first\nlove, otherwise you will find the spirit of GOD deserting you more\nand more every day. Nemo repente fuit turpissimus. But I can say\nno more.\u2015\u2015Perhaps I am troublesome. However, give me leave to weep.\nPermit me to pray for you. Though you are now dead comparatively, yet,\nI trust, you will be alive. Though now seemingly lost, yet surely you\nshall be found again. GOD only knows how such news would rejoice the\nheart of, dear Sir,\n\n Your affectionate friend in the best bonds,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LXI.\n\n _\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, August 7, 1739._\n _Dear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Thank you most heartily for your last: Had you been more particular,\nI should have thanked you still more. May GOD reward you for watching\nover my soul! Pride and selfishness are the tempers of the devil. By\nthe help of my GOD I will never rest till my Master gives me power\nto overcome them. It is difficult, I believe, to go through the fiery\ntrial of popularity and applause untainted. Blessed be GOD, I am now\nsweetly retired. O help me, my dear Sir, by your prayers, as well as\nyour advice, and believe me desirous to subscribe myself,\n\n Your\u2019s most affectionately in our dear LORD JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LXII.\n\n _On board the Elizabeth, Gravesend, August 14, 1739._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nYOUR kind letter gave me much satisfaction. It breathed the language\nof one, who is a Boanerges in the church of GOD. Excess of business\nprevented my answering it sooner. As I am now retired from a public\nlife, I trust I shall have time to try my heart and search out my\nspirit. Forget me not, dear Sir, when you are praying for all those,\nwho travel by land and by water, when storms and winds are blowing\nover me. I hope I shall always carry you, and others of my dear\nfriends in _Wales_, upon my heart, whenever I go in and out before the\nLORD. It would rejoice my soul to hear from you, when abroad. Exhort\nme, oh exhort me, to be valiant for the truth. Bid, oh bid me, dear\nSir, to be mindful of a dying and risen JESUS.\u2015\u2015Bid me to remember the\nriches of his free grace in pulling me as a brand out of the fire, and\nexhort me to lay down my life for his sake.\u2015\u2015Brother _Harris_, I find,\nhas come off triumphantly.\u2015\u2015The hour of suffering is not yet come. GOD\nprepare us all for it! I expect to suffer for my blessed master\u2019s name\nsake. But, wherefore do I fear? My master will pray for me.\u2015\u2015Dear Sir,\nadieu. I know you not in person. Perhaps I may never see your face in\nthe flesh. However, I shall see you in heaven, and then you shall see\nhow sincerely I now subscribe myself,\n\n Your unworthy brother and fellow-servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LXIII.\n\n _On board the Elizabeth, Gravesend, August 14, 1739._\n _Dear Madam_,\n\nI Cannot think of your favours, and yet forbear writing a letter of\nthanks. I cannot think of your parting tears, and not inform you, how\nsincerely I pray GOD to comfort and refresh your soul.\u2015\u2015Oh Madam, your\nkindness to such a dead dog as I am, quite surprizes me. How much more\nought you and I, and all mankind, to adore the unspeakable goodness\nof our heavenly Father, who has so loved the world, as to give his\nonly-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,\nbut have everlasting life. Dear Madam, never rest till you have a\nlively faith in CHRIST JESUS. GOD has put into your heart good desires\nafter it. Continue instant in prayer; apply to JESUS CHRIST, as a\npoor sinner, and yet a little while, and dear Mrs. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 shall be a\nchristian indeed. Hasten O LORD, that blessed time. Oh let thy kingdom\ncome, in full power, into this thy handmaiden\u2019s heart! Innumerable\ntemptations surround you, to make you take up your rest here. But, I\nhope, _Madam_, you will be upon your guard, and let nothing be thought\nof, or done, by you, which may any way tend to indulge the lust of the\neye and the pride of life. Simplicity is the very spirit of the gospel;\ntherefore, the more we learn CHRIST, the more regardless we shall\nbe of worldly vanities. GOD of his infinite mercy make you a widow\nindeed! You see, Madam, how freely I have wrote to you. It is because\nI value your welfare.\u2015\u2015It is the best return that can be made, for all\nfavours conferred on, Madam,\n\n Your most obliged friend and servant in our dear LORD JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LXIV.\n\n _On board the Elizabeth, Gravesend, August 14, 1739._\n _Dear Madam_,\n\nYOUR affectionate parting, and the tears I observed you to shed, even\nwhen I was at a distance from you, made me almost ready to cry out\n\u201cWhat mean you to weep and to break my heart?\u201d Oh may our dear LORD\nput your tears into his bottle, and reward you a thousand fold for all\nthe kindnesses you have shewn to me! Indeed I am less than the least\nof his servants. But yet, so loving is my dear Master, that he will\nnot let a cup of cold water given in his name, to pass by unobserved\nor unrewarded. When partaking of your bounty of flour, I hope I shall\npray that you and your\u2019s may eat bread in the kingdom of GOD. You\nhave all good desires; I hope you are not far from the kingdom of\nGOD.\u2015\u2015Oh let there not be any thing lacking. Give GOD your hearts,\nyour whole hearts; let JESUS CHRIST\u2019s be your whole wisdom, your\nwhole righteousness; and then he will be your whole sanctification\nand eternal redemption. I write this from my floating habitation, to\nassure you how sincerely I am\n\n Your most obliged friend and affectionate humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LXV.\n\n _On board the Elizabeth, August 14, 1739._\n _My dear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nAT length we are embarked; our ship is now going to the _Downs_.\u2015\u2015Yet\na little while, and, GOD willing, I shall see you once more in the\nflesh. My family consists of more than twelve, besides two children;\nI hope all are desirous to know CHRIST. GOD strengthens me mightily\nin the inner man. The sermon I have sent you is one of my extempore\nsermons.\u2015\u2015The journal will acquaint you with particulars.\u2015\u2015My brother,\nthe captain, hath been with me this last week.\u2015\u2015If he leaves off\ndisputing, and will come to CHRIST as a poor lost sinner, he will do\nwell.\u2015\u2015The bishop of _London_ has lately wrote against me; I trust GOD\nhath assisted me in writing an answer.\u2015\u2015It is now in the press.\u2015\u2015All\nthe self-righteous are up in arms.\u2015\u2015My Master makes me more than a\nconqueror through his love. Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 has about forty societies in\n_Yorkshire_. Both the Mr. _Wesley_\u2019s go on well.\u2015\u2015Go where you will,\nreligion (either for or against it) is the talk.\u2015\u2015Probably a suffering\ntime will come. You will not be ashamed of me, though I should be a\nprisoner. Perhaps you will be put to the trial: But how does my dear\nfriend\u2019s heart? Have you found CHRIST? Does he live in you, so as to\nbe the alpha and omega, the beginning and end of all your actions?\nAre you enlightened to see the exceeding great riches and fulness of\nhis grace? Oh how will it rejoice my soul to see you a proficient in\nthe school of CHRIST? How will it delight me to see your little flock\npressing towards the mark.\u2015\u2015Soon after this reaches _Georgia_, I hope\nto see you.\u2015\u2015My stay will be as short as possible at _Philadelphia_.\nI must not delay coming to my dear, though poor charge.\u2015\u2015I expect\nto find _Savannah_ almost desolate; but our extremity is GOD\u2019s\nopportunity. I believe it will lift up its drooping head.\u2015\u2015For the\npresent, my dear friend, farewell.\n\n Your\u2019s most affectionately in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LXVI.\n\n _On board the Elizabeth going to the Downs, August 15, 1739._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nTHE agony I was in at your departure, and the many strong cryings and\ntears which I offered up to GOD afterwards, plainly shew, that I love\nyou in sincerity and truth. Though I am now about to launch into the\ngreat deep, yet I must write you a parting line. I cannot but think\nyou will come to CHRIST in earnest. GOD has most remarkably met you\nby his providence.\u2015\u2015His spirit has been striving with you, and I doubt\nnot but it will get the victory over your carnal reasonings, and the\nrebellion of a depraved heart. But do not, my dear brother, I beseech\nyou, dispute against your own happiness.\u2015\u2015Be not unwilling to confess\nthat you are not yet a christian. Remember what our LORD hath said:\n\u201cWhosoever receiveth not the kingdom of GOD, as a little child,\nshall in no-wise enter therein.\u201d\u2015\u2015I beseech you, by the mercies of\nGOD in CHRIST JESUS our LORD, to leave off _disputing_. You have\nbeen, I think, frequently convinced; but nature, I find, has as\nfrequently interposed, and persuaded you that you had gone far\nenough already.\u2015\u2015But does not my dear brother find, that he yet lacks\nsomething? Have not his tempers and corruptions; nay, hath not sin\nitself dominion over him? Are his affections weaned from the world?\nDoes he feel himself a poor lost sinner? Is he willing the LORD JESUS\nshould be his whole righteousness? Is he convinced of the freeness,\nas well as of the riches of his grace? You see, my dear brother,\nhow freely I deal with you. It is because I love you with a peculiar\nlove.\u2015\u2015Never did my heart exult at the sight of any relation, as at\nthe sight of you; Surely GOD intends to give me my dear brother. He\nis already an almost; hasten, O LORD, that blessed time, when he shall\nbe an altogether christian, and let thy kingdom, with full power, come\ninto my dear brother\u2019s heart!\u2015\u2015How shall I say farewell? If you have\nopportunity, pray write to\n\n Your most affectionate, though unworthy brother,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LXVII.\n\n _On board the Elizabeth going to the Downs, August 16, 1739._\n _Dear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Thank GOD for his goodness to brother _Howell Harris_. I thank\nyou for informing me of it. The storm is diverted for a while, but I\nexpect it to break upon my head one time or another. GOD has, for a\nwhile, prepared me a place of refuge in the ship, from whence I write\nthis. Oh beseech him, that I may improve the retirement by searching\nout my spirit. I have almost forgot, that I was in the world. My\nfamily on board is quite settled, and we live and love like christians.\nGOD only knows where you and I shall meet again; whether in time\nor eternity. However, this we know, that both must be tried to the\nuttermost. Inward and outward afflictions await us, and all the\nchildren of GOD. I am now reading the book of martyrs. They make me\nblush to think how little I suffer for CHRIST\u2019s sake. They warm my\nheart, and make me think the time long till I am called to resist\neven unto blood: But I fear the treachery of this heart of mine. Dear\nMr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, to your past, add one more favour, \u201cpray that I may be found\nfaithful.\u201d I trust I shall have a sweet remembrance of you and my\nother dear friends, when I go in and out before the LORD. Salute them\nmost affectionately. Exhort them, oh exhort them to continue in the\ngrace of GOD; and forget not to write to, dear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015,\n\n Yours most affectionately in our dear LORD JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LXVIII.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\u00b9\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nTHOUGH business prevents my corresponding with you so frequently as\nI did when in _England_, yet what can hinder me now, but a want of\ngratitude and love? Accept then, dear Sir, my sincere, though late\nthanks, for all favours conferred upon me, and assure yourself, I\nremember both you and your beloved people at the throne of grace.\nNothing will rejoice me more than to hear, that the good pleasure of\nthe LORD prospers in your hand. Oh dear Sir, what a gracious Master do\nwe serve! His loving-kindness still prevents, accompanies, and follows\nme. He has not given me over unto death, but is still pleased to dig\nand dung round me, and not cut me down as a cumberer of the ground. I\nlong to be purged, dear Sir, that I may bring forth more fruit. Since\nmy retirement from the world, I have seen more and more how full I am\nof corruption. Nothing could possibly support my soul under the many\nagonies which oppressed me, when on board, but a consideration of\nthe freeness, eternity, and unchangeableness of GOD\u2019s love to me, the\nchief of sinners.\u2015\u2015In about a twelvemonth, probably, I shall return\nagain to my native country. Satan no doubt will endeavour to stir up\nall his forces against me. By the help of my GOD, I will once more\ncome forth with my sling and my stone.\u2015\u2015I shall wait with impatience\nto hear how the work goes on in my absence. I trust, GOD, by this time,\nhas sent forth more labourers into his harvest. I heartily wish all\nthe LORD\u2019s servants were prophets. I verily believe, the right-hand\nof the LORD will not only have the pre-eminence, but also bring\nmighty things to pass. O how do I long, dear Sir, to see bigotry and\nparty-zeal taken away, and all the LORD\u2019s servants more knit together.\nPray, my due respects to all that are so kind as to enquire after me.\nExhort them to pray and give thanks for,\n\n Your unworthy friend, brother, and servant\n in our dear LORD\u2019s vineyard,\n\n _G. W._\n\n \u00b9 Many of the letters of this date were written on ship-board\n during the passage, but dated when sent off from _Philadelphia_.\n\n\n LETTER LXIX.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nMAN appoints, but GOD disappoints. No doubt it was best, that I should\nnot see your answer to the bishop\u2019s letter before I left _England_. I\nhope it was wrote with the meekness and gentleness of CHRIST, and then\nno doubt GOD will give his blessing. Oh, dear Sir, how is the glory\ndeparted from _Israel_! In what dregs of time are we born? Boasting\nof our orthodoxy and primitive purity, and yet alas! but \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 is not\nthis enough, dear Sir, to excite our zeal even till it do eat us up?\nWherefore hath GOD called us by his free grace, and made a difference\nbetween us and others, but that we should stand up in defence of his\ninjured honour? Your friend, Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, has told me how plentifully you\nonce tasted of the good word of life, and felt the powers of the world\nto come. Oh that the divine spark may again kindle in the heart till\nit become a flame of fire! Nothing will so much enforce your arguments\nas a life exactly conformable to the holy JESUS.\u2015\u2015When with you last,\nI thought you spoke too favourable of horse-races, and such things.\nBut what diversion ought a christian or a clergyman to know or speak\nof, but that of doing good? Many who are right in their principles,\nare worse than I could wish in their practice. Oh for a revival of\ntrue and undefiled religion in all sects whatsoever! I long to see a\ncatholic spirit over-spread the world; may GOD vouchsafe to make me an\ninstrument of promoting it! Methinks, I care not what I do or suffer,\nso that I may see my LORD\u2019s kingdom come with power. But I know not\nmy own weakness, till I am tried. Dear Sir, pray for me, that I may\nbe found faithful in an hour of temptation. I expect to be tried to\nthe uttermost, and to hear, that many are become my enemies, who once\nwould, as it were, have plucked out their eyes for me. It is necessary\nthat such offences should come; otherwise, how can I know that I am,\nwhat I desire to be, dear Sir,\n\n Your affectionate friend and true brother in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LXX.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _My dear Brethren, and worthy fellow-labourers in CHRIST_,\n\nTHOUGH I know none of you in person, yet, from the time I heard\nof your faith and love towards our dear LORD JESUS, I have been\nacquainted with you in spirit, and have constantly mentioned you in my\npoor prayers. The good pleasure of the LORD, I find, prospers in your\nhands; and I pray GOD increase you more and more, both you and your\nchildren. _Scotland_, like _England_, hath been so much settled upon\nit\u2019s lees for some time, that I fear our late days may properly be\ncalled the midnight of the church. Blessed be GOD, the Father of our\nLORD JESUS CHRIST, who hath sent forth many of his servants with this\ncry, \u201cBehold the bridegroom cometh.\u201d Thousands obey the call, and are\ntrimming their spiritual lamps, in order to go forth to meet him. I\ncannot but think a winnowing time will come after this in-gathering of\nsouls. O that we may suffer only as christians, and then the spirit of\nCHRIST and of glory will rest upon us. In patience possess your souls,\nand I will leave my cause to GOD. You, my reverend Brethren, I am\npersuaded, are no otherwise minded; may we go on then in the power,\nand under the guidance of the LORD of HOSTS. The eternal GOD will be\nyour perpetual refuge. He that employs, will protect; as your day is,\nso shall your strength be. Let not our dear LORD\u2019s lambs perish for\nlack of knowledge. \u201cGive ye, give ye them to eat,\u201d methinks, is the\nendearing, constraining command of the great Shepherd and Bishop of\nsouls. And O that a due obedience may be paid to it by me, your\nunworthy brother. But I blush almost, when I stile myself your brother;\nfor I am a child, and all of you are fathers. Oh, strive together with\nme in your prayers, that the divine strength may be still magnified\nin my weakness. You will intreat the LORD to bless the orphan-house.\nI have reason to think, GOD will bring great good out of it. Oh that\nI may be prepared for future favours! Oh that pride and self-love may\nthoroughly be subdued! Brethren, I beseech you by the mercies of GOD\nin CHRIST JESUS, to pray for me, whilst winds and storms are blowing\nover me. You are not forgotten by him, who, though the most unworthy\nof his LORD\u2019s servants, desires to subscribe himself,\n\n Your affectionate brother, and fellow-pilgrim\n and labourer in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LXXI.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _My dear Friend_,\n\nBECAUSE I will not forget you, I begin to write before we get on shore.\nHow is dear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2019s heart? Has he yet recovered his first love? And\nis that prophecy, \u201cThis child is set for the falling and rising again\nof many in _Israel_,\u201d as yet fulfilled in him. I cannot but think a\ngood work was once wrought upon your soul. I cannot but think, GOD\nwill yet fulfil his whole will in you. But let not my dear friend\nlinger any longer. If there is mercy with GOD, let him be feared, not\ndisobeyed. If he has promised to heal our backslidings, and love us\nfreely, let his goodness lead us to repentance. Prosperity hath been a\nsnare to you; every day I see the excellency of that part of _Agur_\u2019s,\nprayer, \u201cGive me not riches, lest I be full and deny thee, and say,\nwho is the LORD.\u201d And that petition in our liturgy, \u201cIn all time of\nour wealth, good LORD deliver us.\u201d I always take particular notice of\nit. I believe you will not be at all richer this year, than you was\nthe last.\u2015\u2015For as riches increase, our wants increase with them.\u2015\u2015I\nwrite not this to have you desert your station, but to excite a holy\njealousy in your heart.\u2015\u2015Oh, what would I give to see my dear friend,\nas formerly, \u201cFervent in spirit, serving the LORD.\u201d If GOD sends\nme to _England_ again, I shall try my friends. However that be, I\nam persuaded, that suffering for righteousness sake, is the best,\nthe greatest preferment in the church of CHRIST. But how does your\nlittle\u2015\u2015I would not willingly say, your great idol. Pray accept a\nquarto bible for him. Oh, my friend, give him up to GOD, and do not\nprovoke him, by over-fondness and too great indulgence, to take him\nfrom you. The little lambs on board improve bravely; they bear the\nvoyage best of all. They are as lusty as eagles: GOD has dealt most\ngently with us. I hope I may say, the church in my house salute you\nand your wife.\u2015\u2015I do not forget her; may she never rest till she comes\ninto the glorious liberty of the children of GOD! It is a blessed\nthing, my dear friend, to be the LORD\u2019s freeman. My heart is full; I\nrepent I have not allowed more paper. My dear Sir, excuse and pray for\n\n Your most affectionate, though unworthy friend,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LXXII.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _My dear Sister in CHRIST_,\n\nWANT of time, not want of respect, has prevented my answering your\nkind letters. I esteem you highly for CHRIST\u2019s sake. I believe you\nto be one whom GOD has chosen out of the world, and hath sealed to\nthe day of redemption. Nothing, therefore, shall pluck you out of\nhis hands. Was it not for this promise, my soul would be exceeding\nsorrowful at the prospect of what I may undergo. The innumerable\ntemptations that attend a popular life, sometimes make me think it\nwould be best for me to withdraw. But then I consider, that He, who\ndelivered _Daniel_ out of the den of lions, and the three children out\nof the fiery furnace, is able and willing to deliver me also out of\nthe fiery furnace of popularity and applause, and from the fury of\nthose, who, for preaching CHRIST, and him crucified, are my inveterate\nenemies. In his strength therefore, and at his command, whenever his\nprovidence shall call, I will venture out again. As yet my trials have\nbeen nothing. Hereafter a winnowing time may come; then we shall see,\nwho is on the LORD\u2019s side, and who dare to confess CHRIST before men.\nNone but those who wholly rely on the Redeemer\u2019s righteousness, and\nare truly born again of GOD. Oh pray, that I may be found faithful.\nSatan hath been very busy with me since I saw you, but I trust the\nLORD, by these inward trials, will purge me, that I may bring forth\nmore fruit. Cease not to pray, that this may be the happy case of,\n\n Your servant in the gospel,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LXXIII.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Dear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nYOU cannot well conceive how constantly you have been upon my heart,\nsince I saw you. I think there has been a sympathy between your heart\nand mine. I have often pitied my dying friend, and as often prayed,\nthat he may leave a word for GOD. I say, prayed, for GOD alone can\nremove the load.\u2015\u2015I know too well what such temptations are, to think\nthey may be overcome by our own strength. But, my dear Friend, you\nand I, weak as we are, can do all things through CHRIST strengthening\nus.\u2015\u2015Do you believe on the Son of GOD? All things are possible to him\nthat believeth. If the devil therefore continues his assaults, resist\nhim, stedfast in the faith. Resist him, my dear Friend, and he will\nflee from you; rather suffer any thing, than be unequally yoked with\nan unbeliever. If you cannot overcome where you are, absence, perhaps,\nmay cure you. Methinks, I would do and suffer any thing, rather than\ndear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 should be led away.\u2015\u2015My companions in travel have an\nequal respect for you. We have often joined in prayer for you, when\neating your cake. May GOD reward you for that, and all your other kind\nrespects and favours conferred on, dear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015,\n\n Your\u2019s most affectionately in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LXXIV.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Dear Madam_,\n\nI Should think myself highly ungrateful, did I not take all\nopportunities of acknowledging the many kindnesses I have received\nat your hands. Your last presents have been exceeding serviceable\non board the ship, and every time we have tasted your bounty, I have\nendeavoured to dart up a short ejaculation for our kind benefactress.\nYou cannot conceive, _dear Madam_, how loving the LORD has dealt\nwith us; he has given us all things richly to enjoy, and comforted\nus on every side. Indeed sometimes he has been pleased to withdraw\nfrom me, and to permit satan to send me a thorn in the flesh.\u2015\u2015But\nthat was only to shew me my vileness, and to prepare me for further\nmanifestations of his goodness to my soul. Our voyage though long has\nnot been tedious or burdensome. My soul wants retirement.\u2015\u2015I dread\ncoming out into the world again. I am confident, dear Madam, that\nyou will pray for me, that I may be kept unspotted from it. Oh what a\nblessed Master do we serve! His rod as well as staff comforts the soul.\nHis corrections are all loving, and are only intended to make us truly\ngreat. Though you seemed to doubt, yet I hope to see you once more\nbefore you go hence. I cannot say I expect liberty long, if I speak\nboldly the truth as I ought to speak.\u2015\u2015Indeed there is no being a true\nchristian, and yet holding with the world, so much as some may imagine.\nJESUS CHRIST calls us to simplicity. I have often thought, dear Madam,\nthat you did not see through the world enough. Numbers are accounted\nchristians, who have only a name to live. I pray GOD to open all our\neyes, that we may see every thing clearly. A time of persecution will\nshow who are _Israelites_ indeed, and who outside professors.\u2015\u2015I hope,\nMadam, that, when tried, you will come forth as gold purified seven\ntimes in the fire. I only fear for, and suspect myself.\u2015\u2015The LORD my\nrighteousness will uphold me. Dear Madam, GOD only knows with what\ngratitude I desire to subscribe myself\n\n Your most obliged friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LXXV.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Dear Mrs. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nWHEN last abroad, I could not write to you for want of knowing your\nname. Blessed be GOD we have since been better acquainted, and I now\nknow your name and place of abode. May the GOD, whom I desire to serve,\nrichly reward you for receiving me into your house. You were one of\nmy most constant hearers; may you be my joy and crown of rejoicing\nin the day of the LORD JESUS. I trust ere now, you have felt, that\nthe kingdom of GOD does not consist in word, but in power. I know that\nMrs. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 would have me deal plainly with her soul; therefore I shall\nnot scruple to tell her, how I have sometimes thought she was not yet\nclearly enough convinced of sin, and of the perfect righteousness\nwrought out for, and to be imputed to her, by the LORD JESUS CHRIST,\nthrough faith in his blood.\u2015\u2015Since I have been on shipboard, blessed\nbe GOD, his name has made my soul to smart, and caused me to see more\nof my own wretchedness. Oh, Mrs. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, you know not, neither do I\nmyself know as yet, what a mystery of iniquity is hid even in a heart\ntimely renewed. I saw a little of it the other day; and had I not\nknown my Redeemer liveth, and that he ever liveth to make intercession\nfor me, I must have sunk into despair:\n\n _But there\u2019s a voice of sovereign grace\n Sounds from the sacred word;\n Here ye despairing sinners come,\n And trust upon the LORD._\n\nMay GOD of his infinite mercy so work upon you, that, at at the last\nday, you may be found having on the wedding-garment! Was I to study\nto eternity, I could wish you nothing better. May the ever-blessed GOD\nsay Amen to it. I hope your little daughters are in good health. Dear\nMrs. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, exhort them to renounce the lust of the eye and the pride\nof life, and to abstain from all appearance of evil. I have a sincere\nconcern for you and yours, and with all possible thanks for your kind\npresents and affection, I subscribe myself\n\n Your sincere friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LXXVI.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Dear Mrs. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nAS I do not forget to pray for, so I do not forget to write to you,\nto make a proper acknowledgment of your and your husband\u2019s love;\nexhorting you to save yourselves from this untoward generation. Before\nI left _London_, I perceived GOD was working upon your soul. I trust\nthe same GOD, since my departure, has carried it on, and that you are\nconvinced of the sin of unbelief. Oh dear Mrs. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, it is a difficult\nthing to believe aright; it can only be given from above. I know\nmany of my acquaintance, who love to hear me talk and preach, and\nwho receive me gladly into their houses; but alas! I fear they are\nself-righteous, and were never yet truly convinced of sin. They have\ngood desires, and therefore flatter themselves, that they are good\nchristians: But I fear many of them are only foolish virgins. I would\nnot have dear Mrs. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 or her husband of this number. If she hath\nfollowed on to know the LORD, I am persuaded ere now, she is in some\nmeasure brought out of herself, and taught of GOD to rely only on\nJESUS CHRIST for wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.\nIf thus minded, your soul is at peace with GOD, itself, and the world.\nIf not, let her ask and it shall be given her, let her seek and she\nshall find, let her knock and a door of mercy shall be opened unto\nher.\u2015\u2015All things are possible to him that believeth\u2015\u2015Oh dear Mrs. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015,\nmy heart is inlarged towards you; I long for your salvation: press on\nand faint not. Whenever I come, I shall expect to suffer. But though\nwe die for CHRIST, oh let us pray that we may not deny him in any wise.\nNothing but the free almighty grace of GOD can uphold,\n\n Your sincere friend in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LXXVII.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Rev. and Dear Sir_,\n\nI Think I may say of you, as the _Samaritans_ did upon another\noccasion, I believe you to be a true lover of our dear LORD JESUS.\nNot merely because my brother told me so, but because I have it under\nhis own hand. Your last kind letter has knit my heart most closely to\nyou. I love those that thunder out the word. The christian world is\nin a deep sleep. Nothing but a loud voice can awaken them out of it. I\npray GOD to strengthen you more and more, and cause you to triumph in\nevery place. Though absent in body, I am present with you in spirit.\nIt would rejoice me to hear of your success in the LORD. In about a\ntwelvemonth I purpose, GOD willing, to return to _England_; who knows\nbut then I may see you face to face, and have some spiritual gift\nimparted to my soul? I long to die to myself, and to be alive unto GOD.\nMethinks I would be always upon the wing; but alas! I have a body of\nsin, which at times makes me cry out, \u201cwho shall deliver me?\u201d I thank\nGOD, our LORD JESUS CHRIST will deliver. But I never expect intire\nfreedom, till I bow down my head, and give up the ghost. Every fresh\nemploy, I find brings with it fresh temptations. GOD always humbles\nbefore he exalts me. Sometimes I speak and write freely, at other\ntimes I am comparatively barren; one while on the mount, another while\novershadowed with a cloud; but blessed be GOD, at all times at peace\nwith him, and assured that my sins are forgiven. I want to leap my\nseventy years; I long to be dissolved, and to be with CHRIST. But I\nmust be made perfect by sufferings. I expect no other preferment. And\nyou no doubt will have your share. This is our comfort, if we suffer\nwe shall also reign with CHRIST; hasten on, O LORD, that blessed time,\nwhen dear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 shall sit down at thy right hand, with all the\nspirits of just men made perfect in heaven! where I trust a seat,\nthough of the lowest class, is prepared for\n\n Your unworthy friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LXXVIII.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Rev. and Dear Sir_,\n\nSINCE I saw you last, you cannot well tell with what pleasure I have\nreflected on the uncommon power that frequently attended the word at\n_Bexley_. It was to me a sign of GOD\u2019s good will, both to ministers\nand people. The former I was convinced of, before I left _England_.\nThe last sermon I heard you preach, gave me much satisfaction. I hope\nere now you are convinced of the latter also, and have seen some good\neffects amongst your parishioners. However, this I am assured of, we\nshall all in due time reap the fruit of our labours, if we faint not.\nLet me therefore exhort you, by the mercies of GOD in CHRIST JESUS,\nto continue unwearied in well doing. You have seen the afflictions of\nGOD\u2019s spiritual _Israel_. \u201cDo and live,\u201d is most they hear. But what\nis this, but requiring them to make bricks without straw? Arise, arise,\nthen, my dear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015; proclaim the LORD to be their righteousness.\nThe everlasting I AM now sends you forth: say not they will disbelieve\nmy report, for GOD seems to have given his people the hearing ear\nand obedient heart. Fear not the face of man, for the LORD, if you go\nout in his strength, shall be with you, whithersoever you go. I hope\nmy dear and honoured friend ere now hath prevented my exhortations.\nMethinks I see him, with all boldness declaring the whole counsel of\nGOD, and the attentive people receiving joyfully the gracious words,\nwhich proceed out of his mouth. Go on, my dear brother, go on; may\nthe LORD bless you more and more, daily adding to the number of your\nspiritual children. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 I thank you, from my soul, for all favours\nconferred on me, and I pray you may always confess our LORD and\nhis disciples before men. My most sincere respects attend your\nhelp-mate and true yoke-fellow. You are constantly upon my heart.\nMy next journal will acquaint you how lovingly GOD hath dealt with\n\n Your most unworthy friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LXXIX.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n\nAND how does my dear Mr. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015s_? Is he yet commenced a _field\npreacher_? I am persuaded my dear friend is under the guidance of\nGOD\u2019s spirit, and therefore am convinced he will be directed for the\nbest. He desires to do his LORD\u2019s will, and shall he not know it?\nUndoubtedly he shall. Nay, ere now I trust GOD has pointed out his\nway, and he has been upon many a mount stretching out his hands, and\ninviting all that are weary and heavy laden to come to JESUS CHRIST.\nOh my dear brother, though you come after me, yet I pray GOD, you may\nalways be preferred before me. I trust I shall not envy, but rejoice\nin my brother\u2019s success. At present, I find I love him in the bowels\nof JESUS CHRIST; I am frequently with you in spirit, and shall wait\nwith impatience till I hear of my dear brother\u2019s progress in the\nLORD. Alas! I fear I do not improve my retirement as I ought. GOD has\ngraciously pleased to conduct me in mercy. The tempter has been busy\nwith me, and I never before was more deeply wounded for sin. CHRIST\u2019s\nlove will let nothing pluck us out of his hands. However, let us\nconstantly watch and pray, that we enter not into temptation. The\nspirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. In about a twelvemonth, GOD\nwilling, I think of returning to _England_. I should rejoice, if you\nwould come and supply my place at _Savannah_. If not, I must resign\nthe parsonage, and take upon me only the care of the orphans. I intend\nbringing up two or three, that are with me, for the ministry: more,\nno doubt, will shortly be added to their number. If you could come\nand teach them the languages, for an hour or two in the day; we could\nserve both the orphan-house and parsonage together. Great things I\ntrust will come out of _Georgia_. The LORD JESUS direct your spirit,\nand if it be his will, send you as a help to, dear Sir,\n\n Your\u2019s most affectionately in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LXXX.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Rev. and dear Sir_,\n\nTHOUGH but little acquainted with you, yet I write this to assure you,\nwhat a cordial respect I have for you. The love of GOD, which I trust,\nthrough his free grace, is shed abroad in both our hearts, constrains\nme to love you in the bowels of JESUS CHRIST. I remember you in my\nunworthy prayers, and am persuaded I am not forgotten in your\u2019s. No\none more needs them, whether considered as a private christian, or a\npublic minister; thousands are waiting for my halting; and I know so\nmuch of the corruption of my own heart, that was GOD to leave me to\nmyself but one moment, I should with oaths and curses deny my master.\nAs for my final perseverance, I bless GOD, I have not the least doubt\nthereof. The gifts and callings of GOD are without repentance. Whom\nhe loves, I am persuaded, he loves to the end. But then I fear, lest\nbeing puffed up with abundance of success, I should provoke the LORD\nto let me fall into some heinous sin, and thereby give his adversaries\nreason to rejoice. A public life is attended with innumerable snares;\nand a sense of my unworthiness and unfitness so weighs me down, that I\nhave often thought it would be best for me to retire. But I know these\nare all suggestions of the enemy. Why should I distrust omnipotence?\nHaving had a legion of devils cast out of my heart by the power of\nCHRIST, why should I not tell what he hath done for my soul, for\nthe encouragement of others. By the help of GOD, I will speak; and\nthe more satan bids me to hold my peace, the more earnestly will I\nproclaim to believing saints, that JESUS the son of _David_ will have\nmercy on them; nay, I do not despair of publishing these glad tidings\neven at _Wethersfield_. In a little above a twelvemonth, GOD willing,\nI intend returning. But ere that time comes, I trust my dear LORD\nwill purge me, that I may bring forth more fruit.\u2015\u2015Satan has not been\nwanting to sift me as wheat; but my friend, the friend of all, even\nJESUS, has prayed for me, and as yet my faith hath not failed. Oh\nhad I a thousand lives, my dear LORD JESUS should have them all! For\nhe is worthy, he hath plucked me as a brand out of the burning, and\nis continually comforting me on every side\u2015\u2015Read, read, dear Sir, the\naccount I have sent over to be published of what GOD hath done for\nme in the days of my youth, and it will afford more thanksgiving and\npraise.\u2015\u2015Pray in the behalf of, Sir,\n\n Your most affectionate friend, brother, and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LXXXI.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _My dear Friend and Brother_,\n\nI Love you in the bowels of JESUS CHRIST, as a proof of it, I send\nthis. I heartily wish I could correspond with you oftener. Your\nadvice would always be seasonable to me; because you have been a long\ntime in the school of CHRIST. I am but just now entering the list,\nand frequently tremble at the consideration of what I am to do and\nsuffer.\u2015\u2015But when I consider it is for JESUS CHRIST, who has called\nme by his free grace into his marvellous light, and has promised to be\nwith us always, even unto the end of the world, a divine fire kindles\nin my heart, and I long to call the lingring battle on. Satan hath\nbeen busy with me since I saw you, especially since my retirement\non ship-board. I have often thought of the folly of those, who go\nout of the world to avoid temptation. Satan now buffets me more\nthan when confined in a ship. I receive this as a great mercy at the\nhands of the LORD to keep me in action, and to prepare me for greater\ntokens of his love. Before I am exalted, I am always humbled by some\ninward trials. They are the most soul-grieving, but they are the most\nsoul-improving conflicts. My dear friend, I can say from my heart,\n\u201cI am the chief of sinners:\u201d I feel myself so wretched and miserable,\nso blind and naked in myself, that satan would tempt me to write to\nno one. But the LORD hath rebuked him, and after a long tedious hour\nof temptation, fills my soul as it were with marrow and fatness, and\nmaketh my pen the pen of a ready writer. Oh that my mouth was filled\nwith his praise! As yet, blessed be GOD, in my darkest hours my\nevidences have not been in the least clouded. I have been assured my\nLORD hath forgiven all my iniquities, transgressions and sins, but I\ncannot forgive myself. Oh that I should ever offend against such dying\nlove! Pray for me, my dear brother, pray for me, that I may never by\npride or sloth tempt the blessed spirit to depart from me. I fear not\nfalling finally; for GOD I believe chose me in CHRIST before ever the\nearth and the world were made, as a vessel of his saving mercy; but I\nfear I shall provoke him to let me fall foully, and then how will the\n_Philistines_ rejoice? This consideration sometimes makes me to wish\nthat the LORD would cut off my strength in my journey, and shorten my\ndays. But wherefore do I fear? Ah me of little faith! You see, my dear\nfriend, how freely I have unbosomed my heart to you. I cannot call you\nmy friend, and yet hide from you GOD\u2019s dealings with my soul. Salute\nall that love our LORD JESUS in sincerity, and beseech them to pray\nfor your sincere friend, but the most unprofitable of his dear LORD\u2019s\nservants,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LXXXII.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Rev. and Dear Sir_,\n\nYOUR kind letters, and kinder visit, have made me frequently to long\nfor a more close correspondence with you. I find my heart drawn out in\nlove towards you, and had GOD so ordered it, could have wished to have\nperused what you have written in my defence. I pray GOD to confer on\nyou that reward, which he has promised to give those who confess him\nbefore men. If the gospel continues to run and have such free course,\nI must suffer, as well as preach for my dear LORD JESUS. Oh lift up\nyour hands, _dear Sir_, in the congregations of the faithful, that\nI may willingly, (if need be) resist even unto blood; but not with\ncarnal weapons. Taking the sword out of the hand of GOD\u2019s spirit,\nI fear has more than once stopped the progress of the gospel. The\n_Quakers_, though wrong in their principles, yet I think have left us\nan example of patient suffering, and did more by their bold, unanimous\nand persevering testimonies, than if they had taken up all the arms\nin the kingdom. In this respect I hope I shall follow them as they\ndid CHRIST, and though I die for him, yet take up no carnal weapon\nin defence of him in any wise. The doctrines of our election, and\nfree justification in CHRIST JESUS, are daily more and more pressed\nupon my heart. They fill my soul with a holy fire, and afford me great\nconfidence in GOD my Saviour. Surely I am safe, because put into his\nalmighty arms. Though I may fall, yet I shall not utterly be cast away.\nThe spirit of the LORD JESUS will hold, and uphold me. That GOD may\nevery day enrich you more and more with the anointings of this spirit,\nis the hearty prayer of, Reverend and dear Sir,\n\n Your most obliged friend, brother, and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LXXXIII.\n\n _To the brethren in \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n\nTWICE did I purpose to come and see you at \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, but was prevented\nby that all-wise providence, which ordereth all things for the best:\nhowever, though absent, I am not unmindful of you. As a testimony\nthereof I send you this. And oh that you may be filled with an holy\nfire, and such an ardent zeal for GOD as even to eat you up! Look\nround, look round, my brethren, and in imitation of your common LORD,\nweep over the desolations of the university wherein you live. Alas!\nhow is that once faithful city become an harlot! Have pity upon her,\nye that are friends, and whatever treatment you may meet with from an\nungrateful world, endeavour at least to rescue some of her sons out\nof that blindness, ignorance, bigotry and formality, into which she is\nunhappily fallen. Arise, ye sons of the prophets; shine forth, ye who\nare appointed to be the lights of the world. The rulers of this world\nwill endeavour to put you under bushels; but if your light is of GOD\u2019s\nkindling, all the devils in hell shall not be able to extinguish it.\nBe not therefore, my brethren, weary of well doing. Have you true\nfaith? keep it not to yourselves; be willing, as occasion offers,\nfreely to communicate it to others. How will you be apt to teach\nhereafter, unless you begin to teach now? None but those, who are of a\ndifferent spirit from that meek man _Moses_, will be offended at you.\nAll GOD\u2019s people will wish you GOD speed. I am sure I do with all my\nheart. And I pray GOD to sanctify your whole spirits, souls and bodies,\nand make you vessels meet for our common Master\u2019s use! for none but\nthose who have felt the spirit themselves, can freely or feelingly\nspeak of him to others. My dear brethren, forget not to pray for,\n\n Your affectionate, though weak brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LXXXIV.\n\n _To \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _My dear Brethren in CHRIST_,\n\nTHE cordial love I bear you, will not suffer me to neglect writing\nto you: as GOD has been pleased to bless my ministry to your souls,\nso I think it my duty to watch over you for good, and assure you,\nconstantly you are all upon my heart. Your last letter gave me great\npleasure; but it was too full of acknowledgments, which I by no means\ndeserve. To him alone, from whom every good and perfect gift cometh,\nbe all the thanks and glory; I heartily pray GOD, that you may be\nburning and shining lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse\ngeneration. Though you are not of the church of _England_, yet\nif you are persuaded in your own minds of the truth of the way\nwherein you now walk, I leave it. However, whether _Conformists_, or\n_Nonconformists_, our main concern should be, to be assured that we\nare called and taught of GOD; for none but such are fit to minister\nin holy things. Indeed, my dear brethren, it rejoiced me much to see\nsuch dawnings of grace in your souls; only I thought most of you were\nbowed down too much with a servile fear of man: but as the love of\nthe Creator increases, the fear of the creature will daily decrease\nin your hearts. _Nicodemus_, who came at first by night to our LORD,\nafterwards dared to own him before the whole council in open day. I\npray GOD make you all thus minded. For unless your hearts are free\nfrom worldly hopes and worldly fears, you never will speak boldly, as\nyou ought to speak. The good old _Puritans_, I believe, never preached\nbetter, than when in danger of being taken to prison as soon as they\nhad finished their sermon. And however the church may be at peace now,\nyet I am persuaded, unless you go forth with the same temper, you will\nnever preach with the same demonstration of the spirit, and of power.\nStudy therefore, my brethren, I beseech you by the mercies of GOD in\nCHRIST JESUS, study your hearts as well as books\u2015\u2015ask yourselves again\nand again, whether you would preach for CHRIST, if you were sure to\nlay down your lives for so doing? If you fear the displeasure of a man\nfor doing your duty now, assure yourselves you are not yet thus minded.\nBut enough of this. I love to hope well of you all. I trust, as you\nare enlightened with some degree of knowledge in the mysteries of\ngodliness, you will henceforth determine not to know any thing but\nJESUS CHRIST, and him crucified. This is, and this, the LORD being my\nhelper, shall be the only study of, my dear brethren,\n\n Your affectionate friend, brother, and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LXXXV.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Rev. and Dear Sir_,\n\nWHY so long silent during my stay in _England_? why did you not write\nme a letter of reproof, and smite me friendly for what you thought\namiss in the discourse between me and a friend at _Bristol_? I should\nhave taken it kindly at your hands. When I am unwilling to be told of\nmy faults, dear Sir, correspond with me no more. If I know any thing\nof this treacherous heart of mine, I love those most, who are most\nfaithful to me in this respect: henceforward, dear Sir, I beseech you\nby the mercies of GOD in CHRIST JESUS, spare me not. I am blind, I am\nfull of self-pride, and self-love, and yet know it not. Blessed be GOD,\nwho during my retirement has been pleased to let me see something of\nmy own vileness. I trust he will never leave nor forsake me, till I\nknow myself even as I am known. I need not fear the sight of sin, when\nI have a perfect everlasting righteousness wrought out for me by that\nGOD-man CHRIST JESUS. The riches of his free grace, cause me daily\nto triumph over all the temptations of the wicked one, who is very\nvigilant, and seeks all occasions to disturb me. The LORD CHRIST is my\nhelper, and the lifter up of my head. It is good for me to be tempted.\nBy inward trials I trust my divine master will prepare me for his\nfuture mercies. I am persuaded I shall yet see great things, and be\ncalled to suffer for his name sake. Through much tribulation, I must\nenter into glory. Lift up your hands, dear Sir, when praying at the\nsanctuary, in my behalf; intreat the same favour of the elect lady. As\nI am enabled, it shall be returned; and, GOD willing, when I come next\nto _England_, you may expect a visit from, dear and reverend Sir,\n\n Your most obliged friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LXXXVI.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _My Rev. and very dear Brother_,\n\nEVER \u2666since I was favoured with your last most endearing letter,\nyou have been upon my heart more and more. As I wish all the LORD\u2019s\nservants were prophets, so it gives me uncommon pleasure, when the\nLORD raises up one of our own church. Believe me, dear Sir, when I\nlook upon her desolations, I can scarce forbear weeping over her.\nBut blessed be GOD, who has been pleas\u2019d to visit her in this our\nday. Henceforward, I trust she will be a joyful mother of spiritual\nchildren. Many of late, under GOD, have been begotten by some of her\nsons through the gospel, amongst whom I may reckon \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015: He has been\nI believe, and trust will still be the ghostly father of many souls.\nMay he increase with all the increase of GOD, and appear before\nhis redeemer at the last day, saying, \u201cBehold me, O LORD, and the\nchildren which thou hast given me.\u201d Oh dear Sir, words cannot express\nhow affectionately I desire to esteem and love you. None but the\nall-seeing GOD knows how earnestly I pray and desire to labour for the\nprosperity of _Jerusalem_. Had we a thousand hands and tongues, there\nis employment enough for them all: people are every where ready to\nperish for lack of knowledge. As the LORD has been pleased to reveal\nhis dear Son in us, Oh let us stir up that gift of GOD, and with all\nboldness preach him to others. Freely we have received, freely let\nus give; what CHRIST tells us by his spirit in our closets, that let\nus proclaim on the house top. He who sends, will protect us. All the\ndevils in hell shall not hurt us, till we have finished our testimony.\nAnd then, if we should seal it with imprisonment or death, well will\nit be with us, and happy shall we be evermore! But the proof of our\nsincerity, will be when we come to the trial. I fear for no one so\nmuch as myself. Dear Sir, pray that you never may have reason to be\nashamed of the\n\n Most unprofitable of our LORD\u2019s servants,\n\n _G. W._\n\n \u2666 removed duplicate word \u2018since\u2019\n\n\n LETTER LXXXVII.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Dear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Hope dear brother \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 hath satisfied you about the queries in your\nlast. I trust you are not angry with me for being so long silent.\nExcess of business was the cause. I write you this, my dear brother,\nto assure you I have not forgotten you. No, you are upon my heart; I\npray for your prosperity both in body and soul, and hope ere we die to\ntake another tour with you round _Wales_. GOD has dealt most lovingly\nwith us on ship-board. We had very fair weather most part of our way.\nBoth the good and bad spirit have been with us in the ship. The one to\ntempt and terrify, the other to support and comfort. I need not tell\nyou which has prevailed. Who shall stand before the spirit of JESUS\nCHRIST? I have had great intimations from above concerning _Georgia_.\nWho knows but we may have a college of pious youths at Savannah? I\ndo not despair thereof. _Professor Franks_\u2019s undertaking in Germany\nhas been much pressed upon my heart. I really believe that my present\nundertaking will succeed. My dear brother, call down a blessing by\nyour prayers. The LORD will hear those who put their trust in his\nmercy through CHRIST. You see, you know, how many would rejoice\nat, and do wait for my halting. Beseech the LORD that they may be\ndisappointed of their hope; intreat the people of _Wales_ to join\nwith you. I love them most tenderly. I hope, at my return, to see\nthem grown in grace. I pray GOD so to improve my retirement, that\nmy progress may be made known unto them all. Salute them most\naffectionately in my name, and exhort them to continue instant in\nprayer and thanksgivings for, dear and honoured Sir,\n\n Your fellow pilgrim and labourer in our dear LORD JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LXXXVIII.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _My dear brother in CHRIST_,\n\nAS there has been joy in heaven at your conversion, so I can assure\nyou there has been on earth. I, and my friends, have not failed to\ngive thanks, that you our brother was dead, but is alive again; was\nlost, but is found. Oh blessed be GOD for calling you at the eleventh\nhour. Doth not this display the riches of his free grace; and ought\nit not to fill you with his praise all the day long? I wonder not that\nyou are already become a fool for CHRIST\u2019s sake. All that will live\ngodly in him must suffer persecution. But fear not man. The LORD OF\nHOSTS shall be with you; the strength of that GOD who hath called\nyou shall be your refuge. As you have not long to live in this world,\nSatan, no doubt, will rage most horribly against you. Watch and pray\nthat you enter not into temptation. Your case, GOD willing, I intend\nto publish in my next journal. It is good to keep close the secrets of\na king, but it is honourable to speak of the works of the LORD. That\nGOD may carry on and finish the good work begun in your soul, is the\nhearty prayer of\n\n Your affectionate friend and brother in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER LXXXIX.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Dear Miss B._,\n\nTHOUGH, when I came first to London, I thought you had not made the\nprogress which might be expected in the twelve months, for want of\ncompany; yet your last behaviour gave me reason to think that you was\nyet alive to GOD. Oh, dear Miss B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, do not slumber or sleep, but\nbe always trimming your spiritual lamp, knowing you are shortly to\nmeet the Bridegroom. Study to shew the simplicity of JESUS CHRIST, and\nstrive to imitate those holy matrons, who not only administred to our\nLORD of their substance, but also followed him to the accursed tree.\nLove, love to JESUS, casts out fear. No doubt they were reproached\nfor his name sake, and accounted mad women; but they had a faith which\nenabled them at that time to overcome the world, and by which they\nclimbed up to heaven. May dear _Miss B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ be thus minded! And may\nI see her at the last day amongst the wise virgins! Cultivating an\nacquaintance with _Miss D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, and the _Miss C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, will be a step\ntowards bringing you thither.\n\n Dear _Miss B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, I am your friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XC.\n\n _To my Brother._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n\nTHOUGH I have wrote now for some years to my dear brother, and have\navailed nothing, yet I cannot cease striving with him; who knows but\nat length the Almighty may remove the scales from his eyes, and enable\nhim to see the want of a Redeemer. Indeed, my dear brother, you do not\nsee it yet, because you do not feel it; your moral honesty and good\nnature deceives you. You think you are rich, and increased in goods,\nand do not consider that you are poor and miserable, blind and naked.\nYou are self-righteous, and do not rely on the righteousness of the\nGod-Man, CHRIST JESUS, for salvation. What would I give was my dear\nbrother convinced of this? For, till he is convinced, he is miserable,\nand does not know it. I pray GOD to open your eyes with a sense of\nhis love. Send me a line to _Georgia_. GOD has sent us a comfortable\npassage. In about a twelvemonth I expect to return. Be not surprised\nif you hear of my being more cast out. We must suffer, as well as do,\nfor CHRIST. If you are one of his you will rejoice\n\n Your affectionate brother,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XCI.\n\n _To Madam M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n\nI Cannot think of the repeated assistances you gave me by the loan of\nyour coach, and at the same time forbear sending you a line of thanks.\nBut what is of greater concern, I think it my duty to write to you\nabout a more important affair; I mean the salvation of your precious\nand immortal soul. GOD was pleased to incline your heart, Madam, to\nhear and receive the word with joy. Neither the cares of the world,\nnor the deceitfulness of riches, I trust have been permitted to choak,\nand hinder the growth of it in your soul. Indeed, Madam, you cannot\nbe too watchful. It is a blessed, and careful thing, to be a true\nChristian. The first step to it is a broken heart, a heart melted down\nwith a sense of sin, and flying to JESUS CHRIST for righteousness,\nsanctification and eternal redemption. Thousands indeed place\nchristianity in good desires, and the having good desires; but this\nand much more a person may have, and yet miscarry at last. Pure and\nundefiled religion consists in a lively faith in JESUS CHRIST, as the\nonly mediator between GOD and man. A faith that changes and renews the\nwhole soul, takes it entirely off the world, and fixes it wholly upon\nGOD. This, Madam, is the faith that you have so often heard me preach,\nand of which I pray GOD you may be a partaker. Though you have it not\nyet, you need not despair; GOD will give it to all who sincerely ask\nof him. It is true, Madam, that not many mighty are called; but it is\nnot your riches shall keep you from heaven if you truly believe on the\nLORD JESUS. Faith in him will enable you to overcome the world, and\ncause you even to triumph over the lust of the eye and the pride of\nlife. Faith will set you above the fear of man, and enable you to\nrejoice in being accounted a fool for CHRIST\u2019s sake. That GOD may\nimpart this faith to your own, and little master\u2019s soul, is the hearty\nprayer of, Madam,\n\n Your obliged humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XCII.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Dear brother H._,\n\nI Congratulate you on your success at _Monmouth_. GOD has yet further\nwork for you to do, ere you are called before rulers and governors,\nfor his name sake. By divine permission, in about a twelve-month,\nI hope to make a second use of your field pulpits. Our principles\nagree, as face answers to face in the water. Since I saw you, GOD\nhas been pleased to enlighten me more in that comfortable doctrine of\n_Election_, &c. At my return, I hope to be more explicit than I have\nbeen. GOD forbid, my dear brother, that we should shun to declare the\nwhole counsel of GOD. The people of _Wales_ are much upon my heart.\nI long to hear how the Gospel flourishes among you. How prospers your\ninward man? Being always doing, no doubt you grow in grace. May you\nincrease with all the increase of GOD! You will see my letters to _Mr.\nJones_, &c. As fast as I can, the rest of our Welch friends shall hear\nfrom me. Oh that I may never forget their works of faith and labours\nof love! Salute them most affectionately in my name; and exhort them,\nmy dear brother, to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered\nto the saints. Put them in mind of the freeness and eternity of GOD\u2019s\nelecting love, and be instant with them, to lay hold on the perfect\nrighteousness of JESUS CHRIST by faith. Talk to them, oh talk to\nthem, even till midnight, of the riches of his all-sufficient grace.\nTell them, oh tell them, what he has done for their souls, and how\nearnestly he is now interceding for them in heaven. Shew them in the\nmap of the word, the kingdoms of the upper world, and the transcendent\nglories of them; and assure them all shall be theirs, if they believe\non JESUS CHRIST with their whole hearts. Press them to believe on him\nimmediately. Intersperse prayers with your exhortations, and thereby\ncall down fire from heaven, even the fire of the Holy Ghost,\n\n _To soften, sweeten and refine,\n And melt them into love._\n\nSpeak every time, my dear brother, as if it was your last; weep out,\nif possible, every argument, and as it were compel them to cry, Behold\nhow he loveth us. Remember me, Remember me in your prayers, as being\never, ever\n\n Yours, &c.\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XCIII.\n\n _To Mr. and Mrs. D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _My dear Friends_,\n\nWHEN I consider how constantly you attended my ministry, how gladly\nyou received me into your house, and how affectionately you took your\nlast farewell; methinks gratitude obliges me to send you a line. It\nhath often given me pleasure to see in what harmony you seem to live,\nand how you walked to hear the word of GOD as friends. Surely, thought\nI, these are a happy pair. These I trust are help-meets for each other.\nOh that you may go on and prosper, and be plentifully rewarded for the\nfavours shewn to me, the most unprofitable of our LORD\u2019s servants: he\nwill not forget your works of faith and labours of love. Whenever you\nattend his word preached, I hope he will send you replenished away.\nOh that all knew what it is to believe in JESUS! How soon would they\nrenounce the world, take up their cross and follow him! LORD evermore\ngive us all this faith, even a faith working by love; a faith that\nwill enable us to overcome the world, and cause us to shake off all\nfear of man. Pray give my due respects to your friend and his wife,\nwho used to dine with us. I pray GOD sanctify you all in spirit, soul\nand body, and cause you to sit down on his right hand with\n\n Your affectionate, though most unworthy,\n Friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XCIV.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. P\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Reverend Sir_,\n\nYOU may justly censure me as unkind for not answering your kind letter.\nI can only plead by way of excuse an hurry of business, and my sudden\ndeparture from _England_. At my return, GOD willing, I purpose to\nsee _Newbury_, and there to preach the Gospel of the Prince of Peace.\nPerhaps my enemies may have so much power given them from above, as\nto confine my body: but if I am bound, the word of the LORD will not\nbe bound. GOD will speak, and great shall be the company of preachers.\nIt often rejoices me to think what a prospect we have once again of\nhearing the truth preached as it is in JESUS. I hope we shall catch\nfire from each other, and that there will be an holy emulation amongst\nus, who shall most debase man and exalt the LORD JESUS. Nothing\nbut the doctrines of the Reformation can do this. All others leave\nfreewill in man, and make him, in part at least, a Saviour to himself.\nMy soul come not near the secret of those who teach such things, mine\nhonour be not thou united to them. I know CHRIST is all in all. Man is\nnothing: he hath a free will to go to hell, but none to go \u2666to heaven,\ntill GOD worketh in him to will and to do after his good pleasure.\nIt is GOD must prevent, GOD must accompany, GOD must follow with his\ngrace, or JESUS CHRIST will bleed in vain. That GOD may continue his\nblessing to us both, is the hearty prayer of, reverend and dear Sir,\n\n Your obliged brother and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n \u2666 insert omitted word \u2018to\u2019\n\n\n LETTER XCV.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Dear Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nWAS not my heart with your heart, when we rode by the way and talked\nto each other concerning the Scriptures? I thought our souls tallied\ntogether, and that we had both drank of the same spirit. I have often,\nsince that time, admired the grace of GOD in you, and even now feel\nmy soul, whilst I am writing, intimately united with yours. What is\nall this, but the effect and fruit of GOD\u2019s everlasting love through\nCHRIST our LORD? What is it, but an instance of the sovereign will and\ngood pleasure of GOD, who will have mercy on whom he will have mercy?\nOh how doth the free, the distinguishing grace of GOD excite the love\nof those, who are made partakers of it! What was there in you and in\nme, dear _Mr. O\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, that should move GOD to chuse us before others?\nWas there any fitness foreseen in us, except a fitness for damnation?\nI believe not. No, GOD chose us from eternity, he called us in time,\nand I am persuaded will keep us from falling finally, till time\nshall be no more. Consider the Gospel in this view, and it appears a\nconsistent scheme, though directly contrary to the natural man; and\nnothing convinces me more of the truth of these doctrines, than the\nenmity that is in the heart of carnal minds against them. However,\nthe power of GOD is able to pull down every thing that exalts itself\nagainst the knowledge of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. Henceforward I hope\nI shall speak boldly and plainly as I ought to speak, and not fail to\ndeclare the whole counsel of GOD. I pray daily, that I may know his\nwill more perfectly, not only that I may do it myself, but that I may\nteach it to others. If I die for it, I cannot but speak the things\nwhich I know. Oh my dear friends, lift up your hands for me in the\nsanctuary. The prayers of the faithful, GOD will hear. Entreat the\nsame favour of your brother. I love you both in the bowels of JESUS\nCHRIST, and remember you often when I go in and out before the LORD:\nHe has been with us in the ship. His rod has corrected, his staff has\ncomforted us; both his rod and staff have edified and strengthened\nour souls. In a year\u2019s time I hope to see _England_. My love to all\nfriends, and beseech them to pray that I may be prepared for whatever\nawaits\n\n Your affectionate brother and servant in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XCVI.\n\n _To Mrs. Ann D._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _My dear Sister in CHRIST_,\n\nI Owe you several letters, I will pay you one now; have patience\nwith me and I will pay you all. If any one ought to long to enjoy the\ncommunion of saints hereafter, I ought in a particular manner. GOD\nhas highly favoured me in the acquaintance of numbers of his dearest\nchildren. I cannot see some, and to but few of them can I write, on\naccount of other business. Hasten, O LORD, that blessed time, when we\nshall all sit down to eat bread in thy kingdom!\u2015\u2015My dear Sister, pray\nthat I may patiently wait till my change shall come. I want to leap\nmy seventy years. I long to be dissolved to be with CHRIST. Sometimes\nit arises from a fear of falling, knowing what a body of sin I carry\nabout me. Sometimes, from a prospect of future labours and sufferings,\nI am out of humour, and wish for death as _Elijah_ did: At others,\nI am tempted, and then I long to be freed from temptations. But it\nis not thus always: There are times when my soul hath such foretastes\nof GOD, that I long more eagerly to be with him; and the frequent\nprospect of the happiness which the spirits of just men made perfect\nnow enjoy, often carries me as it were into another world. Many such\nsweet meditations hath my soul been favoured with; but in the midst\nof all, I have felt, and do feel, that I am the chief of sinners.\nA mystery of iniquity that lay in my heart undiscovered, has been\nopened to my view, since my retirement in the ship. May he enlighten\nme more and more, to know and feel the mystery of his electing,\nsoul-transforming love. Nothing like that, to support us under present,\nand all the various future trials which await us. But the LORD has\napprehended us, and will not let us go. Men and devils may do their\nworst; our JESUS will suffer nothing to pluck us out of his Almighty\nhands; for he has loved us with an everlasting love, and therefore his\nright-hand shall uphold us. By his assistance, we shall hold out to\nthe end. By his grace, I, you, and all his chosen ones shall finally\nbe saved. Then, my dear Sister, shall we converse, not with ink and\npaper, but face to face. Then, but not till then, shall we fully\nknow what a legion of devils JESUS CHRIST hath cast out of our souls,\nand how, after all our strivings against, and quenching many of the\nmotions of his spirit, he at last brought us to glory. Cease not to\npray for\n\n Your unworthy brother in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XCVII.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. R._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _My dear Brother R._,\n\nBEFORE I left _England_, I heard of your progress in _Leicestershire_\nand _Nottingham_. I then rejoiced, yea, and I do now rejoice that\nGOD hath sent you forth into his vineyard. I wish you all imaginable\nsuccess with my whole heart. The next news I hear from _England_, I\nsuppose, will inform me of your suffering, as well as preaching for\nCHRIST. But I am persuaded a prospect of suffering does not damp, but\nexcite the zeal of my dear fellow-labourer. He lives in a place where\nhonest _John Bunyan_ was a prisoner of the LORD for twelve years.\nAnd oh, what sweet communion did he enjoy in _Bedford_ gaol! I really\nbelieve a minister will learn more by one month\u2019s confinement, than by\na year\u2019s study. Press on then, my dear Brother, press on and faint not;\nspeak till you can speak no more. Wait upon the LORD, and you shall\nrenew your strength. Though sometimes faint, yet still pursue. Up\nand be doing, and the LORD be with you. See how the fields are white,\nevery where ready to harvest. See how our LORD\u2019s sheep are scattered\nabroad, having too, too few true shepherds; I beseech you, go on, and\npoint out to them the Redeemer\u2019s good pastures. Say not, wherewithal\nshall I feed them? The great shepherd shall furnish you with food\nenough, and to spare. Give of your loaves, and you shall take up of\nthe fragments that remain. To him that hath, shall be given. Satan\nno doubt will resist you; he will bid you, out of a false humility,\nto hold your peace; but let my friend speak out boldly as he ought\nto speak. The Holy Spirit will give him utterance, and apply the word\nto the hearers. If prayers may water the good seed, you may depend on\nmine. I remember the dear _Bedford_ people. O let them not forget\n\n Your poor weak brother in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XCVIII.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. T._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nBEFORE I saw, I loved you. Ever since our personal acquaintance, I\nhave often thought, what a noble instrument you might be of turning\nmany to righteousness, if your heart was entirely freed from the\nworld, and inflamed with the love of GOD. Your vivacity of spirit,\nyour warm imagination, the energy and strength of your endearing\nmanner of writing, together with your loving, tender disposition, if\nonce duly influenced by the spirit of GOD, could not fail of winning\nsouls to CHRIST. Come out therefore my brother, my friend; come out\nfrom among your carnal connections, and \u201cbe thou separate,\u201d saith the\nLORD Almighty. Throw off a false politeness, study the simplicity of\nJESUS CHRIST, and be despised for something. _O pity, pity the church\nof_ England. See how too, too many of her sons are fallen from her\narticles, and preach themselves, not CHRIST JESUS the LORD. My dear\nfriend, I could wish my head was waters, and my eyes fountains of\ntears, that I might weep day and night before the LORD. O let us\nbeseech him to spirit up more of his faithful servants, to go out into\nthe highways and hedges, and compel poor sinners to come in. Oh that\ndear Mr. _T._ may be one of them! How would the spirit of CHRIST and\nof glory rest upon his soul! Arise, arise, my dear brother, and gird\nup the loins of your mind. Arise, arise, and be not of the number of\nthose who only fleece their flocks. Lift up your voice like a trumpet,\nand preach the truth as it is in JESUS. Dear Mr. _T._ forgive this\nfreedom. My heart is full. I long to have the pure scripture truths,\nas delivered in our homilies and our articles, preached up universally.\nThis is all that is contended for, by\n\n Your most unworthy friend, brother, and servant\n in our dear LORD JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER XCIX.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. D. W._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nI Love you, though I have been so ungrateful as not to write to you.\nI love you in the bowels of our common Master whose name we bear, and\nin whose glorious service we are both employed. Oh, dear Sir, what are\nwe that we should be so highly favoured! Why are we honoured? Why are\nwe called to the ministry, and others that are effectually called by\ngrace, yet advanced no higher than private christians? I can only cry\nout, Oh the depth of GOD\u2019s sovereign, electing, unmerited love. Even\nso Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight! Surely, dear Sir, the\nlove of CHRIST must constrain us to spend and be spent for the good of\nsouls. Never was the harvest greater; never were the labourers fewer.\nIf we do not now lift up our voices like trumpets, the very stones\nwould cry out against us. I could almost say, \u201cthe glory is departed\nfrom _Israel_; the ark of the LORD is fallen into enemies hands.\u201d\nOh let us endeavour, dear Sir, let us endeavour to bring it back, by\npreaching and living the truth as it is in JESUS. The light that has\nbeen given us, is not to be put under a bushel, but on a candlestick.\nSatan, indeed, by blasts of persecution, will do all he can to put it\nout. If our light be the light of CHRIST, those blasts will only cause\nit to shine the brighter. You have happily, dear Sir, experienced this.\nYou, I believe, was both in CHRIST and in the ministry before me. I\npr\u00e6, sequar, etsi non passibus equis. The devil and all his hosts will\nset their battle in array against us. My LORD has given me a sling\nand a stone; stripling as I am, I will go forth then in his strength,\nmake mention of his righteousness only, and by that lay prostrate the\nstrong _Goliahs_. By your prayers I trust to be sent to _Wales_ once\nmore. The simplicity of that people much delights me. What shall, what\ncan I do for them? My prayers they have, and whatever GOD shall enable\nme to do, they may demand a share from, dear Sir,\n\n Your affectionate friend, brother, and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER C.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. H._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Dear Mr. H._,\n\nI Received no answer to my last, yet I must write to you again. The\nmany happy hours I spent with you when at _Oxon_, and the benefit I\nhave received from your instructions and example, are yet fresh upon\nmy memory. I long to have my dear friend come forth, and preach the\ntruth as it is in JESUS. Not a righteousness or inward holiness of\nour own, whereby we may make ourselves meet, but a righteousness\nof another, even the LORD our righteousness; upon the imputation\nand apprehending of which by faith, we shall be made meet by his\nHoly Spirit to live with, and to enjoy GOD. Dear Mr. _H._ it is an\nexcellent thing to be convinced of the freeness and riches of GOD\u2019s\ngrace in CHRIST JESUS. It is sweet to know and preach, that CHRIST\njustifies the ungodly, and that all truly good works are not so much\nas partly the cause, but the _effect_ of our justification before\nGOD. Till convinced of these truths, you must own free-will in man,\nwhich is directly contrary to the holy scriptures, and the articles\nof our church. Let me advise dear Mr. _H._ laying aside all prejudice,\nto read and pray over Saint _Paul_\u2019s epistles to the _Romans_ and\n_Galatians_, and then let him tell me what he thinks of this doctrine.\nMost of your old friends are now happily enlightened. GOD sets his\nseal to such preaching in an extraordinary manner, and I am persuaded\nthe gates of hell shall never be able to prevail against it. Oh that\ndear Mr. _H._ would also join with us! Oh that the LORD would open his\neyes to behold aright this part of the mystery of godliness! How would\nit rejoice my heart! How would it comfort his own soul! He would then\nno longer groan under the spirit of bondage: No, he would be brought\ninto the glorious liberty of the sons of GOD. I have wrote to dear\nMr. _O._ as well as to you, out of the simplicity of my heart.\n\n Ever your\u2019s in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CI.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. K._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Dear Brother K._,\n\nI Long to hear how it is with you, and the church in your house. I\nverily believe, though it is but a little flock, yet it will be our\nheavenly Father\u2019s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. How happy is\nit, when all are of one mind in a house; all agreed to entertain and\nlove the LORD JESUS. Their heaven is begun on earth. I pray GOD to\ncontinue this blessing, and cause you daily to build up each other in\nthe knowledge of our LORD and Saviour JESUS CHRIST. He is a gracious\nMaster. Oh that I knew and loved him more! for he is altogether lovely.\nHas he yet revealed himself in dear Mr. _K._\u2019s heart? Is he assured\nthat his beloved is his? Is he brought into the glorious liberty of\nthe children of GOD? Is his mind free from scruples? Is he active? Is\nhe punctual? Is he strong in the LORD and in the power of his might?\nIs the meekness of the lamb and the boldness of the lion blended in\nhis soul? Do his parishioners fear, yet love him? Is he a _Boanerges_,\nand yet a _Barnabas_ in the church of GOD? Does he thunder against\nobstinate sinners, and by displaying the riches of the promises,\ncomfort and build up the saints? Does he preach as the spirit gives\nhim utterance? Can he rely on the promise, \u201cLo I am with you always,\neven unto the end of the world?\u201d\n\nForgive this freedom, my dear brother. Love makes me thus impertinent.\nI want to see you perfect, entire, lacking nothing. May GOD from day\nto day supply what is still deficient in you and in me, till we come\nto the fulness of the measure of the stature of CHRIST. He is faithful\nthat has promised. GOD has been gracious to me his servant. In about a\ntwelvemonth, I hope you will again see and rejoice with\n\n Your affectionate brother in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CII.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Dear Mrs. F._,\n\nTHE LORD\nreward you for all your works of faith and labours of love! They\nshall be brought forth as so many evidences of your lively faith,\nwhen we meet before our LORD in judgment. Does not the prospect of\nthat glorious day, often fill your soul with joy? It does mine. Why?\nBecause I know my Redeemer is to be my judge. Satan will accuse me; my\nanswer shall be, the LORD JESUS is my righteousness, how darest thou\nto lay any thing to the charge of GOD\u2019s Elect? I stand here not in my\nown, but his robes; and though I deserve nothing as a debt, yet I know\nhe will give me a reward of grace, and recompence me for what he has\ndone in and by me, as though I had done it by my own power. Oh, dear\nMrs. _F._ how ought this to excite our zeal and love for the holy\nJESUS. Why should we desire to plead for a righteousness of our own,\nand cry up freewill, when we have an infinitely better righteousness\nthan our own to appear in, and a GOD that will crown us with eternal\nglory for working in us both to will and to do after his good\npleasure? Happy are you and your\u2019s, that have been taught these\nglorious principles from your youth! Oh shew them forth more and\nmore by your works, and let the world see what it is to have a faith\nworking by love. Study, oh study, day by day, the simplicity of JESUS\nCHRIST. Cast away every thing from you that savours of the lust of\nthe eye and pride of life. Be quick to hear, slow to speak, and let\nyour conversation always be seasoned with grace. Oh, dear Mrs. _F._ my\nheart is enlarged towards you: My kind, my liberal hostess, what shall\nI say or do to express my gratitude? I will, I do speak for you to the\nking of kings. Though I am so great a sinner, he frequently admits\nme into his privy chamber, and then I often sigh out, \u201cO that my dear\n_Hertford_ friends may live before thee.\u201d This is all the return, dear\nMrs. _F._ that I can make. It is a prophet\u2019s reward. Being my all,\nthough but two mites, I know you will accept it from\n\n Your most obliged friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CIII.\n\n _To Mr. S._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nI Rejoice that GOD sent you so opportunely to _Monmouth_: I find every\nday that two are better than one. GOD suffers his dear children to\nfall into little miscarriages, that the eye may not say to the hand,\n\u201cI have no need of thee;\u201d or again, the head to the foot, \u201cI have no\nneed of thee.\u201d We must be helps to each other on this side eternity.\nNothing gives me more comfort, next to the assurance of the eternal\ncontinuance of GOD \u2019s love, than the pleasing reflection of having\nso many christian friends to watch with my soul. I wish they would\nsmite me friendly, and reprove me oftner than they do; I would force\nmy proud heart to thank them. But I am amazed at your coming off\nso triumphantly. Surely the devil is asleep, or rather that roaring\nlion thinks to break out upon us with double fury hereafter. It often\nshames me, when I read St. _Paul_\u2019s account of his sufferings, to\nthink in how few particulars I can as yet sympathize with him. It as\noften makes me long to be like him, and yet I fear how I shall act\nwhen put to the trial. This, however, is my comfort, \u201cJESUS CHRIST the\nsame yesterday, to-day, and for ever.\u201d He saw me from all eternity;\nhe gave me being; he called me in time; he has freely justified me\nthrough faith in his blood; he has in part sanctified me by his spirit;\nhe will preserve me underneath his everlasting arms, till time shall\nbe no more. Oh the blessedness of these evangelical truths! These are\nindeed gospel; they are glad tidings of great joy to all that have\nears to hear. These, bring the creature out of himself. These, make\nhim to hang upon the promises, and cause his obedience to flow from a\nprinciple of love. They are meat indeed, and drink indeed unto my soul.\nI am persuaded they are so likewise to you and dear Mrs. _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. I\nhope she is yet in the land of the living, and that she, yourself, and\nyour son, are daily preparing for eternity. I pray GOD sanctify your\nwhole spirits, souls, and bodies, and reward you for all kindnesses\nshewn to, dear Sir,\n\n Your unworthy brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CIV.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. T._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nSHALL I promise and not perform? GOD forbid. When I saw you first at\n_Cardiff_, it rejoiced my heart to hear what GOD had done for your\nsoul. You was then under some displeasure of your rector, if I mistake\nnot, for speaking the truth as it is in JESUS. Ere now, I hope dear\nMr. _T._ has had the honour of being quite thrust out. Rejoice, my\ndear brother, and be exceeding glad, for thus was our LORD and SAVIOUR\nserved before you. Naked therefore follow a naked CHRIST. Freely you\nhave received, freely give. If you preach the gospel, you shall live\nof the gospel. Though you go out without scrip or shoe, yet shall you\nlack nothing. Rather than you shall want, ravens, those birds of prey,\nshall be commanded to feed you. It is a blessed thing to live upon GOD.\nDid ever any trust in him and was forsaken? No; search the generations\nof old, climb up into heaven if you can, and all with one consent will\ndeclare,\n\n _The LORD their pasture did prepare,\n And fed them with a shepherd\u2019s care._\n\nI, though hell-deserving, am a living witness of his good providence;\nhaving nothing, I possess all things; he has fed me with the\nkidneys of wheat, and commanded some one or another to sustain me\nwhithersoever I was sent on his errand. JESUS is the same yesterday,\nto-day, and for ever. If we go forth in the spirit of the first\napostles, we shall meet with apostolical success. And never was there\nmore occasion for the revival of such a primitive spirit. Alas, the\nlife, the power of religion is almost lost amongst us. Stir up then,\ndear Sir, the gift of GOD, which is in you. Be instant in season and\nout of season. Debase man and exalt JESUS. Self-righteousness overturn,\noverturn. The people of _Wales_, the common people at least, will\nreceive you gladly. The LORD shall fight all battles for you here, and\nreward you with a crown that never fadeth hereafter. If I have but the\nlowest place in your affections, it will abundantly satisfy\n\n Your most affectionate brother,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CV.\n\n _To Mr. M._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Dearest Sir_,\n\nEVER since you opened your heart so freely in the garden, you have\nbeen much upon my heart. Though absent from, yet I have been present\nwith you. I am acquainted in some measure with the strugglings of a\nsoul just awakening into new life. I know too many have stifled their\nconvictions, and therefore am importunate on your behalf. I hope you\nhave taken my advice, and laid the ax to the root of the tree. Oh pray\nfor a new heart and a new spirit, and then all old things will subside\nand give way of themselves. The strong man armed must go out when the\nstronger than he, even the spirit of GOD, comes to take possession\nof your soul. What therefore have you to do, dear Sir, but to throw\nyourself as a poor sinner at the feet of the holy JESUS? You need\nnot doubt his holding out the golden sceptre to you. Whosoever cometh\nto him by faith, he will in no-wise cast out. He calls, he draws\nyou: what is it for, but to assure you he will make you happy? Come\nthen, dear Sir, weary and heavy laden as you are, the LORD your\nrighteousness shall give you rest: He shall refresh you with a\nmultitude of peace, and cause you to rejoice in his salvation; there\nis nothing too hard for the LORD CHRIST. He can draw your mind from\nthe creature, he can fix it upon himself; he can enable you to live\nabove the world, whilst you are in it; he can translate you to heaven,\nwhen he has taken you away from earth. As the LORD JESUS can, so that\nhe may do all these things for your soul, is the hearty prayer of,\ndear Sir,\n\n Your sincere friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CVI.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. H._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Reverend and dearest Sir_,\n\nIT often concerned me, when in _London_, that I could not enjoy more\nof your company. Your conversation was always seasoned with grace, and\nsuch as became the gospel of CHRIST. Your great kindness, in publicly\npraying for me, can never be sufficiently acknowledged. The thought\nalmost makes me to weep for joy. Surely the LORD will not let me\nmiscarry, since he has stirred up the choicest of his servants to\nintercede in my behalf. The searcher of all hearts alone knows, what\nagonies my poor soul has undergone since my retirement from the world.\nThe remembrance of my past sins has overwhelmed my soul, and caused\ntears to be my meat day and night. Indeed I have mourned as one\nmourneth for a first born: But I looked to him whom I have pierced.\nI was enabled to see the freeness and riches of his grace, the\ninfiniteness and eternity of his love, and my soul received comfort.\nOh the excellency of the doctrine of election, and of the saints final\nperseverance, to those who are truly sealed by the spirit of promise!\nI am persuaded, till a man comes to believe and feel these important\ntruths, he cannot come out of himself; but when convinced of these,\nand assured of the application of them to his own heart, he then walks\nby faith indeed, not in himself, but in the Son of GOD, who died and\ngave himself for him. Love, not fear, constrains him to obedience. The\npromises of GOD are all Yea and Amen to his soul. Supported by these\nconvictions, in about a twelvemonth, GOD willing, I intend returning\nto _England_, and to begin my testimony afresh. I trust I shall not\nbe ashamed to declare the whole counsel of GOD. Satan, no doubt, and\nhis emissaries, will endeavour to block up my way; but the saints of\nGOD are praying for me on earth, and the holy JESUS is interceding\nin heaven. Why should I not go forth and offer his everlasting and\nperfect righteousness to all that shall be brought to believe on him?\nSatan suggests even whilst I am writing, \u201cHow canst thou speak, seeing\nthou art such a sinner?\u201d But therefore will I speak, because I can say,\nby happy experience, that JESUS CHRIST will have mercy on the chief of\nsinners; for among such you may truly rank\n\n Your unworthy brother, and unprofitable fellow-labourer,\n in our dear LORD\u2019s vineyard,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CVII.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Dear Mrs. D._,\n\nTEN thousand blessings light upon you and yours! The LORD reward you\nten thousand-fold for receiving me and my friends into your house. The\nLORD shower down his heavenly manna, and feed you with the bread of\nlife for those comfortable meals we have had of your providing since\nwe came on board. We have not been slack to pray for you; my heart\nis now full of a sense of your kindnesses. I know not when to begin\nand when to leave off adoring the GOD and Father of our LORD JESUS\nCHRIST for these and all other of his love-tokens: He is the father\nof mercies, and the GOD of all comfort; he hath comforted me in all\nmy tribulation, and, I am assured, will still comfort me in whatsoever\nI am to do or suffer for his name\u2019s sake. You, dear Mrs. _D._ can\nsubscribe to this truth, that GOD is a God of all comfort. You have\nbeen comforted on every side; you have been filled as it were with new\nwine; you have tasted that the LORD is gracious, and yet the best wine\nis and will be always reserved till the last. The LORD\u2019s compassions\nfail not; they are, they will be renewed to you every morning; and\nthough, through much tribulation, you, as well others, must enter into\nglory, yet you will find GOD to be your comforter in all tribulation.\nGOD has made you a joyful mother of christian children; remember the\nmother in the _Maccabees_; and, if ever your children are called to\nsuffering, beg of GOD that you may stand by and encourage them to die\nfor CHRIST. Oh that would be a spectacle indeed! A spectacle worthy\nof men and angels! I pray GOD to arm you with this mind, and then you\nwill find that GOD\u2019s rod as well as his staff will comfort you; nay,\nthough you pass through the valley of the shadow of death, yet shall\nthe Holy Spirit refresh you; your heart shall stand fast, and be\nstedfast in the LORD. Oh, my dear Madam, my heart is enlarged towards\nyou: I pray GOD to fill you with all his divine fulness, and make you\ndaily more and more meet to be an inheritor among the saints in light.\nWith much love I have wrote to dear Mr. _D._ Oh pray him not to be\nangry with\n\n Your most affectionate friend and brother,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CVIII.\n\n _To Mr. N._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Honoured Sir_,\n\nBE not displeased at the contents of this; if I was not persuaded\nthat love to your soul, and my duty towards GOD, moved me to write,\nI should be silent. When last at _Gloucester_, I heard you was\nhighly offended at my meetings in the fields, and at the same time\ncountenanced and encouraged the acting of plays in the _Boothall_.\nThis I thought highly unbecoming the character of a christian\nmagistrate, whose peculiar business it is to be a terror to evil doers,\nand a praise to them that do well. This made me to speak against those\nproceedings in my sermons. This is the occasion of my troubling you\nwith a letter. I cannot think I have delivered my soul, unless, with\nall meekness and humility, I exhort you henceforward not to promote\nor so much as any way countenance the stage-players. In our common\nlaw they are stiled _sturdy beggars_. As a minister of the king, upon\nthat account it is your duty to put a stop to them: As a disciple\nand minister of JESUS CHRIST, the king of kings, you are obliged,\n_honoured Sir_, to exert your authority in suppressing them. It is\nnotorious that such meetings are the nurseries of debauchery; they\nare the pest of our nation, and the bane of true christianity: To\nbe present at, or in the least to contribute towards their support,\nis therefore a great sin; but to countenance them by our authority,\nand let them act by our permission, what is this but becoming public\npatrons for vice and immorality? It is not only sinning ourselves,\nbut it is taking pleasure in the sins of others. This the apostle\naccounted the highest pitch of heathenish wickedness. Honoured Sir,\npray be not offended: These are not the words of a madman; no, they\nare the words of truth and soberness, and words which our LORD will\napprove of, when I stand with you before him in judgment. However men\nmay now put wrong names to things, and call that an innocent amusement,\nwhich has no other tendency but to corrupt and debauch the heart, yet\nthen, Sir, we shall see all things clearly; then shall you know that\nit was my duty to write as I have done, and will confess before men\nand angels that you had an humble and affectionate warning given you,\nby, honoured Sir,\n\n Your very humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CIX.\n\n _To Mr. Thomas P._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nTHOUGH unknown to you in person, yet as you was pleased to think me\nworthy of the care of your dear son, I think it my duty to acquaint\nyou of his welfare. I bless GOD that he came with me. He is diligent\nand pious, and I trust will be a comfort to you in your declining\nyears: His mind seems settled and composed, and by reading and\nfollowing the bible, he is partaker of that peace which the world\ncannot give. His dear and honoured father is much upon his heart.\nHow would it rejoice him to hear that you also was become a christian\nindeed? Be not offended, dear Sir, at my expressing myself thus.\nAssure yourself that christianity is something more than a name and\na bare outward profession. Morality of itself, dear Sir, will never\ncarry us to heaven; no, JESUS CHRIST is the way, the truth, and the\nlife. There is no being happy without a lively faith in him, wrought\nin the heart by the blessed spirit of GOD. This faith transforms the\nwhole man, delivers him from the tyranny of his passions, and makes\nhim entirely a new creature. This is the reason why it is foolishness\nto the world. Your son\u2019s case in this respect was not singular. As\nsoon as ever we commence christians, we commence fools for CHRIST\u2019s\nsake. Every truly religious man must be deemed a madman. Forgive this\nfreedom, dear Sir; whilst I am writing, I find a love for your soul\narising in my heart, and methinks I could do any thing to bring your\ngrey hairs with comfort to the grave. Dear Sir, there is mercy with\nCHRIST even for those who come in at the eleventh hour. CHRIST came to\nsave poor sinners; he came to save you, dear Sir, if you lay hold on\nhim by a living faith. That GOD may give you this faith, and thereby\nmake you happy in time and to eternity, is the hearty prayer of, dear\nSir,\n\n Your obliged friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CX.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. R. D._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nI Think I am a little in your debt; if not, love and gratitude call\nupon me to send you a line. Man appoints, but GOD disappoints: His\nprovidence called me away, before I could possibly see _Cornwall_.\nIn about a twelvemonth I purpose returning. Who knows but then I may\nbe enabled to perform my promise? The whole world is now my parish.\nWheresoever my master calls me, I am ready to go and preach his\neverlasting gospel. My only grief is, that I can do no more for CHRIST;\nfor I am sure I ought to love and do much, having had so much forgiven;\nnot that I expect in the least to be justified by any or all the works\nI either can or shall do: No, the LORD CHRIST is my righteousness, my\nwhole and perfect righteousness; but then I would shew forth my faith,\nI would declare to the world the sincerity of my love, by always\nabounding in the works of my LORD. Oh pray, dear Sir, that I may be\nnever weary in well-doing. The devil and his servants will shoot sore\nat me that I may fall; but this consideration comforts and supports\nme, \u201cThe LORD is my helper;\u201d he has, he does, he will deliver. I am\npersuaded you feel his gracious presence, and the influences of his\nblessed spirit, whenever you go forth to speak in his name. May a\ndouble portion of his spirit and precious anointings descend upon your\nsoul! May you be filled with all his fulness, and be enabled thereby\nto turn many to righteousness here, and so shine as the firmament of\nheaven for ever hereafter! Oh that a place at some saints feet may be\nassigned to, dear Sir,\n\n Your weak though affectionate brother in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXI.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. B._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nYOU have been too kind, and I have been too ungrateful. Business would\nnot permit me to have so much private conversation with you as I ought.\nSuccess I fear elated my mind. I did not behave towards you, and other\nministers of CHRIST, with that humility which became me. I freely\nconfess my fault; I own myself to be but a novice. Your charity, dear\nSir, will excite you to pray that I may not through pride fall into\nthe condemnation of the devil. Dear Sir, shall I come out into the\nworld again or not? Must I venture myself once more among fire-brands,\narrows, and death? Methinks I hear you reply, \u201cYes, if you come forth\nin the strength of the LORD GOD, and make mention of his righteousness\nonly.\u201d It is my desire so to do. I would have JESUS all in all. Like\na pure chrystal, I would transmit all the light he poureth upon me.\nOh pray, dear Sir, that I may be thus minded, and then, GOD willing,\nin about a twelvemonth, I intend visiting the _Bristol_ brethren once\nagain. In the mean while, I hope the LORD will purge me, that I may\nbring forth more fruit, and work upon me mightily in the inner-man,\nfor otherwise his blessings will prove curses to me. He has been\npleased to dig and dung round me, during my retirement; he has shewn\nme something of the treachery of my own heart, and more and more\nconvinced me that I am the chief of sinners. Oh that my heart may\nshew forth the eternity and sovereignty of his love! for never surely\nwas there a greater instance of it than myself. Happy are those that\nare brought to an experimental knowledge of these mysteries of the\nkingdom of GOD. Many of your charge have been, I believe; I pray GOD\nto increase the number of your spiritual children more and more, and\nto add daily to the church such as shall be saved. My cordial respects\nattend your fellow-labourers, and all who are so kind as to ask for me;\nas fast as opportunity permits, they may expect to hear from, reverend\nSir,\n\n Your unworthy brother and fellow-labourer,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXII.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Dear Mrs. F._,\n\nI Have now time to answer your last letter. It gave me much\nsatisfaction. I rejoice that you begin to know yourself. If possible,\nsatan will make us to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to\nthink. I can tell this by fatal experience. It is not sudden flashes\nof joy, but having the humility of CHRIST JESUS, that must denominate\nus christians. If we hate reproof, we are so far from being true\nfollowers of the Lamb of GOD, that in the opinion of the wisest of\nmen, we are brutish. I love you and your dear husband in the bowels\nof JESUS CHRIST. Under GOD, I begot you both through the gospel.\nI therefore think it my bounden duty, from time to time, more\nparticularly to watch over your precious souls. Never account me your\nenemy for speaking the truth. Tell me of my faults in your turn. I\nwill pray GOD to give me an hearing ear and an obedient heart. But\nhow do our brethren after their late dispersion? I heard they had in\npart recovered themselves. Ere now, I trust, they have resumed their\ncourage, and stand stedfast as a wall of brass. If you were all to\nbe carried to prison the next moment, I think you should not decline\nyour christian fellowship and society meetings. My brethren, in this\nrespect, I beseech you to obey GOD rather than man. Happy are you, if\nyou patiently suffer in such a cause. Our LORD will stand by you; he\nwill fight all your battles, and make you more than conquerors through\nhis love. My heart would say more; but other letters must be wrote.\nSalute all the brethren by name, and accept this as a token of your\nnot being forgotten by\n\n Your affectionate brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXIII.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. S._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nTHE favours received at _Hertford_, from you and your dear flock, are\nnot yet out of my mind: They were exceeding endearing, and deserve my\nutmost acknowledgments. Had providence permitted, I should have paid\nyou another visit; but GOD\u2019s thoughts are not as our thoughts: However,\nin about a twelvemonth, by his leave, I hope to return amongst you\nonce more. Oh! that I may come in the blessing of the gospel of peace!\nThe doctrines I have already preached come with double evidence upon\nmy mind day by day. I am more and more convinced that they are the\ntruths of GOD; they agree with the written word, and the experience\nof all the saints in all ages: Nothing more confirms me in the belief\nof them, than the opposition that is made against them by natural men.\nElection, free grace, free justification without any regard to works\nforeseen, are such paradoxes to carnal minds, that they cannot away\nwith them. This is the wisdom of GOD, which is foolishness with man,\nand which, the LORD being my helper, I intend to exalt and contend for\nmore and more; not with carnal weapons, that be far from me, but with\nthe sword of the spirit, the word of GOD: No sword like that. Dear Sir,\npray for me that I may rightly divide the word of truth, and give to\neach his portion in due season. The LORD has been exceeding gracious\nto me since I saw you last. Oh let your songs be of him, and praise\nhim for all his wonderful works. As I am enabled I remember you and\nyours. Many, when I was with them, were mourning; ere now I hope they\nare comforted. He is faithful who has promised, who also will do it.\nIf they hunger and thirst after CHRIST \u2019s righteousness, verily they\nshall know that it is imputed to them. That you and your whole charge\nmay be filled with all the fulness of GOD, is the earnest prayer of,\ndear Sir,\n\n Your\u2019s most affectionately in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXIV.\n\n _To Mr. Wm. D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _My Dear Brother_,\n\nYOUR last brought glad tidings. I endeavour to give thanks for you\nwith my whole heart. I trust GOD has enabled you to take the advice\nyou gave me, and that you have been kept from idolatry. Oh my dear\nbrother, let us watch and pray, that we may not be led into temptation.\nThe spirit is willing in both; but the flesh, mine in particular, is\nexceeding weak. Blessed be GOD for sending me on ship-board. He has\ngiven me to see something of that mystery of iniquity, which was in\nmy heart. I have loathed and abhorred my own self. Tears have been my\nmeat day and night; but glory be to GOD, who has lately assured me of\na victory through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. At present my heart is quite\nfree. You will see what I have written to those of your household.\nI pray the LORD to send you and many more such labourers into his\nharvest. I intend resigning the parsonage of _Savannah_. \u2666The _Orphan\nHouse_ I can take care of, supposing I should be kept at a distance;\nbesides, when I have resigned the parish, I shall be more at liberty\nto take a tour round _America_, if GOD should ever call me to such a\nwork. However, I determine nothing, I wait on the LORD. I am persuaded\nhe will shew what is his will: though my heart is as yet perverse, in\ntime I hope to drink deeper into his spirit. How earnestly do I desire\nto be dissolved, that I may be with CHRIST! Sometimes my weak body\ngives me hopes, that I shall not be long in the flesh; but then, the\nstrength that is communicated to me, and the consideration, that I\nhave but just begun my testimony, fills me with fears, lest I should\nlive to be greyheaded. But I endeavour to resign myself wholly to GOD.\nI desire his will may be done in me, by me, and upon me. If the LORD\npreserves me from falling into sin, and dishonouring his holy name,\nlet him do what seemeth him good with\n\n Yours most affectionately in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n \u2666 \u2018Th\u2019 replaced with \u2018The\u2019\n\n\n LETTER CXV.\n\n _To Madam C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Madam_,\n\nTO be made good by the righteousness and spirit of JESUS CHRIST, is\na distinguishing blessing. To be made good, and yet to be great and\nrich in this world\u2019s goods, is still more extraordinary. Blessed be\nGOD, who has thus highly favoured you. I trust he hath given you that\nfaith, which enables you to overcome the world, and emboldens you to\nconfess both our LORD and his servants, in the midst of a wicked and\nadulterous generation. Once indeed I feared you had been offended.\nDear Mr. M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 soon convinced me of my error. Yourself, Madam, amply\nsatisfied me before I left _London_, that you were not ashamed of the\ngospel and ministers of CHRIST. May the LORD enable you more and more\nto set your face as a flint, and entirely to live above the fear of\nman. If the work goes on in _England_, a trying time will come. I\npray GOD, the same spirit may be found in all that profess the LORD\nJESUS, as was in the primitive saints, confessors and martyrs. Further\nopposition then will not hurt, but highly profit the church. The chaff\nwill be winnowed from the wheat, and they that are approved be made\nmanifest. As for my own part, I expect nothing but afflictions and\nbonds. The spirit, as well as the doctrine of popery, prevails much\nin many protestants hearts; they already breathe out threatnings. What\nwonder, if when in their power, they should breathe out slaughters\nalso? This is my comfort, the doctrines I have taught are the\ndoctrines of scripture, the doctrines of our own and of other reformed\nchurches. If I suffer for preaching them, so be it. \u201cThou shalt answer\nfor me, O LORD my GOD!\u201d I rejoice in the prospect of it, and beseech\nthee, my dear redeemer, to strengthen me in a suffering hour. You,\ndear Madam, and the rest of my friends, will not be wanting in praying\nfor\n\n Your most obliged humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXVI.\n\n _To Mr. D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nGRATITUDE and love call upon me to write a letter of acknowledgment\nfor favours received when lately at \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015. The LORD remember them at\nthat day! You have confessed his servants before men, he has promised\nto confess such, before his angels in heaven. The principles which\nI maintain, are purely scriptural, and every way agreeable to the\nchurch of _England_ articles. What I have been chiefly concerned about\nis, lest any should rest in the bare speculative knowledge, and not\nexperience the power of them in their own hearts.\u2015\u2015What avails it,\nSir, if I am a patron for the righteousness of JESUS CHRIST in behalf\nof another, if at the same time I am self-righteous myself? I am\nthus jealous, I trust with a godly jealousy, because I see so many\nself-deceivers among my acquaintance. There is one in particular (whom\nI love, and for whom I most heartily pray) who approves of my doctrine,\nand hath heard it preached many years past, but I could never hear him\ntell of his experiences, or of what GOD has done for his soul. He hath\nexcellent good desires and intentions, but I think he wants something\nmore: LORD, for thy infinite mercy\u2019s sake, grant he may know himself\neven as he is known! I need not tell Mr. _D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, who this dear friend\nis\u2015\u2015you are intimately acquainted with him, you love him as you do\nyour own heart; you are never out of his company. Oh, dear Sir, be not\nangry. Methinks I hear you, by this time, making an application, and\nsaying, \u201cThen I am the man.\u201d True, dear Sir, I confess you are. But\nlove, love for your better part, your soul, your precious soul, this\nlove constrains me to use this freedom. You are more noble than to\ntake it ill at my hands; I could not bear even to suspect that you\ndeceived yourself, dear Sir, and not tell you such a suspicion was in\nmy heart. That GOD may powerfully convince you of self-righteousness,\nand cloath you with the righteousness of his dear Son; that he may\nfill you with his grace, and thereby fit you for, and at last\ntranslate you to, his glory, is the hearty prayer of, dear Sir,\n\n Your most obliged and affectionate friend and humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXVII.\n\n _To a Servant._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n\nWHEN I was at Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, I fear I did not ask you often enough what GOD\nhad done for your soul. I write this to beg your pardon. Want of time\nwas the cause. I believe CHRIST hath manifested himself to your soul.\nShew it, I entreat you, by labouring to adorn his gospel in all things.\nA meek and quiet spirit is in the sight of GOD of great price. You are\nhappy in a place. I hope you know and are thankful for it. Take heed\nthat you serve with singleness of heart, as unto CHRIST. Go when you\nare bid to go, come when you are bid to come; when commanded to do\nthis, do it with all your might. Bear with the perverseness of others.\nRemember how silent _Mary_ was, when her sister _Martha_ peevishly\nsaid, \u201cLORD, carest thou not that my sister has left me to serve\nalone?\u201d My unfeigned love attends all the _Martha\u2019s_ and _Mary\u2019s_\nof your acquaintance. I pray they may in all things walk as women\nprofessing godliness. To hear of your progress in the gospel, would\nmuch please\n\n Your Sincere friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXVIII.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Rev. and dear Sir_,\n\nTHE many favours I have received at your hands, are still deeply\nimpressed upon my heart; as I have often said, so I say again, I hope\nthey will never be forgotten by me so long as I live. But, reverend\nSir, I have observed some particulars in your principles and conduct,\nwhich I must confess have given me much concern, and of which, from\nlove and gratitude, I think myself obliged to inform you. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 I\nbelieve, dear Sir, you have often been inwardly offended at me,\nbecause you suspected, I thought you to be no true christian. Your\nsuspicions were not groundless. I cannot yet think, that a thorough\nwork of conversion was ever wrought upon your soul. I fear you deny,\nthat \u201cJESUS CHRIST is truly and properly GOD.\u201d I infer this, from\nyour not reading the _Nicene Creed_, and your palliating that text I\nonce urged to prove it. \u201cI and my Father are one.\u201d I doubt also, your\nowning \u201cOriginal Sin.\u201d This I gather from your wondering I should\ntouch on such a point, when I preached my sermon on justification by\nJESUS CHRIST. Besides, the sad definition you once gave of religion\nin a letter to your brother \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015; the stranger also which you seemed\nto be to the \u201cdevil\u2019s temptations,\u201d when I conversed with you; and\nyour supposing, that conversion was to be wrought in the soul by\nmoral persuasion; all these put together, dear Sir, convince me, that\nyou were never yet truly and effectually born again of GOD. Besides,\n_Reverend Sir_, does your going weekly to a club, where the company\nplay at cards, and sit up late at night, does this, dear Sir, agree\nwith your holy vocation, either as a christian or a minister? Be not\noffended, Rev. Sir, at this plainness of speech. I have forborne a\nlong while; love and gratitude would not suffer me to forbear any\nlonger. I wish I had no occasion to write in this manner. I believe\nyou so ingenuous as not to be angry with me. I pray GOD to quell all\nresentment in your heart, and send you his holy spirit to guide you\ninto all truth. Your brother\u2019s eyes are now in some measure opened:\nhe is convinced of the perfect righteousness wrought out for him by\nJESUS CHRIST, and ere now I hope hath received faith to apply it to\nhis heart. This is the doctrine of the church of _England_. Unless\nyou hold this and other evangelical principles, how, dear Sir, is it\nconsistent with sincerity to eat her bread? With humility, respect,\nand love, do I offer these things to your consideration\u2015\u2015Be pleased to\nweigh them in a proper balance, and reflect from what principle they\nare wrote, and I am persuaded you will not be offended at, reverend\nand dear Sir,\n\n \u2666Your most obliged friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n \u2666 \u2018You\u2019 replaced with \u2018Your\u2019\n\n\n LETTER CXIX.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Dear Mr. S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Love an _Israelite_ indeed, I love a catholic spirit destitute\nof guile; you I am persuaded are thus minded. The LORD hath highly\nfavoured you: he hath given you a meek and quiet spirit. My heart\nhath been knit to you, ever since GOD first brought us together. Oh\npray, that what I admire in another, I may imitate myself, and have\nthe graces of JESUS CHRIST stamped upon my heart. It fills me with\nconfusion, whenever I consider how far I am from his likeness. Alas!\nWhat would become of me, was I to be saved by any thing within myself.\nBlessed be GOD, the LORD JESUS is my whole righteousness. By virtue\nof that I know I am justified, I believe I shall be sanctified, and\nam assured I shall be everlastingly redeemed: for GOD loved me with\nan everlasting love. Oh, dear Sir, the prospect of an hereafter fills\nmy soul with comfort. Then shall I have enough of your company, and of\nthe other children of GOD. The LORD give me patience to wait till my\nblessed change cometh. He often gives me such foretastes of the glory\nto be revealed in us, that I want to leap my seventy years. But in\na degree, I may say with my blessed master, \u201cI have a cup to drink\nof, and a baptism to be baptized with.\u201d Dear Mr. _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ will see me\nhumbled, I believe, as much as once exalted; I look for \u201cAway with him,\naway with him,\u201d every day. Then, I trust, I shall begin in earnest to\nbe a disciple of JESUS CHRIST. Even in such an hour, I believe dear\nMr. _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ will dare own\n\n His affectionate though most unworthy friend,\n brother and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXX.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nTO think, that you should be engaged publickly to pray for me, hath\noften given me much satisfaction, and now excites me to send you this\nletter of thanks: help me still, help me, dear Sir, by your prayers.\nThey will be a means of lifting up my hands when they hang down,\nand of strengthning my feeble knees. Though in all things we do not,\nyet in essentials we both think and speak the same things. I wish\nall names among the saints of GOD were swallowed up in that one of\n_Christian_.\u2015\u2015I long for professors to leave off placing religion in\nsaying \u201cI am a Churchman,\u201d \u201cI am a Dissenter.\u201d My language to such\nis, \u201cAre you of CHRIST? If so, I love you with all my heart:\u201d for this\nreason chiefly, dear Sir, my heart is drawn out towards you. On this\naccount, though so long in CHRIST before me, I make bold to call you\nbrother, and to wish you GOD speed: blessed be his name, you have\nlittle reason to cry out; \u201cMy leanness, my leanness.\u201d Many gracious\nsouls are among your flock, they love to be fed with the sincere milk\nof the word. I hope they will be your joy and crown of rejoicing\nin the day of the LORD JESUS. I often think of them with pleasure;\npray salute them most affectionately in my name, and exhort them to\nentreat the LORD that I may make full proof of my ministry. In about\na twelvemonth, GOD willing, I intend returning to _England_; I wish it\nmay be in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of peace. I think\nyou are happy in the acquaintance of Mr. _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. I trust he\nwill be as good as he is great, and after he is made perfect through\nmanifold temptations and trials, sit down with you, and all the other\nspirits of just men made perfect, in heaven. This is the hearty prayer\nof, dear Sir,\n\n Your affectionate brother and fellow labourer\n in our LORD\u2019s vineyard,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXXI.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nYOU cannot conceive how often you have been upon my thoughts, since\nI saw you. Eternity itself I hope will not diminish, but more and\nmore increase that love, which I bear you from my heart. Your stature\nreminds me of little _Zaccheus_: he that called him, I am persuaded\nhath called you: Have you not heard him say to your soul, \u201cI am your\nsalvation?\u201d If so, fear not, thou art a son of _David_. Let worldly\naffairs be ever so bad, he that has given you his own dear Son, will\nmake you more than conqueror in all things. Still dare to own our dear\nLORD before men. It is no scandal for a follower of JESUS CHRIST to\nbe poor. Our LORD was poor before us\u2015\u2015So that we are rich in faith and\ngood works, it is not much \u2666matter if we are not rich in this world\u2019s\ngoods. Having CHRIST, though we have nothing else, we possess all\nthings. However, since godliness hath the promise of the life that now\nis, as well as that which is to come, I would advise you to plead the\npromises for temporal blessings. In the name of JESUS, many a sweet\nmorsel and opportune supply, have I fetched in from GOD by this means.\nThat is the way I live, and hope shall continue so to live till death\nis swallowed up in victory. _Death_\u2015\u2015what a comfortable word is that\nfor a believer! CHRIST hath taken the sting of it away; henceforward\nit is no longer a king of terrors, but a welcome messenger to conduct\nthe saints to glory. My dear brother, let us comfort one another with\nthese things. We are not to live here always; our inheritance is above.\nWhen CHRIST who is our life shall appear, then shall we also appear\nwith him in glory. Why then should we value these light afflictions,\nwhich are but for a moment? No, let us patiently bear our cross,\nsince we are so shortly to wear a crown. Oh the riches of free,\ndistinguishing grace! Why were you and I taken into favor? \u201cEven so\nFather, for so it seemed good in thy sight.\u201d O! my friend, my brother,\nlet us for ever extol free grace! However others exalt man and debase\nGOD, let us exalt GOD and debase man. Let JESUS CHRIST have all the\nglory: for he is the author, carrier on, and finisher of our faith. He\nhath begun it in time, he shall compleat it in eternity.\u2015\u2015My brother,\nI have been so expanded whilst writing, that I must refer you to other\nfriends, to know how graciously GOD hath dealt with\n\n Your affectionate brother in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n \u2666 \u2018mater\u2019 replaced with \u2018matter\u2019\n\n\n LETTER CXXII.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Dear Mr. W._,\n\nI Long to be in heaven, chiefly to see GOD even as he is; next, that\nI may have my soul satisfied with the blissful communion of saints.\nThere I hope to see you and your wife, and to shew how sincerely I\nlove you both in the bowels of JESUS CHRIST. My heart has went along\nwith my hand, when I used to stretch it out to you in the field.\nI only wanted more time to converse with you. Oh my dear brother, let\nus keep ourselves in the love of GOD through faith in CHRIST JESUS,\nand then, yet a little while we shall meet in glory. As faith is\nthe beginning, so faith is the end of the christian course. Let\nus keep this grace in continual exercise, and we may bid death and\nhell defiance. Faith makes us more than conquerors over all; I speak\nthus to you, because I hope you and dear Mrs. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 have been in\nsome measure made partakers of this free gift of GOD. I pray GOD to\nincrease it more and more, till it be swallowed up in the fruition of\nour supreme good. Perhaps our faith may be put to the trial ere it be\nlong; I expect nothing but sufferings. Oh pray that I may be faithful\nunto the end, and that a crown of life may be given to\n\n Your affectionate brother in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXXIII.\n\n _To Mr. H._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nTHE christian love I bear to both your sister and you, excites me to\nsend you a line. Providence prevented your sailing with us; but as we\nhave drank into the same spirit, I hope brotherly love will continue\nand increase between us, to all eternity. I have often wrestled in\nprayer for you since we have been on board. Your sister has watered\nthose prayers with her tears, and I trust the LORD was entreated of\nus. Our voyage has been highly profitable to our souls. I can never\nbe thankful enough for this sweet retreat. My dear brother, how do you\nfind your heart? Mine is like _Ezekiel\u2019s temple_, the farther I search\ninto it, the greater abominations I discover; but there is a fountain\nopened for sin and all uncleanness. There, my dear brother, we may\nboth wash and be made clean. The LORD hath already vouchsafed us some\nassurances of his love. Oh let us continually keep faith in exercise,\ntill it be entirely swallowed up in the boundless ocean of the\nbeatific vision. That GOD may daily renew you by his spirit, and more\nand more fit you for the happiness which awaits you above, is the\nhearty prayer of\n\n Your affectionate though weak brother in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXXIV.\n\n _To Mrs. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _My Dear Friend_,\n\nSHALL I have any leisure time and not write you a line of thanks for\nyour works of faith and labours of love? GOD forbid. I know not your\nname, but I neither forget your house, nor favours. The LORD reward\nyou a thousand fold! I only fear that you have my person too much in\nadmiration. If you look to the instrument less, and to GOD more, it\nwill be better. By the grace of GOD alone, I am what I am. If any good\nhath been done to you or others, it was not I, but the grace of GOD\nthat was in me. Oh, not unto me, not unto me, but unto GOD\u2019s name be\nall the glory. I pray GOD to make you partaker of the same grace; for\nI would not have you an hearer only, I would have you a doer also.\nSurely you are more noble and wise, than to deceive your own soul. And\nyet it is but too notorious, that numbers rest in the outward form,\nand are strangers to the inward power of godliness in their hearts.\nDo not you so learn CHRIST. Beg of GOD that you may feel his spirit\nworking mightily in your soul, and witnessing with your spirit that\nyou are a child of GOD. I could go on, but other letters must be\nwrote\u2015\u2015Pray tender my love to all that dined with me at your house;\nexhort them to keep close by faith to CHRIST, and to pray to and give\nhim thanks in my behalf; for he hath dealt most graciously with\n\n Your obliged friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXXV.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Dear Mrs. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nSTILL I must repeat my former request. Be not angry because I did\nnot visit you oftener. I love, I honour you the more for being of\nlow degree. You are thereby rendered more conformable to our dear and\ncommon LORD. His business alone prevented my seeing you so often as\nI would. However, though absent, I rejoice that our Saviour has dealt\nso lovingly with you. As afflictions have abounded, consolations\nhave much more abounded. I am persuaded, you can affirm that GOD is\nthe father of all mercies, and the GOD of all comforts. Has he not\ncomforted you my dear sister in all your tribulation? He that hath,\nand does, will still deliver you. Yet a little while, and he that\ncometh will come, and will not tarry. Shortly I suppose the earthly\nhouse of this your tabernacle will be dissolved: fear not, you shall\nthen be cloathed upon with your house which is from heaven. Oh pray\nthat such honour may be also conferred on\n\n Your unworthy brother in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXXVI.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._\n _Dear Mr. C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Cannot forget your frequent attendance on my ministry when last at\nLondon. I am pressed in spirit to write you a line, to exhort you to\ncontend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. You have\nlearned the truth as it is in JESUS. You have been taught it of GOD.\nElecting love hath snatched you as a brand out of the fire, and you\nhave followed our LORD without the camp, bearing his reproach. The\nLORD\u2019s tabernacle has lately been pitched in the fields. Ere long\nit may be driven into the wilderness. I hope you will follow it even\nthere. The divine presence, I am persuaded, will accompany it. Hath\nnot your heart often burnt within you when the Scriptures have been\nopening to you, though not under a church roof? GOD is not confined to\nplaces. Wherever his people are, he will find and visit them. Our LORD\n(oh stupendous love!) has been pleased to sail with us. I have tasted\nboth of his rod and staff; each has given me unspeakable comfort. My\ndear brother, help me to praise him. Who so great, so good a GOD, as\nour GOD? In about a twelve-month I hope to see you again. Oh pray\nfor me, my dear brother, that I may meanwhile be let further into the\nmysteries of godliness, \u201cGOD manifest in the flesh.\u201d As yet, I find I\nam but a child, and a meer novice. But this is my comfort, \u201cThe LORD\nwho has begun will carry on the good work,\u201d till I am grown a strong\nman in CHRIST JESUS. I long to know more of his love, I hunger and\nthirst after the teachings of his blessed spirit. You, I am persuaded,\nare no otherwise minded. Still press on and faint not. Yet a little\nwhile and you shall enter into perfect joy with\n\n Your affectionate brother in our dear LORD JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXXVII.\n\n _New-York, Nov. 16, 1739._\n_Reverend Sir_,\n\nSEEING a passage in your letter to Mr. _P\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ concerning me, I find\nmy heart immediately set to send you a line. I love to be acquainted\nwith the true and old servants of JESUS CHRIST, because I delight to\nsit at their feet and receive instruction from them. You said right,\nreverend Sir, when you said \u201cI was but a young divine.\u201d Indeed I am\na novice in the things of GOD. I can only say, that I desire to know\nthe whole will of GOD, that I may communicate it to others. CHRIST\nis so good a master, that I would have all men drawn after him. He is\npleased to let me experience daily teachings of his blessed spirit,\nand to show me the riches, freeness, and eternal duration of his\nlove.\u2015\u2015But as yet I only see men as trees walking. Oh pray, reverend\nSir, that the LORD would again touch me, and enable me to see all\nthings clearly. I desire it only for the good of his church. Reverend\nSir, into what a lethargy is the christian world fallen! Foolish and\nwise virgins are all slumbering and sleeping. It is high time for all\nthat love the LORD JESUS to lift up their voices like trumpets, and\nto give warning of the bridegroom\u2019s coming; many I hope are already\nalarmed.\u2015\u2015_Philadelphia_ people receive the gospel gladly. Here,\nindeed, has been some little opposition, and therefore I hope success\nwill be given to the word, and what has been done in _England_, the\njournal sent with this will inform you. Oh reverend Sir, I beseech you\ngive thanks for me with your whole heart. Entreat the LORD that I may\nbe kept humble and dependent upon our dear LORD JESUS. GOD willing,\nin about seven months I hope to see _New England_ in my return to\n_Europe_. An effectual door is there opened, and no wonder that there\nare many adversaries. Shortly I expect to suffer for my dear master.\nMay I not deny him in that hour! If you would please to favour me with\na line, I should be glad to continue this correspondence, and acquaint\nyou from time to time how the work of GOD goes on. Mr. _N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ will\nconvey any thing you shall send. May the LORD richly reward both him\nand you, for your love to\n\n The most unprofitable of all his servants,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXXVIII.\n\n _New York, Nov. 16, 1739._\n _Rev. Sir_,\n\nMR. _N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, and the report of your sincere love for our dear LORD\nJESUS, embolden me to write this. I rejoice for the great things GOD\nhas done for many souls in _Northampton_. I hope, GOD willing, to come\nand see them in a few months. The journal sent with this, will shew\nyou what the LORD is about to do in _Europe_. Now is the gathering\ntime. A winnowing time will shortly succeed. Persecution and the\npower of religion will always keep pace. Our LORD \u2019s word begins to be\nglorified in _America_. Many hearts gladly receive it. Oh _Rev. Sir_,\nit grieves me to see people, every where ready to perish for lack\nof knowledge. I care not what I suffer, so that some may be brought\nhome to CHRIST. I am but a stripling, but the LORD chooses the weak\nthings of this world to confound the strong. I should rejoice to be\ninstructed by you. Mr. _N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ will convey a letter to me\u2015\u2015May the GOD\nof all grace give you all peace and joy in believing! May he increase\nyou more and more, both you and your children! May you every day be\nfeasted, and built up with fresh anointings of his blessed spirit! And\nby your fervent prayers, may you be enabled to hold up the hands of,\nreverend Sir,\n\n Your unworthy brother, fellow labourer and servant\n in our dear LORD,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXXIX.\n\n _New York, Nov. 16, 1739._\n _Hon. Mother_,\n\nLAST night GOD brought me hither in health and safety. I must not\nomit informing you of it. Here is likely to be some opposition, and\nconsequently a likelihood that some good will be done. New friends are\nraised up every day whithersoever we go; the people of _Philadelphia_\nhave used me most courteously, and many I believe have been pricked\nto the heart. GOD willing, I leave this place next _Monday_, and in\nabout a fortnight think to set out for _Virginia_ by land. In about a\ntwelvemonth, I propose returning to _England_; expect then to have the\nhappiness of seeing me suffer for my master\u2019s sake. Oh that GOD may\nenable you to rejoice in it! If you have the spirit of CHRIST you will\nrejoice, if not, you will be sorrowful. Oh my honoured mother, my soul\nis in distress for you: Flee, flee I beseech you to JESUS CHRIST by\nfaith. Lay hold on Him, and do not let Him go. GOD hath given you\nconvictions. Arise, arise, and never rest till they end in a sound\nconversion. Dare to deny yourself. My honoured mother, I beseech you\nby the mercies of GOD in CHRIST JESUS, dare to take up your cross and\nfollow CHRIST.\n\n I am, honoured mother, your ever dutiful though unworthy son,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXXX.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. P\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 28, 1739._\n _Rev. and dear Sir_,\n\nI HAVE been much concerned since I saw you, lest I behaved not with\nthat humility toward you, which is due from a babe to a father in\nCHRIST: but you know, reverend Sir, how difficult it is to meet with\nsuccess, and not be puffed up with it, and therefore if any such\nthing was discernible in my conduct, oh pity me, and pray to the LORD\nto heal my pride. All I can say is, that I desire to learn of JESUS\nCHRIST to be meek and lowly in heart; but my corruptions are so strong,\nand my employ so dangerous, that sometimes I am afraid. But wherefore\ndo I fear? He that hath given me himself, will he not freely give me\nall things? By his help then I am resolved to ask till I receive, to\nseek till I find, and to knock till I know myself. Blessed be GOD,\nI have had a sweet retirement to search out my spirit and bewail\nthe infirmities of my public ministrations. Alas! who can hope to be\njustified by his works? My preaching, praying, &c. are only _splendida\npeccata_. The blood of CHRIST applied to my soul by a living faith, is\nthe only thing that can render them acceptable. This is the doctrine\nwhich you, reverend Sir, have been enabled to preach, and for which\nno doubt you have suffered reproach: But you are now almost at your\njourney\u2019s end. Yet a little while, and you shall enter into your\nMaster\u2019s joy. In the mean while the LORD, I am persuaded, will keep\nyou as the apple of his eye. He will not forsake you when you are\ngrey-headed, and your strength faileth you. The moment you are ripe\nfor our common Master, he shall translate you to glory; _I pr\u00e6,\nsequar_. I am a child; I must be tutored and made meet by sufferings\nto be a partaker of the heavenly inheritance with the saints in light:\nBut I am persuaded GOD will for CHRIST\u2019s sake finally save, reverend\nSir,\n\n Your unworthy brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXXXI.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 28, 1739._\n _Dear Brother J._,\n\nINDEED I love you. Why? Because I hope you are an _Israelite_ indeed;\nand one of those babes to whom it has been our LORD\u2019s good pleasure\nto reveal the mysteries of the kingdom of GOD. It is special; it is a\ndistinguishing gift. Be humble, dear _James_, be humble. Talk little,\nand think much. A wise man will guide his words with discretion. Be\nzealous for your dear Master. Let a zeal for his honour even eat you\nup; but then beg of GOD that it may be according to knowledge. Stand\nfast in the liberty wherewith CHRIST hath made you free, and be not\nagain entangled with a yoke of bondage. Join not one of your works\nwith your faith, in order to justify you before GOD: And if GOD gives\nyou a spirit of prayer and supplication, fear not to pray as the\nspirit gives you utterance. Man may deride, but CHRIST will approve\nand accept you. Dear _James_, you see I do not forget you. I hope your\nlittle society increases, and that the LORD will always be adding to\nit such as shall be saved. Salute them all most kindly in my name.\nExhort them to continue in the grace of GOD, and to pray for, dear\n_James_,\n\n Your affectionate friend, brother, and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXXXII.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 28, 1739._\n _Dear Mrs. S._,\n\nHAS the LORD yet heard your prayer? Often have I heard you say, \u201cOh!\nthat I had received the faith!\u201d As often, to the best of my knowledge,\nhave I said, \u201c_Amen._\u201d Ere now, I hope our common Master has fulfilled\nall your petitions, and given you your heart\u2019s desire. If not, what\nhinders? Our LORD doth not want power, for he is Almighty; he does not\nwant a will, for he invites you to come unto him. Search your heart,\nand see what is the reason the King of glory does not enter in. Is\nit too full of the world? Renounce it. Do you not ask often enough?\nResolve to ask oftener. Do you look too much to some who say they have\nreceived faith, but do not bring forth good fruit? Henceforward look\nonly to GOD and your own soul. Or do you not know the reason? Ask our\nLORD to shew you, and indeed he will; for he hath promised to fulfil\nthe desires of them that fear him. Your _Cousin_ can assure you of\nthis. Oh follow him, as he does CHRIST, and you will be as happy as\nyour heart can wish. Dear Mrs. _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, I am, with all possible thanks\nfor past favours,\n\n Your obliged friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXXXIII.\n\n _To Mrs. Martha B._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 28, 1739._\n _My dear Sister_,\n\nI Call you not _Martha_, but MARY, for I hope you have chosen the\nbetter part, which shall not be taken from you: And yet not so\nproperly may you be said to chuse, as the LORD to have chosen you;\nfor we love GOD, because he first loved us. I can trace my conversion\nthrough its several steps, but cannot find one step I first took\ntowards GOD. I have been a backslider from my very infancy. Had not\nGOD called after me, and by his spirit said unto me, as unto _Adam_,\n\u201cWhere art thou? Into what a dreadful condition hast thou plunged\nthyself?\u201d I should have fled from him (if possible) for ever. I am\npersuaded you, my dear Sister, can readily say the same; for otherwise\nhow can we truly value our LORD\u2019s redeeming blood? How can we relish\nthe doctrine of GOD\u2019s free grace, and our being freely justified by\nfaith which is in CHRIST JESUS? Oh let us beg of GOD to teach us these\ndivine truths more and more, (for he alone can teach them) and let us\nlay out ourselves to teach them to others. You are happy in being in\nfellowship with some, who I hope will be ready, if need be, to seal\nthese truths with their blood. Be humble, my dear Sister, be humble;\nand cease not to pray for\n\n Your affectionate brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXXXIV.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 28, 1739._\n _Dear Mrs. H._,\n\nRACHEL brings me glad tidings: She tells me the LORD hath touched\nyour heart by the power of his word, and that your relations have\nthreatened to cast you out for our LORD\u2019s sake. Rejoice and be\nexceeding glad. If you endure to the end, and naked follow a naked\nCHRIST, great shall be your reward in heaven. There is no being a\nchristian without enduring contempt; no being happy hereafter, without\nsuffering reproach here. The world can only love its own. As they hate\nGOD, so they must hate those that are desirous to be like him: But be\nnot dismayed; CHRIST\u2019s strength shall be magnified in your weakness:\nA living faith will support you under all. When your father and mother\nforsake you, the LORD will take you up. The greatest foes you will\nfind to be those of your own heart. Subdue these, and outward crosses\nwill affect you but little. To conquer yourself will be a laborious\ntask; but if you believe, JESUS CHRIST shall even do this for you. Get\nout of yourself, rely wholly on, and be a co-worker with him, and he\nshall be to you wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.\n_Rachel_ greatly wishes this, but not more sincerely than\n\n Your friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXXXV.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 28, 1739._\n _Dear Mr. P._,\n\nWHAT a divine sympathy and attraction is there between all those who\nby one spirit are made members of that mystical body, whereof JESUS\nCHRIST is the head! I loved your departed wife, now with GOD. I love\nyour daughter, and the church in your house, in the bowels of JESUS\nCHRIST. Blessed be GOD that his love is so far shed abroad in our\nhearts, as to cause us to love one another, though we a little differ\nas to externals: For my part, I hate to mention them. My one sole\nquestion is, _Are you a christian?_ Are you sealed by CHRIST\u2019s spirit\nto the day of redemption? Are you hungering and thirsting after the\nperfect, everlasting righteousness of JESUS CHRIST? If so, you are my\nbrother, my sister, and mother. I desire to love you as myself. This\nis my temper; I am persuaded it is your\u2019s. Why otherwise did you so\ngladly receive me into your house? The LORD reward you and the rest of\nyour christian brethren. Indeed I am present with you in spirit, and\nwish you good luck in the name of the LORD. O be not slack to praise\nhim in my behalf; for I have experienced some rich anointings of\nhis holy spirit, and have been made to see more into the wonders of\nredeeming love. Did I know more of your names, I would write to more.\nThis is my comfort, I trust our names are written in the book of life.\nYet a little while, and we shall sit down together in the kingdom of\nour Father. A place, though on a lower form, is, I humbly hope,\nprepared for\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXXXVI.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 28, 1739._\n _Dear Mr. H._,\n\nIF I remember, you used to express a great value for my person and\ndoctrine, otherwise why should you desire a line from such a wretch\nas I am? When I look into myself, and consider how poor and miserable,\nand blind and naked my soul is, I wonder that any one should pay me\nthe least regard. But what shall we say? GOD will have mercy upon\nwhom he will have mercy. I am entirely indebted to free grace for all\nI have, am, or shall be. You also, I trust, dear Sir, are ready to\nsubscribe to this; for what have we but what we have received? What\nshould we have been had GOD left us to ourselves? Oh let a sense of\nthis free, distinguishing love constrain us to obedience: A christian\nneeds no other motive. That is a true gospel-faith which works by love.\nI often think it almost presumption to think of rewards in a future\nstate; my Master amply rewards me in this: But present mercies are\nonly earnests of future favours. Be not therefore, dear Sir, weary of\nwell-doing, for in due time we shall reap, if we faint not. The LORD\nhath multiplied his favours towards me since I saw you last. We have\nhad a long but pleasant and profitable voyage. Oh sing praises unto\nour GOD in behalf of, dear Sir,\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXXXVII.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 28, 1739._\n _Dear Mrs. A._,\n\nTHESE words of the psalmist, \u201cLet us rejoice in the strength of our\nsalvation,\u201d often come with great power and comfort upon my soul. You\nand I need take much notice of them: For otherwise how often should\nwe have fallen away from GOD since our first looking Zion-wards? But\nthe LORD as he loves us freely, so he will heal our backslidings.\nHe neither will let us fall into sin or error, so as finally to\ndestroy our souls. GOD forbid this should encourage us in sin. It\nis only intended to support us in danger, and to strengthen us under\ntemptations. Since there is such infinite mercy with GOD, it is a\ncogent reason why he should be loved and feared; but not why he should\nbe disobeyed: And since GOD has lately led you out of delusion, be\nmore watchful over yourself, my dear Sister, to follow those who truly\nshew you the way of salvation.\u2015\u2015To hear of your standing stedfast in\nthe LORD, will highly delight\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXXXVIII.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. R. E._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 28, 1739._\n _Rev. and Dear Sir_,\n\nTHE cordial and tender love which I bear you, will not permit me to\nneglect any opportunity of sending to you. I bless the LORD from my\nsoul, for raising you and several other burning and shining lights to\nappear for him in this midnight of the church. My heart has been much\nwarmed during my voyage, by reading some of your sermons, especially\nthat preached before the associate presbytery. I long more and more to\nhear the rise and progress of your proceedings, and how far you would\nwillingly carry the reformation of the church of _Scotland_. There\nare some expressions which I suppose will be interpreted to your\ndisadvantage, both by your domestic and foreign enemies. I should be\nglad to know who are those martyrs to which you refer, and of what\nnature those _covenants_ were which you mention in your sermon. My\nignorance of the constitution of the _Scotch_ church is the cause of\nmy writing after this manner. I should be obliged to you, if you would\nbe pleased to recommend to me some useful books, especially such which\nopen the holy sacrament; for in GOD\u2019s law is my delight. _Boston\u2019s\nfourfold State of Man_ I like exceedingly. Under GOD it has been\nof much service to my soul. I believe I agree with you and him\nin the essential truths of christianity. I bless GOD, his spirit\nhas convinced me of our eternal election by the Father through\nthe Son, of our free justification through faith in his blood, of\nour sanctification as the consequence of that, and of our final\nperseverance and glorification as the result of all. These I am\npersuaded GOD has joined together; these, neither men nor devils shall\never be able to put asunder. My only scruple at present is, \u201cWhether\nyou approve of taking the sword in defence of your religious rights?\u201d\nOne of our _English_ bishops I remember, when I was with him, called\nyou _Cameronians_. They, I think, took up arms, which I think to be\ncontrary to the spirit of JESUS CHRIST and his apostles. Some few\npassages in your sermon before the presbytery, I thought were a little\nsuspicious of favouring that principle. I pray GOD your next may\ninform me that I am mistaken: For when zeal carries us to such a\nlength, I think it ceases to be zeal according to knowledge. Dearest\nSir, be not angry at my writing thus freely. I love, I honour you in\nthe bowels, and for the sake of JESUS CHRIST, from my soul. I wish you\ngood luck in all your pious undertakings. I pray GOD to prosper the\nworks of your hands, and to make you a noble instrument in bringing\nmany sons to glory. Pray send an immediate answer, directed as usual,\nand care will be taken to have it remitted to, reverend and dear Sir,\n\n Your most affectionate brother, friend, fellow-labourer,\n and obliged servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXXXIX.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 28, 1739._\n _Dear Brother_,\n\nIT is much upon my heart to send you a line. Although you are not with\nme, yet as GOD was pleased to touch you by my unworthy ministry, I\nlove you with a peculiar love. Business prevented my writing to you\nwhen in _Yorkshire_. I was sorry to hear that Brother _J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ had\nreason to blame your conduct. My dear brother, be not offended, if in\nthe meekness and gentleness of CHRIST, I exhort you to be sober-minded.\nFollow after, but do not run before the blessed Spirit; if you do,\nalthough you may benefit others, and GOD may over-rule every thing for\nyour good, yet you will certainly destroy the peace of your own soul.\nGOD has been pleased to call you by his grace, and to give you joy\nin the Holy Ghost: But, my brother, I hope it will be more settled\nand substantial, and joined with meekness and humility of heart. A\njoy which is the result of inward trials, and flowing from a long\nexperience of the buffeting of satan. Such a joy will make you apt\nand fit to teach, and keep you from being puffed up above measure. It\nwill exalt, at the same time as it humbles your soul. The LORD direct\nmy dear brother in all things: I wish all his servants were prophets;\nbut let every one be rightly persuaded of his call to public teaching.\nIt is dangerous to touch the ark, though it be falling, without a\ncommission from above. But no more. I am\n\n Your most affectionate brother in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXL.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 28, 1739._\n _Dear Mr. B._,\n\nYOUR kind present of flour has been of singular use to me and my\nfamily; I pray GOD, in return, to feed you with that bread which\ncometh down from heaven. You are one of my first and choicest friends.\nYou have not been ashamed to own me, or to attend on my ministry.\nIt will wonderfully rejoice me, to see you exalted at our LORD\u2019s\nright-hand in a future state. The way you know. JESUS CHRIST is the\nway, the truth, and the life. Through faith in his blood shall you\nhave free access into the holy of holies. I hope dear Mr. _B._ is not\nin the number of those, who want to make a Saviour of their own works,\nand thereby deny the LORD, who has so dearly bought them with his\nprecious blood: No, I am persuaded you are more noble. Mr. _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\nhas not so learnt CHRIST. He is willing, I trust, to ascribe his\nsalvation to GOD\u2019s free grace, and to let JESUS CHRIST be all in all.\nI hope your brother, and those young men you brought with you out of\n_Spittlefields_, are likewise thus minded. Though absent, yet I do\nnot forget them. O exhort them from me, to save themselves from this\nuntoward generation. My dear friend, do you go before them, and let\nthem learn of you how to walk with GOD. It is a difficult thing to\nbe a christian indeed. Numbers are _Pharisees_, and do not know it. I\npray GOD you may be delivered from them, and be made experimentally to\nknow that no one can call JESUS CHRIST \u201chis LORD,\u201d till he has really\nreceived the Holy Ghost. I could dwell on this, but other business\nobliges me to hasten to subscribe myself, dear Mr. _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your most obliged friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXLI.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 28, 1739._\n _Reverend Sir_,\n\nI AM not willing to go on shore till I have performed my promise,\nand sent you a line. I heartily wish I could write something which\nmight advance the glory of GOD and the good of his church. As we both\nprofess ourselves ministers of the gospel, these two things ought\nto be our chief and only concern, and more especially at this time,\nwhen men seek their own and not the things of the LORD JESUS. Oh,\n_dear Sir_, the care of souls I find to be a matter of the greatest\nimportance. You have a great number committed to your charge. What\na dreadful thing will it be for any of them to perish through your\nneglect? And yet I fear, Sir, you do not walk worthy of the holy\nvocation wherewith you are called. It is no good report that I hear\nof you in common life. Your practice contradicts your doctrine, and\nwhat good can you do, if every one of your parishioners, whilst you\nare preaching, may reply, \u201cPhysician heal thyself?\u201d Besides, Sir,\nhow can you preach CHRIST to others, when you are a stranger to his\npower yourself? It is next to impossible. I make no apology for this\nplainness of speech. Simplicity becomes embassadors of CHRIST. I am,\nreverend Sir,\n\n Your obliged friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXLII.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 28, 1739._\n _Dear Mr. G._,\n\nINDEED I love you, though it was so long before I came to see you.\nWant of time, not of respect, was the cause. GOD is my judge how\nearnestly I long after your salvation, and how willingly I would spend\nand be spent in order to promote it. Oh how closely does true faith\nin JESUS CHRIST our head, knit all his members in love to one another;\nwhat a divine harmony and attraction is there between them, when they\nhave drank into and been made partakers of one and the same spirit?\nHow does the love of GOD dilate and enlarge their hearts! How do all\nlittle distinctions about externals fall away, and every other name\nis swallowed up in the name of JESUS CHRIST? This, my dear brother, is\nthat catholic spirit, which will cement all denominations of sincere\nprofessors together. This is the spirit of which free distinguishing\ngrace has made you a partaker, and which I pray GOD we both may\npartake of every day more and more. He is faithful who has promised,\nwho also will do it. I find it is not in vain that we have believed\nin JESUS. He is GOD, and his work is perfect; his love is like himself\nunchangeable; his gifts and callings are without repentance, and\ntherefore, though I am but a babe in CHRIST, yet I am persuaded I\nshall see you crowned with glory. Then, my dear brother, we shall\nhave time enough together. Then, there will be no parting, no fear of\nfalling; but we shall drink eternally of those pleasures which flow\nfrom GOD\u2019s right hand for evermore. Supported with this hope, what\nhinders but I may come once again, when the LORD permits, and offer\nCHRIST\u2019s everlasting righteousness to poor perishing sinners. The\ndevil and his servants will rage horribly, and perhaps cast me into\nprison, nay, put me to death: But if you will come and visit me, by\nthe help of my GOD, I will preach to you even there; for I am not\nashamed of the gospel of CHRIST. I have felt it to be the power of\nGOD unto my salvation. Oh, my brother, the fire kindles whilst I am\nwriting; but I must have done. Pray salute those dear souls that I\nspoke to at your house, and all other friends. Entreat them to pray\nand give thanks for me; and assure them they are not forgotten by\n\n Ever yours in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXLIII.\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 28, 1739._\n _Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nAS you stand so nearly related to your daughter, who is with me,\nthough I am unknown to you in person, yet I make bold to send you a\nline to inform you of her welfare. I find she did not confer much with\nyou about her intended voyage; but I hope both you and her will have\ngreat reason to rejoice in the end. GOD has been pleased to visit her\nwith some illness, but now she is perfectly recovered. What is best\nof all, I hope her soul prospers, and is fitting more day by day for\nthe enjoyment of GOD. This was the chief end of her going abroad, and\ngive me leave to tell you, this is the chief thing you ought, and must\npursue at home. But why do I say at home? A christian hath no home\nbut heaven. He is a stranger and pilgrim while here on earth. I hope\nyou know better, Mr. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, than to think you was born to drive a\nteam, or plough a piece of ground. These things must be done, but then\nthey should be done in subordination to the care of your better part,\nthe soul. Your daughter tells me, you are now grey headed. Take heed,\ndear Mr. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, to make your calling and election sure. Rest not\nin outward things. Do not flatter yourself that you are a christian,\nbecause you go to church, and do no one any harm. Nothing but a living\nfaith in CHRIST JESUS our dear LORD, can qualify you for eternal life.\nWithout this, GOD will be to us a consuming fire; and unless we are\nborn again, and made new creatures in CHRIST, we never shall enter\ninto the kingdom of GOD. If you know not what I mean by these terms,\nyou may depend upon it, you are a stranger to this new-birth, and\nconsequently in a state of death: but you need not fear; even at the\neleventh hour CHRIST will accept you, if you come to him by faith. He\nhath shewn mercy to your son and daughter. Why may he not shew mercy\nto their father also? Whosoever cometh to him, he will in no-wise cast\nout. Haste then, dear Sir, out of your spiritual _Sodom_. Linger not.\nNothing will more rejoice your dear children, than to see you brought\nto an experimental knowledge of the truth, that you may be saved. For\ntheir sakes, you are particularly remembered by\n\n Your unknown but sincere friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXLIV.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. P\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Upper Marlborough (Mary Land) Dec. 8, 1739_.\n _Rev. and dear Sir_,\n\nTILL now, I have neither had leisure nor freedom to answer your kind\nletter. Blessed be GOD, who has opened the hearts of some of his\npeople at _New York_ to receive the word. May he enable you to water\nwhat his own right hand hath planted, and grant to your labours a\ndivine increase! Indeed I wish you good luck in the name of the LORD.\nI wish all his servants were prophets. Oh that he would be pleased\nto send forth experimental labourers into his harvest:\u2015\u2015for I fear\namongst you, as well as in other places, there are many who are\nwell versed in the doctrines of grace, having learned them at the\nuniversity, but notwithstanding are heart-hypocrites, and enemies\nto the power of godliness.\u2015\u2015_Dear Sir_, I use this freedom, because\nI love simplicity. I confess I am but a child in grace, as well as\nyears. Pardon this freedom, for out of the fulness and sincerity of my\nheart my pen writeth.\u2015\u2015I thank your son and _dear Mr. S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ for what\nthey did on my account. Alas, I fear they think too highly of me. Oh\ndear Sir, entreat the GOD of all grace to give me humility, so shall\nsuccess not prove my ruin. My most cordial respects and hearty thanks\nattend dear _Mrs. P\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, I pray GOD in all things to make her a\nhelp meet for you\u2015\u2015As fast as I can snatch a few moments from public\nbusiness, more _New York friends_ may expect to hear from me\u2015\u2015A sense\nof their favours is still upon my heart\u2015\u2015I would willingly remember\nthem, whenever I go in and out before the LORD. Mr. _N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s letter,\nand my next journal, will acquaint you, how the LORD JESUS has been\ngetting himself the victory, since I left _New York_\u2015\u2015There has been\nsuch little opposition, that I have been tempted almost to cry out,\n\u201cSatan, why sleepest thou?\u201d But GOD pities my weakness. Oh, dear Sir,\nthank him in my behalf, for indeed he deals most lovingly with, Rev.\nSir,\n\n Your most unworthy brother and fellow-labourer,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXLV.\n\n _Upper Marlborough, Dec. 8, 1739._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nI Cannot defer writing to dear Mr. _N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ any longer.\u2015\u2015This afternoon\nGOD brought us hither. Some are solicitous for my staying here\nto-morrow. As it seems to be a call from providence, I have complied\nwith their request. Oh that I may be enabled to lift up my voice like\na trumpet, and to speak with the demonstration of the spirit and with\npower. These parts are in a dead sleep. At _Anapolis_, I preached\ntwice, and spoke home to some ladies concerning the vanity of their\nfalse politeness. But alas, they are wedded to their _Quadrille_ and\n_Ombre_. The minister of the place was under convictions\u2015\u2015He wept\ntwice, and earnestly begged my prayers. He will not frighten people I\nbelieve with harsh doctrine,\u2015\u2015he loves to prophesy smooth things.\u2015\u2015GOD\nblessed the word wonderfully at _Philadelphia_. I have great reason\nto think many are brought home to GOD. When I return, it will then be\nseen, who has received the word into an honest and good heart. By the\ndivine assistance, I propose revisiting _Philadelphia_, _New York_,\nand to go as far as _Boston_, and so return to _Georgia_, before I\ntake shipping again for _England_\u2015\u2015The LORD direct my going in his\nway! About _May_ you may expect to see me. My dear friend, pray\nthat I may so improve the time of my absence, that at my return my\nprogress may be made known to all men. It shames me to see what little\nproficiency I have made in the school of CHRIST. If I do not begin\nto press forwards, how shall I appear before my blessed LORD? I feel\nmyself to be the chief of sinners; surely never was a greater instance\nof redeeming distinguishing love. GOD forbid that I should glory in\nany thing but free grace: had not GOD plucked me as a brand out of the\nfire, I had now either been given over to a reprobate mind, or cast\ninto a place of torment. Oh help me, help me, _dearest Mr. N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\nhelp me to be thankful, and accept my thanks, though late, for all\nfavours received when at _New York_. Indeed I love you in the bowels\nof our dear LORD JESUS. Salute your dear wife my kind hostess: exhort\nher to be severely kind to her little boy.\u2015\u2015My most cordial respects\nattend all who ask after me. Entreat them to continue their prayers,\ndearest Mr. _N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, for\n\n Your weak, but affectionate friend, brother\n and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXLVI.\n\n _To Mr. B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Upper Marlborough, Dec. 8, 1739._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nGRATITUDE obliges me to send you a letter of thanks for your last kind\npresent, and all other favours; but the love of our LORD JESUS CHRIST\nconstrains me to write to you, exhorting you earnestly to contend\nfor the faith once delivered to the saints. I humbly hope the LORD\nhas been pleased to bless my coming in these parts to many, and\namongst them to you also. It rejoiced me to find dear _Mr. B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\nwas convinced that I preached the truth as it is in JESUS. It pleased\nme exceedingly, to find how his eyes were opened to see the direct\ncontrariety there is, between the spirit of CHRIST and the spirit of\nthe world. What has my dear friend now to do, but to prosecute these\nconvictions, and never rest till they end in a sound conversion. GOD\nhas given you richly all things to enjoy. Be persuaded henceforward\nnot to be so cumbered about the many trifles of this life, as to\nneglect the one thing needful, Dare, Sir, to be singularly good, Oh\ndare to let your light shine before men\u2015\u2015Be not ashamed of CHRIST\nand his gospel. Come out from your carnal acquaintance, and live as\nbecomes a true follower of our LORD JESUS. Dear _Mr. B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, I hope\nwill join with you. GOD\u2019s spirit has been and is now striving with his\nheart. I pray GOD to make this the accepted time, and cause it to be\nthe day of his salvation. How will it fill me with joy at my return\nto _Philadelphia_, to see dear _Mr. B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ and some other excellent\nwell-meaning people, whom I love, become despised followers of the\nLamb of GOD. If my prayers may be any ways assisting, as GOD shall\nenable me you may depend on them\u2015\u2015Our dear friend _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ can inform\nyou what GOD has done for us, since we saw you. One favour more I beg\nof you; give thanks as well as pray for\n\n Your most obliged friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXLVII.\n\n _To Captain B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Williamsburgh, (Virginia) Dec. 15, 1739._\n\nHITHER GOD brought us last night; I trust the same gracious being,\nby his good providence, has conducted you safe to _Philadelphia_.\nI cannot say, I have met with so much as even an _almost christian_,\nsince I parted from you, till I came to _Colonel Whiting_\u2019s\u2015\u2015There,\nGOD put in my way a planter, that is seeking to know the way of GOD\nmore perfectly\u2015\u2015He is now with us, and I hope our conversation will\nbe blessed unto him. Oh dear _Mr. B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, strive, I beseech you by the\nmercies of GOD in CHRIST JESUS, strive to enter in at the strait gate.\nGOD of late has loudly called you\u2015\u2015Take heed that neither the lust of\nthe eye, the lust of the flesh, nor the pride of life prevail on you\nto lie down in a carnal security again. I am confident you will be\nmost heartily despised, if you are a real christian; but dear _Mr.\nB\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s resolution will be built on a better foundation, than to let\na little breath blow it down. In CHRIST is your strength; look up to\nhim day by day, and as your day is, so shall your strength be. I fear\nand pray for you. GOD only knows, how often you have been upon my\nheart. We have not failed interceding for you at the throne of grace.\nI shall be much mistaken, if _Mr. B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ does not prove a christian\nindeed. About _May_ I propose, GOD willing, to be with you again. Then\nI shall rejoice to sit and hear you tell what GOD has done for your\nsoul\u2015\u2015Be not afraid of conviction. Be not afraid of inward feelings.\nNow pray to the LORD JESUS, to lay the ax of mortification to the root\nof your heart. Make thorough work with it. Do not spare yourself in\nthe least.\u2015\u2015Now is the accepted time, and that it may be the day of\nsalvation, is the earnest prayer of, dear _Mr. B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your obliged affectionate friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXLVIII.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Williamsburgh, Dec. 15, 1739._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nBE not angry because you have not heard from me. Indeed I love and\nhonour you in the bowels of JESUS CHRIST. You are seldom out of my\nthoughts; but till now I have not had liberty given me, to send you a\nline\u2015\u2015I trust the work goes on gloriously in your parts. The hand of\nthe LORD brought wondrous things to pass, before we left _Pensilvania_;\nbut in these parts satan seems to lead people captive at his will. The\ndistance of the plantations prevents people\u2019s assembling themselves\ntogether.\u2015\u2015Here are no great towns, as in other provinces, and the\ncommonalty is made up of _Negroes_ and _convicts_, and if they pretend\nto serve GOD, their masters, _Pharaoh_ like, cry out, \u201cYe are idle,\nye are idle.\u201d Last night I read the affecting account of your brother\n_John_; let me die, O LORD, the death of that righteous man, and let\nmy future state be like his! O my dear friend, my brother, entreat the\nLORD that I may grow in grace, and pick up the fragments of my time,\nthat not a moment of it may be lost. Teach me, oh teach me the way of\nGOD more perfectly. Rebuke, reprove, exhort me with all authority\u2015\u2015I\nfeel I am but a babe in CHRIST. I long to know more of the holy JESUS.\nHe has manifested himself to my soul, both in a way of humiliation and\nexaltation. Since I saw you, both his rod and staff have comforted me.\nAt present, he makes me young and lively as an eagle; I only wish I\nwas more worthy to subscribe myself\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXLIX.\n\n _To Mrs. C._\n\n _Newton, Cape Fear, Dec. 28, 1739._\n _My dear Sister in CHRIST_,\n\nJUST now we have been singing the hymn, which we sung at _Broad-oak_;\nand as I generally do at such seasons, I thought of that happy\ntime wherein we sung it in your great hall. It was a time much to\nbe remembered, an anticipation, I believe, of that blessed time\nwhen we all shall meet to sing the song of the Lamb in the heavenly\nJerusalem\u2015\u2015For the adoption of the spirit, if truly received, is the\nearnest of our promised inheritance. We are sealed thereby to the\nday of redemption, and therefore may give both men and devils the\nchallenge to separate us, if they can, from the love of GOD which is\nin CHRIST JESUS our LORD\u2015\u2015I am verily persuaded, that since I left\nyou, all things have worked together for your good. As I am travelling,\noften does my soul think both of you and yours, and out of the fulness\nof my heart, do I often pour forth this or such like petitions,\n\u201cDearest LORD, be for ever gracious to the houshold of \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015!\u201d My\nconscience hath smote me frequently, for not writing you a longer\nletter. I send this to ask pardon, and to assure you how often you\nand your daughters are upon my heart, when I go in and out before the\nLORD\u2015\u2015I long to hear how the LORD JESUS hath magnified his strength in\nyour weakness. It would fill a volume to tell his goodness and truth;\nand my base ingratitude sometimes comes with such conviction upon my\nheart, that I can scarce forbear getting off my horse, and humbling\nmyself in the way side. Indeed, I am the chief of sinners, and yet\noverflowing hath the LORD JESUS been in his love. You will hear more\nsoon by the journal which will be sent. Dear _Mrs. C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, my love to\nall.\n\n Your affectionate though unworthy brother in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CL.\n\n _Savannah, Jan. 16, 1740._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nWITH much pleasure (tho\u2019 not till last week) I received your kind\naffectionate letter. I thank you for it with all my soul, and pray GOD\nto reward you for this, and all other your works of faith and labours\nof love. You may depend on my not being prejudiced against you or\nyour brethren, by any evil report. They only endear you to me more\nand more; and were your enemies to represent you as black as hell,\nI should think you were the more glorious in the sight of heaven.\nYour sweet criticisms and remarks upon my journal and sermons, were\nexceeding acceptable, and very just. I assure you, dear Sir, I am\nfully convinced of the doctrine of election, free justification, and\nfinal perseverance. My observations on the Quakers, were only intended\nfor those particular persons with whom I then conversed. The tenets\nof the quakers in general, about _justification_, I take to be false\nand unscriptural. Your adversaries need take no advantage against you,\nby any thing I have written; for I think it every minister\u2019s duty to\ndeclare against the corruptions of that church to which they belong,\nand not to look upon those as true members of their communion, who\ndeny its publick constitutions. This is your case in _Scotland_,\nand ours in _England_. I see no other way for us to act at present,\nthan to go on preaching the truth as it is in JESUS; and then if our\nbrethren cast us out, GOD will direct us to take that course which\nis most conducive to his glory, and his people\u2019s good. I think I have\nbut one objection against your proceedings; \u201cYour insisting only on\n_presbyterian government_, exclusive of all other ways of worshipping\nGOD.\u201d Will not this, _dear Sir_, necessarily lead you (whenever you\nget the upper-hand) to oppose and persecute all that differ from you\nin their church government, or outward way of worshipping GOD? Our\ndear brother and fellow-labourer Mr. _G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ thinks this will\nbe the consequence, and said he would write to you about it. As for\nmy own part, (though I profess myself a minister of the church of\n_England_) I am of a _catholic spirit_; and if I see a man who loves\nthe LORD JESUS in sincerity, I am not very solicitous to what outward\ncommunion he belongs. The kingdom of GOD, I think, does not consist\nin any such thing. These are my sentiments, dear Sir, and I write them\nout of love\u2015\u2015I am ashamed (because only a babe in CHRIST) to pretend\nas it were to direct; but true friendship needs no apology. GOD\nis doing great things in _America_. My journal, which I send over\nwith this, will shew you what he has done already. Your welfare is\nmuch upon my heart, and as I am enabled, I make mention of you in my\nprayers. Affairs of the Orphan-house go on well. Some few, even _here_,\nlove the LORD JESUS. Oh, dear Sir, pray for us, and especially for\n\n Your weak unworthy brother and fellow-labourer in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLI.\n\n _Savannah, Jan. 22, 1740._\n _My Hon. Friend and Brother in CHRIST_,\n\nYOUR last letter quite confounded me. What am I, that I should be\nthus highly favoured! I can only say, that \u201cLess than the least of\nall GOD\u2019s mercies,\u201d shall be my motto still. I have experienced many\ninward trials, since I saw you last. But I find they work continually\nfor my good. I rejoice in what our dear LORD JESUS has done for your\nsoul. May a double portion of his blessed spirit rest upon you; may\nour glorious ever-blessed _Emanuel_ cause all his glory to pass before\nyou, and may you be filled with all the fulness of GOD! Since my\narrival here, I have received a sweet endearing instructive letter\nfrom _Mr. Ralph E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_; I have answered it, and told him you promised\nto write about the necessity of a catholic spirit. _ Dr. C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ also\nhas favoured me with a loving epistle. I have received and read his\nsermons since I saw you: they are acute and pointed, but I think not\nsearching enough by many degrees\u2015\u2015My dear brother, I love writers that\ngo to the bottom\u2015\u2015GOD willing, I hope to be with you at the synod\u2015\u2015But\nwhat think you? I am sometimes doubting, whether I shall have\nsufficient matter given me to preach upon. Methinks I hear you say,\n\u201cO thou of little faith! wherefore dost thou doubt? As thy day is, so\nshall thy strength be.\u201d _Michael_ and the dragon, I hear, are carrying\non war most bravely in _England_. I really believe we shall not die,\ntill we see the kingdom of GOD come with power. The affairs of the\norphan-house are in great forwardness. I have much to say; but time\nand business will not permit. Blessed be GOD, eternity is at hand,\nand then we shall have time enough. I have read some of your books\nto my great profit. I want to be taught the way of GOD more perfectly\nall the day long. My tenderest respects await the brethren; my dear\nfellow-travellers salute you\u2015\u2015You are often remembered both by them,\nand\n\n Your affectionate though very weak and unworthy brother,\n servant and fellow-labourer in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLII.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. C._\n\n _Savannah, Jan. 24, 1740_\n _Rev. and dear Sir_,\n\nI Received your kind, though undeserving letter, and now snatch a few\nmoments from my other avocations, in order to send you a short answer.\nMay GOD who knits the elect in one communion and fellowship, sanctify\nour friendship and correspondence to the stirring up each other to\nlove and to good works!\u2015\u2015It pleased me to find you breathe so catholic\na spirit.\u2015\u2015O that bigotry and party zeal were not so much as once\nnamed amongst us, as becometh saints! Since CHRIST is not divided in\nhimself, why should christians be divided one amongst another? Bigotry,\nI am sure, can never be the fruit of that wisdom which cometh from\nabove.\u2015\u2015No, it is earthly, sensual, and devilish. When I come to _New\nEngland_ I shall endeavour to recommend an universal charity amongst\nall the true members of CHRIST\u2019s mystical body. Perhaps therefore,\nthe fields may be the most unexceptionable place to preach in. You and\nyour brethren, I am persuaded, will follow our LORD even without the\ncamp, and rejoice to bear his sacred reproach. Assist me, dear Sir,\nin your prayers, that my coming may be in the fulness of the gospel\nof peace\u2015\u2015I shall come only with my sling and with my stone.\u2015\u2015If\nthe LORD shall be pleased so to direct me, that I may strike some\nself-righteous _Goliahs_ to the heart, I know you will rejoice with,\nRev. and dear Sir,\n\n Yours most affectionately in the love of our dear LORD JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLIII.\n\n _To Mr. W. D._\n\n _Savannah, Jan. 31, 1740._\n _My dear Brother in CHRIST_,\n\nBLESSED be GOD, for the good report I hear of your zeal for our dear\n_Emanuel_. Go on, I beseech you by the mercies of GOD in CHRIST JESUS;\ngo on, and I am persuaded the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in\nyour hands. If I am thrown aside as a broken vessel, so I see you and\nothers stirred up to carry on our dear LORD \u2019s kingdom, if my heart\ndoes not deceive me, I shall rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. GOD\nblesses the affairs of the orphan-house. The work is large, but we\nhave omnipotence for our support.\u2015\u2015I believe I shall take in near\nfifty children. GOD lets me see every day, that he orders my goings.\nHe visits me with inward trials; but if I had not such thorns in\nthe flesh, what would become of me? Fear not to speak the truth; if\ndriven out of _England_, here is a noble range for you in _America_.\nAt present I am restrained; but I could not rest, without letting you\nhave a line from\n\n Your most affectionate friend brother, and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLIV.\n\n _To Mrs. D._\n\n _Savannah, Jan. 31, 1740._\n _Dear Madam_,\n\nI Rejoice to hear that you are likely to be cast out of your mother\u2019s\nWill _only_ for following CHRIST. This may be only the beginning\nof temptations. GOD, I believe, out of love will try you to the\nuttermost. You have drank deep of heavenly comforts; you must pledge\nour LORD in his cup of sufferings. Those who saw him on mount _Tabor_\nafterwards were with him in the garden. But fear not\u2015\u2015The LORD is with\nyou\u2015\u2015Neither men nor devils shall hurt you. The sweet communion we\nhave had with GOD, and through him with one another, often comforts my\nsoul. Who knows, but that time may be again repeated? Indeed, I want\nwords as well as time to express with what thankfulness I desire to\nsubscribe myself, dear madam,\n\n Your unworthy brother and obliged servant in our common LORD,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLV.\n\n _To Captain M._\n\n _Savannah, Jan. 31, 1740._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nI Rejoice to hear of your good health, and take this opportunity of\nsending you Mr. _Law_\u2019s and Mr. _Haliburton_\u2019s life; which I pray GOD\nto sanctify to your benefit and comfort. I hope you will watch over\nyour heart, and take care to keep up those convictions, which GOD\nonce put into your soul. I am afraid of Mr. _B._ The world, the world\nI fear has got hold of him. Dear Captain _M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, I trust, will not\ndesert his Master.\u2015\u2015I am sure he would die, rather than prove false to\nan earthly prince.\u2015\u2015Oh let him not desert his dear Redeemer\u2019s colours.\nDear Sir, beg of GOD to root out of your heart a desire for that\nhonour which cometh of man. Till dead to the world you will not be\nalive to GOD. _Honour_, falsely so called, has destroyed millions.\nThat you may be never carried away with, or ruined by it, is the\nhearty prayer of, dear Sir,\n\n Your\u2019s, &c.\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLVI.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. W. T._\n\n _Savannah, Jan. 31, 1740._\n _My dear and honoured Brother_,\n\nBLESSED be GOD, who hath pleasure in the prosperity of his\nservants.\u2015\u2015I am abased to think what our all-gracious Redeemer hath\ndone by my unworthy hands, and rejoice to hear that he is working by\nyour\u2019s. Oh that you may experience fresh anointings and teaching from\nabove! O that you may be strengthened by GOD\u2019s mighty power in the\ninner man, and pull down satan\u2019s strong-holds daily. GOD willing,\nI hope to be with you at the Synod. I find as yet I scarce know any\nthing; but if I give out of my little stock, I trust the LORD will\nincrease it, as he did the little lad\u2019s loaves and fishes. My journal,\nwhich I have sent to _Philadelphia_, will tell you what GOD has done\nin _Maryland_ and _Virginia_. A foundation of great things I believe\nis laying here. Oh pray that a sense of his own littleness, may be\ngiven to\n\n Your affectionate, though unworthy brother and\n fellow-labourer in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLVII.\n\n _Savannah, Jan. 31, 1740._\n _My dear Sister_,\n\nI Rejoice to hear that you are enabled to see not only the freeness\nbut eternal duration of GOD\u2019s grace. Till the sinner is convinced of\nthis, I am persuaded he can neither work from a principle of true love,\nnor give JESUS CHRIST the honour due unto his name. He must always be\nmaking his salvation to depend _partly_ at least on his own doings;\n\u201cIf I do so and so, JESUS CHRIST will give me his grace:\u201d But can\nany believer who knows himself, help confessing, that after he\nhad received grace, he should have finally fallen from it, had the\ncontinuance of it depended on his own will? Indeed, my dear Sister,\nnothing so much comforts my own soul as the thought that GOD will\nnever leave me nor forsake me; if he does, it must be for my\nunworthiness: But on that account it cannot be; for he never chose me\non account of my unworthiness. He loved me freely, he prevented me by\nhis grace; he chose me from eternity, he called me in time, and I am\npersuaded will keep me till time shall be no more.\u2015\u2015This consideration\nmakes my faith to work by love. Now, I can live not barely upon my\nframes, which notwithstanding are blessed things, but on the promises.\nNow, I can go on my way rejoicing, and, amidst all dejections, lift up\nmy head in prospect of a certain and exceeding weight of glory. Though\nI fall, I know I shall rise again; for he that is brought truly to\nbelieve on JESUS CHRIST, his faith shall never die. The LORD JESUS\nwill not suffer to be lost the purchase of his blood. He knew for whom\nhe died, and neither men nor devils shall ever pluck them out of his\nhands. Such as have been taught most of GOD, I find, are thus minded.\nAnd I am persuaded were the effects of our LORD\u2019s redemption to depend\non a man\u2019s own compliance, or was the continuance of GOD\u2019s grace\nto depend solely on man\u2019s improvement, JESUS CHRIST would have died\nin vain. _Adam_ could not stand in paradise when left to his own\nfree-will, how then can we? No, blessed be GOD, our salvation is put\ninto better hands than our own. JESUS CHRIST has purchased not only\nwisdom, righteousness, and sanctification, but also eternal redemption\nfor us. Let this thought, my dear Sister, lift up our hands when they\nhang down, and strengthen our feeble knees; GOD\u2019s gifts and callings\nare without repentance. There is no condemnation to them that are\ntruly in CHRIST JESUS. And I write thus peremptorily to you, because\nI find now you are able to bear it.\u2015\u2015Blessed be GOD! my dear Sister,\nflesh and blood has not revealed this unto you. I hope ere long our\nbrethren will lay all carnal reasoning aside, and see and preach the\ntruth in this respect, as it is in JESUS. My kindest love to your\nsister.\u2015\u2015What I write to one, I write to both. The LORD direct your\ngoing in his way, and cause you to continue instant in prayer for\n\n Your weak brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLVIII.\n\n _To Mrs. Elizabeth W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Savannah, Jan. 31, 1740._\n _My dear Sister_,\n\nI Have been just reading over your letter, and felt a sweet sympathy\nwith the writer. Oh that it may increase till we are filled with all\nthe fulness of GOD! Some passages in your letter were dangerous to\nmy soul. Whenever you see any growth of grace, pray that I may grow\nin humility in particular. Oh that I was lowly in heart! Honour\nand dishonour, good report and evil report would then be alike,\nand prove a furtherance to me in my christian cause.\u2015\u2015I believe the\ntime is shortly coming in which I am to endure something for my LORD\nand Master; then will I cry out, Who is on the LORD\u2019s side? Nothing\nsupports me under a prospect of a trying time, so much as a sense of\nGOD\u2019s everlasting love. I am persuaded, that neither men nor devils\nshall ever pluck me out of his Almighty hands. Let this support you,\nmy dear Sister, in your change of life. Wherever you are, I am\nconfident you will have reason to say, \u201cSurely GOD is in this place.\u201d\nThat you may wax stronger and stronger, and ripen daily for glory, is\nthe hearty prayer of\n\n Your affectionate brother and servant in our dear _Emanuel_,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLIX.\n\n _To Mr. J. N._\n\n _Savannah, Jan. 31, 1740._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nI Hope you will excuse my not answering your kind letter sooner.\u2015\u2015The\nmany avocations that at present surround me, prevented it. I rejoice\nto hear that our LORD JESUS is getting himself the victory in the\nhearts of poor sinners. I hope many will now rejoice in his salvation.\nOne good sign is, that he has employed the meanest, as well as vilest\nwretch, that he ever yet sent forth.\u2015\u2015When I hear that any good is\ndone by my unworthy hands, it almost makes me to blush.\u2015\u2015Oh that I\ncould humble myself in the dust, that the LORD alone may be exalted in\nhis strength. I purpose to revisit _New-York_ at the appointed time.\nYou told me, \u201cOur LORD has not sent me into his vineyard at my own\ncharge.\u201d Indeed, I always find he furnishes me with things convenient:\nNay, he is often so abundant in goodness and truth, that I am obliged\nto cry out in holy admiration, \u201cMy LORD and my GOD!\u201d Dear Sir, help me\nto be thankful. Blessed be GOD, the Orphan-house affairs succeed well.\nMany souls will be redeemed by it from temporal, and I trust, from\neternal bondage. I have taken in upwards of twenty children already,\nand I take in more daily.\u2015\u2015I am building a large house, have many\nservants, and a good stock of cattle. It will cost much money.\u2015\u2015But\nour LORD will see to that. My friends at _New-York_ will assist me\nwhen I come amongst them. Oh that my coming may be in the fulness of\nthe blessings of the gospel of peace! I am persuaded, you will not be\nwanting in your prayers on behalf of, dear Sir,\n\n Your obliged friend and servant in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLX.\n\n _To Mrs. Elizabeth D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Savannah, Feb. 1, 1740._\n _My dear Sister in CHRIST_,\n\nI Generally observe that whom the LORD loves, for the most part he\nkeeps from preferment.\u2015\u2015Your grandmother cannot do any more than\nshe is permitted. It is GOD\u2019s free grace alone, that has made the\ndifference between us and others. Oh that we were duly sensible of\nelecting love! Indeed it must necessarily constrain us to obedience. I\nam glad you like _Boehm_. His works are truly evangelical, and afford\nsweet nourishment to the new-born soul. The nearer we come to GOD,\nthe better we shall relish searching books. It is an evident sign of\na false heart, when it is unwilling to be probed. Blessed be GOD, you\nare not thus minded. I trust the LORD JESUS has apprehended you, and\nwill henceforward never let you go. O that I may hear of your growth\nin grace, and of your zeal for the LORD OF HOSTS.\u2015\u2015You do well to go\nabout doing good; your Master did so before you. Dare, _dear Miss_, to\nfollow his good example, and never fear the revilings of men. Set your\nface as a flint against all the adversaries of our LORD; for shortly\nyou shall tread all your enemies under feet. I beseech you by the\nmercies of GOD in CHRIST JESUS our Saviour, to keep up a close walk\nand communion with GOD. Nothing else can preserve you from idols;\nand you know when once the soul is off its watch, the devil makes sad\nravages in it. There is nothing I dread more than having my heart\ndrawn away by earthly objects.\u2015\u2015When that time comes, it will be over\nwith me indeed; I must then bid adieu to zeal and fervency of spirit,\nand in effect, bid the LORD JESUS to depart from me. For alas, what\nroom can there be for GOD, when a rival hath taken possession of the\nheart? Oh my dear Sister, pray that no such evil may befal me. My\nblood runs cold at the very thought thereof. I cannot, indeed; I\ncannot away with it. In a multiplicity of business, have I wrote you\nthese lines. I thank you for your kind letter, and hope I shall always\nretain a grateful sense of the many favours I have received from your\ndear family. My kindest respects attend your sister; I long to hear\nof her being brought into the glorious liberty of the children of GOD.\nHow does your father? Oh that he may have a well-grounded interest\nin CHRIST! How does my dear brother _Charles_? I pray GOD to fill him\nwith all joy and peace in believing. And how does your little sister?\nDearest Redeemer, keep her unspotted from the world! My heart is now\nfull. Writing quickens me. I could almost drop a tear, and wish myself,\nfor a moment or two, in _England_. But hush, nature: GOD here pours\ndown his blessings on\n\n Your sincere friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXI.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. D. R._\n\n _Savannah, Feb. 4, 1740._\n _My reverend and dear Brother_,\n\nI Received your kind letter just on my arrival at this place.\u2015\u2015My\njournal, which I suppose you will have read ere this reaches _Wales_,\ncan best inform you what GOD hath done for my own and other people\u2019s\nsouls.\u2015\u2015Even here, he is pleased to be with and assist us. The Orphan-\nhouse goes on bravely. I believe I shall take in near fifty children\nbefore I return to _England_. He that feedeth the young ravens which\ncall upon him, will not suffer them to want.\u2015\u2015I rejoice to hear that\nthe LORD JESUS is so publicly confessed among your countrymen.\u2015\u2015If\nthe LORD is pleased to send me, I shall gladly take a tour into\n_Wales_.\u2015\u2015In this time of retirement, I expect many inward conflicts.\nHow otherwise shall I be prepared for future mercies? Experience of\nGOD\u2019s work upon our own souls, is the best qualification to preach it\neffectually to others. In about two months I take another tour round\n_America_. The gospel, I believe, will come with power in these parts.\nI expect to suffer in the flesh for what hath been done already: But\nwhat have we to do with the consequences of performing our duty? Leave\nthem to GOD. Oh, my dear brother, pray for me that my faith fail not,\nand then I care not what persecution befals\n\n Your weak unworthy brother in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXII.\n\n _To Mr. H. H._\n\n _Savannah, Feb. 4, 1740._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nWILL this find you in prison or not? Your last letter (which I\nreceived upon my arrival here) gave me some expectations that ere\nlong you would be both in prison and bonds. By and by, I shall follow\nperhaps.\u2015\u2015The LORD sanctify all his dispensations to us, and make us\nnot only willing to be bound, but even to die for the sake of our\ndear Master. When I read how my letters, &c. are blessed to your\ncomfort, it quite confounds me. Oh the free-grace of CHRIST JESUS\nour LORD! My dear Brother, let us continue instant in season and out\nof season.\u2015\u2015Let us continually preach up free-grace, though we die\nfor it; we cannot lose our lives in a better cause. As I am enabled,\nI remember you at the throne of grace; in general I sigh out my\nprayers.\u2015\u2015But the spirit, I trust, makes intercession for me with\ngroanings that cannot be uttered.\n\nI have not had much enlargement in preaching, since I have been here;\nbut my heart is often weighed down, and torn to pieces with a sense\nof my desperately wicked and deceitful heart. I can subscribe to what\nyou say, \u201cWas GOD to leave me to myself, I should be eminent for,\nand a ring-leader in sin.\u201d I sometimes think my heart is more vicious\nand perverse than any one\u2019s; and yet JESUS CHRIST will come and dwell\nin me.\u2015\u2015Methinks I hear you say, \u201cGlory be to free grace: All praise\nbe given to electing love.\u201d\u2015\u2015Let all that love the LORD JESUS say,\n_Amen_! Pray write to me as often as possible.\u2015\u2015GOD, I believe, is\nlaying a foundation for great things in _Georgia_. I am building a\nlarge house, and taking in many children. Wrestle with GOD in behalf\nof, Brother,\n\n Your\u2019s eternally in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXIII.\n\n _To Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Savannah, Feb. 4, 1740._\n\nHOW is it with your heart? I hope the LORD JESUS leads you on from\nconquering to conquer, and gets himself the victory every day. I\ncannot but think that hereafter great things will be done in _America_.\nGOD seems to have given some earnests of it already. My next journal\nwill acquaint you what they are. It often pleases me, to reflect how\nCHRIST\u2019s kingdom is securely carried on in spite of men and devils,\nand that too by the weakest instruments in different parts of the\nworld. Surely we shall unite at last, and that glorious time will come,\nwhen, with one heart and with one voice, we shall sing praises to him\nwho sitteth upon the throne for ever. A glorious epiphany, I trust,\nwill shortly be made in the hearts of many souls. My dearest Brother,\nlet us do or suffer any thing, so we may be made instruments of\nbeginning and carrying on so divine a work. As for my own part, I\noften stand astonished at the riches of free distinguishing grace,\nand I often feel myself so great a sinner, that I am tempted to think,\nnothing can be blessed which comes from such unhallowed hands and lips;\nbut yet the LORD is with me, and attended his word with mighty power\non _Christmas_ day. Pray remember me to all friends. I expect you will\nreceive the letters I sent from _Philadelphia_, ere this comes to hand.\nI depend on seeing your journal, and hope you will accept of my most\ncordial love from, dearest Brother,\n\n Your\u2019s eternally in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXIV.\n\n _To Mr. H. G._\n\n _Savannah, Feb. 4, 1740._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nWHAT shall I say to your kind letter? I bless the LORD for awakening\nyou to see the necessity of trusting in a better righteousness than\nyour own, and I adore him for making use of so mean an instrument as I\nam. It is a plain proof that the power is not of man, but of GOD alone.\nLabour, dear Sir, to keep up these convictions in your heart. Now GOD\nhas called you, take care of lying down again.\u2015\u2015Be always trimming\nyour lamp, as though you were in expectation every moment to meet the\nheavenly Bridegroom.\u2015\u2015Search more and more into the corruption of your\nheart, and never rest till GOD\u2019s spirit witnesseth with your spirit,\nthat you are a child of GOD. Let the deadness of those around you,\nexcite your zeal. See that you are a burning and a shining light\nin the midst of such a crooked and perverse generation.\u2015\u2015And let a\nsense of GOD\u2019s distinguishing love to you above others, excite you\nto distinguish yourself by your obedience; still remembering that the\nLORD JESUS is our whole and everlasting righteousness. That we both\nmay be found in him, is the hearty prayer of\n\n Your sincere friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXV.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Savannah, Feb. 29, 1740._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nWITH great pleasure I answer your kind letter, and earnestly pray that\nGOD would be pleased to sanctify our correspondence. It rejoices my\nsoul, when I find a clergyman that loves our LORD JESUS in sincerity.\nIt is with regret that I speak against any of the sacred function; but\nwhen their preaching and walk are directly contrary to the gospel of\nour LORD JESUS, I cannot but speak to them, as well as to the laity.\nTo the best of my knowledge, I preach the truth as it is in JESUS, and\nsimply aim at bringing souls to him. Blessed be his free grace for the\nsuccess he hath been pleased to give me. Not unto me, not unto me, but\nunto his holy name be all the glory! Daily I am convinced, that GOD\u2019s\nhand is not shortened\u2015\u2015He blesses me here as well as elsewhere. The\nOrphan-house is in great forwardness. I feed near an hundred mouths\ndaily, and am assured I serve a GOD who will supply all our wants.\nIt would rejoice me to see you at _Savannah_, if your business will\npermit.\u2015\u2015I can now provide things convenient for your reception.\u2015\u2015In\nabout six weeks I propose, GOD willing, to go northward.\u2015\u2015If you\ncan, pray favour me with your company before that time.\u2015\u2015My friends\nwill rejoice to hear and see you.\u2015\u2015They join with me in affectionate\nrespects to yourself and Mrs. _J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. I have sent you a few little\ntracts, and long for opportunities to convince you, reverend and dear\nSir, how sincerely I subscribe myself\n\n Your affectionate brother and fellow-labourer\n in our dear LORD JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXVI.\n\n _To Captain H. M._\n\n _Savannah, March 2, 1740._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nWITH pleasure I received your kind letter last night, and immediately\nprayed, that GOD would never leave you before he had finished the good\nwork begun in your heart. He has given you a rational, I hope ere long,\nhe will give you a _spiritual conviction_ of sin and of CHRIST. When\nthat comes, all opposition will fall before it. The world will be as\nnothing in your eyes, and you will act like a soldier of JESUS CHRIST.\nIndeed, dear Sir, I travail as it were in birth, till JESUS CHRIST be\nthoroughly formed within you. If I do not forget my promise, I do not\nforget your favours.\u2015\u2015I make mention of you in my prayers. Linger not,\ndear Sir, but haste out of your spiritual Sodom. Flee, flee to JESUS\nCHRIST, whose sacred blood has made an atonement for sinners. Lay\nhold on his everlasting righteousness, and chuse rather to suffer\naffliction with the people of GOD, than to enjoy any thing which this\nworld may afford, for a season. Accept the sermons I have herewith\nsent, and believe me to be, _dear Sir_,\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXVII.\n\n _To Mr. James S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _March 2, 1740._\n _Dear Mr. S._,\n\nBLESSED be GOD, that you are yet alive as to your body; blessed be\nGOD, that some sparks of divine light are yet discernible in your\nsoul. Indeed, I have been frequently distressed for you and your\ncompanions, lest satan, through the corruption of your hearts, and the\ndeceitfulness of worldly business, should get an advantage over you.\nOh watch, my dear friend, watch unto prayer; keep close to GOD through\na living faith in his dear Son; forget not your first love; forget not\na bleeding GOD; forget not _that time_, when your soul was about to\ntake its last flight. O that I may meet you in triumph at the last\nday! Providence thwarts my seeing you. Adieu; write as often as you\ncan. You have my prayers, and as a token of my love, be pleased to\naccept this letter and the books sent with it, from\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXVIII.\n\n _To the Hon. J. W._\n\n _Savannah, March 10, 1740._\n _Honoured Sir_,\n\nYESTERDAY, after public worship, I received with pleasure your kind\nletter, and was immediately ready to cry out, Why do so many of\nmy LORD\u2019s servants take notice of such a dead dog as I am. Surely\nsovereign, rich, and free grace was never exalted more than in the\nmercy shewn to me, who am in truth the unworthiest of the sons of\nmen.\u2015\u2015_Honoured Sir_, it rejoices me to hear that there are so many at\n_New England_, who love the LORD JESUS in sincerity, and dare to shine\nas lights in the world amongst a crooked and perverse generation.\u2015\u2015I\nwish they may be all _Aquila_\u2019s and _Priscilla_\u2019s to me, and teach me\nthe way of GOD more perfectly; for I long to grow in grace, and in the\nknowledge of my LORD and Saviour JESUS CHRIST. Oh he is a sweet master;\neven here do I feel his blessed influences, and rejoice with joy\nunspeakable and full of glory.\u2015\u2015He is often with us in the midst of\nhis sanctuary, and much succeeds the Orphan-house.\u2015\u2015I have digged low,\nand intend to build it high, because I have a great GOD to pay the\ncharges. I have about thirty-six children which I maintain and cloath,\nand have upwards of forty persons more who are employed in the work.\nThe plantation is in great forwardness.\u2015\u2015Many families are kept here\nby my employing them, and I hope to see many a youth bred up for\nGOD; for I design to breed up for the ministry, all that at any time\nI shall perceive to be renewed by the Holy Ghost, and endued with\nsuitable natural abilities. The work, I am persuaded, is of GOD, and\nI know he will raise up instruments to support it. Let him chuse whom\nseemeth him good.\u2015\u2015In about three months, GOD willing, I hope to be\nnear, or at _New England_. I thank you from my soul, honoured Sir,\nfor your kind invitation; but, I believe, am pre-engaged to one Mr.\n_S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015d_. The LORD reward both him, and all others who receive me in\nhis name! I have not yet received the books, which you was pleased\nto send me, because they are sent to the southward, but I expect them\ndaily, and doubt not of their being profitable. I know not how to\nexpress my gratitude for your great condescension in writing to me,\nbut that I may always behave so as not to be ashamed of subscribing\nmyself\n\n Your obliged humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXIX.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. J. W._\n\n _Savannah, March 26, 1740._\n _Honoured Sir_,\n\nSINCE I returned here, I received your letter and journal.\u2015\u2015I\nthank you for both, and shall wait almost with impatience to see a\ncontinuance of your account of what GOD is doing or has done amongst\nyou\u2015\u2015He knows my heart, I rejoice in whatever GOD has done by your\nhands. I, pr\u00e6, sequar, etsi non passibus equis.\n\nI could now send a particular answer to your last; but, my honoured\nfriend and brother, for once hearken to a child, who is willing to\nwash your feet. I beseech you by the mercies of GOD in CHRIST JESUS\nour LORD, if you would have my love confirmed towards you; write no\nmore to me about misrepresentations wherein we differ. To the best of\nmy knowledge at present, no sin has _dominion_ over me, yet I feel the\nstrugglings of indwelling sin day by day; I can therefore by no means\ncome into your interpretation of the passage mentioned in the letter,\nand as explained in your preface to Mr. _Halyburton_\u2015\u2015The doctrine of\n_election_, and the _final perseverance_ of those that are truly in\nCHRIST, I am ten thousand times more convinced of, if possible, than\nwhen I saw you last\u2015\u2015You think otherwise: why then should we dispute,\nwhen there is no probability of convincing? Will it not in the end\ndestroy brotherly love, and insensibly take from us that cordial union\nand sweetness of soul, which I pray GOD may always subsist between us?\nHow glad would the enemies of the LORD be to see us divided? How many\nwould rejoice, should I join and make a party against you? And in one\nword, how would the cause of our common master every way suffer by\nour raising disputes about particular points of doctrines? _Honoured\nSir_, let us offer salvation freely to all by the blood of JESUS; and\nwhatever light GOD has communicated to us, let us freely communicate\nto others. I have lately read the life of _Luther_, and think it in no\nwise to his honour, that the last part of his life was so much taken\nup in disputing with _Zuinglius_ and others; who in all probability\nequally loved the LORD JESUS, notwithstanding they might differ from\nhim in other points. Let this, dear Sir, be a caution to us, I hope it\nwill to me; for by the blessing of GOD, provoke me to it as much as\nyou please, I do not think ever to enter the lists of controversy with\nyou on the points wherein we differ. Only I pray to GOD, that the more\nyou _judge me_, the more I may _love you_, and learn to desire no ones\napprobation, but that of my LORD and master JESUS CHRIST.\u2015\u2015Ere this\nreaches you, I suppose you will hear of my late excursion to _Charles\nTown_. A great work I believe is begun there. Enclosed I have sent\nyou Mr. _Garden\u2019s letters_\u2015\u2015They will serve to convince you, more and\nmore, of the necessity you lie under to be instant in season and out\nof season. Oh, dear honoured Sir, I wish you as much success as your\nown heart can wish. Was you here, I would weep over you with tears\nof love, and tell you what great things GOD hath done for my soul,\nsince we parted last. Indeed and indeed, I often and heartily pray\nfor your success in the gospel: May your inward strength and outward\nsphere increase day by day! May GOD use you as a choice and singular\ninstrument of promoting his glory on earth, and may I see you crowned\nwith an eternal and exceeding weight of glory in the world to come!\nThis is the hearty desire of, honoured Sir,\n\n Yours most affectionately in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXX.\n\n _To Mr. W._\n\n _Savannah, March 26, 1740._\n\nAND how does dear Mr. _Wal\u2015\u2015_? His letter lies by me, and I now am\ninclined to answer it. My dear brother, how do you feel your heart? Is\nit grown sick of original and actual sin? Is it grown sick of unbelief\nand self-righteousness? Is it closely united to the holy JESUS? Do you\nfeed on him in your heart by faith? And do you receive of his fulness\nday by day? I ask these questions, because I want to see you write\nof the inward life, and to hear you talk of your having a feeling\npossession of your GOD. For he that believeth aright, hath the witness\nwithin himself. How do the brethren? I hope there is no more saying \u201cI\nam of _Paul_,\u201d or \u201cI am of _Apollos_,\u201d but that you are only desirous\nof being one in CHRIST. I pray for, though distant from you. I believe\nI am preparing a place for many. Our work goes on bravely. I have\nnear forty little ones now in my house. Some of them I trust will\nbe effectually wrought upon, and made christians indeed. We all live\nin love and unity, and most I hope are seeking after JESUS CHRIST.\nHe is pleased from time to time to manifest himself to my soul, and\nto shew me how unworthy I am of the least mercy. Shortly I shall go\nnorthward, to preach the gospel and collect fresh contributions for my\norphans. GOD has given me an earnest of what he will do in _America_,\nby the large collection that was made at _Charles Town_\u2015\u2015I live every\nday in expectation of hearing from my _London_ friends. My brother,\nthe captain, refreshed my soul with glad tidings and letters from\n_Bristol_. GOD gave me great comfort and satisfaction in conversing\nwith him, and I hope he will be a christian indeed. Adieu. All salute\nyou and the brethren.\n\n I am yours most affectionately in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXXI.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. B. I._\n\n _Savannah, March, 28, 1740._\n\nHOW glad should I be of a letter from dear brother _I\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_? When shall\nmy soul be refreshed, with hearing that the work of the LORD prospers\nin his hand? I suppose before now you have received my letters, and\nseen my journal, and I believe GOD is yet preparing great things\nfor us. Many at _Charles-town_, lately were brought to see their\nwant of JESUS CHRIST\u2015\u2015Next week, GOD willing, I purpose going to\n_Philadelphia_, and then perhaps may see _England_ the latter end of\nthis year, or beginning of the next. The orphan-house goes on bravely.\nI have forty children to maintain, besides workmen and assistants\u2015\u2015The\ngreat housholder of the world does, and will I am persuaded richly\nprovide for us all. The colony itself is in a very declining way. But\nour extremity is GOD\u2019s opportunity\u2015\u2015Our brethren I trust go forwards\nin the spiritual life. I have often great inward trials\u2015\u2015Pray that\nI may be kept in all changes, and seeming chances of this mortal\nlife. I believe it to be GOD\u2019s will that I should marry. One, who\nmay be looked upon as a superior, is absolutely necessary for the due\nmanagement of affairs. However, I pray GOD, that I may not have a wife,\ntill I can live as though I had none\u2015\u2015You may communicate this to some\nof our intimates; for I would call CHRIST and his disciples to the\nmarriage. If I am deluded, pray that GOD would reveal it to\n\n Your most affectionate brother and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXXII.\n\n _To Mr. and Mrs. D._\n\n _On board the Savannah, bound to Philadelphia from Georgia,\n April 4, 1740._\n _My dear friends_,\n\nSINCE I wrote last, we have buried our Sister _L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. _Rachel_ I\nleft at _Philadelphia_, and sister _T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ seems to be in a declining\nstate; so that sister _A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ alone is like to be left of all the\nwomen which came over with me from _England_. I find by experience,\nthat a mistress is absolutely necessary for the due management of my\nincreasing family, and to take off some of that care, which at present\nlies upon me. Besides, I shall in all probability, at my next return\nfrom _England_, bring more women with me: and I find, unless they are\nall truly gracious (or indeed if they are) without a superior, matters\ncannot be carried on as becometh the gospel of JESUS CHRIST. It hath\nbeen therefore much impressed upon my heart, that I should marry,\nin order to have a help meet for me in the work whereunto our dear\nLORD JESUS hath called me. This comes (like _Abraham_\u2019s servant to\n_Rebekah_\u2019s relations) to know whether you think your daughter, _Miss\nE\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, is a proper person to engage in such an undertaking? If so;\nwhether you will be pleased to give me leave to propose marriage unto\nher? You need not be afraid of sending me a refusal. For, I bless\nGOD, if I know any thing of my own heart, I am free from that foolish\npassion, which the world calls LOVE. I write, only because I believe\nit is the will of GOD, that I should alter my state; but your denial\nwill fully convince me, that your daughter is not the person appointed\nby GOD for me. He knows my heart; I would not marry but for him, and\nin him, for ten thousand worlds.\u2015\u2015But I have sometimes thought _Miss\nE\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ would be my help-mate; for she has often been impressed upon my\nheart. I should think myself safer in your family, because so many of\nyou love the LORD JESUS, and consequently would be more watchful over\nmy precious and immortal soul. After strong crying and tears at the\nthrone of grace for direction, and after unspeakable troubles with my\nown heart, I write this. Be pleased to spread the letter before the\nLORD; and if you think this motion to be of him, be pleased to deliver\nthe inclosed to your daughter\u2015\u2015If not, say nothing, only let me know\nyou disapprove of it, and that shall satisfy, dear Sir and Madam,\n\n Your obliged friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXXIII.\n\n _To Miss E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _On board the Savannah, April 4th, 1740._\n\nBE not surprised at the contents of this:\u2015\u2015The letter sent to your\nhonoured father and mother will acquaint you with the reasons. Do you\nthink, you could undergo the fatigues, that must necessarily attend\nbeing joined to one, who is every day liable to be called out to\nsuffer for the sake of JESUS CHRIST? Can you bear to leave your\nfather and kindred\u2019s house, and to trust on him, (who feedeth the\nyoung ravens that call upon him) for your own and childrens support,\nsupposing it should please him to bless you with any? Can you\nundertake to help a husband in the charge of a family, consisting\nperhaps of a hundred persons? Can you bear the inclemencies of the air\nboth as to cold and heat in a foreign climate? Can you, when you have\nan husband, be as though you had none, and willingly part with him,\neven for a long season, when his LORD and master shall call him forth\nto preach the gospel, and command him to leave you behind? If after\nseeking to GOD for direction, and searching your heart, you can say,\n\u201cI can do all those things through CHRIST strengthening me,\u201d what if\nyou and I were joined together in the LORD, and you came with me at my\nreturn from _England_, to be a help meet for me in the management of\nthe orphan-house? I have great reason to believe it is the divine will\nthat I should alter my condition, and have often thought you was the\nperson appointed for me. I shall still wait on GOD for direction, and\nheartily intreat him, that if this motion be not of him, it may come\nto nought.\u2015\u2015I write thus plainly, because, I trust, I write not from\nany other principles but the love of GOD.\u2015\u2015I shall make it my business\nto call on the LORD JESUS, and would advise you to consult both him\nand your friends\u2015\u2015For in order to attain a blessing, we should call\nboth the LORD JESUS and his disciples to the marriage\u2015\u2015I much like\nthe manner of _Isaac_\u2019s marrying with _Rebekah_, and think no marriage\ncan succeed well, unless both parties concerned are like-minded\nwith _Tobias_ and his wife\u2015\u2015I think I can call the GOD of _Abraham_,\n_Isaac_ and _Jacob_, to witness that I desire \u201cto take you my sister\nto wife, not for lust, but uprightly;\u201d and therefore I hope he will\nmercifully ordain, if it be his blessed will we should be joined\ntogether, that we may walk as _Zachary_ and _Elizabeth_ did, in all\nthe ordinances of the LORD blameless. I make no great profession\nto you, because I believe you think me sincere. The passionate\nexpressions which carnal courtiers use, I think, ought to be avoided\nby those that would marry in the LORD. I can only promise, by the\nhelp of GOD, \u201cto keep my matrimonial vow, and to do what I can towards\nhelping you forward in the great work of your salvation.\u201d If you\nthink marriage will be any way prejudicial to your better part, be\nso kind as to send me a denial. I would not be a snare to you for the\nworld. You need not be afraid of speaking your mind. I trust, I love\nyou only for GOD, and desire to be joined to you only by his command,\nand for his sake. With fear and much trembling I write, and shall\npatiently tarry the LORD\u2019s leisure, till he is pleased to incline you,\ndear Miss _E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, to send an answer to\n\n Your affectionate brother, friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXXIV.\n\n _To Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _On board the Savannah, April 10, 1740._\n\nIT is now full time to answer your letter. You acknowledge me the\nfirst instrument, under GOD (for ever adored be the riches of his free\ngrace) of awakening you to the divine life: and shall not I endeavour\nto quicken and inflame the heavenly spark infused into your soul?\nGOD forbid! Oh that my power was equal to my will! How should my dear\nbrother _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ glow with divine love, and lean by faith on the bosom\nof his dearest Redeemer! But I trust ere now you have indeed received\nthe Holy Ghost, and know what it is to feast on a crucified JESUS.\nDoes he not, my dear brother, often manifest himself sweetly to your\npanting soul? Does he not often teach you the hidden things of the\nkingdom of GOD? Does he not tell you that he loves you, and will\nsuffer nothing to pluck you out of his almighty hand? Thus often is he\npleased to manifest himself to me: and who then dares despair? No; I\ncan assure the worst, the chief of sinners, that JESUS CHRIST came to\nsave them. My dear brother, here are glad tidings of great joy! The\nfire kindles whilst I am musing. Oh let us call all to come and see\nHim, who has forgiven us all the sins that ever we committed. Is not\nthis the CHRIST? Adieu. My hearty and dearest love to all. Fail not\nwriting to\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXXV.\n\n _To Mr. C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _On board the Savannah, April 10, 1740._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nYOU, as well as your dear associates, are much upon my heart. I long\nto hear that you are advanced in grace, and grown in the knowledge of\nCHRIST JESUS your LORD. I say _your Lord_; for I hope, ere now, you\ncan appropriate CHRIST to yourself, and, without the least diffidence\nor doubt, cry out assuredly, \u201cMy LORD and my GOD.\u201d When the soul\nsays this, _then_, but not till then, is it truly married to the dear\nLORD JESUS; then are we true children of the bridegroom, and are real\npartakers of the supper of the Lamb. This, this is faith: this is\nbelieving; not with the head; not in notion only; but with the heart,\nindeed and in truth. The soul now puts its _amen_, and sets the seal\nto GOD\u2019s everlasting promises; it now soars upwards towards heavenly\nthings, and feels continually the invisible realities of another world.\nThough sometimes overshadowed by a cloud, yet still it knows that\nits Redeemer liveth, and justifieth the ungodly. It cannot doubt of\nhis favour, though sometimes he is pleased to withdraw his sensible\npresence. The root of the matter is twisted round every faculty of the\nsoul, which daily is supported with this assurance, that CHRIST can\nno more forsake the soul he loves, than he can forsake himself. Oh my\ndear brother, I find myself much carried out to write of that divine\nlife, that divine mystery of godliness, the hidden kingdom of GOD in\nthe heart. If any thing I can say, or do, or write, may be any way\nserviceable to dear Mr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, it will much rejoice\n\n His most unworthy brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXXVI.\n\n _To Mr. I\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _On board the Savannah, April 10, 1740._\n _My dear, dear Friend_,\n\nI Remember your words that day I took my leave of you, with Dr. _John\nS\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, at _London_. I have not forgotten you, therefore do I now\nwrite a line to my dear Mr. _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. May the Holy Ghost come upon\nhim, and the power of the Highest overshadow him; and may our glorious\nRedeemer never cease striving with him, till he hath a witness within\nhimself that he is a true child of GOD. Oh, when will you answer the\ncharacter of your name-sake and forefather _Isaac_! When, like him,\nwill my dear friend give himself up a whole burnt-offering unto the\nLORD! May I hear that you have recovered your first love, and are, as\nformerly, zealous of good works! I think I never yet really doubted\nof your return. If prayers to GOD, if entreaties to him, can bring my\ndear friend back, he shall not be led away captive by the world; he\nshall, he shall be a Christian indeed. I long to see you, and till\nthen shall wrestle with strong cryings and many tears with my dear\nLORD JESUS, in your behalf. I feel, I feel CHRIST\u2019s love; I can no\nmore doubt of my interest in him, than I can of the shining of the sun\nat noon day. He fills, he sweetens and gladdens my soul; he loves me\nfreely: he will bring me to behold his glory. I think I could now bid\nto men and devils defiance. Who is he that condemneth? It is CHRIST\nthat justifies, who even now sitteth in heaven to make intercession\n_for me_. You see, my dear friend, I am upon the mount. I know not how\nto stop. It is true, I must come down; but it is only that I may go\nup again, and take a view of the heavenly _Canaan_. I am now near\nthe port whither we are bound: yet a little while, and I shall be in\nheaven; and shall I not meet my dear _I\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ there? GOD forbid! No, no;\nI cannot bear the thought of it. Away, my dear, dear brother, to JESUS\nCHRIST. Lay hold on his everlasting righteousness: look, look unto\nhim by faith, and be saved. Call your dear wife to look also. Help,\noh help her in the great work of her salvation; and breed up your dear\nchild in the nurture and admonition of the LORD. Adieu. My heart is\nfull. With sincerity I subscribe myself\n\n Your\u2019s most affectionately in our dearest, dearest LORD JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXXVII.\n\n _To Mr. N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _On board the Savannah, April 10, 1740._\n _My Dear Brother_,\n\nI Have been a few days returned from _Charles-Town_, where our dear\nLORD JESUS, I trust, has begun a glorious work. Many came to me under\nconvictions, and were made to cry out, \u201cWhat shall we do to be saved?\u201d\nThe people were exceeding desirous of my return amongst them. If I\ncall there, as I come northward, it may prevent my being at _New-York_\nso soon as was proposed. The LORD direct my going in his way. A\n_Fosterian Preacher_ lost ground there. I think you are not much to\nbe blamed for going out of church; but perhaps it might be better,\non another such occasion, to hear the whole discourse, and then go\nand converse with the preacher upon it; otherwise a man may say, you\nare angry, and could not judge, because you did not hear all. Praise\nis more dangerous than contempt: but when our LORD\u2019s honour can be\npromoted by the display of our graces, we need not fear. His grace\nwill be sufficient for us. I know not what person it is that you would\nnot have me be so open to, unless it be Mr. \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015. I had rather be too\nopen than too reserved. Simplicity much becomes the _Israel_ of GOD. A\nfew days past, with full assurance of faith, I laid the first brick of\nour great house: _Jeremiah_ bought land when the people were leading\ninto captivity. My family daily increase, and, blessed be GOD, as yet\nI am kept from doubting. Pray that my faith may never fail. Some of\nthe _Germans_ in _America_ are holy souls, and deserve the character\nthey bear. They keep up a close walk with GOD, and are remarkable for\ntheir sweetness and simplicity of behaviour. They talk little, and\nthink much. Most of them, I believe, are _Lutherans_. But where there\nis the image of my dear Master, there are my affections drawn. This is\nthe catholic spirit you breathe after: the LORD, I am persuaded, will\ngive it to your soul. All that people do say of me, affects me but\nlittle; because I know worse of myself than they can say concerning\nme. My heart is desperately wicked. Was GOD to leave me, I should be a\nremarkable sinner. But redeeming love, I believe, will not let us go.\nOh! dear Mr. _N._ pray, and give thanks for me. I daily taste that the\nLORD is gracious. All things go on well. My dear brethren salute you,\nas does\n\n Your affectionate, unworthy brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXXVIII.\n\n _To Mr. S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Willingtown, (Pensylvania) April 14, 1740._\n\nREAD where I am, and judge whether or not I am a stranger and\npilgrim upon earth. Yesterday, after a short passage of ten days,\ndid GOD bring us from _Georgia_ to _New-Castle_: there I preached\ntwice. To-day I shall preach here, and in the evening hope to reach\n_Philadelphia_. People are much alarmed already; and great things,\nI find, GOD has been pleased to do, by what he enabled me to deliver\nwhen last here. Two ministers have been convinced of their formal\nstate, notwithstanding they held and preached the doctrines of grace.\nOne plainly told the congregation he had been deceiving himself and\nthem, and could not preach any more, but desired the people to pray\nwith him. Another is as a flame of fire, and hath been much owned of\nGOD. An opposer reading my sermon, in order to convince them I did\nnot preach as Mr. _T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, was much disappointed; for power went along\nwith the sermon, GOD\u2019s spirit fell on the people, and formal opposers\nwent affrighted away. It is unknown what a glorious stir here is in\nthe province. Many, very many, I believe, of late have been brought\nsavingly to believe on the LORD JESUS. The work much increases, and\nhere is employment for many months: but I must return shortly to\n_Savannah_. A primitive spirit revives; and many, I hope, will be\nbrought to live stedfast in the apostles doctrine, in fellowship, and\nbreaking of bread, and in prayer. Perhaps dear Mr. _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ may be one\nof them. Pray how does that young man do? Is he deeply humbled, and\nclosely united to the dear LORD JESUS? Does he feel himself a poor\nsinner, and daily experience the outgoing and incoming of the blessed\nspirit in the sanctuary of his heart? Blessed be GOD, I do: even\nwhilst I am writing I feel his power. I am persuaded I shall be more\nthan conqueror over every evil, through my Redeemer\u2019s love. Oh! my\ndear friend, keep close to the dear LORD JESUS! Do not go without his\nleading, and then you are safe, though in the midst of devils. Adieu.\n\n Ever, ever yours,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXXIX.\n\n _To Madam C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _New Brunswick, April 27, 1740._\n _Madam_,\n\nALL things go on well in _America_\u2015\u2015nay, better than I dare ask, or\ncould think. Our LORD\u2019s kingdom comes with power. It is amazing to\nsee how GOD is present in our assemblies: I refer you to dear brother\n_S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ for particulars. My animal spirits are exhausted, but I am\nfilled within. Nature would sometimes cry out, \u201cSpare thyself;\u201d but\nwhen I am offering JESUS to poor sinners, I cannot forbear exerting\nall my powers. Oh that I had a thousand lives! my dear LORD JESUS\nshould have them all. I long to be out of the body, that I may love\nand serve him as I would: but I must suffer before I can reign with\nhim. That you and I may never deny our LORD, is the earnest prayer of,\nMadam,\n\n Your obliged humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXXX.\n\n _To Mr. M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _New Brunswick, April 28, 1740._\n\nBLESSED be GOD, I can send you glad tidings of great joy. Our LORD\nJESUS is getting himself the victory in these parts. The Orphan-house\naffairs go forward beyond expectation. I have upwards of _forty\nchildren_ in my house at _Savannah_, near _seventy persons_ in family,\nand upwards of an _hundred people_ to provide for every day. As yet we\nwant for nothing. The great housholder of mankind gives us all things\nrichly to enjoy, and, I am persuaded, will provide for us whilst we\ntrust in him. I had rather live by faith, and depend on GOD for the\nsupport of my great, and yet increasing family, than to have the\nlargest visible fund in the universe. About five weeks ago the LORD\nstirred up the _Charles-Town_ people to contribute upwards of seventy\npounds sterling towards the support of my little ones. A glorious work\nwas also begun in the hearts of the inhabitants; and many were brought\nto cry out, \u201cWhat shall we do to be saved?\u201d A fortnight ago, after a\nshort passage of ten days, I landed in _Pensylvania_, and have had the\npleasure of seeing and hearing, that my poor endeavours for promoting\nCHRIST\u2019s kingdom, when there last, were not altogether vain in the\nLORD. I cannot well tell you how many have come unto me, labouring\nunder the deepest convictions, and seemingly desirous of finding\nrest in JESUS CHRIST. Several have, I humbly hope, actually received\nhim into their hearts by faith, and have not only righteousness and\npeace, but also joy in the Holy Ghost. In short, the word hath run\nand been much glorified; and many _Negroes_ also are in a fair way of\nbeing brought home to GOD. I daily receive fresh and most importunate\ninvitations to preach in all the adjacent countries. GOD is pleased\ntogive a great blessing to my printed Sermons: they are now in the\nhands of thousands in these parts, and are a means, under GOD, of\nenlightening and building up many in their most holy faith. Since such\nan effectual door is opened for preaching the everlasting gospel, you\nwill not be surprized if I acquaint you there are many adversaries.\nThe _Clergy_, I find, are greatly offended at me. The commissary of\n_Philadelphia_, having got a little stronger party than when I was\nthere last, has thrown off the mask, denied me the pulpit, and last\n_Sunday_ preached up an _historical faith_, and _justification by\nworks_. But people only flock the more to me. The power of GOD is\nmore visible than ever in our assemblies; and more than ever before\nare convinced that I preach the doctrine of JESUS CHRIST. Some few\nbigotted self-righteous _Quakers_ also, now begin to spit out a little\nof the serpent: they cannot bear the doctrine of _original sin_, or of\n_imputed righteousness_ as the cause of our acceptance with GOD. One\ncalls original sin \u201coriginal nonsense;\u201d and several have been to me,\nunder the apprehension of being thrust out, for owning and confessing\nwhat I take to be the truth as it is in JESUS. GOD has now brought me\nto _New Brunswick_, where I am blessed with the conversation of Mr.\n_G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. Indeed he is a good soldier of JESUS CHRIST, and GOD\nis pleased in a wonderful manner to own both him and his brethren.\nThe congregations where they have preached have been surprizingly\nconvicted and melted down. They are unwearied in doing good, and\ngo out into the highways and hedges to compel poor sinners to come\nin. Yesterday also I heard of two ministers in _Long Island_, near\n_New-York_, who had large communications from GOD, and have been\ninstrumental in bringing many souls to CHRIST. I could add more; but\nI must away: the people are waiting for a spiritual meal. They fly\nto the doctrine as doves to the windows, and I trust the LORD is now\nreviving his work in the midst of the years. With great difficulty\nI have redeemed time to send you these few lines. I hope you and the\nrest of my dear friends continue to pray for me: for I believe never\nwas so weak a wretch sent on such an important errand. But when I am\nweak, then am I strong. My bodily strength, by frequent journeying\nand continued speaking, sometimes fails me; but the LORD quickens\nand strengthens me by his mighty power. The more I am opposed, the\nmore joy I feel; and the first fruits of GOD\u2019s spirit, which he hath\nimparted to my soul, are so sweet, that I almost with impatience wait\ntill I reap a full harvest in the fruition of my GOD. Continue, I\nbeseech you, to intercede for me; and rest satisfied that both you and\nmy other _English_ friends are always remembered by\n\n Yours,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXXXI.\n\n _To W. S. Esq._\n\n _Reedy Island, May 19, 1740._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nI Know very well what it is to part from a friend which is as one\u2019s\nown soul; and therefore could in some measure sympathize with you\nin what you felt when parting from me. The good LORD sanctify my\nfriendship to you, and grant we may go hand in hand to heaven. One\nof the inclosed papers will shew you the event of what you inserted\n(unknown to me) in the News. However, be not disheartened; GOD\nshall make even this to work together for your good. The war between\n_Michael_ and the dragon has much increased. Mr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ has preached\nmost of his people away from him. He lashed me most bravely the\n_Sunday_ before I came away. Mr. _A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ also preaches against me. Mr.\n_C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ did not come to take his leave of me; and Mr. _J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ is very\ninveterate. Now I believe our LORD\u2019s kingdom will come with power.\nAt _New-York_ the word ran. Twice or thrice our LORD appeared for\nus in a most glorious manner. Mr. _T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ and his brethren glow with\ndivine warmth; and I have conversed with one of the ministers of _Long\nIsland_, whom GOD has lately sent forth: he is a sweet zealous soul.\nLast week, at _Nottingham_ and Mr. _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s, how did GOD manifest\nhis glory! We had about twelve thousand hearers; and such a melting,\nsuch a crying, (they say) was scarcely ever seen. Blessed be GOD,\nthe devil\u2019s children begin to throw off the mask. I want to draw the\nlingering battle on. At _Philadelphia_ affairs go on better and better;\nonly Satan now begins to throw many into fits. I have generally\npreached twice and rode near thirty miles a-day since you left me.\nThe LORD hath been my support, and has often so melted me with a sense\nof his free, sovereign, and everlasting love, that some thought I was\ngiving up the ghost. Oh never let go your sense of GOD\u2019s sovereign,\neverlasting love! It is food to my poor soul. Was it not for that,\nsurely I must sink under the prospect of the labours and sufferings\nthat are before me. My dear brother, What is the LORD doing in these\nparts? I believe the work will go on better here than in _England_.\nWe are more united in our principles, and do not print one against\nanother. Pray observe the hint given to _Captain G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, and let the\nLORD order for me as it shall seem good in his sight. We are now at\n_Reedy Island_ waiting for a wind. I heard of a ship going to _Dublin_,\nand could not lose the opportunity of writing to my dear brother\n_S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. I need not remind you to hasten over as fast as possible\u2015\u2015Our\nLORD has taught you not to stay by the way\u2015\u2015I have rebuked Mr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\nsharply, and I trust have gotten some gracious souls on board\u2015\u2015The\nLORD is with me; I am somewhat better as to bodily health, but I live\nchiefly on inward supplies from above. My master never fails me. Oh\nexhort all to fall in love with JESUS, and to pray for,\n\n Ever yours in the best bonds,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXXXII.\n\n _To Mr. M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, an Indian Trader._\n\n _Reedy Island, May 19, 1740._\n _Dear Mr. M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Received your letter, and have been reading part of your journal.\nI think it your bounden duty to go amongst the _Indians_ again, not\nas a _minister_, but as a private christian, whose duty it is, when\nconverted himself, to strengthen his brethren. An effectual door, I\nwould hope, is opening amongst some of the heathen. I remember, when\nit was first impressed upon me, that I should go to _Georgia_, this\npromise came with such power as never will be forgotten, and that too,\nlong before I had any outward call\u2015\u2015\u201cI have made thee the head of the\nheathen.\u201d\u2015\u2015I speak this for your encouragement, but desire you would\nnot mention it to others. Who knows but that time may be now near at\nhand?\u2015\u2015However that be, it is plain GOD calls you, and I wish you good\nsuccess in the name of the LORD. Be sure you keep a close walk with\nGOD.\u2015\u2015Be much in prayer, and prepare for the greatest hardships. Your\ngreatest perils will be amongst your own countrymen. The heathens will\nbe stirred up by them, as the Gentiles were by the Jews; but the LORD\nJESUS will make you more than conqueror over all. The word of the LORD\nwill make its own way. Beg of GOD to give you true notions of our free\njustification by faith in JESUS CHRIST. Bring your _Indian_ hearers\nto believe, before you talk of baptism, or the supper of the LORD.\nOtherwise they will catch at a shadow, and neglect the substance.\nImprove the leisure you now enjoy, and see that you feel the truths\nyou speak. Feed on this promise, \u201cIt shall be given you in that hour\nwhat you shall say.\u201d Your circumstances call for a fulfilling of\nit\u2015\u2015Tell them what GOD has been doing here, and how happy JESUS CHRIST\nwill make them. Be sure tell them, tell them, that true faith is not\nmerely in the head, but in the heart, and that it will certainly be\nproductive of good works. Frequently meditate on GOD\u2019s free love to\nyourself, and that will best qualify you to speak of it affectionately\nto others. I could say more, but time will not permit. Pray for me.\nAll with me salute you. My poor petitions you may depend on, as the\nLORD shall enable me. My love to all, and believe me to be\n\n Your affectionate friend, brother, and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXXXIII.\n\n _To the Allegany Indians._\n\n _Reedy Island, May 21, 1740._\n _My Dear Brethren_,\n\nFOR so I call you, because you, and I, and all, have one common father,\nONE GOD, in whom we live, move and have our beings. We all came at\nfirst out of the dust of the earth. For after GOD made the sun, moon,\nstars, and every thing you see, he also made a creature called _man_,\nand breathed into him the breath of life; he then became a living\nsoul. He could not only walk and speak, but he could also think, and\nreason, and was full of goodness, peace, and joy. This man, this happy\ncreature GOD placed in a garden, which his own right hand had planted.\nHe then cast him into a deep sleep, and out of one of his ribs made\nwhat we call a woman, that she might be his wife. Their names were\n_Adam_ and _Eve_. With these, GOD made an agreement that they should\neat of every tree of that garden, except one; but if they ate the\nfruit of that particular tree, they should die; they should return to\nthe dust from whence they were taken, lose the comforts they enjoyed\nin their souls, and be unhappy for ever in another world. But if they\ndid not eat this fruit, none of these things should come upon them.\nA being, which we call the _devil_, (and who for his pride had been\ncast out of heaven) envying their happiness, tempted them to eat the\nforbidden fruit. They consented, they ate, they died. Their bodies\nbecame mortal, their souls were deprived of the presence and love of\nGOD; and unless a way was found out to make satisfaction for what they\nhad done, they must have been lost for ever. These were our parents,\nand GOD made this agreement with us their children, as well as with\nthem. For they acted in our name, as a king acts in the name of his\npeople, or a father in the name of a child\u2015\u2015What therefore befel them,\nbefel us. We died in them; and come into this world poor and miserable,\nblind and naked, as they were, when they had eaten of the forbidden\ntree. Hence it is, that we are given to lust, anger, envy, hatred,\npride, and malice, and all those troublesome passions which you all\nmust feel in your own hearts, and cannot but see even in the hearts\nof your children. If then, you only look into yourselves, you must\nconfess these things are so. But GOD hath given us a _book_, wherein\nhe assures us of the truth of all this:\u2015\u2015And we know that book came\nfrom GOD, because none but GOD could tell us the things therein\ncontained. And I speak first of this, because \u2019till you feel and\nbelieve this, you cannot come to the knowledge of JESUS CHRIST; and\nwithout the knowledge of JESUS CHRIST you cannot be saved. For after\nour first parents, _Adam_ and _Eve_, had taken the forbidden fruit,\nand with all their children, thereafter to be born, became guilty\nbefore GOD, GOD out of his own free love sent his only begotten Son\ninto the world, to die, and so to make an atonement for the sin of\nfallen man, and also to obey the law, which man had broken; so that\nthough fallen man had no righteousness of his own, yet upon believing\nin GOD\u2019s Son, he should find a perfect righteousness in him. This Son\nis called JESUS, \u201cA Saviour,\u201d because he was to save us from the guilt\nand power of our sins. He was truly GOD, and therefore could satisfy;\nhe was truly man, and therefore could obey and suffer in our stead.\nHe was GOD and man in one person, that GOD and man might be happy\ntogether again. My dear brethren, (for so I must call you, though\nI never saw you) these are strange things. But if you are willing to\nlearn, the holy spirit shall teach you. For JESUS CHRIST by dying,\nand obeying GOD\u2019s law, hath bought for us the holy spirit, who shall\nchange your corrupt natures, and fit you for happiness hereafter with\nthe ever-blessed GOD, if you do but believe in your hearts.\u2015\u2015Thousands\nof white people only believe in their heads, and therefore are no more\nchristians than those who never heard of JESUS CHRIST at all. They\ncall CHRIST, \u201cLord, Lord,\u201d but they do not live as JESUS CHRIST hath\ncommanded. No, they curse and swear, they break the sabbath, they\nget drunk, they play, they whore, they commit adultery, and have\ntaught many poor _Indians_ to do these abominable things as well as\nthemselves. Do not you therefore learn of them. For true christians\nare sober, chaste and holy. They will not get drunk, they will not\nplay the whore, they will not cheat, lie, curse or swear; but they\nwill bless and praise GOD, keep the sabbath, and do all the good they\ncan; for thus JESUS CHRIST, their LORD and master, lived when he was\nhere on earth. I say, when he was here on earth; for after he died,\nhe rose again, and went up into heaven from whence he came, and there\nhe sits praying for all that shall believe on Him to the end of the\nworld. For as the world had a beginning, so it also will have an end.\nAnd JESUS CHRIST will come again in the clouds to judge all mankind;\nand then he that hath believed in CHRIST, and hath shewn forth his\nfaith by his works, shall be saved; and he that hath not believed\nin CHRIST, shall be damned for ever, and be cast into a lake of fire\nand brimstone. But before he comes, he hath promised that the heathen\nshall be brought to believe on him, and therefore I write this letter\nto you. I would come myself, and preach the glad tidings of salvation\namong you, as the bearer of this could interpret for me; but my other\nbusiness will not permit. I am a minister of the same JESUS, and once\nwas as ignorant of Him comparatively as you may be. I once lived like\nother people; but the LORD JESUS hath brought me to believe on Him,\nand I now do so no more. I once was full of envy, hatred, malice, and\nsuch like cursed tempers; but now I have love, and peace, and joy. And\nbecause JESUS CHRIST hath shewn such mercy to me, I desire that all\nothers should be made as happy, nay happier than I am myself.\u2015\u2015Hearken\ntherefore now to the voice of the LORD. Pray to GOD that you may feel\nyourselves poor, miserable sinners, and come by a living faith to\nJESUS CHRIST. Then he will pardon you of all your sins, make you holy\nby his spirit here, and take you into everlasting happiness hereafter.\nYour traders, some of them at least, will tell you, that you must be\nmiserable, if you will be christians. But these know nothing of JESUS\nCHRIST; for they are ungodly men, walking after their own wicked lusts.\nWhosoever will follow JESUS CHRIST, though happy in himself, must\nbe looked upon as a fool by others. The spirit of the world, and the\nspirit of JESUS are quite contrary one to the other; and therefore if\nyou will live godly in Him, you must suffer persecution; you must have\nall manner of evil spoken against you falsely, and be called madmen\nand fools; but let not that daunt you, or make you afraid. There is\na world to come, there is a judgment-day, and then JESUS CHRIST shall\ncrown all those with glory, who have suffered for his name\u2019s sake.\nOnce more, therefore, hearken to the voice of the LORD. For the LORD\nJESUS died for you, as well as for the white men among you, and that\nyou might be taught the gospel; but they have made you worse than you\nwere before, and therefore shall receive the greater damnation. He who\nbrings this, no doubt, will be despised amongst them, because he will,\nI hope, neither get drunk, nor curse, nor swear.\u2015\u2015But I trust the LORD\nwill strengthen him, and cause him to shew many of you the true way of\nsalvation\u2015\u2015I shall not fail to pray for him, and for you; for though I\nknow you not, yet if I could thereby save your precious souls, I think\nI could die for your sake. May the LORD JESUS bless you, and bring you\nout of darkness into his marvellous light, for his infinite mercy\u2019s\nsake. This is the prayer of, dear brethren,\n\n Your soul\u2019s well-wisher and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXXXIV.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. I\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Philadelphia._\n\n _Reedy Island, May 21, 1740._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nSTILL our LORD is with me both in the ship and on the shore. Adore him\nfor his free grace. Sailors, I believe, are coming to JESUS. One or\ntwo of our crew are under convictions. The LORD does not keep me here\nfor nothing. I desire to learn of winds and storms to obey Him. I pray\ndaily for your success. May the LORD make you a happy instrument of\nbringing many sons to glory. Your weakness need not discourage you.\nThe LORD is pleased to make use of me. He strengthens me mightily in\nthe inner man. Oh grace, grace! \u201cLess than the least of all,\u201d shall be\nmy motto still. I need not exhort you to feed the flock of GOD; he has\npurchased them with his own blood. Oh admit of a _mixed communion_. I\nthink the glory of GOD requires this at your hands. May the LORD give\nyou a right understanding in all things, and enable you to remember\n\n Your unworthy brother and fellow-labourer\n in our dear LORD JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXXXV.\n\n _To Mr. M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Philadelphia._\n\n _Reedy Island, May 21, 1740._\n _Dear Mr. M._,\n\nAS the LORD is pleased to detain me here by contrary winds, why should\nI not send you a line? You have stood up for the truths of GOD, and,\nI trust, will not be ashamed of our LORD and his gospel. I expect a\ngreat falling away amongst those that followed me: But I hope dear Mr.\n_M._ will continue stedfast and unmoveable to the last. The only way,\nis to keep a constant eye to CHRIST, to go forth in his strength, and\nnever to rest till you feel his blessed truths copied and transcribed\non your heart. You have often heard me exclaim against resting on\na _head-knowledge_. You are a man of strong passions, and sprightly\nimagination, and therefore (I know you will not be affronted) you\nwill make either a great saint, or an accomplished \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015. I believe\nthe former, though, as a friend, I remind you of, and caution you\nagainst the latter. You love to be dealt plainly with. Oh, dear Sir,\nI feel that I love you, and have a real concern for you and your\nhoushold.\u2015\u2015What would I give to see your daughters become wise virgins,\nand fallen in love with the blessed JESUS. How amiable would they then\nappear! But before this can be done, all pertness, and lightness of\nspirit, must be taken away, and they must not only leave off dancing,\nbut be made new creatures. How is your son? Pray tell him it is time\nfor him to come home. The fatted calf waits for him. I could say\nmore; but time will not permit. Dear Sir, pray for me. Indeed I\nwill endeavour to return the favour; many are waiting for, and would\nrejoice at my halting; but the LORD is my helper. He is with me in my\nlittle cabin, and gives me a feeling possession of his blessed spirit.\nMay the LORD enrich you with a great measure of it, and fill you with\nall his fulness! Methinks I see you lifting up your eyes, and saying,\n_Amen_.\u2015\u2015And so saith, dear Mr. _M._\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXXXVI.\n\n _To Mr. R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Philadelphia._\n\n _Reedy Island, May 22, 1740._\n _Dear R._,\n\nLET nothing said to you in my absence affect you. GOD has lately\ndelivered you out of one snare; take heed how you fall into another.\nIf you watch unto prayer, who knows but GOD may bless your endeavours\namongst the poor negro women and children? I could not wish you more\nhappily situated.\u2015\u2015My love to all the society.\u2015\u2015Exhort them not to\nrest in good desires. Shew them, O shew them the necessity of being\ndeeply wounded, before they can be capable of healing by JESUS CHRIST.\nBid them to beware of a light behaviour, and light company. Both\ndo grieve the blessed spirit of GOD. Take heed, take heed of those\naccursed snares. I could say more, but time will not permit. My love\nto the _Negro Peggy_, and all her black sisters. Bid them to pray\nfor me. May the blood of JESUS wash away all the pollutions of their\nsin-sick souls! What if they were put into a society by themselves,\nand you, or some white woman, meet with them? The good LORD direct and\nbless you in all things.\u2015\u2015This is the hearty prayer of\n\n Your sincere friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXXXVII.\n\n _To Mr. E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Reedy Island, May 22, 1740._\n\nGOD only knows when the wind will favour our removal hence; I desire\npatiently to tarry the LORD\u2019s leisure, and to wait the moving of the\ncloud of his providence. However, in the mean while I send you a line\namongst my other friends. GOD, I believe, hath struck you to the heart,\nand shewn you the rottenness of that foundation whereon you was once\nbuilding. O keep close to our dear LORD JESUS, and never fear what\nmen or devils can say of, or do unto you. I am persuaded you must be\nbuffeted.\u2015\u2015You must be persecuted, if you will live godly in CHRIST\nJESUS. Let this be your comfort, when the world forsakes you, the\nLORD whom you serve, shall take you up. I pray for you, and my other\ndear _Philadelphia_ friends daily. The LORD be with you all. Adieu.\nYou would do well to publish, \u201cthat all who have not been baptized\nalready, and shall appear to be prepared for it, I will, by GOD\u2019s\nleave, baptize, at my return to _Philadelphia_.\u201d O that all who\nfollowed me were baptized with the Holy Ghost! But there must be a\nfalling away.\u2015\u2015Dear Mr. _E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, I trust, will not desert his LORD.\nTrust in his, and not in your own strength, and you shall be safe.\nOnce more farewel. All with me salute you. The people on shore wait\nfor me. Remember me in your prayers as\n\n Your affectionate servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXXXVIII.\n\n _To the Members of a Society at Philadelphia._\n\n _Reedy Island, May 22, 1740._\n _My dear Friends_,\n\nAS the LORD, for wise reasons, detains me here, I cannot but send\nyou a line as a token of my unfeigned concern for the welfare of your\nbetter part. I must confess, that the account many of you gave of your\nexperiences, was not so satisfactory as I could wish; but I hope you\nwill none of you rest in good desires, or think you are christians,\nbecause you have followed after me. I thank you, GOD knows my heart,\nI thank you for all expressions of your love: But I beseech you to\nremember, that the kingdom of GOD does not consist in _word_, but\nin _power_. Keeping company with GOD\u2019s people, does not give you a\ntitle to the privileges of GOD\u2019s children. It may increase, but not\nextenuate your condemnation, if you are not sound in heart, and truly\nconverted to our dear LORD JESUS CHRIST. I am persuaded you will not\nbe offended at this plain dealing. GOD has been pleased to work upon\nyou by my unworthy ministry. I would therefore watch over you for good,\nand warn you against those snares which await all the true followers\nof the Lamb of GOD. At my next return, I hope I shall see you are\nthat inwardly, which you would be esteemed outwardly. The searcher of\nhearts knows I long for your salvation. My dear friends, adieu. Pray\nfor me. Be humble, be strong in the LORD and in the power of his might.\nA fiery trial awaits you. There is no being a christian without giving\nup all for CHRIST. We must all have the spirit of martyrdom, though we\nmay not all die martyrs.\u2015\u2015That the LORD may keep you by his power unto\nsalvation, and make you more than conquerors through his love, is the\nhearty prayer of\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CLXXXIX.\n\n _To Mr. A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Philadelphia._\n\n _Reedy Island, May 22, 1740._\n _Dear Mr. S._,\n\nI Desire that you and your wife would accept of these few farewel\nlines as a token of my love. My heart\u2019s desire and prayer to GOD is,\nthat you both may be saved.\u2015\u2015Your wife was mourning when I saw her\nlast. The LORD JESUS prepare her thereby for true, solid, and lasting\ncomfort! The more we are humbled, the more will the glorious Emmanuel\nexalt us; but we must wait his time. JESUS is love, and never corrects\nus but for our own good. I find it is always thus with me. I am a\nstubborn, ungrateful, disobedient child, and often oblige him to\nstrike me severely; but love, I find, holds the rod, and therefore his\nrod, as well as his staff comforts me. Farewel; the LORD be with you\nboth!\u2015\u2015_John S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ and all friends salute you. We live and walk in\nlove. My tenderest respects await all that truly follow the Lamb. I\nbeseech you forget not to pray for\n\n Your affectionate friend, brother, and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXC.\n\n _To Mr. G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in London._\n\n _Reedy Island, May 22, 1740._\n\n\u201cON _Thursday_ last, in the evening, the Rev. Mr. _Whitefield_ went\non board at _New-Castle_, in order to sail to _Georgia_, after having\nbeen on shore thirty-three days, and travelled some hundreds of miles,\nand preached fifty-eight times in the provinces of _New-Jersey_,\n_New-York_, and _Pensylvania_.\u2015\u2015His congregations consisted sometimes\nof four, sometimes of five, sometimes of eight, twelve, fifteen, and\nonce at _Philadelphia_, of _twenty thousand_ people. He had gotten\nnear five hundred pounds sterling, in money and provisions, for the\nOrphan-house at _Georgia_. Great and visible effects followed his\npreaching, almost wheresoever he went, especially in _Philadelphia_.\nThere was never such a general awakening, and concern for the things\nof GOD known in _America_ before. He intended to visit _New-England_\nsoon after his arrival at _Georgia_, and to come by land as far as\n_Philadelphia_, at the latter end of the year.\u201d\n\nThe above _Advertisement_ may suffice for the present, \u2019till I have\nan opportunity of sending you my journal. That will shew you wonderful\nthings. I suppose ere this reaches you, our dear brothers, _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\nand _G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, will be arrived: I have sent a packet of letters to them,\nby the way of _Dublin_. I am now waiting for a fair wind, and can say\nthe LORD is with me of a truth. Several ships are lying by us, and the\ncaptains and their companies come to our ship to prayers. Sailors weep:\nIt is unknown how many are under conviction. I long to hear what is\ndoing in _England_. The embargoes, I suppose, prevent your sending;\nhowever my heart is with you. I do not forget you. I hope there is\na door opening among the _Allegany_ Indians. I have read _M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s\njournal, and have wrote both to him and them. We have been near a week\nat _Reedy Island_: I have preached there five times. The captains and\ntheir crews come constantly to public worship on shore, and to private\nprayer in our sloop. We have some with us that love our dear LORD\nJESUS in sincerity. My heart is exceedingly drawn towards _Savannah_;\nbut the LORD\u2019s time is the best. The LORD JESUS bless you all, and\nreward you for all kindnesses shewn to his unworthy servant, but\n\n Your affectionate brother in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXCI.\n\n _To W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, Esq., in London._\n\n _Lewis-Town, (Pensylvania) May 24, 1740._\n _My dear Friend and Brother_,\n\nMY will is much to go to _Georgia_, but my dear LORD JESUS is pleased\nto cross me. For ever blessed be his great and glorious name. Just now\nthe LORD hath brought me hither. Your letter pleased me. I hope our\nLORD is now beginning to answer my prayers, and that my dear Brother\n_S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ is about to know himself. You know I have often told you,\nthat you ought to suspect your experiences. You have mistaken, in my\nopinion, _preparation_, for conversion itself. Your nine years round\nof duties, were no effects of the new-birth at all. How could they\nbe? when you did not know you was to be born again, before you heard\nMr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ expound the seventh chapter of the _Romans_: Then,\nbut not till then did you begin to be enlightened, and illumination\nand conversion are two different things. All my great trials were\nconsequent on this. Not that GOD\u2019s way of dealing with me, ought\nto be a rule for others: But I think your case and mine somewhat\nparallel.\u2015\u2015Those that have been most humbled, I find, always make the\nmost solid, useful christians. It stands with reason: The more a man\nis emptied of himself, the more room is there made for the spirit of\nGOD to dwell in him.\u2015\u2015Your caution to dear Mr. _H._ was very good.\nOpenness is the best preservative of spiritual friendship. I would\nbehave so, that no one might be afraid to consult me; but if people\nwill not open their hearts, let them not blame me; I cannot speak,\nwhere I perceive a shyness, and where I see persons are afraid of\nme. I am sure they must harbour some ungenerous suspicions or other\nagainst me, and how then can there be a harmony of soul. My dear\nbrother, my friend, now I have told you my heart: Be not angry, I am\njust ready to weep.\u2015\u2015Indeed, I am willing to wash your feet, and to\nacknowledge all favours under GOD that I have received from you. Be\nstable, be willing to consult others that have trod in the spiritual\nroad before you; do not mistake working _for_ life, for _working from\nlife_. Watch unto prayer, and do not be carried away by every wind of\ndoctrine. How could you not see through _L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ of _German-Town_? But\nI must not chide, but love. Much I owe you; have patience with me and\nI will endeavour to pay you. I shall long to see you at _Savannah_.\nOnce more, my dear friend and brother, adieu. My heart is much melted\ndown. GOD continually fills me with himself. O give thanks for, dear\nSir,\n\n Your brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXCII.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. J. W._\n\n _Cape-Lopen, May 24, 1740._\n _Honoured Sir_,\n\nI Cannot entertain prejudices against your conduct and principles\nany longer, without informing you. The more I examine the writings\nof the most experienced men, and the experiences of the most\nestablished christians, the more I differ from your notion about not\ncommitting sin, and your denying the doctrines of election, and final\nperseverance of the saints. I dread coming to _England_, unless you\nare resolved to oppose these truths with less warmth, than when I\nwas there last. I dread your coming over to _America_; because the\nwork of GOD is carried on here (and that in a most glorious manner)\nby doctrines quite opposite to those you hold. Here are thousands\nof GOD\u2019s children, who will not be persuaded out of the privileges\npurchased for them by the blood of JESUS. Here are many worthy\nexperienced ministers, who would oppose your principles to the utmost.\nGOD direct me what to do! Sometimes I think it best to stay here,\nwhere we all think and speak the same thing: The work goes on without\ndivisions, and with more success, because all employed in it are\nof one mind. I write not this, _honoured Sir_, from heat of spirit,\nbut out of love. At present, I think you are entirely inconsistent\nwith yourself, and therefore do not blame me, if I do not approve of\nall that you say. GOD himself, I find, teaches my friends the doctrine\nof election. Sister _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ hath lately been convinced of it; and,\nif I mistake not, dear and honoured Mr. _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ hereafter will be\nconvinced also. From my soul I wish you abundant success in the name\nof the LORD. I long to hear of your being made a spiritual father\nto thousands. Perhaps I may never see you again, \u2019till we meet\nin judgment; then, if not before, you will know, that sovereign,\ndistinguishing, irresistible grace brought you to heaven. Then will\nyou know, that GOD loved you with an everlasting love, and therefore\nwith loving-kindness did he draw you. Honoured Sir, farewel. My\nprayers constantly attend both you and your labours. I neglect no\nopportunity of writing. My next journal will acquaint you with new\nand surprizing wonders. The LORD fills me both in body and soul. I am\nsupported under the prospect of present and impending trials, with an\nassurance of GOD\u2019s loving me to the end; yea, even to all eternity.\nEre this reaches you, I suppose you will hear of my intention to marry.\nI am quite as free as a child: If it be GOD\u2019s will, I beseech him to\nprevent it. I would not be hindered in my dear LORD\u2019s business for the\nworld. I am now waiting for a fair wind. GOD blesses the Orphan-house.\nDo not be angry with, but pray for, honoured Sir,\n\n Your unworthy brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXCIII.\n\n _To Mr. S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Charles-Town._\n\n _Savannah, June 7, 1740._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nBEFORE I knew you by name, my heart was uncommonly affected towards\nyou. Whenever I saw you at church, I enquired concerning you, and to\nmy great but pleasing surprize, when I came to your house, found you\nwas the man I was enquiring after. Your letter gives me still hopes,\nthat our dear LORD JESUS is about to awaken you from a carnal security\nin which you have long lain. He is now calling you, dear, dear Sir. I\nbeseech you, by the mercies of GOD in CHRIST JESUS our Saviour, take\nheed that you do not lie down again. If you will be a follower of\nthe Lamb of GOD, you must prepare your soul for manifold temptations;\nyou must become the song of the drunkard, and have all manner of evil\nspoken against you falsely for CHRIST\u2019s sake: But let none of these\nthings move you, dear Sir. Dare, I beseech you, to be singularly\ngood.\u2015\u2015Be not ashamed of your glory.\u2015\u2015Learn a lesson of boldness\neven from the devil\u2019s children. How resolute, how daring are they in\ntheir master\u2019s cause? Why should not we be equally courageous in the\ncause of JESUS CHRIST? O Sir, I feel a concern for the welfare of your\nbetter part. GOD hath vouchsafed you some convictions; do not rest in\nthem. Catch not too greedily at comfort. Beg of GOD that you may be\nthoroughly wounded, before you desire to be made whole; otherwise you\nwill go but half way, and be only an unstable, double-minded man at\nlast. GOD forbid that dear Mr. _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ should ever settle in such a\ndangerous state! Ere long I hope to see you in _Charles-Town_, and\nthen I shall have an opportunity of enquiring more particularly into\nthe state of your soul. I came home but two days ago, and therefore\ncould not answer your letter before. If I can be serviceable to you\nin any respect, be pleased to command, dear Sir,\n\n Your assured friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXCIV.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in London._\n\n _Savannah, June 7, 1740._\n _My dear, dear Brother_,\n\nWITH great comfort I received your long wished-for letter. It warmed\nmy heart, and knit my soul to you much more than ever. Whenever I\nsee the child-like simplicity and love of JESUS, it quite melts me\ndown. Let all former misunderstandings between me and your friends be\nentirely forgotten. I always pitied your parents, and most earnestly\nprayed for them and you. Blessed be GOD that you are come home. You\nare now, I believe, as I always did believe, in your proper station.\nMay GOD give you a settled habit of devotion, and so fill you with\nhis spirit, that whilst you are working for GOD on earth, you may be\nlike those blessed angels, who, though ministring to us, yet do always\nbehold the face of our Father who is in heaven. My dear brother, let\nthe love of JESUS constrain you to love him with all your soul. A\nsense of his divine love now melts down my heart, and draws tears from\nmy eyes. O what wonderful things is GOD doing in _America_! _Savannah_\nalso, _my dear Savannah_, especially my little orphans, now begin to\nfeel the love of JESUS CHRIST. I arrived here but about two days ago,\nin an hour quite unexpected by my friends. How did we weep over one\nanother for joy! Perhaps I may never feel the like again, till I meet\nwith the sons of GOD in glory: But oh what a scene was to be seen last\nnight in the congregation! How did the stately steps of our glorious\nEmmanuel appear! His glory shone with exceeding brightness. The power\nseemed to be coming on all the day. My soul has been much carried out\nin behalf of this place, and now the LORD is about to answer my prayer.\n_T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ was yesterday in a glorious agony. I prayed with three\nof the girls before I went to church, and their hearts were ready to\nbreak: I prayed also, with strong cryings and tears, with my other\ndear friends, and GOD was much with us then; but when we came to\nchurch, oh what was to be seen, and heard, and felt there! The power\nof the LORD came as it were upon all. Most of the children, both boys\nand girls, cried bitterly, and most of the congregation were drowned\nin tears, and mourned as a woman mourneth for her first-born. Expence\nof spirits made my body weak, but my soul still wrestled earnestly\nwith GOD. When I came home, I lay upon my bed; but seeing the children\nand people come home crying, I went to prayer again, and a greater\npower than ever still attended it. O how was my soul carried out, and\nhow did the Holy Ghost fill the room! At last I thought proper to\ndismiss them; but it would have charmed your heart to hear the little\nones in different parts of the house praying, and begging of JESUS to\ntake full possession of their hearts. The same power continues to-day:\nFor near two hours, four or five of the girls have been before the\nLORD weeping most bitterly, and under such agonies, as gives me hope\nour LORD will soon send them deliverance. I have not yet talked with\nthe boys, who also have been under great concern, and one especially\nin great agonies. I believe two or three will be truly gracious. I\nhave brought with me a Latin master, and on _Monday_ laid a foundation\nin the name of our dear JESUS for an _university_ in _Georgia_. GOD\nblesses me (O free and sovereign grace) in every thing I undertake.\nOur Orphan-house comes under better regulations every day, and I am\npersuaded, in the end, will produce some true followers of JESUS\nCHRIST. I am now looking for fresh attacks from the enemy, after such\ninroads. He has been busy since my departure, but the LORD hath\nvouchsafed to rebuke and disappoint him. My dear brother, may the LORD\nbe with you! For CHRIST\u2019s sake desire dear Brother _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ to avoid\ndisputing with me. I think I had rather die, than to see a division\nbetween us; and yet, how can we walk together, if we oppose each\nother? Adieu. Dear _James_, with much tenderness I subscribe myself\n\n Ever yours,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXCV.\n\n _To T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, Esq., in London._\n\n _Savannah, June 7, 1740._\n _My dear Friend and Brother_,\n\nI Wrote to you very lately; but your kind letter is now before me,\nand I cannot forbear answering it: Blessed be GOD, that you still look\nupon me as your friend. May the friend of all, unite us in the best\nbonds, and bring us to himself at last! I long to see the son of man\ncoming in the clouds of heaven. I have now such large incomes from\nabove, and such precious communications from our dear LORD JESUS,\nthat my body sometimes can scarcely sustain them. Our dear Brother\n_H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s letter (which I desire you may see) will shew you what\na work is begun at _Savannah_. I am in great hopes, that six or\nseven boys and girls are really coming to JESUS CHRIST. Dear Brother\n_H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015n_ sojourns with us. I love him, and all the brethren, in the\nbowels of JESUS CHRIST. I am now looking for some strong attacks from\nsatan. The LORD comforts me on every side, and lets me see my desire\nin the salvation of many souls. O, dear Mr. _T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, forget not\n\n Your weak unworthy friend and brother in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXCVI.\n\n _To Mr. M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Savannah, June 11, 1740._\n _Dear Mr. M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Am not uneasy, but rather joyful, to find GOD lets you see more\nand more into the misery of your depraved nature. I pray GOD, these\nconvictions may still increase, and that you may not fall short of a\nsaving union with JESUS CHRIST. I am concerned to find you have lost\na sense of your first love.\u2015\u2015Take heed, my dear friend, and wrestle\nwith your dear LORD, till he lets you see the root of bitterness that\nmust certainly be in some corner of your heart. Perhaps you have not\nrenounced the world and your own righteousness, and then no wonder our\nLORD doth not manifest himself to your soul. Sometimes, indeed, GOD\nwithdraws on purpose to wean us from sensible devotion, and to take\nus off from seeking any self-complacence in our duties. If this be the\ncase of you and your friends, you are patiently to tarry the LORD\u2019s\nleisure, and to continue striving with all your might till he is\npleased to lift up the light of his blessed countenance upon you. You\nmust seek JESUS though it be sorrowing, and then, after three days,\nyou will find him; for the LORD will not always be chiding, neither\nkeepeth he his anger for ever. That GOD may daily renew you in the\nspirit of your mind, is the hearty prayer of, dear Sir,\n\n Your assured friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXCVII.\n\n _To Mr. W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in London._\n\n _Savannah, June 11, 1740._\n _Dear W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Am sorry to hear, that you and your masters cannot agree; but\nthis I know, supposing the case to be as you represent it, you must\nnotwithstanding \u201cbe obedient, not only to the good and gentle, but\nalso to the froward.\u201d\u2015\u2015Rough usage will do you good, if you are\nsincere; GOD sees the pride and stubbornness of your heart, and\ntherefore sends you these trials to beat it down: I find the benefit\nof crosses. What should I do without them? Dear brother _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ would\nwrite to you, I believe, but is much engaged.\u2015\u2015We love one another in\nthe bowels of JESUS CHRIST. O, dear _W._ keep close to GOD, and see\nyou are that inwardly, which you would be esteemed outwardly.\u2015\u2015Rest in\nnothing short of a sound and thorough conversion. That GOD may bless\nyou, and all the brethren, with all spiritual blessings, is the hearty\nprayer of\n\n Your assured friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXCVIII.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at New-York._\n\n _Savannah, June 13, 1740._\n _Reverend and dear Brother_,\n\nI Have just been reading the three letters you sent some time ago to\nour dear brother _N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, and find my heart much inclined to write\nyou a line. Whatever others may do, yet I am far from judging you on\naccount of GOD\u2019s dealings with your soul. I rather rejoice in them,\nhaving myself been blessed with many experiences of the like nature.\nBut, my dear brother, if GOD works upon us in an extraordinary manner,\nwe must prepare for temptation, even from our christian brethren.\n\nMost judge of others from what has passed within themselves; and many\nof the dear children of GOD are too apt to confine GOD to this or\nthat particular way of acting; whereas he is a sovereign agent: his\nsacred spirit bloweth when, and where, and how it listeth; and when\nan uncommon work is to be done, no doubt he will work upon his chosen\ninstruments in an uncommon manner. What the event of the present\ngeneral awakening will be, I know not. I desire to follow my dear\nLORD blindfold, whithersoever he is pleased to lead me; and to do just\nso much, and no more, as his providence points out to me. Wonderful\nthings have been done ever since my arrival at _Savannah_: Such an\nawakening among little children, I never saw before. Our dear brother\n_N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s letter will acquaint you with particulars. O my dear brother,\nhow ought such manifestations of GOD\u2019s glory, to quicken our souls,\nand excite us to lay out ourselves more and more in the service of\nthe best of Masters, JESUS CHRIST! Every day he fills me with himself,\nand sometimes brings me even upon the confines of eternity. Methinks\nI often stand upon _Mount Pisgah_, and take a view of the heavenly\n_Canaan_, and then long to be gathered to my people: but, my dear\nbrother, both you and I must suffer, and that great things, before we\nenter into glory. My work is scarce begun; my trials are yet to come.\nWhat is a little scourge of the tongue? What is a thrusting out of the\nsynagogues? The time of temptation will be, when we are thrust into\nan inner prison, and feel the iron entering even into our souls. Then,\nperhaps, even GOD\u2019s people may be permitted to forsake us for a while,\nand none but the LORD JESUS to stand by us. \u201cBut if thou, O dearest\nRedeemer! wilt strengthen me in the inner man, let enemies plunge\nme into a fiery furnace, or throw me into a den of lions.\u201d My dear\nbrother, my heart is enlarged towards you: though I never saw, yet\nI love you most tenderly. How does dear brother _D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_? Does he yet\nwalk in the light of GOD\u2019s countenance? Pray salute him lovingly in\nmy name. In the fall, I hope to see you in _Long Island_, and to be\nsomewhat filled with your company. In the mean while, let us all keep\na close walk with JESUS; and be pleased, in an especial manner, to\nremember\n\n Your unworthy, though affectionate brother, fellow-labourer,\n and servant in our common LORD,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CXCIX.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. J. W._\n\n _Savannah, June 25, 1740._\n _My honoured Friend and Brother_,\n\nI Thank you for, and heartily say _amen_ to all the petitions you have\nput up in my behalf. I want to be as my Master would have me; I mean,\nmeek and lowly in heart. Dear Sir, bear with me a little longer; pray\nfor me with great earnestness; and who knows but my GOD may give me to\nabhor myself in dust and ashes! He that hath given us his Son, will he\nnot with him freely give us all things? For CHRIST\u2019s sake, if possible,\ndear Sir, never speak against election in your sermons: no one can\nsay that I ever mentioned it in public discourses, whatever my private\nsentiments may be. For CHRIST\u2019s sake, let us not be divided amongst\nourselves: nothing will so much prevent a division as your being\nsilent on this head. I should have rejoiced at the sight of your\nJournal. I long to sing a hymn of praise for what GOD has done for\nyour soul. I am glad to hear that you speak up for an attendance\non the means of grace, and do not encourage persons who run (I am\npersuaded) before they are called. The work of GOD will suffer much\nby such imprudence. I trust you will still persist in field-preaching.\nOthers are strangers to our call. I know infinite good hath been done\nby it already, and greater good will yet be done thereby every day:\nbut we must be judged of our brethren. May GOD bless you more and more\nevery day, and cause you to triumph in every place. Next _Monday_,\nGOD willing, I go to _Charles-Town_. My family is well regulated;\nbut I want some more gracious assistants. I have near an hundred and\nthirty to maintain daily, without any fund. The LORD gives me a full\nundisturbed confidence in his power and goodness. Dear Sir, adieu. I\ncan write no more; my heart is full. I want to be a little child. O\ncontinue to pray for\n\n Your most unworthy, but affectionate brother and servant\n in our dear LORD JESUS CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CC.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Savannah, June 25, 1740._\n _Dearest J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nEVERY letter you write, knits my heart more and more to you in the\nbowels of JESUS CHRIST. Your last I received on _Saturday_. GOD had\nbeen preparing me for it, by a week\u2019s intimation upon my heart, and by\nan inexpressible agony in my soul just before it came to hand. Blessed\nbe GOD that our friends preach up poverty of spirit, for that is the\nonly foundation whereon to build solid abiding comfort. The stony\nground received the word with joy; but how did those hearers stand\nin a day of temptation? They fell away; for it is very possible that\nthe heart may have much joy floating on the top of it, and yet be as\nhard as the nether millstone. Hence it is that so many, who boast of\nrest in their flashes of joy, are self-willed, impatient of reproof,\ndespisers of others in a mourning state, and wise in their own\nconceits: whereas the believer, that hath been with his LORD in the\nwilderness, and has a truly broken and contrite heart, though his joy\nmay not be so extravagant, yet it is substantial. Such a soul hangs\nupon GOD; thinks before he speaks; and is continually hearkening for\nwhat the LORD will say to him, by the small still voice of his spirit.\nThis is the state I want all our friends to arrive at. I cannot see\nhow they can, with assurance, talk of their enjoying solid fellowship\nwith the Father, and his dear Son CHRIST JESUS. I shall not be\nsurprized if many, who seemingly began in the spirit, do end in\nthe flesh, and turn persecutors of the doctrines and disciples of\nJESUS CHRIST. How can they possibly stand, who never felt themselves\ncondemned criminals? who were never truly burthened with a sense not\nonly of their actual, but original sin, especially that damning sin\nof unbelief? who were never brought to see and heartily confess, that\nafter they had done all, GOD might, notwithstanding, deny them mercy;\nand that it is owing merely to his sovereign love in CHRIST JESUS our\nLORD, that they can have any hopes of being delivered from the wrath\nto come? It is for preaching in this manner that I like Mess. _T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015s_.\nThey wound deep before they heal; they know that there is no promise\nmade but to him that believeth; and therefore they are careful not\nto comfort over much those that are convicted. I fear I have been too\nincautious in this respect, and have often given comfort too soon. The\nLORD pardon me for what is past, and teach me more rightly to divide\nthe word of truth for the future. Dearest _J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, pardon this freedom;\nI am constrained to write in this manner. I thank you most heartily\nfor your historical letter. Fail not writing to me often. Dearest\n_J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, help me by your prayers: for CHRIST\u2019s sake help me. Our LORD\nis yet with us. I hear different accounts of things; but I pray for\nall, and suspend my judgment till you see\n\n Your affectionate brother and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCI.\n\n _To Mrs. E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Savannah, June 25, 1740._\n _My dear Sister_,\n\nYOUR letter afforded me much inward pleasure. Surely it bespeaks the\nwriter not to be far from the kingdom of GOD. You was then waiting\nfor our LORD\u2019s salvation: ere now, I trust, CHRIST hath manifested his\nglory, filled you with his blessed spirit, and thereby sealed you to\nthe day of redemption. \u2019Tis good to be long in an humbled state: it\nis the best preparation for solid, lasting comfort. Blessed are they\nthat mourn most, for they shall be the most comforted: not that we are\nviolently to keep ourselves in such a state; but when GOD\u2019s hand lies\nheavy upon us, we are patiently to tarry the LORD\u2019s leisure, till he\nreveals himself to our souls. I was a mourner a long while; but, glory\nbe to GOD! I have for some years been almost continually comforted;\nat least kept from doubting of my interest in JESUS CHRIST. I can with\nan humble boldness cry out, \u201cMy LORD and my GOD!\u201d He daily manifests\nhimself to my soul, and causes me to feel my dependance on his free\ngrace and sovereign love. This is the kingdom of GOD within us.\nO, my dear sister, what would I give, were all the world partakers\nof this unspeakable gift! I long, I burn with an ardent zeal after\nthe salvation of my dear brethren, who are dead in trespasses and\nsins. Poor souls! Why am I taken, and they left? O the sovereign,\nfree, unmerited, distinguishing love of my and your JESUS! My dear\nsister, let us love him, let us obey him; let us suffer for him with\na chearful heart! His love will sweeten every cup, though never so\nbitter. Let us pledge him willingly, and continue faithful even unto\ndeath. A scene of sufferings lies before us. Who knows but we may wade\nto our Saviour through a sea of blood? I expect (O pray that I may be\nstrengthened if called to it) to die for his great name\u2019s sake. \u2019Twill\nbe sweet to wear a martyr\u2019s crown. Dear Madam, adieu. I remember GOD\u2019s\ngoodness to us at _Broad-Oaks_. I pray for you and yours. I trust your\ndaughters keep close to JESUS. Salute them kindly in my name. Read my\nJournal, and give hearty thanks for\n\n Your unworthy brother and servant in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCII.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in London._\n\n _Savannah, June 26, 1740._\n _Rev. and dear Sir_,\n\nAND is one of the priests also obedient to the word? Blessed be GOD,\nthe Father of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, who hath translated you from\ndarkness to light; from the power of Satan to the service of the\never-living GOD. Now know I, that our glorious _Emmanuel_ has not\ncommanded us to pray in vain. Surely we shall never taste of death,\ntill we see our dear LORD\u2019s kingdom coming with greater power. He\nseems to be thrusting out more labourers into his harvest. Glory be\nto his free grace that you are one of the happy number. O dear Sir,\nrejoice and be exceeding glad; and let the love of JESUS constrain you\nto go out into the highways and hedges to compel poor sinners to come\nin. Some (even that are true lovers of the Lamb) may say \u201cthis is not\nproceeding with a zeal according to knowledge:\u201d but I am persuaded,\nwhen the power of religion revives, the gospel must be propagated in\nthe same manner as it was first established, \u201c_itinerant preaching_.\u201d\nGo on, dear Sir, go on, and follow your glorious Master without the\ncamp, bearing his sacred reproach. Never fear the scourge of the\ntongue, or the threatnings that are daily breathed out against the\nLORD, and against his CHRIST. Suffer we must, I believe, and that\ngreat things. Our LORD, by his providence, begins to shew it. Ere\nlong, perhaps, we may sing in a prison, and have our feet set fast\nin the stocks. But faith in JESUS turns a prison into a palace, and\nmakes a bed of flames become a bed of down. Let us be faithful to-day,\nand our LORD will support us to-morrow. O dear Sir, though I know you\nnot, yet my heart is enlarged towards you, and I make mention of your\nname in my prayers. I pray GOD to give you strength to bear the heat\nand burden of every day, and to enable you to preach with such wisdom,\nthat all your adversaries may not be able to gainsay or resist.\nBlessed be his holy name, I drink deep of his love every moment. A\ngreater power than ever attends my poor labours; and several of my own\nhoushold, both boys and girls, I really believe, are coming savingly\nto JESUS CHRIST. I am now about to go to _Charles-Town_; a work of\nGOD is begun there. Who knows but I may see my dear brother _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\nin _America_? But future things belong to GOD; to his grace and love I\ncommend you. Keep close to your dear JESUS, and pray that a child-like,\nhumble spirit, may be given to\n\n Your unworthy brother and fellow-labourer\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCIII.\n\n _To Wm. S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, Esq., in London._\n\n _Savannah, June 26, 1740._\n _My dear Brother S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Sent you a packet of letters from _Charles-Town_, the middle of this\nmonth. Since that time, I have received many agreeable letters from\n_England_; but find from _Blendon letters_ that Miss _E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\nis in a seeking state only. Surely that will not do; I would have one\nthat is full of faith and the Holy Ghost. Just now I have been weeping,\nand much carried out in prayer before the LORD. My poor family gives\nme more concern than every thing else put together. I want a _gracious\nwoman_ that is dead to every thing but JESUS, and is qualified to\ngovern children, and direct persons of her own sex. Such a one would\nhelp, and not retard me in my dear LORD\u2019s work. I wait upon the\nLORD every moment; I hang upon my JESUS: and he is so infinitely\ncondescending, that he daily grants me fresh tokens of his love, and\nassures me that he will not permit me to fall by the hands of a woman.\nI am almost tempted to wish I had never undertook the orphan-house. At\nother times, I am willing to contrive matters so that I may not marry:\nbut I am always checked; and looking back upon the workings of my\nheart in this affair, I am more and more convinced that it is of GOD;\nand therefore know he will order affairs for me, as will best promote\nhis own glory. So that my dear LORD\u2019s honour does not suffer, I care\nnot what trouble in the flesh I undergo. His glory, to the best of my\nknowledge, is my only aim, in my thoughts, words, and actions. My\ndearest brother, adieu. By this time, I trust, you are near _England_.\nDear brother _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ goes with me to _Charles-Town_. Brother _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\nkeeps house in my absence. Take heed that the people you bring believe\non JESUS. Expect to hear shortly again from\n\n Your affectionate brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCIV.\n\n _To Mr. W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Savannah, June 28, 1740._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nI Thank you for your kind letters and friendly cautions; and trust\nshall always reckon those my choicest friends, who, in simplicity and\nmeekness, tell me the corruptions of my heart. It is that faithfulness\nwhich hath endeared _J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ to me. I think I never was obliged\nto any one so much before: for that reason also I find my heart knit\nto you. O my dear brother, still continue faithful to my soul: do not\nhate me in your heart; in any wise reprove me. Exhort all my dear\nbrethren to forgive my past (I fear) too imperious carriage; and let\nthem pray that I may know myself to be what I really am, less than\nthe least of them all. I have abundant reason to bless GOD for sending\nme abroad. I cannot say I have improved my retirement as I ought; but\nI can say it hath been highly beneficial to my soul. I have a garden\nnear at hand, where I go particularly to meet and talk with my GOD,\nat the cool of every day. I often sit in silence, offering my soul as\nso much clay, to be stamped just as my heavenly potter pleases: and\nwhilst I am musing, I am often filled as it were with the fulness of\nGOD. I am frequently at _Calvary_, and frequently on _Mount Tabor_;\nbut always assured of my LORD\u2019s everlasting love. O continue to pray\nfor me, that I may know myself even as I am known. I want to have a\nproper mixture of the lion and the lamb, of the serpent and the dove.\nI do not despair of attaining it. JESUS is love; JESUS willeth my\nperfection; JESUS hath died for me; JESUS can deny me nothing. He hath\ngiven me himself; will he not then freely give me all things besides?\nI wait for thy compleat salvation, O LORD! My dear brother, my heart\nis now enlarged. Your prayer is answered. The whole Godhead now fills\nmy soul. O grace, grace! O Jesu, Jesu! was ever love like thine! LORD,\nI abhor myself in dust and ashes. O that I could praise thee! that\nI could love thee as I ought! My dear brother, I hear you have been\nzealous for the LORD your GOD since my departure. You have done well:\nyou never can be zealous for a better master: but why, silent? why\nwithdrawn? Did you go before you was called or qualified? If so,\nyou have done right: but I suspend my judgment; for I find there is\nno judging at a distance. I only pray GOD that you may always feel\nyourself a very poor sinner, and find refuge in the wounds and blood\nof the Lamb. I rejoice to hear the work of GOD goes on, and heartily\nwish you may not be divided among yourselves. Our dear LORD is with us\nhere: I only want a few more gracious, solid assistants. The LORD will\nsend them in his due time to\n\n Your affectionate brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCV.\n\n _To J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Good Hope, (South-Carolina) July 2, 1740._\n\n _My dear Brother B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nIS it true, that one night whilst you was expounding, you told your\nhearers, from your own experience, that \u201cthey could not go on without\nthrowing aside the means of grace?\u201d or words to that purpose? If\nso, I pity you; for you are not only misled yourself, but are also\nmisguiding others. But this is no more than I expected. I think you\nbegun to teach too soon, and before you had a commission given you\nfrom above. Brother _J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ was of the same opinion, before I left\n_England_. For that reason, I would not take you to _Georgia_. Blessed\nbe GOD, I have no such over-forward spirits there. My dear _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, I\nwrite in love. For CHRIST\u2019s sake try your spirit: I fear you was never\nyet truly humbled. I know you have had joy; but I always thought it\nwas joy floating on the surface of an unmortified heart. From such\na joy, good LORD deliver us! O that you had been in the wilderness a\nlittle longer! then you might have been an experienced teacher; but\nI fear you are now only a novice. May the LORD keep you from falling\ninto the condemnation of the devil. I write not this to damp, but to\nregulate your spirit; if you are humble, you will take it kind. GOD\nknows, I wish all the LORD\u2019s servants were prophets; but I would not\nhave my Master\u2019s work suffer by a too heady way of proceeding. Why\nshould you dishonour him by acting above your sphere; whereas you\nmight honour him by acting in it. Every one is not fit to be a public\nexpounder. To build up awakened sinners in private, is what is more\nwanted at present than young unexperienced preachers. But I have done;\nI fear I have offended my brother: forgive me this wrong. As GOD was\npleased first to work upon you by my ministry, you must always expect\nto be watched over by\n\n Your affectionate friend, brother and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCVI.\n\n _Charles-Town, July 11, 1740._\n _Dear Mr. R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nYOUR letter much rejoiced me. O that you may still follow on, till\nyou truly know the LORD! I shall be glad to have you for a scribe,\nif you are well instructed in the things which belong to the kingdom\nof heaven. Keep close, my dear friend, keep close to the dear Mr.\n_T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015s_: under GOD, they will build you up in your most holy faith.\nIt gladdens my heart to hear of their success in the LORD. The\nLORD increase them more and more, and multiply the number of their\nspiritual children! I suppose brother _G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s letter informed you\nwhat a speedy passage the LORD gave us, and how we were received at\n_Georgia_. Surely I shall never see the like again, till I meet the\nsons of GOD in glory. Praise the LORD, O my soul! my dear friend, help\nme to praise the LORD. I have been here above a week. The LORD hath\nbeen pleased to work on many hearts. On _Sunday_ the _commissary_\ndenied me the sacrament; but my dear Master fed me, notwithstanding,\nwith the bread which cometh down from heaven. Persecution seems to\nbe coming on more and more. My dear friend, see that you are rooted\nand grounded in love and faith; or how will you stand fast in a dying\nhour? With difficulty I write this before morning service. I preach\ngenerally, in town or country, twice a-day. The heat is great; but\nthe LORD enables me to bear the burden of it. Next month, GOD willing,\nI go to _New-England_, and hope to see _Philadelphia_ in _November_.\nOn _Tuesday_ next I am cited to appear before the commissary and his\ncourt in a judicial way: the event I leave to my dear LORD JESUS. O\ndear Mr. _R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, let not the cross keep you from JESUS. If we suffer,\nwe shall reign with him. Salute your honoured mother in my name, and\nall that love our dear LORD in sincerity, from, dear Mr. _R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCVII.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Charles-Town, July 15, 1740._\n _Dear J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nMAY you answer your name, be freely gracious, and filled with as much\nlove as he was, who leaned on the sacred bosom of our dear Redeemer. I\nbelieve GOD has begun; if so, GOD will carry on the good work in your\nheart. It is the LORD\u2019s doing. Not unto me, not unto me; but to free,\nrich, distinguishing, sovereign grace, be all the glory! The wearing\noff, or forgetting your convictions formerly, ought to make you more\njealous of yourself now. The more you see the enmity of the heart, the\nbetter: you cannot then avoid abhorring yourself in dust and ashes.\nI rejoice you have been at _Neshamini_. I can say of Mr. _T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ and\ntheir brethren, as _David_ did of _Goliah_\u2019s sword, \u201cNone like them.\u201d\nI am glad you and my friend _R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ are acquainted. O see that you\nkeep one another warm, and be zealous for the LORD your GOD. I wonder\nnot at your master\u2019s insinuations. Indeed, dear _J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, you must\nbe tried thoroughly, if you would approve yourself to the glorious\n_Emmanuel_. Exhort all to die for him, rather than deny him in any\nwise. I find my suffering time at hand: but my dear LORD comforts me\nwith his gracious and refreshing presence. A good work is carrying on\nhere: let my dear friends help it forwards by their prayers. My love\nto all at the society; and accept of the same from\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCVIII.\n\n _To Mr. B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Pensylvania._\n\n _Charles-Town, July 18, 1740._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nPRAISE the LORD, O my soul! Our glorious _Emmanuel_ seems to have\ngirt his sword upon his thigh, and to be riding on from conquering to\nconquer. He gets himself the victory in _Philadelphia_. He is getting\nhimself the victory in _Charles-Town_ also. Indeed a glorious work is\nbegun, and carrying on here. Many souls are awakened to a sense of the\ndivine life.\u2015\u2015The alteration in the people since I came here at first,\nis surprizing. I preach twice a day, generally, either in town or in\nthe villages around. The commissary shoots out his arrows, even bitter\nwords. He hath denied me the sacrament, and cited me to appear before\nhim and his court; I was obliged to appeal home. O my dear brother,\npray that I may be humble and of a child-like spirit. Every day GOD\nshews me fresh instances of his love. Here are some faithful ministers\namongst the baptists. One of them, Mr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, has wrote to you; pray\nanswer him. Some time next month I hope to be at _New England_, and to\nreturn to you according to promise. Be pleased to salute the brethren\nin my name. Indeed I honour and love you in the bowels of JESUS CHRIST.\nO that I was worthy of your acquaintance! But I am not. All that I can\nsay is, that I will endeavour to approve myself\n\n Your affectionate friend, brother, and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCIX.\n\n _To Mr. I. R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Charles-Town, July 18, 1740._\n _My Dear Friend_,\n\nI Thank you for going with friend _E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ and _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ to _Nazareth_.\nMay GOD bless you, and cause great good to come to that place!\nGOD seems to be carrying on as great a work in _Charles-Town_,\ncomparatively speaking, as in _Philadelphia_. Surely our LORD intends\nto set the world in a flame. O that the holy fire of his divine love\nwas kindled in every heart! Be pleased to read what I have sent to\nMr. _N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. If you please you may print that extract, which I sent\nfrom my journal: GOD willing, I hope to be at _New England_ by the\nbeginning of _September_, and to be refreshed with your and my dear\nfriend\u2019s letters. Indeed, I love you all in the bowels of my dear LORD\nJESUS. Do not let us forsake him. Let us not be ashamed of him, though\nwe live in a crooked and perverse generation. I thank my dear friends\nfor their zeal in building a house;\u00b9 but desire it may not have any\nparticular name, or be put to any particular use, till my return\nto _Philadelphia_. I wish them good luck in the name of the LORD.\nLast night I appeared a third time in a public court; but they not\naccepting my _Recusatio judicis_, I appealed home; so that now I have\nfree liberty to embark when providence pleaseth. O my dear friend,\nthink of a bleeding, dying LORD. Keep close to him, and exhort all\nfriends to pray and give thanks for\n\n Your assured friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n \u00b9 This is now the college at _Philadelphia_.\n\n\n LETTER CCX.\n\n _To Mr. G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Charles-Town, July 18, 1740._\n _Dear Brother L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nGOD will work, and who shall hinder? The sacrament hath been refused\nto me, and I have appeared thrice in open court, before the commissary\nand some of his clergy; but our LORD rides on, from conquering\nto conquer. Many, I believe, are really pricked to the heart. The\ncommissary\u2019s detaining me here, has much tended to the furtherance of\nthe gospel. I put in my exceptions against his sitting as my judge,\nand they were repelled; so that I have appealed home, and all other\nproceedings here are stopped. By this means I shall have liberty\nto preach the gospel without further interruption, and my call to\n_England_ will be more clear. The enclosed paper will shew you what\nis doing in _Philadelphia_. Private letters received from thence last\nnight and this morning, have much refreshed my heart. Many souls are\nflocking to the LORD JESUS. I need not exhort you to praise the LORD.\nYou may advertise what paragraphs you think proper, only add that\n_Philadelphia_ people are building a house for me to preach in, 106\nfeet long and 74 feet wide. The LORD is bringing mighty things to\npass. I am surprizingly strengthened to bear the heat and burden of\nevery day. My dear LORD never leaves nor forsakes me, but works by\nmy unworthy ministry more and more. O that I was humble! O that I\nwas a little, little child! I know not how soon I may be called to\n_England_. The inhabitants here are wondrous kind. They attend morning\nand evening most chearfully on my preaching. We often see the stately\nsteps of our dear LORD in his sanctuary. I am more than happy. I am\namazed at the divine goodness. LORD, I abhor myself in dust and ashes!\nSee the wonders of the LORD; help us to praise him. Excuse me to all\nmy dear friends. For this fortnight past I have not wrote a word of my\njournal. My sermons, &c. are bought off exceedingly, northward. O pray\nthat an humble child-like spirit may be given to\n\n Ever yours in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXI.\n\n _To the Reverend Mr. D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Savannah, August 15, 1740._\n _My dear Brother D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nOUR dear LORD (after being pleased to bring me low by bodily sickness)\nnow gives me liberty to write to you. Whilst I am writing, I find\nmy heart united with yours. I hope we have both drank into the same\nspirit, and are both instances of the same sovereign, distinguishing,\neverlasting love. O let us extol it! O let us improve daily! And\nsince GOD sees fit that we shall not die, but live, let us lay\nourselves out to declare the works of the LORD. I am ashamed of my\npast unfruitfulness. Had others received the stock, that hath been\nintrusted to me, how would they have improved it? Indeed I am an\nunprofitable servant. In the righteousness of JESUS my LORD, is my\nonly refuge. Well may GOD afflict me; I richly deserve it; and when he\nbrings me low, nothing grieves me so much, as to think that I should\nbe so froward as to oblige the GOD of love to strike me with his rod.\nBut oh the goodness of the LORD! His rod, as well as staff, do comfort\nand build up my soul. I would not but be tried for ten thousand\nworlds. Blessed be GOD, I am enabled to clasp the cross, and desire\nto glory in nothing more. Dear brother, help me with your prayers. Our\nvictorious JESUS makes his power to be known; many have I seen struck\nquite down by the power of the word. The holy Ghost hath often come\nlike a mighty rushing wind. Satan has desired to sift us as wheat. But\nour LORD still shews me, that the orphan-house will go on and flourish.\nIt is often a great weight upon my soul; but through your and my dear\nfriends prayers, the LORD I am persuaded will still support it.\n\n Yours eternally in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXII.\n\n _To Mr. N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in New York._\n\n _Savannah, Aug. 15, 1740._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nYOUR letter rejoiced my heart. May our dear lord\u2019s kingdom be advanced\nmore and more every day! O that I may meet you at _New-England_!\nBlessed be GOD that Mr. _M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ is yet alive. Salute him from me; I\nhope to see him before I die, and so be taught the way of GOD more\nperfectly. I thank you for your kind hints; I have always paid great\ndeference to dear Mr. _N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s judgment: indeed I love him in the\nbowels of JESUS. GOD has been pleased to bring me low, for some time,\nby inward weakness, and faintness of spirits. The first strength that\nis given me to write, I make use of in writing to you. The LORD is\npurging me, that I may bring forth more fruit. I long to die, not that\nI may be rid of crosses, but that I may be with CHRIST. He draws me\nmore and more to him every day. I have had many close domestic trials\nof late. But these words, \u201cDavid strengthened himself in the LORD\nhis GOD,\u201d came with sweet power to my soul. I find, the nearer I come\nto CHRIST, the closer my trials are. I have been sometimes through\nweakness kept from preaching; but when I have spoken, the word has\ncome with power. I have reason to think, that three persons who came\nto see the orphan-house, have been effectually called by our LORD\nJESUS. I have now some _Carolina_ visitors in my house; two of them,\nI believe, are coming truly to JESUS.\u2015\u2015The word runs like lightning in\n_Charles-Town_. A serious lively Baptist minister, named _Tilly_, is\nhere also; he has preached often for me, and last _Sunday_ received\nthe sacrament in our way.\u2015\u2015O bigotry, thou art tumbling down a-pace!\nBlessed be GOD.\u2015\u2015Next week, GOD willing, I embark for _Charles-Town_,\nshall stay there a few days, and from thence purpose going to\n_New-England_. GOD wonderfully provides for my orphans.\u2015\u2015I am kept\nfrom every degree of doubting; nay, the LORD fills me daily with a\nfull assurance of faith. He chastens and corrects me, but it is all\nin love. O help me to praise him, and thereby add to the obligations\nalready laid on, dear Mr. _N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Ever yours,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXIII.\n\n _To Mrs. L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Charles-Town, Aug. 22, 1740._\n _Honoured Mother_,\n\nALTHOUGH I had not the pleasure of receiving one line, either from\nyour dear self, or from any other of my beloved friends; yet my\nheart was rejoiced just now by a sailor, who told me, that he saw and\nconversed with you the twenty-ninth of _May_ last. I thank you for the\nsalutation sent to me by him. Indeed I thank you from my very heart:\nfor I feel myself unworthy of your notice. Every day I love and honour\nyou more and more; and when you come to judgment, GOD will shew you\nhow many tears I have shed in secret for you and my dear sister. O let\nthem not be in vain! _Honoured Mother_, fly to JESUS.\u2015\u2015Behold, with\nopen arms, yonder he stands, ready to embrace you, if you feel your\nmisery, and are willing to come to him to find rest. May the great GOD,\nwho only can govern the wills and affections of sinful men, make you\nwilling in the day of his power! Yesterday GOD brought me hither again.\nIn a few days, I hope to embark for _New-England_; thence, GOD willing,\nyou may expect another letter. For near six weeks past I have been\nunder great weakness of body; but notwithstanding have been enabled\nsometimes to preach with great power. I am now somewhat better, but,\nwithout a miracle, cannot think of being long below. Indeed, _honoured\nMother_, I every day long to be dissolved and to be with CHRIST. Pray\ntell Mr. _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, that Mr. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, and _I\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, with one or two\nmore of their relations, I believe, are effectually called of GOD. We\nhad much power at _Savannah_. GOD hath sent me some family trials; but\nall things are working for good. I am, honoured Mother,\n\n Your ever dutiful son,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXIV.\n\n _To the Reverend Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Charles-Town, Aug. 25, 1740._\n _Dear and Honoured Sir_,\n\nLAST night I had the pleasure of receiving an extract of your\njournal.\u2015\u2015This morning I took a walk and read it. I pray GOD to give\nit his blessing. Many things I trust will prove beneficial, especially\nthe account of yourself. Only, give me leave with all humility to\nexhort you not to be strenuous in opposing the doctrines of _election_\nand _final perseverance_, when, by your own confession, \u201cyou have not\nthe witness of the spirit within yourself,\u201d and consequently are not a\nproper judge. I remember dear brother _E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ told me one day, that\n\u201che was convinced of the perseverance of the saints.\u201d I told him, you\nwas not. He replied, but he will be convinced when he hath got the\nspirit himself. I am assured, GOD has now for some years given me this\nliving witness in my soul. I cannot say, I have since indulged any\ndoubts (at least for no considerable time) about the forgiveness of my\nsins; nay, I can scarce say, that I ever doubted at all. When I have\nbeen nearest death, my evidences have been the clearest. I can say, I\nhave been on the borders of _Canaan_, and do every day, nay, almost\nevery moment, long for the appearing of our LORD JESUS CHRIST; not to\nevade sufferings, but with a single desire to see his blessed face.\nI feel his blessed spirit daily filling my soul and body, as plain\nas I feel the air which I breathe, or the food I eat.\u2015\u2015Perhaps the\ndoctrines of election and of final perseverance hath been abused, (and\nwhat doctrine has not,) but notwithstanding, it is children\u2019s bread,\nand ought not in my opinion to be with-held from them, supposing it\nis always mentioned with proper cautions against the abuse. _Dear_ and\n_Honoured Sir_, I write not this to enter into disputation. I hope, at\nthis time, I feel something of the meekness and gentleness of CHRIST.\nI cannot bear the thoughts of opposing you: but how can I avoid it,\nif you go about (as your brother _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ once said) to drive _John\nCalvin_ out of _Bristol_. Alas, I never read any thing that _Calvin_\nwrote; my doctrines I had from CHRIST and his apostles; I was taught\nthem of GOD; and as GOD was pleased to send me out first, and to\nenlighten me first, so I think he still continues to do it. My\nbusiness seems to be chiefly in planting; if GOD send you to water, I\npraise his name.\u2015\u2015I wish you a thousand-fold increase. I find, by young\n_W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s letter, there is disputing among you about _election_, and\n_perfection_.\u2015\u2015I pray GOD to put a stop to it, for what good end will\nit answer?\u2015\u2015I wish I knew your principles fully; did you write oftner,\nand more frankly, it might have a better effect than silence and\nreserve. I have lately had many domestic trials, and that about points\nof doctrine, not by myself, but from others in my absence. I daily\nwait upon GOD, depending on his promise, that all things, even this,\nshall work together for my good. Many in _Charles-Town_, I believe,\nare called of GOD. You may now find a christian, without searching the\ntown as with a candle. Mr. _G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ is less furious, at least in public.\nHe hath expended all his strength, and finds he cannot prevail. Adieu,\n_Honoured Sir_, Adieu! My health is better, since I last left _Charles\nTown_, and am now freed from domestic cares. With almost tears of love\nto you, and the brethren, do I subscribe myself, honoured Sir,\n\n Your most affectionate brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXV.\n\n _To Mrs. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Bristol._\n\n _Charles-Town, Aug. 26, 1740._\n _Dear J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Hope you and your little society go on and prosper. I hear there are\ndivisions among you. Avoid them if possible. The doctrines of election,\nand of final perseverance, I hold as well as you.\u2015\u2015But then, they\nare not to be contended for with heat and passion. Such a proceeding\nwill only prejudice the cause you would defend. Pray shew this to your\nother friends.\u2015\u2015Exhort them to avoid all clamour, and evil speaking,\nand with meekness receive the ingrafted word which is able to save\nyour soul. GOD has begun a great work here, and in other parts\nof _America_; but yet, I believe, I shall shortly have a call to\n_England_. O pray it may be the divine will, that I may have a\nprosperous journey; and that you may see me grown in grace, and in\nthe knowledge of our LORD and Saviour JESUS CHRIST.\u2015\u2015With tenderest\nlove to all, I am\n\n Your affectionate brother and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXVI.\n\n _To the Right Reverend Father in GOD, Edmund Lord\n Bishop of London_.\n\n _On board the Savannah, bound from Charles-Town to Boston,\n September \u2015\u2015, 1740._\n _My Lord_,\n\nALTHOUGH your Lordship has been pleased to caution the people against\nrunning into those extremes, to which your Lordship apprehended my\ndoctrine would lead men; yet I am persuaded that will not any way\ninfluence your Lordship, as to the contents of this letter. The one\nsingle point which it contains, is this query, \u201cWhether the commissary\nof _South-Carolina_ has power given him from your Lordship, to\nexercise any _judicial authority_ against me, or any other clergyman,\nwho doth not belong to his province?\u201d The reason of my putting this\nquestion, I suppose your Lordship will be apprized of, before this\nreaches your Lordship\u2019s hands. I have been lately cited to appear\nin an ecclesiastical court, erected by the _Reverend_ Mr. _G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\nfor not reading the common prayer in the meeting-house, which I was\nobliged to preach in at _Charles-Town_, (unless I would be silent)\nbecause the commissary would not let me have the use of his church.\nI appeared, and have appealed, according to law, to four of his\nmajesty\u2019s commissioners for reviewing appeals, to know, whether the\ncommissary ought not to have accepted a _Recusatio judicis_, which I\nlodged in court. This, I suppose, they will determine. I only desire\nyour Lordship\u2019s explicit opinion and determination, whether Mr.\n_G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, (supposing he hath power over his own clergy,) has authority\nto erect such a court to arraign me, who belong to the province of\n_Georgia_. The bearer hereof will give me your Lordship\u2019s answer. In\nfavouring me with which, your Lordship will oblige, my Lord,\n\n Your Lordship\u2019s obedient son and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXVII.\n\n _To Mr. P\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Boston, Sept. 19, 1740._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nI Have just now read your kind letter. Blessed be the LORD, for\nimparting somewhat of his divine presence to your soul. O may he fill\nyou brimful, and enable you so to preach, that all your adversaries\nmay not be able to gainsay or resist. Never fear undertaking to preach\nwithout notes; remember the promise, \u201cLo I am with you always, even to\nthe end of the world.\u201d By my master\u2019s leave, I propose to preach with\nyou, and dear brother _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. I am a worm and no man: I deserve to\nbe the outcast of the people. On _Sunday_ I arrived at _Rhode-Island_.\nOur LORD called some. Yesterday I came hither, to-day I preached.\nMay the LORD give a divine increase to the seed sown! A great work\nis carrying on at _Charles-Town_. The spirit of GOD is moving in\ndifferent parts of the world. O my dear, dear brother, let us up and\nbe doing, and the LORD will be with us. The world is lying in the\nwicked one. May GOD make you instrumental to deliver thousands from\nhis cursed slavery! With difficulty I redeem time to write this.\nBrother _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, and _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, are with me. I will endeavour to give\nyou notice of my coming. In the mean while, cease not praying for\n\n Your weak and unworthy brother,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXVIII.\n\n _To Mr. N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at New-York._\n\n _Boston, Sept. 23, 1740._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nHITHER GOD brought me on _Thursday_ evening: I preached once on\n_Friday_, and twice every day since. The power of the LORD advances\nsweetly. Our LORD, I believe, will revive his work in the midst of the\nyears; he enables me to preach plainly. Some ministers, I hope, will\nbe quickened, as well as people. They attend, and are exceeding civil,\nas also the governor. I wrote to you from _Rhode Island_; I shall call\nthere, as I come to you. On _Monday_, GOD willing, I shall set out to\nsee Mr. _M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, and on _Monday_ fortnight hope to go to _Northampton_.\nAll the packets of letters came safe. GOD bless my dear, dear Brother\n_N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ for his great care. Friends from _England_ write strange\nthings; GOD, I believe, calls me thither. Mr. _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ and the _M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015s_,\nI think, are sadly erroneous in some points of doctrine. When I see\nyou, I will communicate many particulars; now, I have scarce time\nto write this. Our dear LORD sweetly fills me with his presence.\nMy heaven is begun indeed. I feast on the fatted calf. The LORD\nstrengthens me mightily in the inner man. I find a few souls left\nin _Sardis_ that have not defiled their garments. Excuse me to Mr.\n_P\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_; I have not time to answer his kind letter! Adieu; I hope to\nbe with you in about five weeks.\u2015\u2015I pray for dear Brother _T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\nthat he may espouse more souls to the LORD JESUS CHRIST.\u2015\u2015My hearty\nlove to all.\n\n Ever yours,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXIX.\n\n _To Mr. A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Boston, Sept. 23, 1740._\n _My dear Brother A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Thank you for your letter: May the LORD enable me to send you an\nanswer of peace. _Sinless perfection_, I think, is unattainable in\nthis life. Shew me a man that could ever justly say, \u201cI am perfect.\u201d\nIt is enough if we can say so, when we bow down our heads and give up\nthe ghost. _Indwelling sin_ remains till death, even in the regenerate,\nas the article of the church expresses it.\u2015\u2015There is no man that\nliveth and sinneth not in thought, word, and deed: However, to affirm\nsuch a thing as perfection, and to deny _final perseverance_, what an\nabsurdity is this? To be incapable of sinning, and capable of being\nfinally damned, is a contradiction in terms. From such doctrine may I\never turn away! Labour, dear Mr. _A._ to be holy, even as GOD is holy;\nbut do not look for complete perfection here below. What is this, but\nin effect to vacate the righteousness of CHRIST? I hear many amongst\nyou who begun in the spirit, are now ending in the flesh. CHRIST hath\nfreely justified them, _i. e._ entitled them to all his merits, and\nyet they must do so and so to keep themselves in a justified state.\nAlas, this is sorry divinity; I have not so learned CHRIST. No, his\ngifts and callings are without repentance. Whom he loves, he loves to\nthe end. Work I will, but not to keep myself in a justified state. My\nLORD hath secured that; but I will work to shew my gratitude for his\nputting me into a justified state. O that all would study the covenant\nof grace. Dear Mr. _A._ I feel that I love you, and I find myself\ncarried out to write in this manner. My LORD blesses me with all\nspiritual blessings; he causes me to rejoice in his salvation. I pray\nhim to carry on his work in _London_, and to keep his church from\nerrors; but there must be a sifting as well as a gathering time. It is\nmeet that such offences should come. All shall work together for good\nto those who are _called after GOD\u2019s purpose_: They shall finally be\nsaved. This much comforts, dear Brother _A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your affectionate brother in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXX.\n\n _To H. H. in Wales._\n\n _Boston, Sept. 24, 1740._\n\nAND is dear Brother _H. H._ yet alive in body and soul? Blessed be GOD,\nwho causes those that wait on him to renew their strength. I rejoice\nin your success: May you mount with wings like eagles, walk and not be\nweary, run and not be faint! You shall not be taken or hurt, till the\nappointed hour is come. I hope your conversation was blessed to dear\nMr. _W._ O that the LORD may batter down his free-will, and compel\nhim to own his sovereignty and everlasting love! Some of _F\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 Lane_\nsociety, I fear, are running into sad errors; but this happens for\nour trial, especially mine. Those that before, I suppose, would have\nplucked out their eyes for me, now I suspect, I shall see very shy,\nand avoiding me. This is my comfort, the LORD is a never-failing\nfriend; his truth will make its way in spite of all carnal reasoning.\nO pray for me that I may have the spirit of judgment and a sound mind.\nMy coming to _England_ will try my fidelity to my Master: Nothing\nbut his strength can enable me to hear all contradictions with\nmeekness, and to preach with love his everlasting truths. O that\nall would study the covenant of grace! The more I look into it, the\nmore is my soul delighted. Dear Brother _H._ adieu. My dear friend\n_J. S._ sits by and cordially salutes you. I hope you have received\nmy letters. I expect to hear from you by dear Brother _S._ GOD is\nworking powerfully in _America_. He fills me with his presence, and\ncauses me to go on my way rejoicing. Grace! grace! I greet all most\naffectionately, and am, dear Brother _H._\n\n Yours eternally,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXXI.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. J. W._\n\n _Boston, Sept. 25, 1740._\n _Honoured Sir_,\n\nTHIS is sent in answer to your letter dated _March 25_.\u2015\u2015I think,\nI have for some time known what it is to have righteousness, peace,\nand joy in the Holy Ghost. These, I believe, are the privileges of\nthe sons of GOD: But I cannot say I am free from indwelling sin; no,\nI find a law in my members warring against the law of my mind: This\nmakes me to cry out, even now, \u201cWho shall deliver me from the body\nof this death?\u201d I thank GOD, our LORD JESUS CHRIST will. I cannot\nsee wherein the heterodoxy of the article of our church doth consist,\nwhich says, \u201cThat this corruption remains even in the regenerate;\u201d\nand if that after conversion we cannot sin in thought, word or deed,\nI do not know why our LORD taught us to pray to our heavenly Father,\n\u201cForgive us our trespasses.\u201d I am sorry, honoured Sir, to hear by\nmany letters, that you seem to own a _sinless perfection_ in this life\nattainable. I think I cannot answer you better, than a venerable old\nminister in these parts answered a Quaker. \u201cBring me a man that hath\nreally arrived to this, and I will pay his expences, let him come\nfrom where he will.\u201d I know not what you may think, I do not expect\nto say indwelling sin is finished and destroyed in me, till I bow down\nmy head and give up the ghost. There must be some _Amalekites_ left\nin the _Israelites_ land, to keep his soul in action, to keep him\nhumble, and to drive him continually to JESUS CHRIST for pardon and\nforgiveness. I know many abuse this doctrine, and perhaps wilfully\nindulge sin, or do not aspire after holiness, because no man is\nperfect in this life. But what of that? must I therefore assert\ndoctrines contrary to the gospel? GOD forbid. Whether the seventh\nto the _Romans_, is applicable to a converted person (as many very\neminent saints have thought) is not at all to the purpose: There\nare other passages of scripture, which plainly shew that sinless\nperfection is not attainable here below. Such as these, \u201cThere is no\nman that liveth and sinneth not.\u201d \u201cIn many things we offend all.\u201d And\nI know no sin except the sin against the Holy Ghost, of which a child\nof GOD may not be guilty, if GOD should withdraw his grace.\n\nWhatever you may think of _David_, the scripture says, \u201cHe was a\nman after GOD\u2019s own heart;\u201d yet how did he fall? And if you will not\npermit _Peter_ to have been converted when he denied his Master; what\nwill you say to St. _Paul_? Did not he sin, do you think, (at least\nwere not his passions irregular, and what is that but sin) when he\nspoke to the High Priest, and called him whited wall? Besides, dear\nSir, what a fond conceit is it to cry up _perfection_, and yet cry\ndown the doctrine of _final perseverance_? But this, and many other\nabsurdities you will run into, because you will not own _Election_:\nAnd you will not own Election, because you cannot own it without\nbelieving the doctrine of _Reprobation_. What then is there in\nreprobation so horrid? I see no blasphemy in holding that doctrine,\nif rightly explained. If GOD might have passed by all, he may pass by\nsome. Judge whether it is not a greater blasphemy to say, \u201cCHRIST died\nfor souls now in hell.\u201d Surely, dear Sir, you do not believe there\nwill be a general _gaol delivery_ of damned souls hereafter. O that\nyou would study the covenant of grace! O that you were truly convinced\nof sin, and brought to the foot of sovereign grace! _Elisha Cole on\nGOD\u2019s sovereignty_, and _Veritas Redux_, written by Doctor _Edwards_,\nare well worth your reading. But I have done; if you think so meanly\nof _Bunyan_, and the Puritan writers, I do not wonder that you think\nme wrong. I find your sermon has had its expected success; it hath\nset the nation a disputing; you will have enough to do now to answer\npamphlets; two I have already seen. O that you would be more cautious\nin casting lots! O that you would not be too rash and precipitant!\nIf you go on thus, _honoured Sir_, how can I concur with you? It is\nimpossible; I must speak what I know.\u2015\u2015Thus I write out of the fulness\nof my heart: I feel myself to be a vile sinner.\u2015\u2015I look to CHRIST; I\nmourn because I have pierced him. Honoured Sir, pray for me. The LORD\nbe with your dear soul. About Spring you may expect to see,\n\n Ever, ever yours in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXXII.\n\n _To Mr. G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Boston, Sept. 26, 1740._\n _My dear Friend and Brother_,\n\nI Wrote to you about a month ago from _Charles-Town_.\u2015\u2015Since I came\nhere I have received two letters from you. May the great GOD of heaven\nand earth bless your dear soul for thus assisting his poor unworthy\nservant: A sense of my ingratitude almost melts me into a flood\nof tears.\u2015\u2015Indeed I am the very chief of sinners.\u2015\u2015O the love, the\nsovereign, distinguishing, everlasting love of GOD my Saviour! Praise\nhim, praise him, dear Mr. _L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, with all your soul.\u2015\u2015I hope nothing\nwill cause a division between me and Messrs. _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015s_: But I must\nspeak what I know, and confute error wheresoever I find it. About\nSpring I hope to come over if the LORD will.\u2015\u2015Be pleased to inform my\nfriends, that last _Sunday_ was sevennight I arrived at _Rhode-Island_,\nwhere I preached and read prayers in the church on _Monday_ and\n_Tuesday_ to very large and affected auditories.\u2015\u2015On _Wednesday_ I\npreached at _Bristol_, in my way to _Boston_.\u2015\u2015On _Thursday_ night I\ngot there, and on _Friday_ preached, and have preached once or twice\nevery day since.\u2015\u2015Almost all the ministers, and vast bodies of people,\nhave been continually pressing to hear the word of GOD, sometimes in\nthe fields, and sometimes in the meeting-houses. My health is much\nrestored by the coolness of the air.\u2015\u2015I intend staying about a month\nin these parts, then to go to _Philadelphia_ by land, from thence to\n_Georgia_ by water, and I hope to embark for _England_ the beginning\nof the Spring.\u2015\u2015You see by this, dear friend, how our LORD works\nby my unworthy hands. Ministers and people, I believe, will be much\nquickened.\u2015\u2015I hope your dear soul prospers. For CHRIST\u2019s sake avoid\ndisputing; study your heart and the scriptures; get nearer and nearer\nto CHRIST, he will lead you into all truth. My most tender love to all;\nif opportunity any way offers, every letter received shall be answered\nby, dear dear Mr. _L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n The meanest of all your christian friends,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXXIII.\n\n _To Mr. I\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Boston, Sept. 26, 1740._\n _My dear Brother, I\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Thank you for your kind letter. It is the first I have received\nfrom you since I left _England_.\u2015\u2015I bless GOD the work goes on in\n_Yorkshire_.\u2015\u2015May our glorious, sin-forgiving LORD bless you and your\nspiritual children more and more! I find, our friends are got into\ndeputing one with another.\u2015\u2015O that the GOD of peace may put a stop to\nit! I wish many may not be building on a false foundation, and rest in\na false peace. They own _free justification_, and yet seem to think,\nthat their continuance in a justified state depends on their doings,\nand their wills.\u2015\u2015This, I think, is establishing a righteousness\nof our own. My dear brother, if we search the scriptures, we shall\nfind that the word _justified_ implies not only pardon of sin, but\nalso all its consequences.\u2015\u2015\u201cThus (says Saint _Paul_) those whom\nhe justified, them he also glorified;\u201d so that if a man was once\njustified, he remains so to all eternity.\u2015\u2015Here lies the anchor of\nall my hopes.\u2015\u2015Our LORD having once loved me, he will love me to\nthe end.\u2015\u2015This fills me with joy unspeakable and full of glory.\u2015\u2015I\nnow walk by faith.\u2015\u2015I work not to keep myself in a justified state,\n(for men or devils can never pluck me out of CHRIST\u2019s hands,) but to\nexpress my love and gratitude for what JESUS hath done for my soul.\nThis, I think, is what the apostle calls \u201cfaith working by love.\u201d\nMy dear brother, my heart\u2019s desire and prayer to GOD is, that we may\nall think and speak the same things.\u2015\u2015For, if we are divided among\nourselves, what an advantage will satan get over us? Let us love one\nanother, excite all to come to CHRIST without exception, and our LORD\nwill shew us, who are his. The work of GOD goes on exceedingly in\n_America_. The LORD is pleased to manifest himself unto my soul more\nand more. I am a naughty, stubborn child; but my dear LORD will have\nmercy because he will have mercy. It is owing to his distinguishing\nlove that I am not hardened. Here is, and I believe will be a great\nquickning in these parts.\u2015\u2015The cloud seems to be moving. Perhaps in\nthe Spring we may meet face to face. With difficulty I get time to\nwrite this, but I must answer dear Brother _I\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s letter.\u2015\u2015May\nthe LORD JESUS be continually with your spirit, and make your soul\nbrimful of peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. I love you in the bowels\nof the crucified Lamb. May he unite us more and more intimately\nto his dear self, and to one another. Salute all that love him in\nsincerity.\u2015\u2015Brethren, pray for us.\u2015\u2015That you may be kept by GOD\u2019s\npower to eternal salvation, is the prayer of\n\n Your most affectionate, though unworthy brother and\n poor weak servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXXIV.\n\n _To Mr. W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Boston, September 28, 1740._\n _Dear Brother W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Thank you for your kind letter from _Osset_; I wish it was written\nwith more life. I fear you are turning almost to a spirit of bondage:\nbut it is good for you to be sifted, to make an experienced minister\nof JESUS CHRIST. I could not but smile, to find you wink at the\n_decency of my dress_. Alas! my brother, I have known long since what\nit is to be in that state you are (in my opinion) about to enter into.\nI myself thought once that christianity required me to go nasty. I\nneglected myself as much as you would have me, for above a twelvemonth:\nbut when GOD gave me the spirit of adoption, I then dressed _decently_,\nas you call it, out of principle: and I am more and more convinced,\nthat the LORD would have me act, in that respect, as I do. But I am\nalmost ashamed to mention any such thing: rather let us talk and write\nof the love of JESUS; \u201cLet us stand fast in the liberty wherewith\nJESUS CHRIST hath made us free, and not be again entangled in a yoke\nof bondage.\u201d GOD only knows whether you have done right in leaving\nthe university, or in declining to exhort. If you do not preach till\nyou are perfectly free from all sin, I believe you will never preach\nagain. I could never hear of such a minister or christian yet. My dear\nbrother, I speak freely to you, because I love you in the bowels of\nJESUS CHRIST. He sent his disciples to preach before they were perfect;\nnay, when they were weak in grace. Exercise the talents you have,\nand that is the way to get more. Thus has GOD dealt with me for these\nseven years. \u201cTo him that hath, shall be given.\u201d Many of our friends\ntalk against election: a good reason may be given. I believe they have\nnever taken pains to search into the true state of the case. What if\nsome abuse that doctrine; is it therefore false? No; by no means. I am\npersuaded, if any of our friends would examine their experiences, they\nwould find that JESUS CHRIST freely prevented them by his grace; that\nhe compelled them to come in; and that it is not owing to themselves,\nbut to the will and promise of GOD, that they are now kept in a state\nof grace. But I will say no more. My dear brother, I love you. May the\nLORD lead you into all truth. Our dear Master is doing wonders among\nus. Praise him lustily, and with a good courage. Adieu. Dear _J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015\nS\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ salutes you and the brethren, as does\n\n Yours affectionately,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXXV.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. Z\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Boston, Sept. 28, 1740._\n _Reverend and dear Brother_,\n\nI Received\u2015\u2015I felt your letter. Surely there is a sympathy between\nsouls that have drank into the same spirit. GOD willing, I purpose to\ncome and see you; and will endeavour to send you timely notice: but oh\ndo not expect too great things from me; for if you do, who knows but\nmy LORD may desert me; and then what am I? Excuse the brevity of this.\nSo many persons come to me under convictions, and for advice, that I\nhave scarce time to eat bread. Wonderful things are doing here. The\nword runs like lightning. _Dagon_ daily falls before the ark. I know\nyou will, in spirit, pray that a due sense of his own vileness may be\ncontinually given to\n\n Your affectionate, though unworthy, brother and servant\n in our glorious _Emmanuel_,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXXVI.\n\n _To Mr. W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Bristol._\n\n _Boston, Sept. 28, 1740._\n _Dear Brother W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nWHAT mean you by disputing in all your letters? May GOD give you to\nknow yourself, and then you will not plead for _absolute perfection_;\nor call the doctrine of election a \u201cdoctrine of devils.\u201d My dear\nbrother, take heed; see you are in CHRIST a new creature. Beware of\na false peace: strive to enter in at the strait gate; and give all\ndiligence to make your calling and election sure. Remember you are but\na babe in CHRIST, if so much. Be humble, talk little, think and pray\nmuch. Let GOD teach you, and he will lead you into all truth. I love\nyou heartily: I pray you may be kept from error, both in principle\nand practice. Salute all the brethren. If you must dispute, stay till\nyou are master of your subject; otherwise you will hurt the cause you\nwould defend. Study to adorn the gospel of our LORD in all things; and\nforget not to pray for\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXXVII.\n\n _To Mr. G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Boston, October 9, 1740._\n _My dear Brother L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Write to you again by this ship, though I have scarce time to write\na line. GOD works by me, I think, more than ever. I am quite well in\nbodily health. Ministers as well as people are stirred up, and the\ngovernment is exceeding civil. In short, GOD is doing greater things\nthan can be expressed. Oh exhort all to pray, and to give thanks for\nme with their whole hearts. The bearer brings the authentic copy of my\nappeal; I sent you another copy before from _Carolina_. Be pleased to\nkeep this I have now sent, till you hear of my coming to _England_:\nif I come in the Spring, I will lodge it myself; if not, be pleased to\nlodge it for me, and I will pay all expences. O dear brother _L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\nwhat a scene of labours and sufferings lies before me! My dear JESUS\nwill make me more than conqueror over all: he strengthens and comforts,\nhe converses with me by night and by day: he gives me all peace and\njoy in believing. I pray GOD to keep our dear brother _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ and\nothers from a false stillness. I am sorry to hear such errors are\nrisen amongst the brethren. Adieu; the LORD be with your spirit. I\nhave already collected upwards of four hundred pounds sterling for the\nOrphan-house. GOD shews me that _America_ must be my place for action.\nOnce more adieu. Cease not to pray for,\n\n Ever, ever yours,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXXVIII.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Newhaven, Oct. 24, 1740._\n _My very dear Friend and Brother_,\n\nYOUR letter, just now brought to me by dear brother _N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, gave\nme great comfort. With fear and trembling, ever since the late\ndisputations, have I opened letters sent from _Savannah_, but blessed\nbe GOD, our dear LORD is with my dear friend _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. Blessed be GOD,\nmy family dwell together in unity. The GOD of love fill you with all\npeace and joy in believing. I hope a supply for your then present\nwants, came to you soon after you sent your letters: since that, I\nhave sent from _Boston_ 100 _l._ sterling; next week I hope to send\nagain from _New-York_, and before _Christmas_ I trust I shall see you\nface to face. Wonderful things GOD does for me. I am enabled to preach\nand travel better than ever. There has been joy in heaven, I believe,\nover many souls repenting. There are some hopes of dear, dear brother\n_N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s coming with me. Mr. _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, one of the young ministers of\n_Long Island_, with his wife, accompanies me also; and another settled\nchristian, who holds and experiences the truth as it is in JESUS.\nO that all my family may be thus minded! I suppose by this time you\nknow how matters are determined for me, if Mr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ is arrived. GOD\nkeeps me in suspense: suspense did I say? Blessed be his holy name,\nI am quite easy: I am persuaded he will chuse for me a daughter of\n_Abraham_. I know not but it may be the divine will that you should\nabide in _Georgia_, whilst I go to _England_. Be resigned: see if GOD\ndoes not bring all things about for your good: there is but little\ncomfort to be expected in _England_. I find I must, if I am faithful,\noppose the errors of many who, I believe, fear GOD: O that I may do it\nwith meekness and wisdom. Methinks I now long to be with you all at\n_Savannah_. Pray for my speedy passage. I am glad GOD is scourging out\nthe children of _Belial_: you have often heard me say GOD would do so.\nNever fear; a remnant will be left, which shall take root downwards,\nand bear fruit upwards, and yet fill the land. My dear brother, adieu:\nI am called away. I love you more solidly than ever. Dear _J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015\nS\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, Mr. _F\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, and _P\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, love you too: we travel very\ncomfortably: thousands of prayers are continually put up for me and\nmine. My love to all, without exception. Feed the lambs, study the\npurity of their hearts, and thereby rejoice the soul of\n\n Yours most affectionately and eternally in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXXIX.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 9, 1740._\n _Dear and honoured Sir_,\n\nI Received your\u2019s, dated _March 11_, this afternoon. Oh that we were\nof one mind: for I am yet persuaded you greatly err. You have set a\nmark you will never arrive at, till you come to glory. I think few\nenjoy such continued manifestations of GOD\u2019s presence as I do, and\nhave done, for some years; but I dare not pretend to say I shall be\nabsolutely perfect. O, dear Sir, many of GOD\u2019s children are grieved\nat your principles; O that GOD may give you a sight of his free,\nsovereign, and electing love! But no more of this: why will you compel\nme to write thus? why will you dispute? I am willing to go with you\nto prison, and to death; but I am not willing to oppose you. My heart\nis now much affected: indeed I love and honour you. Dear, dear Sir,\nstudy the covenant of grace, that you may be consistent with yourself:\nhasten O LORD, the blessed time! I fancy I shall embark for _England_\nabout Spring; but am not yet determined. GOD shews me his goodness\nplenteously every day. I dwell in CHRIST, and CHRIST in me: glory\nbe to sovereign grace. I seem to have a new body, and the LORD\nJESUS greatly enriches my soul. O I am a poor sinner! but our LORD\nfrequently manifests himself in such a manner, that it throws me into\nan agony which my body is almost too weak to bear. Honoured Sir, adieu.\nO build up, but do not lead into error, the souls once committed to\nthe charge of\n\n Your affectionate, unworthy brother and servant,\n in the loving JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXXX.\n\n _To Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Wales._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 9, 1740._\n _My very dear Brother H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Wrote to you from _Boston_. Your letter, written near a twelvemonth\nago, came to my hand this afternoon. My soul is knit to you: we both\nspeak and think the same things. The LORD be with your spirit. JESUS\nmanifests forth his glory daily in these parts. Though I am such a\nvile, worthless, ungrateful wretch, yet the LORD fills me out of his\ndivine fulness day by day. His word is like a fire, and a hammer: last\nweek I saw many quite struck down. Our LORD is working upon little\nchildren. _America_, ere long, will be famous for christians. Surely\nthe candlestick will shortly be removed from _England_. Little did I\nthink, when Mr. _E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ wrote, that I should preach in all the\nchief places of _America_: but that is now done; glory be to rich,\nfree, and sovereign grace! Perhaps about Spring I may embark for my\nnative country: the LORD vouchsafe us a happy meeting. O _Wales_, thou\nart dear to my soul! My love to all the brethren. Dear brother _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\nI pray GOD you may prosper, even as your soul prospers. Expect another\njournal shortly: but wait till we come to glory, fully to see and hear\nwhat GOD hath done for\n\n Your affectionate brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXXXI.\n\n _To his Excellency Jonathan Belcher, Esq., in Boston._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 9, 1740._\n\nTHOUGH late, I now snatch a few moments to send your excellency my\nacknowledgments for all honours received at _Boston_: they are much\nupon my heart. I pray GOD to reward your excellency a thousand-fold.\n\nGreat things hath the glorious _Emmanuel_ done for me and his people\non the way: the word has been attended with much power. Surely our\nLORD intends to set _America_ in a flame. This week Mr. _G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\npurposes to set out for _Boston_, in order to blow up the divine fire\nlately kindled there. I recommend him to your excellency as a solid,\njudicious, and zealous minister of the LORD JESUS CHRIST: he will be\nready to preach daily: I suppose his brethren will readily open their\ndoors: may the LORD at the same time open the people\u2019s hearts, that\nthey may diligently attend to the things that shall be spoken. Dear Mr.\n_R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ grows in grace: I left him at _Brunswick_, full of gratitude\nfor his late journey. I am persuaded it was of GOD. I hope he will\nbe instrumental in quickening both ministers and people. He is worthy\nof your excellency\u2019s particular regard: under GOD he may need it. I\nexpect he will soon be reviled and persecuted for his blessed Master\u2019s\nsake: may the LORD enable him to rejoice and be exceeding glad. Dear\nSir, the welfare of dear _Boston_ people, especially the welfare of\nyour own soul, lies upon me night and day. I remember your tears: I\nremember your excellency\u2019s words, \u201cMr. _Whitefield_, pray that I may\nhunger and thirst after righteousness.\u201d O how did these words rejoice\nme! for I thought your excellency wanted a more clear view of your own\nvileness, and of the all-sufficiency of JESUS CHRIST; I mean a more\nclear, experimental view: for what is all head-knowledge without that\nof the heart? it only settles people more upon their lees. May GOD\ngive you to see and to follow the simplicity of the blessed JESUS.\nWhilst you are in the world, may you not be of it: may you be dead to\nmagnificence, and alive to nothing but what leads you directly to your\nGOD.\n\n_Honoured Sir_, I make no apology for this freedom: your excellency\nbid me not spare rulers; no, not the chief of them. Indeed I long\nafter your salvation; O that I could do any thing to promote it! If my\nprayers, or any thing within my power may be instrumental thereunto,\nyour excellency may command, honoured Sir,\n\n Your Excellency\u2019s obliged humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXXXII.\n\n _To Mr. M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at London._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1740._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nSTILL my LORD shews me greater things. At _New-York_ the Holy Ghost\ncame down like a mighty rushing wind. At _Baskenridge_ still a greater\nawakening among young and old. One that received CHRIST cried out,\n\u201cHe is come! He is come!\u201d &c. The poor creature was wrapped up in the\nLORD JESUS: and both there and at _New-York_ my soul was taken almost\nout of the body. At _Newark_ the LORD worked wonderfully amongst some\nyoung men; and here at _Philadelphia_ the word runs very swiftly.\nThis afternoon, how beautiful did the LORD appear in his sanctuary!\nI would cry out, \u201cHow amiable are thy dwellings, thou LORD of hosts!\u201d\nIn several places, almost as large as _Northampton_, are many faithful\nlabourers. We all think and speak the same things: O that it was so\nat _London_! The LORD enables me to confute error wherever I see it.\nPray for me, that I may be made faithful to my LORD and Master: he is\ndearer to me every day: he will have mercy, because he will have mercy.\nSee brother _L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s letter. Another journal comes out shortly. My\nhearty love to all. Stand fast in the faith: quit yourselves like men:\nbe strong. Above all, give thanks to GOD; and pray in behalf of, dear\nMr. _M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your most affectionate brother and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXXXIII.\n\n _To Mr. G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1740._\n _Dear Brother L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Wrote to you last week from _New-York_. You may give friends this\nbrief account of me: On last _Saturday_ evening I arrived at this\nplace, having preached at _Staten Island_, _Newark_, _Baskenridge_,\n_New Brunswick_, and _Trenton_, in my way hither from _New York_. A\nwonderful presence of GOD was observable at _New-York_, _Baskenridge_,\nand _Newark_. I preached here twice yesterday, and also to-day, in\na large house built by the people since I was here last. It is an\nhundred feet long, and seventy feet wide; and is intended for a school,\nas well as a place for public worship. The walls are brick, and the\nroof is now almost ready to be put up. GOD hath remarkably appeared\nin the carrying on the building; and the holy spirit hath sweetly\nmoved on the hearers souls every time I preached in it. I intend, GOD\nwilling, to stay here this, and to embark for _Georgia_ the latter end\nof next week; and propose, GOD willing, to return to _England_ for a\nshort time, in the Spring.\n\nThe LORD highly favours me; I am more sick of myself, and more in love\nwith CHRIST daily: he is a dear, dear Master: Oh that all would love\nhim with all their hearts! Adieu: it is late. The LORD be with your\nspirit.\n\n Your affectionate friend, brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXXXIV.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at New Brunswick._\n\n _Salem, Nov. 20, 1740._\n _My very dear Brother_,\n\nEXCESS of business, not a want of love, prevented my writing to you\nfrom _Philadelphia_. I feel that I love you in the bowels of the dear\nJESUS, our ever blessed and glorious _Emmanuel_: he hath done great\nthings for me since you left us. Yesterday at _Cohansie_ the spirit of\nthe LORD moved over the whole congregation: what reason have we to be\nthankful for the great things we both see and hear! My dear brother,\nindeed I desire to lie in the dust. O how good is my LORD to me!\nthoughts cannot conceive, or words express it! I long to be in glory,\nthat I may praise him as I would. I rejoice to hear that the LORD is\nwith you. Shortly, I believe, you will evangelize. All friends kindly\nsalute you. Adieu. In great haste, I am\n\n Your very affectionate, though unworthy brother\n and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXXXV.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Bohemia, (Maryland) Nov. 24, 1740._\n _My very dear Brother_,\n\nI Rejoice to hear that you are married: I salute your wife and\nmy sister in CHRIST: may you love one another, as CHRIST and his\nchurch. I have lately conversed closely with _P\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_: alas! we\ndiffer widely in many respects; therefore, to avoid disputation and\njealousies on both sides, it is best to carry on the work of GOD apart.\nThe divisions among the brethren sometimes grieve, but do not surprize\nme. How can it be otherwise, when teachers do not think and speak\nthe same things? GOD grant we may keep up a cordial undissembled love\ntowards each other, notwithstanding our different opinions. O how do\nI long for heaven! Surely, _there_ will be no divisions, no strife\nthere, but who shall sing with most affection to the Lamb that sitteth\nupon the throne. Dear _James_, there I hope to meet thee; for the dear\nJESUS, I believe, hath locked thee fast in his almighty arms. Lean\nthou on his sacred bosom night and day; keep close to him, and be what\nI long to be, a little child. Adieu. I am ready to weep tears of love.\nMy dear brother, I should be glad to wash any of the brethren\u2019s feet:\nindeed I am now willing to be the servant of all. The more the LORD\nhonours me, the more I feel my unworthiness. I am sometimes sick of\nlove, and often, often sick of self. O that GOD should have mercy on\nsuch a sinner! Help me, dear _James_, to praise my Saviour. A glorious\nchurch is raising in _America_. The LORD mightily reveals his arm.\nIt would please you to see his outgoings, his stately steps in the\ngreat congregation. I only want fellow-labourers. I look to JESUS for\nthis, and for every thing. I desire you to print nothing against your\nconscience: only do not immediately censure every thing that may not\nseem clear to you: our LORD may guide me, even into things which as\nyet you may not see into. The day of judgment will discover all. Adieu.\n\n Ever, ever yours in our blessed _Emmanuel_,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXXXVI.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. J. W._\n\n _Bohemia (Maryland) Nov. 24, 1740._\n _Dear and Hon. Sir_,\n\nLAST night brother _G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ brought me your two kind letters. O that\nthere may be harmony, and very intimate union between us! Yet it\ncannot be, since you hold _universal Redemption_. But no more of this.\nPerhaps, in Spring, we may see each other face to face. This evening,\nGOD willing, I propose to embark for _Georgia_. Wonderful things our\nLORD brings to pass, in these parts, every day. Here is a close\nopposition from some of the _Presbyterian Clergy_. The seed of the\nserpent is the same in all, of whatever communion. I expect much more\nopposition every hour. The devil rages in _London_. He begins now to\ntriumph indeed. The children of GOD are disunited among themselves.\nThe king of the church shall yet over-rule all things for good. My\ndear brother, for CHRIST\u2019s sake avoid all disputation. Do not oblige\nme to preach against you; I had rather die. Be gentle towards the \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015.\nThey will get great advantage over you, if they discover any irregular\nwarmth in your temper. I cannot for my soul unite with the _Moravian\nBrethren_. _Honoured Sir_, Adieu!\n\n Yours eternally in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXXXVII.\n\n _Saint George\u2019s (Pensylvania) Nov. 24, 1740._\n _Dear Brother T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nGOD has revived his own work in _Philadelphia_. His glory filled\nthe great house. The affairs belonging thereto, I believe, are\nwell settled. We have had precious times at _Cohansi_, _Salem_,\n_Fogs-mannor_, _Nottingham_, _Whiteclay_, _Creek_ and _Bohemia_.\nBrother _G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ is come from _England_ very opportunely. Brother\n_S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ comes about _Christmas_. The brethren I think do grow, though\nsadly divided. But our LORD will order all for good.\u2015\u2015Upon several\naccounts, I think it best to embark for _England_ as soon as possible\nin the Spring. O pray for me, that I may not by any means grieve the\nchildren of GOD. I hope the weather is warm enough for you. I trust\nour LORD has warmed and filled your dear soul. Your brother _Charles_\nis with me. My dear fellow travellers salute you and our dear brother\n_R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. My love to all that love the LORD JESUS. The war goes\non bravely between _Michael_ and the _Dragon_. Our dear LORD (O\ncondescending love!) is wonderous kind to your poor, weak, unworthy\nbrother and servant in\nCHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXXXVIII.\n\n _Reedy-Island, Nov. 26, 1740._\n _Dear Mr. F\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Thank you for your letter.\u2015\u2015You may print my life, as you desire.\nGOD willing, I shall correct my two volumes of sermons, and send them\nthe very first opportunity.\u2015\u2015Pray write to me by every ship, that goes\nshortly to _Charles-Town_.\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015\n\nI shall embark for _England_, GOD willing, about _February_.\u2015\u2015I desire\nI may hear from you there also, as often as possible. I have prefaced\n_Jenks_, and _Presumptuous sinners detected_. Mr. _Bradford_ has the\nlast, because he said he was to print it. You may have it of him.\u2015\u2015The\n_Ornaments of the daughter of Sion_, you may have hereafter. Dear\nSir, Adieu. I do not despair of your seeing the reasonableness of\nchristianity. Apply to GOD; be willing to do the divine will, and\nyou shall know it. I have heard from Mr. _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_; all is well. To-day\nseveral friends have taken leave of me at this place, waiting for a\nfair wind in order to embark for _Georgia_. I think I have been on\nshore 73 days, and have been enabled to travel upwards of 800 miles,\nand to preach 170 times, besides very frequent exhortations at private\nhouses. I have collected, in goods and money, upwards of 700 _l._\nsterling, for the Orphan-house; blessed be GOD! Great and visible are\nthe fruits of my late, as well as former feeble labours, and people in\ngeneral seem more eager after the word than ever. O the love of GOD to\n\n Your unworthy friend,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXXXIX.\n\n _To Mr. N. in New-York._\n\n _Charles-Town, Dec. 10, 1740._\n _My very dear Brother_,\n\nIN eight days, the LORD brought us hither. We arrived last night, when\nthe Redeemer vouchsafed so to fill me with his divine consolations,\nthat I could scarce sleep. I have been preaching this morning on the\nfire that happened of late from these words, Isa. i. 9. \u201cExcept the\nLORD of HOSTS had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have\nbeen as \u2666_Sodom_, and we should have been like unto _Gomorrah_.\u201d I am\nnow determined to see _England_ as soon as possible. I have had much\nof GOD\u2019s presence in our passage hither from _Philadelphia_, and have\nmany precious letters to send you. O follow me with your prayers. I\nleave _Charles-Town_, GOD willing, to-night, in order to hasten to\ntheir relief, and shall go in the same sloop which brought me here,\nto my beloved _Georgia_. As soon as possible, I will send you a long\nletter. In the mean while, accept of my love from, dear Mr. _N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your very affectionate friend and brother\n and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n \u2666 \u2018Sodam\u2019 replaced with \u2018Sodom\u2019\n\n\n LETTER CCXL.\n\n _To Mr. G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _On board the Savannah for Georgia, Dec. 11, 1740._\n _Dear Brother C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nYOUR late letters, especially that which you sent me by way of\n_Charles-Town_, made me smile.\u2015\u2015I was glad to find that you had not so\nfar thrown off all outward things, as to resolve not to write to any\none; and I thought I knew the frame of your heart, as though I was\nwithin you. My dear, dear _George C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, I love you tenderly in the\nbowels of JESUS CHRIST, and therefore would not have you be deceived.\nAlas, why do you pervert this text of scripture, \u201cBe still, and know\nthat I am the LORD,\u201d as if it was designed to keep a christian from\nstriving, or meant a _stillness of body_, or waiting upon GOD only in\nsilence? The expression is taken out of the 46th Psalm, where GOD\u2019s\nfury against the heathen is described in the most lively colours;\nand then lest his people should complain of the severity of his\ndispensations, GOD commands them to be _still_, \u201cnot to murmur or\nrepine, knowing that he was the LORD, and might do what seemed him\ngood.\u201d Thus _Tate_ and _Brady_ in their translations explain it, and\nthis is the true and genuine meaning of that sentence. It hath no\nreference to stillness in prayer, or stillness of body. Dear brother,\nI speak to you plainly, because I love you. I think I know what it is\nto wait upon the LORD in silence, and to feel the spirit of GOD making\nintercession for me with groanings which cannot be uttered. Often have\nI been at such times filled as it were with the fulness of GOD, and\nI do now daily carry on a communion with the most high GOD and the\never-blessed JESUS. But all this I fear is contrary to the _false\nstillness_, you and some others seem to have fallen into. I was just\nin the same case some years ago at _Oxford_, when I declined writing,\nreading, and such like exercises, because I would be _still_. The LORD\nconvinced me; I pray he may also convince you of this delusion. Dear\n_George_, consider how contrary your maxim is to our Saviour\u2019s. You\nsay, \u201c_Be still._\u201d He says, \u201c_Strive._\u201d As in an agony, \u201cStrive that\nyou may enter in at the strait gate.\u201d Indeed, my dear man, I pity you,\nknowing you have but a weak judgment, though a well-meaning heart.\nYou once thought that you was born again; then, you found it was only\nan elapse of the Holy Ghost. You used to say, you wished you could\nbelieve from experience in the doctrine of election; now, you find\nas yet no evidence within yourself that you are a real christian.\nYou take too much refuge, I fear, in the doctrine of _universal\nredemption_. It is the finest doctrine in the world to cause a soul to\nbe falsely still, and to say _Peace, Peace_, when there is no peace.\nYou seem to insist upon sinless perfection, and to think a man hath\nno real salvation till he literally cannot commit sin. From whose\nexperience do you write this? Not from your _own_, dear _George_;\nfor I much question, if ever your heart was truly broken or had a\nsaving closure with CHRIST. You seem to mention _Peter Bochler_ as\nan instance; but alas, though he has been washed in the blood of the\nLamb, so as to be justified from all his sins, yet like me his feet\nwant washing still, and will, till he bows down his head and gives up\nthe ghost. I have conversed with him intimately. Take heed, brother,\nof having any thing too much in admiration, or of thinking you must\nnecessarily find CHRIST at such and such a place. You have been at\n_M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. I believe you have seen many dear children of GOD; but have\nyou returned home with CHRIST in your heart? Your letters do not speak\nmuch improvement in the school of CHRIST. If GOD loves you, he will\nlet you see the vanity of your present imaginations, and bring you to\nsee that salvation is not of him that willeth, or of him that runneth,\nbut of GOD that sheweth mercy. Dear _George_, be not given to change;\nbe not too fond of new things. \u201cTo the law and to the testimony,\u201d and\nsee what CHRIST and his apostles have spoken. I speak this out of love,\nand not in reference to myself. If GOD blesses another ministry to\nyour soul, I rejoice, yea and will rejoice. But if I see you fall into\nerrors, do not be angry if I tell you the truth. If you are, I will\nnotwithstanding love and pray for you. That errors are crept in among\nyou, I think is too plain: but I suspend my judgment till the Spring,\nwhen, GOD willing, I hope to be in _London_. In the mean while pray\nfor me, that I may with joy bear to be deserted by those, who once\nwere blessed and awakened by my ministry, and to whom I am a spiritual\nfather, though they may have many instructors. Dear _George_, may the\nLORD be with you. He only knows how dear you are to my heart. It is\nnear midnight; but it was much upon my heart to write you this letter.\nThat GOD may sanctify it to your edification and comfort, is the\nhearty prayer of\n\n Your affectionate friend, brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXLI.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Good-Hope (South-Carolina) Jan. 1, 1741._\n _Rev. and dear Sir_,\n\nI am now going to _Charles-Town_, in order to embark for _England_;\nthe cloud of GOD\u2019s providence seems to be moving that way; I have\nenjoyed much of the divine presence since I left _Boston_, and have\nhad a comfortable Christmas with my dear family at _Georgia_. At\nmy return, I found my Orphan-houshold removed from _Savannah_ to\n_Bethesda_, and great improvements made during the time of my absence.\nThe great house will be finished, GOD willing, so as to be habitable,\nin about two months. It would have been finished so far by this time,\nif the _Spaniards_ had not taken a schooner loaded with bricks and\nother provisions to a considerable value; but GOD about the same time\nstirred up the heart of a planter in _South-Carolina_, lately brought\nhome at the orphan-house to GOD, to send my family some rice and beef.\nAt other times, when they have wanted food, the _Indians_ have brought\nplenty of venison. GOD, every day, more and more convinces us that\nthis work is of him. His power has been made known, especially among\nthe young ones. I bless GOD, I have settled my family to my great\nsatisfaction, and verily believe I shall live to see great things come\nfrom the Orphan-house. GOD works upon the hearts of the labourers. One\nwoman hath had a glorious discovery of CHRIST made to her heart: last\nweek, two or three men where brought into heart-distress, and another\nyoung man that came to see us, was made so sick of sin, as to feel the\nwant of, and to enquire after the great and all-powerful physician of\nsouls. My family, I think, consists now of 89 persons. Next year my\nexpences will be contracted much; but at present, I am in debt about\n500 _l._ sterling. However, I know in whom I have believed, ONE who\nis able to pay it. My public accounts will be published as soon as\nI arrive at _London_, with a prospect of the Orphan-house, and other\nlittle houses and gardens annexed unto it. I am now at the house of\none _Mr. Jonathan B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, who, I trust, with his brother _Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015\nB\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, and another young man, lately a player in _New-York_, are\nsettled by a living faith in JESUS CHRIST. The latter, I intend for\nthe ministry. Mr. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s wife died not long since, rejoicing\nin GOD her Saviour. Several others also in these parts are grown\nin grace, and Mr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s ministry hath been much blessed.\u2015\u2015Satan\nhath been sowing tares in old _England_. Oh that _Boston_ ministers\nand people may pray for me! Indeed, I love them in the bowels of the\nblessed JESUS. _Vale! longum etsi spero non in \u00e6ternum, vale._ That\nCHRIST\u2019s kingdom may flourish in your heart, and that you may greatly\npromote it in the souls of others, is the hearty prayer of, Reverend\nand dear Sir,\n\n Your affectionate unworthy fellow-servant, in our common LORD,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER \u2666CCXLII.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Charles-Town, Jan. 12, 1741._\n _Dear and Reverend Sir_,\n\nLAST _Saturday_ I was taken up for being concerned in correcting\nthe inclosed printed letter, written by Mr. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015n_, whose\nconversion you have an account of in the other letter sent herewith. I\nthink it may be for GOD\u2019s glory to have them all printed in _Boston_.\nI am bound over to appear next sessions, as well as Mr. _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. He,\nI believe, for _libelling the king_, and I for _libelling the clergy_,\nin saying they break the Canons daily. I think, dear Sir, these are\nearnests of what I must expect to meet with in my native country.\nOpposition, as yet, seems to be only like a cloud rising out of the\nsea, no bigger than a man\u2019s hand. Perhaps it will gather to a great\nbody, and break upon the church of GOD. Our LORD will be our refuge in\nevery storm. He is much with my soul, and fills me abundantly, I could\nalmost say superabundantly, with his presence. We have seen precious\ntimes. One person had a glorious discovery of CHRIST about two days\nago. I expect my family will be like the burning bush. I find I am\nin debt for them upwards of six hundred pounds: but the LORD will\nprovide.\u2015\u2015My most tender love awaits all that love him. I am to appear\nat the sessions by an attorney. Dear Sir, remember,\n\n Ever yours in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n \u2666 \u2018CXLII\u2019 replaced with \u2018CCXLII\u2019\n\n\n LETTER CCXLIII.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Rhode Island._\n\n _Charles-Town, Jan. 16, 1741._\n _Reverend and Dear Sir_,\n\nI Snatch a few moments to write you a line before I embark for\n_England_. Blessed be GOD, you are near your desired haven. Yet a\nlittle while, and you shall safely arrive in _Abraham_\u2019s bosom. _I\npr\u00e6, sequar, esti non passibus equis._\u2015\u2015Great things GOD is doing\ndaily. The kingdom of heaven (I hope) is at hand. I am bound over\nto appear at the sessions here, by my attorney, for libelling the\nclergy, because I corrected the letter inclosed. A scene of suffering\nlies before me, but wherefore should I fear? Our LORD strengthens me\nmightily in the inner man. We have had much of his presence in our\nassemblies. But I must have done. Dear and Reverend Sir, adieu. I\nscarce expect to see you again in the flesh; but this is my comfort,\nI shall see and rejoice with you above. There, I will sit and tell you\nwhat GOD hath done for\n\n Your unworthy brother and servant in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXLIV.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Boston._\n\n _Charles-Town, Jan. 16, 1741._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nTHOUGH I have packed up two letters for you already, yet I cannot\nrefrain from sending you a third. Just now I was favoured with yours\ndated last _December 1_. Indeed, it gave me much comfort, and endeared\nthe writer of it to me more and more. Sir, why am I thus highly\nfavoured! I now wish to sink exceeding low, and cry out, Grace,\ngrace! O the love of GOD! The sovereignty of CHRIST! The unchangeable\nloving-kindness of our heavenly Father! Excuse me, dear Mr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_;\nmy heart is full. I want for all men to love the LORD JESUS. It\ngreatly rejoices me, to hear so many are coming to him. He is a loving\ntender master. He attends to my minutest wants, and surprizingly helps\nme in every emergency. I thank dear Mr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, for the kind token of\nhis love. Good measure pressed down and running over, may GOD return\ninto your bosom! You will be pleased to correct the press. I am filled\nwith comfort to hear of the conduct of the dear governor, &c. I cannot\nbut think our LORD will let his word run, and be abundantly glorified\nin _America_. _Boston_ people are much upon my heart. The memory of\ntheir forefathers is precious to my soul. May you live to see the\nspirit of scriptural _Puritanism_ universally prevail! I hope you\nwill write every opportunity. If I am in prison, it will make me arise\nat midnight to sing praises to GOD, to hear that _Boston_ people are\nalive to CHRIST. At present, my heart is full of peace and joy. We\nhave had solemn meetings. I am much strengthened on every side; but\nI must not say more. Time is short. Dear Mr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, adieu. May the\nLORD be with you and yours. I could now drop a tear of love.\u2015\u2015My love\nto all.\n\n I am yours &c.\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXLV.\n\n _To Mr. W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Boston._\n\n _On board the Minerva, for England, Jan. 17, 1741._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nMR. _P\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ hath just brought me your kind letter. Blessed be GOD,\nthat his word runs and is glorified in _Boston_. Surely, dear Sir, I\nshall never forget that people; indeed, they are very near and dear\nunto my soul. May those of your own household, in particular, be not\nonly convicted but converted; may the dear JESUS fill you with all\npeace and joy in believing, and enable you to pray for, dear Sir,\n\n Yours in the blessed JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\nP. S. Excuse great haste; our ship is just under sail. My dear\ncompanions kindly salute you and yours.\n\n\n LETTER CCXLVI.\n\n _To Mr. Wm. G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _On board the Minerva, Feb. 8, 1741. in latitude 35, 24 N._\n _My dear brother_,\n\nSEE how soon I write to you, and from thence infer how I love you.\nWhether it proceeds from the pride and naughtiness of my heart, I\ncannot tell; but, I frankly confess, I love to see persons humble,\nkind, and courteous to those, whom GOD hath made their spiritual\nfathers. I believe it is well pleasing to GOD, and very amiable in\nthe sight of all good men. Your christian grateful behaviour to me in\nthis respect, hath much endeared you to me. GOD only knows how I love\nyou. I bear you upon my heart, and often secretly sigh out before the\nLORD,\u2015\u2015\u201cO let my dear brother _G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ live before thee.\u201d This is the\ndesire of my soul for you. I cannot wish you a better thing. Yet a\nlittle while, and we shall be together again. But, before that time,\nI expect to suffer great things. The LORD is able to deliver me out of\nall. I have just now experienced his divine assistance in composing a\nsermon. This is the _sixth_ which he has enabled me to finish, since\nI have been on board. O my dear brother, love a precious CHRIST, and\nshew it by adorning his gospel in all things. He has highly favoured\nyou, indeed he hath. If you and I are not eminently holy, if you and\nI think any thing too much to be done for the LORD, we are of all men\nthe most ungrateful. O the love of CHRIST! I feel it, I feel it. GOD\nnow sheds it abroad in my heart. May it abundantly also be shed on\nyou by the Holy Ghost. Write to me if in prison, my friends will bring\nit to me there. GOD will hear me for you even in a dungeon. Methinks\nI see you weep; but weep not for me, unless it be before the LORD,\nand then I care not how soon you retire, and pour out your prayers in\nbehalf of, dear Mr. _G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your affectionate friend, brother and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXLVII.\n\n _To Mrs. L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Charles-Town._\n\n _On board the Minerva, Feb. 11, 1741._\n _Dear Mrs. L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nYOU was upon the mount when I left _Charles-Town_; I hope you have\nnot thrown yourself down. Keep close to CHRIST, and cast not off your\nfirst love. Remember what GOD has done for your soul. Forget not the\nglorious discovery JESUS CHRIST has made of himself to your heart; and\nthough a cloud should overshadow you, let not Satan make you doubt of\nyour being a child of GOD. O Mrs. _L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, how holy ought you to be\nin all manner of conversation and godliness! Why are you taken? Why\nare you in the arms of everlasting love? Methinks I hear you cry out,\nGrace! grace! And well you may; for indeed you are saved by grace. The\nfree grace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST be with you now and for ever more.\nBlessed be GOD, I experience much of it in the ship. I hope divine\ngrace moves me to send you this small letter. If GOD blesses it to\nyour soul, put up a short prayer for\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXLVIII.\n\n _To Mrs. W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at James-Island._\n\n _On board the Minerva, Feb. 11, 1741._\n _Dear Madam_,\n\nMY heart\u2019s desire and prayer to GOD is, that you may be saved. I hope\nyou will find, it is not impossible for you to be born again when you\nare old. GOD forbid. Though at the eleventh hour, I trust our LORD\nwill meet you, and cause you, whenever you depart, with good old\n_Simeon_, to depart in peace. I heartily thank you, madam, for all\nfavours conferred on me and mine. We have not forgotten you on board.\nI do not forget to mention you in my secret prayers. May GOD reveal\nhis dear Son in your soul, and fill you with all peace and joy in\nbelieving! O what a staff will this be to you in your old age! How\npleasantly then will you walk by your vault, and say, \u201cThere shall\nI lay my weary bones ere long.\u201d I hope you do not startle at the\nthoughts of death. Believe in CHRIST. Get a saving interest in his\nblood, and then you may cry out, \u201cO death, where is thy sting! O\ngrave, where is thy victory?\u201d Blessed be GOD, the prospect of death is\npleasing to my soul. I would not live here always: I want to be gone.\nThat you and I, whenever our appointed time is come, may live with\nCHRIST, is the earnest prayer of, madam,\n\n Your obliged friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXLIX.\n\n _On board the Minerva, Feb. 12, 1741._\n _Dear Mrs. T._,\n\nMUST I pray for you in the language of _Martha_ and _Mary_, saying,\n\u201cLORD, she whom thou lovest is sick!\u201d Or hath he who touched _Peter_\u2019s\nwife\u2019s mother, rebuked the illness that was coming upon you, when\nI saw you last, and caused it to leave you? But, however the LORD\nhas dealt with you, I hope he hath been glorified in and by you. I\nheard he had by his word and spirit spoken to your soul, and given\nyou satisfaction, that he had loved you with an everlasting love. I\nrejoice in it from my soul. The LORD increase your comforts daily,\nand shew you all his glory. Dear Mrs. _T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, think often of your\ndeparted sister. Follow her as she did CHRIST; and then shortly, where\nshe is you shall be also. O the happiness she now enjoys! It is too\ndazzling for mortal eyes. I want to leap my seventy years, and fly\naway to GOD. Well, it will not be long. Dear Mrs. _T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, let us\npatiently tarry till our change come. Our LORD will carry us safe\nthrough time, and waft us triumphantly into eternity. The love of\nCHRIST constrained me to write these lines; accept them for his sake,\nfrom\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCL.\n\n _To Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Port-Royal, South-Carolina._\n\n _On board the Minerva, Feb. 16, 1741._\n _Dear Mr. H._,\n\nTHE love of CHRIST constrains me to write you a line, though as yet no\nfurther than the western islands. I trust the LORD hath called you by\nname, and enabled you to say \u201cSpeak LORD, for thy servant heareth.\u201d\nWho knows but he may call you yet further, even to minister before\nhim? Whether it be so or not, make it your daily study to prepare\nyour heart to serve the LORD in any station. To be a doorkeeper in the\nhouse of GOD, is a glorious post. Surely, you and I may sing of mercy\nand electing love. How often have we acted a part for the devil?\nThe remembrance of it is grievous unto me. Let us both now labour\ndaily to act a part for GOD. He heaps kindnesses on me every hour. We\nhave hitherto had a wonderful pleasant passage. I hope it is in some\nmeasure owing to your prayers. Let this encourage you to pray again.\nOur GOD is a GOD hearing prayer. I write now, lest excess of business\nshould prevent my writing in _England_. The LORD is girding me for the\nbattle, and strengthening me mightily in the inner man. \u201cO give thanks\nunto the LORD of all Lords, because his mercy endureth for ever.\u201d You\nwill not fail writing to\n\n Your affectionate friend, brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLI.\n\n _To the Reverend Mr. C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Charles-Town._\n\n _On board the Minerva, Feb. 17, 1741._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nTHE LORD hath been with me, and is now with me in an especial manner.\nI have been enabled to prepare nine discourses for the press. My body\nwaxes stronger, and last night the great GOD in a glorious manner\nfilled and overshadowed my soul. I am panting after the compleat\nholiness of JESUS my LORD. I have various scenes of action lying\nbefore me, and am waiting upon the LORD my GOD for direction. He\nassures me that he will be with me. He saith unto me, \u201cFear not, speak\nout, no one shall set upon thee to hurt thee.\u201d Dear Mr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, GOD\u2019s\ngoodness quite surprizes me. I cannot express myself better, than in\na stanza or two of _Erskine_ in his Paraphrase upon _Solomon_\u2019s song.\n\n I.\n\n _What wonders LORD dost thou perform,\n That stoopest thus so low,\n To put thy beauty on a worm,\n And then commend it so._\n\n II.\n\n _What, dost thou praise a native black?\n I blush to find it true;\n O lend me words to render back\n The praise to whom \u2019tis due._\n\nI hope my love will find acceptance with all your flock who know\nme, and who love the LORD JESUS in sincerity. I have often comforted\nmyself and companions with this saying, \u201cNow Mr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ and our other\nfriends are praying for us.\u201d At the receipt of this, turn your prayers\ninto praises, and then turn your praises again into prayers, in behalf\nof, dear Mr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your affectionate brother and fellow-labourer in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER \u2666CCLII.\n\n _To Mr. H. B._\n\n _On board the Minerva, Feb. 16, 1741._\n _My dear brother in CHRIST_,\n\nBEFORE this is brought to your hands, I suppose you will have been\narraigned before the Chief Justice. I am persuaded our LORD will plead\non your behalf, and strengthen you with his mighty power in the inner\nman. The greater progress you make in the divine life, the more you\nwill discover of the enmity that is in the seed of the serpent. It\nbruised our master\u2019s heel; it will also bruise ours. Here is our\ncomfort, GOD who cannot lie, hath told us, that \u201cwe shall bruise his\nhead.\u201d In the strength of this promise, I can give men and devils\nthe challenge. Whole legions are ready to beset me. By the help of my\nGOD, I shall triumph over all.\u2015\u2015I hope we shall grow in grace before\nwe meet again. You and I have weak crazy tabernacles; I hope you\nrejoice in the prospect of putting them off shortly; blessed be GOD,\nI do.\u2015\u2015Dear Sir, get acquainted more and more with electing love;\nstudy the covenant of redemption, and see how GOD loved you with\nan everlasting love. This will cause you to glory only in the LORD,\nand to pass through the valley of the shadow of death, with a full\nassurance of faith; knowing that CHRIST hath engaged to lodge you safe\nin eternal glory. Thither your dear wife is gone before us; I often\nthink of, I could almost say envy her; but perhaps that is wrong. Yet\na little while, and our precious LORD shall take both you, and\n\n Your affectionate friend, brother, and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n \u2666 \u2018CLII\u2019 replaced with \u2018CCLII\u2019\n\n\n LETTER CCLIII.\n\n _To Mr. B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Port-Royal._\n\n _On board the Minerva, Feb. 16, 1741._\n _Dear Mr. B._,\n\nI Hope you will never forget that day, hour, or moment, wherein GOD\nmet you at _Savannah_. If you have in some measure, do so no more.\n\u201cAwake thou that sleepest, and CHRIST shall give thee light.\u201d Love not\nthe world, neither the things that are in the world. No man can serve\ntwo masters. Use the world, but let it be as though you used it not.\nThe fashion of this world will soon, very soon, fade away. Dear Mr.\n_B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, I am persuaded, will not be offended at this plain dealing.\nHe knows I love him. GOD knows it also. With much affection, I\nsubscribe myself\n\n Your friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLIV.\n\n _To Mrs. B._\n\n _On board the Minerva, Feb. 16, 1741._\n _Dear Mrs. B._,\n\nWHEN you read that JESUS loved _Lazarus_, _Mary_, and their sister\n_Martha_, do you not make a particular application to your own family?\nI think our LORD has been equally kind to your houshold. Walk as\nbecometh members of the houshold of faith. I hope you have had full\nsatisfaction about your state, and know assuredly that CHRIST is your\nSaviour. If not, be not discouraged; go on the way of duty, is the way\nof safety. By-and-by your soul shall magnify the LORD, and your spirit\nrejoice in GOD your Saviour. This is the hearty desire of, dear Mrs.\n_B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLV.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _On board the Minerva, Feb.\u200216,\u20021741._\n _Dear Mr. B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nYOUR name, _Jonathan_, puts me in mind of a good old testament\nworthy. Follow him in his faith, and dare to scale the wall of\nthe _Philistines_. Be not afraid, though already bound over as a\n_libeller_; shortly you shall shine in the kingdom of your Father; I\nsay, your Father; for GOD is your GOD, and will be your guide and\nguard unto death. Does not this astonish you? Do not you feel your\nheart melt? Are you not ready to cry out, \u201cWhy me, LORD?\u201d The oftener\nyou repeat such language the better. I love to see a soul lie in the\ndust under a sense of electing love; you and yours have been highly\nfavoured. May GOD give you all grace to walk worthy of the holy\nvocation wherewith you are called. I write this out of the fulness of\nmy heart. Though not present, yet I fain would converse with you. O\nthat I may see you grown in grace! Remember me to your wife. The LORD\nbe with you both: He hath been, he is now with me. You are often upon\nmy heart. GOD reward you for your kindness to the Orphans. Do not\nslack your hands towards them. Our bountiful master will richly reward\nyou. Go on steadily in the use of, but do not trust in ordinances.\nYou know what I mean. Be steady and bold, yet meek and catholic in\nyour conversation and practice; and if GOD hath influenced you by my\nministry, give him the glory, and for CHRIST\u2019s sake pray for\n\n Your affectionate brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLVI.\n\n _To Mr. B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Charles-Town._\n\n _On board the Minerva, Feb. 16, 1741._\n _Dear Mr. B._,\n\nI Think of you often, indeed I do, I long to hear that complete\nsalvation is come to your soul. I say complete salvation, for my\ndear friend knows that reformation is not conversion. O that you may\nexperience a life hid with CHRIST in GOD! Some who seemingly put their\nhands to the plough, have already shamefully looked back; will Mr.\n_B._ also go away? Methinks I hear him say, \u201cWhether shall I go? JESUS\nCHRIST alone hath the words of eternal life.\u201d True, JESUS alone is the\nway, the truth and the life; flee, flee to him, my dear friend; with\narms he stands ready to embrace, and will save you to the uttermost.\nRemember, my friend, the vows of the LORD are upon you. These hands\nreached out to you the sacred symbols of his precious body and blood.\nThese eyes saw you eat and drink of his bread and his wine. O do not\nbetray, but manfully stand up for the LORD JESUS. You was once bold\nfor satan, be now bold for your CHRIST. His love excites me to write\nto, and pray for you. Your wife also I intreat the LORD to bless,\ntogether with your children. My friends join me in hearty wishes for\nyour welfare. I am, dear Mr. _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLVII.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Edinburgh._\n\n _On board the Minerva, Feb. 16, 1741._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nIF I mistake not, Mr. _M._ informed me, that you was entered into the\nministry; I pray GOD to enable you to make full proof of it. O dear\nSir, how holy ought we to be, who are called to stand before the LORD.\n\u2015\u2015When I consider the greatness of the office and my own unworthiness,\nI am sometimes quite abashed. This promise, \u201cLo I am with you always,\u201d\nis my daily support. Blessed be GOD, I find it fulfilled in my soul.\nA great work is begun in _America_, at _Georgia_, _South-Carolina_,\n_New-York_, _Philadelphia_, and _New-England_. GOD has confirmed the\nword by spiritual miracles and signs. You will see what I have wrote\nto dear Mr. _T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. Your assistance in respect to the Orphan-house\nwill be very acceptable. I am several hundreds of pounds in debt on\nthat account. The GOD whom I serve is able to discharge it. You have\nheard of the liberality of the _New-England_ people; dear Mr. _D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\nGOD\u2019s goodness astonishes me. What! can I think any thing too much\nto do, or to suffer for so dear a Master? I was lately bound over\nat _Charles-Town_ in _South-Carolina_, for libelling the clergy. The\n_libel_, falsely so called, I shall soon send you after my arrival.\nThus opposition is coming on gradually: pray that the LORD may cover\nme with all his armour. I am a weak defenceless creature in myself;\nJESUS alone is my strength and my Redeemer. I write this on board,\nthat you may know, you are not forgotten; no, tho\u2019 I never saw you in\nthe flesh, you are much beloved by, dear Sir,\n\n Your affectionate brother and fellow-labourer\n in our dear LORD\u2019s vineyard,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLVIII.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Edisto._\n\n _On board the Minerva, Feb. 17, 1741._\n _Dear Mr. T._,\n\nPROVIDENCE prevented my coming to see you at _Edisto_,\u2015\u2015however, I\nmust not omit writing to you now. How is it with your heart? I hope\nyou are not _nimis uxorius_; take heed, my dear _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, take heed.\nTime is short. It remains that those who have wives, be as tho\u2019 they\nhad none. Let nothing intercept, or interrupt your communion with the\nbridegroom of the church. I hope you do not feel such damps of soul,\nas you used to complain of. May the LORD of glory dispel every black\ncloud, and cause you continually to rejoice in his salvation. You have\nstrong passions. The LORD JESUS is stronger: In his strength may you\nsubdue them, till you are meek as a lamb, and are become a very little\nchild. I write thus, because I pray for you most heartily.\u2015\u2015Deal with\nme in the same manner; and now, dear brother, farewel. The LORD be\nwith you. He is pleased to refresh my soul, and give me the prospect\nof a short passage. I commend myself and affairs to the prayers of\nyour flock, and I earnestly recommend you to the GOD of all grace.\nThat he may bless you and give you an inheritance among all them that\nare sanctified, is the earnest prayer of, dear Mr. _T.\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your affectionate brother and fellow-labourer in the LORD,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLIX.\n\n _To Mrs. B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Charles-Town._\n\n _On board the Minerva, Feb. 17, 1741._\n _Dear Mrs. B._,\n\nI Am much obliged to you many ways. The LORD reward you a\nthousand-fold. Your prayers are heard. GOD is carrying us upon the\nwings of the wind. The angel of the covenant accompanies us in the\nway. The present season is a time of refreshing to my soul. I hope it\nwill be a profitable voyage. I think I see more into the wickedness\nof my own heart, and the unsearchable riches of the LORD JESUS, who\nhath redeemed me by his precious blood. I believe you can say so: Why\ndo you shake your head? Woman, why doubtest thou? Has not the LORD\nvisited your soul? Have you not heard him say in his word, applied by\nhis spirit, \u201cI have loved thee with an everlasting love?\u201d And do you\nthink GOD would tell you so, if it was not so? Away therefore with\nall desponding fears; come boldly, with a full assurance of faith, and\ndraw water plentifully out of the wells of salvation. O that all were\ncomforted, as I am now comforted of GOD. I would not eat my spiritual\nmorsels alone. I hope, a letter from you will acquaint me, how good\nthe LORD has been to your soul. I have no greater joy, than to hear\nthat my christian friends walk in the truth. The LORD be with you.\nRemember me to your father and sisters. That you all may be true\nmembers of the houshold of faith, prays\n\n Your affectionate brother and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLX.\n\n _To Mr. B. and his wife at Bethesda._\n\n _On board the Minerva, Feb. 17, 1741._\n _Dear brother B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nWHEN I left _Charles-Town_, the LORD seemed to give me a full\nassurance, that we should have a speedy passage.\u2015\u2015We have hitherto\nhad scarce any contrary winds, and are now very near the Western\nIslands. We had one storm the first week, but almost ever since have\nbeen favoured with weather as well as wind. O that you would call the\nfamily together, and praise the LORD for the mercies conferred on us\nthe unworthiest of the sons of men! I do not know that I have failed\npraying for you one day, since I have been out. I long to hear what\nthe LORD hath done for your souls. What say you? Do you live in love?\nDo you strive together with me in your prayers? Are any of the Orphan\nLambs bleating after their great Shepherd? Is your mouth opened? Is\nyour heart enlarged? Is your soul swallowed up in GOD? Does _Bethesda_\nanswer its name? Is it, indeed, an house of mercy? These questions, I\nhope to have answer\u2019d in the affirmative. If you ask, how it is with\nmy soul? Blessed be GOD, I can reply, \u201cVery well.\u201d The LORD gives me\na feeling possession of himself. I have been enabled to compose _nine\ndiscourses_ for the press. GOD willing, you shall hear from me often.\nI write this, that I may be ready, if I should hear of any ship coming\nyour way immediately upon my arrival; receive it as a token of my love,\nwhich GOD knows is unfeigned, from\n\n Your affectionate brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLXI.\n\n _To Mr. J. B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, Charles-Town._\n\n _On board the Minerva, Feb. 17, 1741._\n _Dear Mr. B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Think I owe you a letter; I believe you love me in the bowels of\nJESUS CHRIST. I hope our love is reciprocal. How can it be otherwise\nwith those, who have drank of the same spirit? I long for that happy\ntime, when we shall be swallowed up in the vision and full fruition of\nthe glorious Godhead. The bunch of grapes makes me long to eat of the\nfull clusters in the heavenly Canaan. The first-fruits make me pant\nafter the full harvest. Perhaps you may go and partake of it first,\nand drink new wine before me in the kingdom of our Father; I hope I\nshall not stay long after you, if not called before. My soul is sick\nof love. Nothing can satisfy it, but the full sight and enjoyment of\nCHRIST. He now visits my soul, and causes it mightily to rejoice in\nhis salvation. How lovingly he hath dealt with me in other respects,\nletters sent to other friends can best inform you. Haste, read, hear,\nand join with them in giving thanks and praying for\n\n Your affectionate friend and brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLXII.\n\n _To Mrs. S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Charles-Town._\n\n _On board the Minerva, Feb. 17, 1741._\n _Dear Mrs. S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nMY soul is now in an heavenly frame, swallowed up in GOD, and melted\ndown by the love of my dear LORD JESUS. It is almost too big to\nspeak. I will give it vent by writing to you. Our master hath been\nexceeding gracious, and has shewn me several tokens for good, which\nI desired of him in secret prayer. Last night, I think I received as\nfull satisfaction as I could desire, in respect to _my marriage_. I\nbelieve what I have done, is of GOD; tho\u2019 I know not when my heart\nwas more disengaged from earthly thoughts than now. I only desire,\nthat the dear JESUS may be glorified in me, whether it be by life or\nby death. I depend on your sending me a particular account of affairs\nat _Charles-Town_. I have wrote to many; you will hear how my letters\nare received. I shall be glad to hear how it is with your own soul.\nI beseech you to live near to CHRIST, and to keep up a holy walk with\nGOD. Be inward with GOD in your duties. Trust and hang on GOD, even\nwhen he hides himself from you. He will be your guide unto death.\nHunger and thirst daily after the righteousness of CHRIST. Be content\nwith no degree of sanctification. Be always crying out, \u201cLORD, let me\nknow more of myself and of thee; O let me receive grace for grace of\nthy dear Son.\u201d This, at present, is the full desire of my soul. I am\npersuaded the LORD will satisfy it. GOD is love; we cannot think too\nhighly of him; we cannot expect too great things to be done by him.\nHis right hand, I believe, will bring mighty things to pass. I am\nnow entering on a scene of trials. The LORD hath sent me on the seas\nto prepare me for them. Not that I depend on any stock of grace\nalready received, I would look to CHRIST continually. But whither am\nI running? I forget myself. I almost fancy, I am talking with you. I\nhave only room to acquaint you, that dear _J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ sits by me,\nand cordially salutes you, with\n\n Your affectionate friend, brother, and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLXIII.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, Charles-Town._\n\n _On board the Minerva, Feb. 17, 1741._\n _Rev. and dear Sir_,\n\nYOU have been very kind to me in many respects; but I have been\nungrateful to you, and infinitely more so to my gracious GOD. I have\nnot failed frequently to bemoan my unworthiness. Since I have been on\nboard, the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping, and now fills my\nsoul with all peace and joy in believing. I have been much assisted\nin composing sermons for the press. At present my soul is closely\nadverting to GOD, who, I believe, will bring me safe to glory. My\nbodily strength is much renewed. In short, I am comforted on every\nside. Dear Sir, praise the LORD in my behalf. O let us magnify his\nname together. I hope you feel what it is to have fellowship with the\nFather and the Son, and experience the influences of the Holy Ghost,\nin delivering your blessed master\u2019s message. I salute Mr. _P\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ and\nyour whole church. My request is, \u201cBrethren, pray and give thanks for\nus.\u201d\u2015\u2015When you write to _New-England_, pray remember me to all friends\nin the kindest manner. That country, and the people, lie very near my\nheart. I hope to be favoured with a line from you ere I return from\n_England_. Great perils there await me; but JESUS CHRIST will send his\nangel, and roll away every stone of difficulty. In his strength alone\nis my trust, and for his sake and in his name, I subscribe myself,\nreverend and dear Sir,\n\n Your affectionate brother and fellow-labourer in the LORD,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLXIV.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Bethesda._\n\n _On board the Minerva, Feb. 18, 1741._\n _My dear Friend and Brother_,\n\nYESTERDAY we humbled ourselves before GOD, and by prayer and fasting\nsought for a blessing, and direction in all our affairs. I wish I\nhad kept family fasts at _Savannah_. Suppose you had one monthly at\n_Bethesda_? You will see, by dear Brother _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s letter, the frame\nof my mind. Since that, I have been a little in the valley, but the\nLORD is my comforter. I hope I grow in grace, and in the knowledge of\nmyself, and the LORD JESUS CHRIST. My heart is much united to Messrs.\n_W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015s_, tho\u2019 we differ in some particulars. May GOD make us of\none mind, as well as heart. I shall make all possible haste back,\nand remit money to you as often as I can. Mr. _P\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ tells me, his\nbrother is to send you upwards of a hundred pounds, and I suppose\nother supplies will be sent from the _Northward_. I have also wrote\nto _Charles-Town_. I am persuaded GOD will not let you want. I would\nnot have any thing left undone, that is necessary for the family\u2019s\ncomfortable subsistence. The LORD is our Shepherd, therefore we\nshall not lack. I shall long to hear how the blessed JESUS deals with\nyou. He is wonderfully gracious unto me, and hath made this voyage\nprofitable to my soul. O my friend, my friend, the LORD be with you.\nMy love is firm to you at the bottom, tho\u2019 sometimes it hath ebbed and\nflowed; in heaven it will not be so. On earth it is needful it should;\notherwise, how should we learn to cease from man? But I am a worm\nand no man, and deserve to be the outcast of all people. My eyes are\nnow ready to gush out with water. O the sovereign love of CHRIST in\nchusing me! My dear friend, let us study to be holy even as he is holy,\nand walk even as he also walked. Let these be your daily questions,\n\u201cAm I more like CHRIST? Am I more meek and patient? Does my practice\ncorrespond with my knowledge, and am I a light to enlighten and\nenflame all that are around me?\u201d I could say more, but I think to\nwrite again when I get on shore. GOD bless you and yours. I suppose\nyou have heard that Mr. _P\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ sails with\n\n Your affectionate friend, brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLXV.\n\n _To Mr. S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Bristol._\n\n _On board the Minerva, Feb. 20, 1741._\n\nAND does my friend _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ look again towards GOD? Never did the\nFather with greater joy receive the returning prodigal, than I shall\nembrace you in these unworthy arms, if you are alive to GOD. I trust\nyour late tepidity will now make you more fervent in spirit. I pray\nGOD to give you a settlement in CHRIST, that you may be rooted and\ngrounded in love. My brother, the captain, gave me a particular\naccount of your soul. I hope he will yet appear for GOD; will you also\nappear with him? Why should you strive to please a pleasure-taking\nworld? Why should you keep in league with the apparent enemies of GOD?\nBut no more of this. Let old things pass away, let all things become\nnew. I believe GOD suffered you to fall, because you thought more\nhighly of yourself than you ought to think. My love to all. I feel\na great union of soul with Mr. _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_; we differ in principles, but\nI hope the LORD will make us of one mind. You must not be surprized,\nif I publish an answer to Mr. _John W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s sermon, entitled, _Free\nGrace_. It is wrote in much love and meekness. Adieu for the present.\nGive thanks on my behalf. The LORD hath dealt wonderously kind with,\ndear Mr. _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Yours eternally in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLXVI.\n\n _To Mr. T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in London._\n\n _On board the Minerva, Feb. 20, 1741._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nI Have kept your letter by me till now, that I might answer it on my\nvoyage. It speaks the language of a perplexed heart, and plainly shews\nme, that satan loves to keep us in bondage. My dear Brother, I think\nyou have done wrong in holding your peace. I am sure you once felt\nthat freedom of soul, which you are a stranger to now. The way of duty\nis the way of safety. Whatever you may say to the contrary, unless you\nwill give the lie to your own experiences, you must confess, that you\nhave indeed tasted of the good word of life. You should, therefore,\nhave went forwards, and not have turned back again, and thereby\nplunged yourself into darkness; darkness that may be felt. Alas, you\nhave too eagerly embraced principles (I fear) contrary to the gospel\nof CHRIST. You are aiming at a false voluntary humility, and are\nreturning back to the flesh pots of _Egypt_. I know my words will\nhave but little force with some, but I must deliver my soul. GOD was\nonce pleased to work upon you by my ministry, and therefore I am more\nsolicitous for your welfare. I know the advice you would give me is,\n\u201c_be still_.\u201d I hope I am, so far as really to know the LORD; but yet\n_I will strive_, yet will I walk in all the ordinances of GOD, and go\non from strength to strength till I come to appear before him in his\nheavenly Zion. I write this, out of the fulness of my heart. Indeed I\nlove you, and the brethren; I am willing to be the servant of you all.\nI am less than the least. However, I dare not embrace tenets that are\nnot agreeable to the form of sound words. Let me see you as soon as\nmay be after my arrival, and in the mean while accept of hearty love,\nfrom\n\n Your affectionate brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLXVII.\n\n _To Mrs. A. D._\n\n _On board the Minerva, Feb. 20, 1741._\n _My dear Sister_,\n\nMY conscience almost reproaches me, that\nI have not wrote to you often, nor full enough; accept this as an\nacknowledgement of my fault. I am sorry for it. We are now about a\nthousand miles off _England_. I hope this will provoke you to send me\na letter immediately after my arrival. I find _Luther_\u2019s observation\nto be true: \u201cTimes of reformation are times of confusion;\u201d as yet the\nchurches in _America_ are quiet, but I expect a sifting time ere long.\nMy family in _Georgia_ was once sadly shaken, but now, blessed be GOD,\nit is settled, and, I hope, established in the doctrines of grace.\nYour name is precious among them. I wish you would send them a long\nletter. Your book on _walking with GOD_ has been blessed to one Mr.\n_B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, and others in _South-Carolina_. It hath also been serviceable\nto a dear friend now with me, as also to myself. I cannot well tell\nyou what great things are doing abroad. I have a scene of sufferings\nlying before me; I expect shortly to cry out with the spouse, \u201cLook\nnot upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me,\nmy mother\u2019s children were angry with me.\u201d My LORD\u2019s command, now, I\nbelieve, is, \u201cTake the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines;\nfor our vines have tender grapes.\u201d\u2015\u2015Help me by your prayers. It is an\nease thus to unbosom one\u2019s self to a friend, and an instance of my\nconfidence in you. O, my dear Sister, I am less than the least of all\nsaints, I am the chief of sinners, and yet JESUS loves me, and sheds\nhis love abroad in my heart abundantly by the Holy Ghost. I have been\nmuch assisted in composing some gospel sermons, which I intend for the\npress. I have sought the LORD by prayer and fasting, and he assures\nme, that he will be with me. Whom then should I fear? Hitherto we\nhave had an extraordinary passage, praise the LORD. Herewith I send\nyou a letter from one of the children which GOD has given me: He\nwill rejoice to receive a line from you. If possible, I hope, tho\u2019\nyou are in the decline of life, to see you face to face before I\nleave _England_. I should be glad to hear how you are as to worldly\ncircumstances; if I can help you in any degree, freely command\n\n Your affectionate friend, brother, and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLXVIII.\n\n _To T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 K\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at London._\n\n _On board the Minerva, Feb. 20, 1741._\n _My dear Brother K\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Received your kind letter at _Savannah_, and though I hope to see\nyou face to face soon after you receive this, yet love to your dear\nsoul constrains me to write you an answer before I come on shore.\n\nI find, since my departure, the brethren have fallen into errors.\nDear Brother _K\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ will not be offended, if I say, \u201cHe, I fear, is\none of them;\u201d for his letter bewrayeth him. My dear Brother, you say,\n\u201cYou have been striving a long, long while, but to very little purpose,\n&c.\u201d By this, I suppose, you have left off the means, and fallen\ninto _stillness_; expecting now, that JESUS CHRIST will so work upon\nyour heart, that you shall not feel the least stirring of indwelling\ncorruption in your soul; in short, that you shall be completely\nperfect: This was pretty near my case about six years ago, and now\nI see why GOD suffered me thus to be tempted, \u201cthat I might be more\ncapable of succouring my brethren, now they are tempted.\u201d My dear\nBrother, let us reason together. \u201cYou have been striving (you say) a\nlong while, but to very little purpose.\u201d And what then? must you be\ntherefore still, and strive no more? GOD forbid: No, you are yet to\nwait at the pool. \u201cConstantly attend on ordinances;\u201d and who knows but\nby-and-by the loving Saviour may pass by and visit your soul. Have you\nnot, in some degree at least, felt his divine power in the use of the\nmeans? Why should not that encourage you to expect more in the same\nway? But you say, \u201cI find all that is of self is sin.\u201d And do you\nexpect ever to do any thing, or to offer up to GOD one sacrifice,\nwithout a mixture of sin in it? If you do, indeed you are building\na _spiritual Babel_. My dear Brother, even our most holy thoughts\nare tinctured with sin, and want the atonement of the Mediator; and\ntherefore, if you leave off striving, because \u201cwhatever is of self\nis sin,\u201d you must never attempt to do any duty whatsoever again. Your\nstillness hath as much a mixture of self in it, as your striving, and\nif you proceed in this manner, you must become a professed _Quietist_.\nSix weeks did satan keep me under this delusion, but the LORD helped\nme in the hour of extremity: May he also help my dear Brother _K\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_!\nAnother error you seem to be fallen into is, \u201cthat a man cannot be a\nchristian, at least that he is a very weak one, so long as he finds\ncorruption stirring in his heart.\u201d If I was to urge the seventh to\nthe _Romans_, you would say, St. _Paul_ only speaks of a man under\nfirst-awakenings, and not of a converted man; but my dear Brother, did\nyou ever know a man, that was not really converted, delight in the law\nof GOD after the inner man? And yet such an one the Apostle speaks of\nin the latter part of that chapter. Be not deceived, we are to be holy\nas CHRIST is holy; we are to receive grace for grace; every grace that\nis in the blessed JESUS, is to be transplanted into our hearts; we are\nto be delivered from the power, but not from the indwelling and being\nof sin in this life. _Hereafter_, we are to be presented blameless,\nwithout spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. If you labour after\nany other perfection here, you will labour in vain. St. _Paul_ had\nattained no other, when he wrote to the _Philippians_, and to the\nother churches: But my dear Brother _K\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ seems to think, \u201cI did\nwrong in writing to Mr. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ to know his sentiments upon several\ntexts of scripture, and in sending for several of _Calvin_\u2019s books.\u201d\nAnd why, my dear Brother, was this wrong? Why you say, \u201cyou think\nit is contrary to St. _Paul_ in his Epistles, when he says, he would\nnot speak other men\u2019s words;\u201d but St. _Paul_ says no such thing: The\nplace you aim at, I believe, is _2 Cor._ x. 16. \u201cAnd not to boast in\nanother man\u2019s line, of things made ready to our hand.\u201d My dear Brother,\nexamine the context, and you will find the Apostle means no more\nthan that he would not enter into other men\u2019s labours, as ver. 15.\nHe would not preach where churches were already settled, but go where\nthe gospel had not been delivered. This, and this only, is the meaning\nof the passage, which dear mistaken Mr. _K\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ has wrongly quoted.\nMy dear Brother, did not St. _Paul_ bid _Timothy_ to give himself to\nreading? What, if the Holy Spirit is to lead us into all truth, does\nnot the Holy Spirit make use of, and lead us by the means? Has he not\nindited the scriptures? Has he not helped holy men to explain those\nscriptures? And why may I not, in a due subordination to the Holy\nSpirit, make use of those men\u2019s writings? Has not my dear Brother\n_K\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ bought sermons? And why then does \u201cHe make use of other men\u2019s\nwords?\u201d O, my dear brother, you are in the wilderness; GOD bring you\nsafe out of it.\n\nI suppose, because the Dissenters oppose some of your new principles,\nyou term them enemies; but, my dear Brother, though there are many\nChristless talkers, and hypocritical formalists among the Dissenters,\nas no doubt there are some such in the purest church under heaven; yet\nmany of them hold and practice the truth as it is in JESUS. But I have\ndone. Count me not your enemy, because I tell you the truth. I expect\nthat great numbers will look shy on me, for thus opposing what I think\nto be error. Thus the _Galatians_ treated St. _Paul_; but I must be\ntried every way. I could add a thousand kind things, but I hope you\nshortly will have a personal interview with\n\n Your affectionate brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLXIX.\n\n _To Mrs. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 F\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Charles-Town._\n\n _On board the Minerva, Feb. 25, 1741._\n _My very dear Friend_,\n\nI Know you will rejoice at the receipt of this: You have abundant\nreason; the LORD hath been wonderous kind. We are now flying on the\nwings of the wind, and if it continues, we hope to be at _Cowes_ the\nbeginning of next week. Your kind presents were of great service to\nmy crazy body. The woman passenger has been serviceable in making\nus bread; and in short, GOD has wonderfully ordered all things\nfor our great conveniency and comfort. O that my dear friends at\n_Charles-Town_, may hereby be excited to thankfulness on our behalf.\nI have frequently prayed for you both with my friends, and when in\nsecret before the LORD. Indeed you are seldom out of mind. Dear Mrs.\n_F\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, I believe GOD sent you to invite me to your house, and I\nbelieve the LORD will plentifully reward both of you, for all your\nworks of faith and labours of love. I think henceforward I must call\nyou _Mary_, and your husband, I hope, will be truly stiled _James_ the\nservant of the LORD. I trust you will both serve the LORD CHRIST, and\ngive yourselves up to the guidance of his blessed word and providences\nday by day. It is a glorious privilege to be led by the spirit of GOD.\nI think I have felt, and do feel, at this time, his sacred influences\nupon my soul. My body is but weak, though better by much than when\nI left _Charles-Town_; however, my soul hath confidence in GOD. The\narchers will shoot sorely at me that I may fall; but GOD will cause\nmy bow to abide in strength, and my arms shall be strengthened by the\nhands of the mighty GOD of _Jacob_. I need not ask for a continuance\nof your prayers, nor you for mine. I hope we shall be always present\nwith each other in spirit, at the throne of grace. My dear friend,\nadieu: All with me salute you. Write often to\n\n Your unworthy guest, but truly affectionate servant,\n friend, and brother in the LORD,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLXX.\n\n _To Mrs. F\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Charles-Town._\n\n _On board the Minerva, Feb. 25, 1741._\n\nI Hope dear Mrs. _F\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ will not be offended with these few lines;\nthey are written with a sincere desire to promote your welfare. I want\nto see you entirely _dead to the world_, and alive to GOD. You have\nbeen often convinced under the word; may it sink deep into your heart.\nGOD, by the late fire, hath shewn you the vanity of all things here\nbelow; henceforward set your affections on things above. You are old,\nand at the head of a great family; you have sealed your promise to\nlead a holy life, more than once, by receiving the symbols of the\nblessed body and blood of CHRIST.\n\n _Henceforth let no profane delight\n Divide your consecrated soul;\n But give it CHRIST, who has the right,\n As Lord and Master of the whole._\n\nBe not ashamed to own you have vowed never to dance again: Dear Mrs.\n_F\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, fear not contempt. What is it? only a little breath. Rest\nnot in duties; rest not in outward partial reformation.\u2015\u2015He that is\nin CHRIST, is a new creature. That old things may pass away, and all\nthings become new in your heart, is the hearty prayer of, Madam,\n\n Your sincere friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLXXI.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Boston._\n\n _On board the Minerva, Feb. 26, 1741._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nACCEPT a few lines from one, who desires feelingly to stile himself,\nless than the least of all. I hope you received my packet from\n_Charles-Town_: What happened to me there, was only an earnest of\nfuture trials. GOD hath blessed the reading of the prophecy of the\nprophet _Jeremiah_ to my soul; as also the history of _Joseph_, and\nhath let me see more into the covenant of redemption between the\nFather and the Son: I am more and more in love with the _good old\nPuritans_; I am pleased at the thoughts of sitting down hereafter with\nthe venerable _Cotton_, _Norton_, _Elliot_, and that great cloud of\nwitnesses, which first crossed the Western ocean for the sake of the\ngospel, and faith once delivered to the saints. At present, my soul\nis so filled, that I can scarce proceed. Dear Sir, GOD is with me of\na truth; he now gives me a feeling possession of himself: I bless his\nholy name for sending me to sea; it is profitable both for soul and\nbody. I find the Psalmist\u2019s words to be true, \u201cThe secret of the LORD\nis with them that fear him.\u201d O that I may walk humbly with my GOD! The\nlanguage of my soul is this:\n\n _Correct me when I go astray,\n And lead me in thy perfect way._\n\nAnd now, dear Mr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, I have in some measure unbosomed my heart.\nWhat shall I say more? Pray for me both in public and private; give\nthanks, as well as pray, especially for the mercies of this voyage.\nDear Sir, adieu till I come on shore, which I hope will be very\nspeedily, being now in soundings; then you shall hear again, GOD\nwilling, from\n\n Your truly affectionate friend, brother, and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLXXII.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _London, March 25, 1741._\n _My dear Sir_,\n\nI Wrote to you immediately on my coming on shore. We arrived at\n_Falmouth_ last _Wednesday_ was sevennight, and got here the _Sunday_\nfollowing.\u2015\u2015Blessed be GOD, we had a summer\u2019s passage. Many of our\nfriends, I find, are sadly divided, and, as far as I am able to judge,\nhave been sadly misled. Congregations at _Moorfields_, and _Kennington\nCommon_, on _Sunday_, were as large as usual.\u2015\u2015On the following week\ndays, quite contrary: Twenty thousand dwindled down to two or three\nhundred. It has been a trying time with me. A large orphan family,\nconsisting of near a hundred, to be maintained, about four thousand\nmiles off, without the least fund, and in the dearest part of his\nMajesty\u2019s dominions; also, above a thousand pounds in debt for them,\nand not worth twenty pounds in the world of my own, and threatened to\nbe arrested for three hundred and fifty pounds, drawn for in favour of\nthe Orphan house, by my late dear deceased friend and fellow-traveller\nMr. _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. My Bookseller, who, I believe, has got some _hundreds_\nby me, being drawn away by the _M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015ns_, refuses to print for me; and\nmany, very many of my spiritual children, who, at my last departure\nfrom _England_, would have plucked out their own eyes to have given\nto me, are so prejudiced by the dear Messrs. _W._\u2019s dressing up the\ndoctrine of Election in such horrible colours, that they will neither\nhear, see, nor give me the least assistance: Yea, some of them send\nthreatening letters, that GOD will speedily destroy me. As for the\npeople of the world, they are so imbittered by my _injudicious_,\nand _too severe expressions_ against Archbishop _Tillotson_, and the\nAuthor of the old _Duty of Man_, that they fly from me as from a viper;\nand what is most cutting of all, I am now constrained, on account of\nour differing in principles, publicly to separate from my dear, dear\nold friends Messrs. _J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ and _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015y_, whom I still love as\nmy own soul: But, through infinite mercy, I am enabled to strengthen\nmyself in the LORD my GOD. I am cast down but not destroyed, perplexed\nbut not in despair. A few days ago, in reading _Beza\u2019s Life of Calvin_,\nthese words were much pressed upon me, \u201c_Calvin_ is turned out of\n_Geneva_, but, behold a new church arises!\u201d\u2015\u2015JESUS, the ever loving,\naltogether lovely JESUS, pities and comforts me. My friends are\nerecting a place, which I have called a _Tabernacle_, for morning\u2019s\nexposition. I have not, nor can I as yet, make any collections; but\nlet us not fear.\u2015\u2015Our heavenly Father, with whom the fatherless find\nmercy, will yet provide; let us only seek first the kingdom of GOD,\nand his righteousness, and all other necessary things shall be added\nunto us. In about a fortnight, though I scarce know an oak from a\nhickery, or one kind of land from another, I am subp\u0153na\u2019d to appear\nbefore parliament, to give an account of the condition of the province\nof _Georgia_, when I left it. This, I suppose, is occasioned by\nthe party, which hath been so inveterate against the honourable the\ntrustees, whom they accuse of misemploying the public monies. The\nevent, which undoubtedly will be in favour of the trust, you may know\nhereafter. In the mean while, believe me to be\n\n Yours most affectionately,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLXXIII.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _London, March 25, 1741._\n _My very dear Brother_,\n\nHASTEN hither with all speed, and then we shall see what GOD intends\nto do for and by us. It is a trying time now in the church.\u2015\u2015The LORD\ngive us a due mixture of the lamb and lion. Some that have been led\nastray, begin to recover. The LORD make way for his own truths. My\nlove to the _Colliers_, and all friends. Many, I suppose, will be shy.\nI am become a monster even to several who were wrought upon by my\nministry; but it must needs be that offences should come: otherwise,\nhow should I learn to cease from man? Adieu; excuse brevity\u2015\u2015Hasten,\nand speak face to face with\n\n Yours most affectionately in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLXXIV.\n\n _To Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _London, April 10, 1741._\n _My very dear Friend_,\n\nI Ordered Mr. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ to send you some sermons and accounts, some time\nago: I suppose he has done it. I have been at the Parliament-house;\nthe _Georgia_ affair was adjourned. The gentlemen seemed apprehensive\nthat my account of the colony, would have too much weight. It was\nsomewhat of a trial to be in the House. I then remembered what the\nApostle said, \u201cWe are become a spectacle to men and to angels.\u201d My\nappeal will come to nothing, I believe. I have waited upon the Speaker;\nhe received me kindly. I cannot yet determine when I shall see you. If\nyou fear, I hope you will pray for me. The LORD blesses my ministry.\nSalute dear Mrs. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_: I will write to her next; but you two are\none. The LORD be with you both. At present I am weak in body, and\ntherefore must beg leave to subscribe myself\n\n Yours, &c.\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLXXV.\n\n _To Mr. S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at London._\n\n _Bristol, April 27, 1741._\n _My dear Friend and Brother_,\n\nON _Tuesday, April 22d_, I left _London_, and preached on _Wednesday_\nand _Thursday_ morning at _Newbury_, to large congregations. On\n_Friday_ evening I preached at _Bristol_, and have continued to\ndo so twice every day to great and affected auditories. I received\nyour kind letter, and thank you for it. I rejoice in the good news\nfrom _New-England_. Last night, I rejoiced much in seeing a soul\nwonderfully exult in GOD, just at the borders of death. Great\nmanifestations of the divine presence have attended my sermons. Praise\nthe LORD O my soul! I am glad to find Mr. _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ goes on well. Pray\ngive my love to brother _G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. My body is sometimes weak, but my\nsoul rejoices in GOD my Saviour. I know not, whether I shall come\nso soon as proposed to _London_. I find it necessary, through the\nincrease of awakened souls, to get a society-room built adjoining\nto our new tabernacle. I pray GOD to fill it with his glory, and beg\nleave to subscribe myself, dear Mr. _M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, Your affectionate friend,\nbrother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLXXVI.\n\n _To Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Bristol, April 28, 1741._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nBLESSED be GOD for knitting us together in love. May it continue, and\nincrease till consummated in eternity! The LORD JESUS direct you. It\nis now a trying time with the church. Our LORD is now chiefly wounded\nin the house of his friends. The LORD keep us both from a party\nspirit on one hand, and from too much rashness and positiveness on the\nother. I speak thus, because you seem offended that some affirm, \u201cThat\nthere is no such thing as dominion over indwelling sin, nor rest from\nworking for life wholly.\u201d Now this is certainly true in one sense. We\nshall never have such a dominion over indwelling sin, as entirely to\nbe delivered from the stirring of it; and the greatest saint cannot be\nassured, but some time or other for his humiliation, or punishment for\nunfaithfulness, GOD may permit it to break out into some actual breach\nof his law, and in a gross way too. Let us not be high-minded, but\nfear. It is equally true, that we shall not rest wholly from working\nfor life. For whilst there is any part of us unregenerate, that\npart will be always leading us to the old covenant. _Luther_ often\ncomplained of the propensity of his heart this way. If we know\nourselves, we shall find it to be so with us; but I suppose you have\nbeen tinctured with the doctrine of _sinless perfection_. No wonder\ntherefore you write thus. May GOD give you a right judgment in all\nthings, and enable you rightly to divide the word of truth! As for\n_assurance_, I cannot but think, all who are truly converted must\nknow that there was a time in which they closed with CHRIST: But then,\nas so many have died only with an humble hope, and have been even\nunder doubts and fears, though they could not but be looked upon\nas christians; I am less positive than once I was, lest haply I\nshould condemn some of GOD\u2019s dear children. The farther we go in the\nspiritual life, the more cool and rational shall we be, and yet more\ntruly zealous. I speak this by experience. Dear brother _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ will\nnot be angry with me. I hope, and believe, you pray for me. The LORD\nJESUS carries me on. Many have been convinced at _London_. I preach\nhere twice daily, to large congregations, with great power. The LORD,\nI believe, will yet bring mighty things to pass. I am, dear _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your most affectionate brother in our dear LORD JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLXXVII.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Bristol, May 1, 1741._\n _Rev. and dear Sir_,\n\nI Am glad to hear by brother _M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, that the LORD is with you. May\nyou increase with all the increase of GOD. The more we do, the more\nwe may do for the dear LORD JESUS. He strengthens me here mightily.\u2015\u2015I\nam enabled to speak here with great power, rather greater than when\nat _London_. My congregations are as large as usual, and they go\nrefreshed away. This is the LORD\u2019s doings; may all that is within us\npraise his holy name! Exhort the dear _London_ people to pray for us.\nThe LORD be with you all. Dear Sir, pray for\n\n Your affectionate brother and unworthy fellow-labourer\n in our LORD,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLXXVIII.\n\n _To Mr. S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Worcester._\n\n _Gloucester, May 5, 1741._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nWITH this, I send you my answer to brother _Wesley_\u2019s sermon, and my\naccount of the Orphan-house. I have seen your letter to Mr. _N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\nand thank you for espousing the cause of a poor despised minister of\nJESUS CHRIST. I hope as I make advances in the spiritual life, I shall\nshow my zeal more and more tempered with true christian knowledge and\nprudence. I would willingly have none of my wild fire mingled with\nthe sacred fire that comes down from GOD\u2019s altar. I desire not only\nto do things for GOD, but to do them in the best manner. I am a poor\nunworthy sinner, and yet, (O sovereign grace!) the LORD works by me\nday by day. At _Bristol_, error is in a great measure put a stop to.\nThe LORD manifested himself in the great congregation there, and doth\nlikewise here. Last night, we saw and felt his power. I have had the\npleasure of seeing dear Mr. _P\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, and I long for that time when I\nshall see you, Reverend Sir, and all the chosen of GOD in the kingdom\nof heaven. But I desire to wait till my change shall come. Dear Sir,\nbe pleased to pray for me. I have prayed for you often. I am a weak\nsinful worm. As such pray remember, Reverend Sir,\n\n Your affectionate though unworthy brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLXXIX.\n\n _To Mr. Wm. W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Edinburgh._\n\n _Bristol, May 16, 1741._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nI Received both your kind letters, and with this send you my hearty\nthanks for them. I also thank you for your kind invitation of me to\n_Scotland_. GOD only knows when I can come.\u2015\u2015All I can say at present\nis, I will come when the LORD permits. Sad tares have been sown here.\nIt will require some time to pluck them up. The doctrines of the\ngospel are sadly run down, and most monstrous errors propagated. They\nassert, \u201cThat the very in-being of sin must be taken out of us, or\notherwise we are not new creatures.\u201d O dear Sir, exhort all to pray\nfor me, that I may be faithful to my LORD, and yet kept gentle in my\ntemper. At present, our dear LORD causes me to triumph in every place.\nHis gospel gets ground, and his power is manifested among us day by\nday. The fields are white, every where ready unto harvest. Our LORD\nI trust will gather his wheat into his heavenly garners. My kind\nrespects attend Mr. _M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ and Mr. _D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. Had I time I would write\na long letter to each. But I am interrupted. However, I am glad to\nsnatch a few moments to beg a continuance of your prayers for a poor\nunworthy worm, and to assure you that I am, dear Sir,\n\n Your affectionate brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLXXX.\n\n _To Mr. E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Sterling._\n\n _Bristol, May 16, 1741._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nI Owe you much love. Only want of time, prevents my writing to you\noftner. This morning I received a kind \u2666letter from your brother\n_Ralph_, who thinks it best for me wholly to join the associate\npresbytery, if it should please GOD to send me into _Scotland_. This\nI cannot altogether come into. I come only as an occasional preacher,\nto preach the simple gospel to all that are willing to hear me, of\nwhatever denomination. It will be wrong in me to join in a reformation\nas to church government, any further than I have light given me from\nabove. If I am quite neuter as to that in my preaching, I cannot\nsee how it can hinder or retard any design you may have on foot. My\nbusiness seems to be, to evangelize, to be a Presbyter at large. When\nI shall be sent into your parts I know not. I write this, that there\nmay not be the least misunderstanding between us. I love and honour\nthe associate Presbytery in the bowels of JESUS CHRIST. With this\nI send them my due respects, and most humbly beg their prayers. But\nlet them not be offended, if in all things I cannot immediately fall\nin with them. Let them leave me to GOD. Whatever light he is pleased\nto give me, I hope I shall be faithful to it. Our dear and precious\nmaster still carries me on. GOD enables me to fight my way through.\nThe gospel doctrines, I believe, will yet prevail. I feel a divine\npower attending my ministrations. I preach twice daily, and am invited\nto many places. I believe the LORD intends to keep me on this side the\nwater for some time. Blessed be GOD, all places are alike to me. O\ndear Sir, pray for me.\u2015\u2015I am a poor unworthy worm. I love you tenderly,\nbut am almost ashamed to subscribe myself\n\n Your brother in the best of bonds,\n\n _G. W._\n\n \u2666 \u2018lettter\u2019 replaced with \u2018letter\u2019\n\n\n LETTER CCLXXXI.\n\n _To D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in London._\n\n _Bristol, May 16, 1741._\n\nI Am glad to receive a line once again from dear brother _A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. I\nrejoice that GOD lets you see more and more into the corruptions of\nyour heart. The more perfect you are, the more will you see and bewail\nyour imperfections in thought, word, and deed; the more will you be\nmade to sing, \u201cIn the LORD alone, and not in myself, have I compleat\nrighteousness and strength.\u201d The doctrine of electing love, is\nprecious to my soul. I am enabled to speak of it feelingly to others.\nMy soul is kept in peace and sweetness. Our LORD\u2019s cause needs not\nnoise and rashness. I desire that none of my wild-fire may be mixed\nwith the pure fire of holy zeal coming from GOD\u2019s altar. I think it my\nduty to wait, to go on simply in preaching the everlasting gospel, and\nI believe we shall yet see the salvation of GOD. Methinks, the cloud\nbegins to break off your mind; I pray GOD to keep you from extremes.\nBrother _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ is more and more enlightned; but withal, more and more\nquickened every day. He finds there is no such thing as _sinless_\nperfection, and yet is pressing after holiness of heart and life\nrather more than ever. May GOD make my dear brother _A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ thus\nminded! For indeed I love him in the bowels of JESUS CHRIST. We have\nhad frequently sweet communion with GOD, and one another. I should\nhave rejoiced to have conversed with you at _Bristol_. This is my\ncomfort, yet a little while and we shall converse in the kingdom of\nheaven, for ever and ever. My soul is waiting for this salvation. I\nknow not when I shall go to _Axminster_. When I do, you shall have\ntimely notice. GOD blesses my ministry, wherever he sends me. I am\ninvited to fresh places daily. Dear Mr. _A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, I, even worthless I,\nsubscribe myself,\n\n Yours most affectionately in the loving JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLXXXII.\n\n _To Mr. I\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Bristol, May 18, 1741._\n _Dear Brother C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Received your letter this morning, and am just setting out for\n_Wiltshire_. The LORD hath been much with us. Yesterday I preached\nthree times. At every sermon, a sweet melting was observed in the\ncongregation. Last night I gave your sister the sacrament; she is\nrecovering. I afterwards, administered the sacrament at Mr. _T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s,\nand had a love feast. JESUS was in the midst of us. I know not\nbut I may come towards _London_ next week. I wonder not at your\nheaviness.\u2015\u2015Before every increase of your work, you must expect some\ntrials. Humblings are necessary for your spirit, and mine. I return\nmy love to all. I must away. Brother _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ rejoices in spirit, and\njoins with me, who am,\n\n Ever yours in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLXXXIII.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. J._\n\n _Bristol, May 23, 1741._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nI Bless GOD for making any thing of mine useful to your soul. May\nthe blessed JESUS breathe upon you day by day, and make you eminently\nuseful to the church of GOD. I think you write with a kind of\nprophetic spirit. The LORD only knows how he will be pleased to\ndispose of me. Great afflictions I am sure of having, and a sudden\ndeath, blessed be GOD, will not be terrible. I know that my redeemer\nliveth. I every day long to see him, that I may be free from the\nremainder of sin, and enjoy him without interruption for evermore. I\ndesire patiently to wait, till my blessed change shall come. The LORD\nhath been with me here. There is a great awakening in _Wiltshire_,\nand the work is most wonderfully carried on in _New-England_. I hope\nto send you a letter, shortly, that will rejoice your heart. I leave\n_Bristol_, and go through _Wiltshire_ to _London_ next _Monday_.\u2015\u2015I\nthen purpose going to _Staffordshire_, and then through _Wales_\nto _Scotland_. A wider door than ever is opened for preaching the\neverlasting gospel. I have now only time to beg your prayers, and to\nassure you that I am\n\n Your most affectionate though weak and unworthy brother\n and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLXXXIV.\n\n _To Mr. I\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Philadelphia._\n\n _Bristol, May 23, 1741._\n _Dear I\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Rejoice to find, that you see, feel, and bewail, the plague of your\nheart. May the LORD shew it you more and more! It will excite your\nlove to the dear LORD JESUS more fervently.\u2015\u2015I return my love to your\nsister. I thought ere now she had been with JESUS. I believe, she\nhas the grace of GOD in truth, and therefore our LORD will make her\nconqueror over all. I am glad to hear of the success of the gospel in\n_Boston_. It is a gathering time there, but a winnowing time with us\nhere. All is ordered for the good of the church, by CHRIST JESUS: Let\nus, my dear brother, keep close to him in this and every trying time.\nWe shall find but few, very few, true followers of the Lamb of GOD.\nMay you and I be in the happy number! GOD is pleased to give success\nto the word preached. Though I am opposed much, JESUS is my strength.\nThe LORD will enable me to fight his battles. My love to _Peggy_, and\nall that love JESUS. Forget not to pray for\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLXXXV.\n\n _To Mr. T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Bristol, May 23, 1741._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nI Am glad to receive a letter from you. I was fearful, lest I had\ndone something to offend you. I thank you and the other gentlemen for\ntheir kind invitation of me to _Scotland_. I believe it will be near\nthree months before I can see _Edinburgh_. On _Monday_ I set out for\n_London_: then I purpose, GOD willing, to go into _Essex_, and then\nto return through _Bristol_ and _Wales_ in my way to you. I intreat\nall the brethren to pray for me, that I may come in the fulness of the\nblessing of the gospel of CHRIST. I am a poor, weak, unworthy worm.\nGOD hath been with me here, and in _Gloucestershire_. In _Wiltshire_\nthere is a great awakening. Abroad in _New-England_ the work goes on\nwonderfully. O dear Sir, never was such a weak wretch sent on such an\nimportant errand. I have many trials of various kinds. JESUS supports\nme; JESUS makes me more than conqueror. He is a dear and a tender\nmaster. Dear Sir, help me to praise him. I will write to all the\ngentlemen that wrote to me, if I can any way redeem time. In the mean\nwhile, be pleased to remember me to them in the kindest manner, and\nbelieve me to be\n\n Your affectionate though unworthy brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLXXXVI.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Savannah._\n\n _London, June 1, 1741._\n _My very dear Friend and Brother_,\n\nI Received a short letter from you, but it was dated in _January_\nlast.\u2015\u2015I have sent several to _Georgia_, and lately also a parcel of\nthings for the children. GOD appears much in our congregations. We\nseldom or never have a dry meeting. As to outward things, I never was\nmore embarrassed; but my consolations are equivalent. Praise the LORD,\nO my soul! I am apprehensive of no opposition from the government. I\nhave waited on the Speaker. He treated me kindly, and assured me that\nthere would be no persecution in this king\u2019s reign: they know I am\nloyal from principle, but I believe I shall yet be greatly humbled.\nThe story of _Joseph_ in the prison, and _David_ in his troubles\nbefore he came to the throne, has been much and comfortably pressed\nupon my soul. I hope you enjoy peace! May the LORD bless you and the\nwhole household. I am sometimes enabled to pray with great faith for\nyou all. The LORD will yet provide. I am to preach thrice to day. It\nis now past five in the morning. I am going to the tabernacle lately\nerected for a morning lecture. We have sweet meetings, blessed be GOD!\nIn the bowels of our common JESUS, I subscribe myself\n\n Yours eternally,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLXXXVII.\n\n _To Mr. I. C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Bristol._\n\n _London, June 3, 1741._\n\nI Have enjoyed the especial presence of GOD ever since I came to\n_London_. I preach three times daily. The LORD is remarkably with me.\nCongregations increase. I am going to have a society-room joined to\nthe tabernacle. The LORD is really on our side.\u2015\u2015O let us be meek and\nquiet! O let us wait, and we shall see the salvation of GOD. I preach\ndaily at _Deptford_. Our dear master helps me to preach and pray with\ngreat power. Your ministry hath been blessed. Let us both give all the\nglory to everlasting Love. Salute the dear brethren. Remember me most\nkindly to all in _Wine-street_.\n\n Ever yours in the blessed JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCLXXXVIII.\n\n _To Mr. R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _London, June 4, 1741._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nI Have now a little time to myself. I must improve it and answer your\nkind letter. Blessed be GOD, for enabling me to write any thing, that\nmay be of service to his church, and of comfort to your soul. Glory\nbe to our dear and common LORD, his cause here succeeds. Truth gets\nground. The LORD strengthens me mightily. His power is manifested in\nour congregations. Conversion work is going on apace among us. I am\nnot yet determined, about the exact time of coming to _Scotland_:\nbut I believe, I shall be with you in about three months. I can\u2019t but\nthink the associate presbytery, are a little too hard upon me. If I\nam neuter as to the \u2666particular reformation of church government till\nI have further light, it will be enough. I come simply to preach the\ngospel, and to be received only as an occasional itinerant preacher\nby all, and not to enter into any particular connection whatever.\nThe LORD, I hope, will order my goings in his ways. I desire to hear\nfrequently from you. I have need of your prayers. My trials are great,\nmy comforts far greater. I am a poor worm, and yet JESUS delights to\nhonour me. We are likely to have settled societies in several places.\nJESUS rides on from conquering to conquer. I am, Reverend and dear Sir,\n\n Your unworthy fellow-labourer and affectionate brother\n and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n \u2666 \u2018parcular\u2019 replaced with \u2018particular\u2019\n\n\n LETTER CCLXXXIX.\n\n _London, June 6, 1741._\n _My Brother H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Do assure you, that my heart is as your heart. I am quite sick of\n_Christless consenters_. They talk, and that is all. I (like you) am\nheartily despised by most of them. I am resolved to open against their\nluke-warmness, and worldly-mindedness. May GOD open my mouth wide when\nI come to _Wales_. Outward enemies are now more quiet. Enemies within\nthe church, carnal professors, and self-righteous Pharisees, most try\nus. Let us not fear, JESUS CHRIST will give us the victory over all.\nGOD mightily strengthens me. Our congregations are very large and\nsolemn. I never had greater freedom in preaching. GOD enables me to\ncast all my care upon him, with a full assurance that he careth for\nme. You need not fear my believing any reports to your disadvantage.\nI love you in the bowels of JESUS CHRIST. I was not in the least\noffended, when _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ wrote me word that \u201cyou thought in some\nthings I did not act as a _little child_.\u201d The more open you are with\nme the better. If nature and pride rise in my heart, I will go to\nJESUS, abhor myself, and pray for my dear reprovers. All that I can\nsay is, that I desire to be _a very little child_. All things are\npossible with JESUS CHRIST. He is wonderfully kind to me. Truth, I\nbelieve, will prevail. I want to see you face to face. Satan does not\nlove that CHRIST\u2019s ministers should come together. I wish you could\ncome up immediately, and stay at _London_ whilst I am in the country:\nor rather go and preach at _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015l_, _Gloucester_, and _Wiltshire_,\nfor about a fortnight, and then come up to _London_. This, I believe,\nwill be best. About that time, GOD willing, I shall return from\n_Essex_, and then we can consult what is best to be done for the\ncause of our dear master. O JESUS is love! I am glad to hear brother\n_Rowl\u2015\u2015d_ is with you. Go on in the strength of our dear LORD, and\nyou shall see satan like lightning fall from heaven. Times are not yet\ndark enough for the dawning of a thorough reformation. At even-tide\nGOD speaks. My love to all that follow JESUS CHRIST with an unfeigned\nsimplicity. May the LORD hide your precious soul under the shadow of\nhis almighty wings! Cease not to pray for\n\n Yours eternally in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXC.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Dedham in Essex._\n\n _London, June 6, 1741._\n _Rev. and dear Sir_,\n\nMULTIPLICITY of business has prevented my answering your kind letter.\nHowever, I have often borne you upon my heart before the LORD. Your\ncase, methinks, is somewhat like that man of GOD, _J. Bunyan_\u2019s. He\nwas often so depressed with a sense of sin in the pulpit, that he has\nbeen tempted to hold his peace. This has been my case also both in\npublic and in private. I find the best way is to press forward, and to\nlook up to JESUS CHRIST. He is faithful to his promises. I write but\nshort, having but little time, and because I hope soon to see you in\n_Essex_. I pray GOD to clear up your evidences, and give you no rest\ntill he fills you with a full assurance of faith. Our LORD rides on\ntriumphantly here. He enables me to go on from conquering to conquer.\nI am a poor weak unworthy worm. As such, be pleased to remember,\nReverend and dear Sir,\n\n Your unworthy brother and fellow-labourer in the gospel,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXCI.\n\n _To Mrs. R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _London, June 6, 1741._\n _Dear Mrs. R._,\n\nI Have been much hindred in answering your letter. Perhaps you have\nexpected too much comfort from man. That comfort is alone lasting,\nwhich comes from GOD. I know not your experiences, and therefore\ncannot so well judge of your case: however, I would have you press\nforward, and labour after a full assurance of faith. Judge not\nyourself by others joys and comforts. Look not too much upon the\nhappiness you think others may enjoy. This may lead you to repine\nand murmur against GOD. Look to yourself, and to CHRIST. Remember,\nyou deserve nothing, and therefore he does you no wrong. Remember\nalso, that he is full of love, and therefore in his own due time will\nmanifest himself to your soul. That you may patiently tarry the LORD\u2019s\nleisure, and be blessed with abundance of peace, is the hearty prayer\nof, dear Mrs. _R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXCII.\n\n _To Mr. K\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _London, June 8, 1741._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nI Like your last letter best. There is one thing you still lack, \u201cto\nbe convinced of unbelief.\u201d By faith, and not by works, are you to be\njustified in the sight of GOD. Make use of the means. You must take\ncare that you do not rest in them. You must not think any thing you\ncan do, will in the least recommend you to the favour of GOD; and yet\nyou must strive, as if you were to be saved by your striving. The only\ncause of our acceptance with GOD lies at the feet of sovereign mercy,\nthrough CHRIST. Entreat the LORD to give you faith, and who knows\nbut he may have mercy upon you. Remember you are a poor sinner, and\ndeserve nothing. That GOD may reveal his dear Son in you, is the\nhearty prayer of\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXCIII.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Kingswood._\n\n _London, June 8, 1741._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nHOW sweetly does providence order all\nthings for us! Just before yours came, I was resolved to send you\n20 _l._ to begin the society-room at\n_Kingswood_. Mrs. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ gives it, and I\nbelieve will make it up fifty. This gentlewoman hath been made happily\ninstrumental in relieving me out of my late distress. You know how I\nwas threatened to be arrested, soon after my arrival, for above three\nhundred pounds, due on account of the Orphan-house in _Georgia_, and I\ndo not know but a writ was actually taken out. This drove me to my\nknees. GOD gave me to wrestle, with strong\ncryings and many tears, both before and after I went to rest\u2015\u2015I could\nplead with him that it was not for myself but his poor. The example of\n_Professor Frank_ encouraged me to pray, tho\u2019 I found he ventured only\nweek by week; but my situation in such a foreign climate constrained\nme to run upon larger arrears.\u2015\u2015GOD was pleased to give me an answer\nof peace. Having as I thought a full assurance of immediate help\nfrom some quarter or another, I went to sleep most comfortably. Early\nthe next morning a friend came to me to enquire, if I knew where a\ngentlewoman of his acquaintance might put out three or four hundred\npounds. I replied, let her lend it to me, and in a few months, GOD\nwilling, she shall have it again.\u2015\u2015Upon being acquainted with my\ncircumstances, she most chearfully sent me the sum I wanted, and thus\nmy enemies were disappointed of their hope. Praise the LORD, O my\nsoul!\u2015\u2015But to return. I would have you lay the foundation immediately,\nbut take care of building too large or too handsome. Notwithstanding\nmy present embarrassments, who knows, but it may be in my power\nto discharge my Orphan-house debt, and make collections here for\n_Kingswood-school_ too? When I could get no assistance at all from my\nold friends and spiritual (prejudiced) children, and was almost quite\npennyless, and left to sit alone like a sparrow upon the house-top, a\nserious person, whom I never saw or \u2666heard of, came the other day and\nput a guinea into my hand. At receiving it, something as it were said\nto me, \u201cCannot that GOD who sent this person to give thee this guinea,\nmake it up fifteen hundred?\u201d As I told a friend immediately, to whom I\nran down, so I shall tell you; I doubt not but this will be the case.\nMy debt is all for GOD, and contracted in providing for the fatherless\nand widow. As to the work here, though perhaps I may be blamed by some\nfor venturing so far, blessed be GOD, it goes on sweetly. All things\nhappen for the furtherance of the gospel. I have wrote brother _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\nto let you have twenty pounds.\n\n Yours eternally in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n \u2666 \u2018heared\u2019 replaced with \u2018heard\u2019\n\n\n LETTER CCXCIV.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Charles-Town._\n\n _London, June 9, 1741._\n _Rev. and dear Sir_,\n\nI Wrote you a few lines lately from _Bristol_. Since that, I have\nhad the pleasure of receiving a letter from you; for which I thank\nyou heartily. What Mr. _P\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ brings with him, will inform you how\naffairs stand here. Blessed be GOD, the word runs and is glorified.\nThe heat of the battle is now, I hope, pretty well over. GOD is\npleased to give me great power, and to strengthen me both in body\nand soul. Our congregations are large and awful. We generally see and\nfeel much of the divine presence in the sanctuary. Many are pricked\nto the heart. I have three truly experienced young men that joined\nme. Affairs being somewhat settled here, I am going a long journey\nof several months, thro\u2019 several counties in _England_, _Wales_,\nand _Scotland_. The door was never opened wider for my preaching the\neverlasting gospel. I am glad to hear by Mrs. _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, &c. of your\nfaithfulness to our common LORD.\u2015\u2015O, dear Sir, what are we that we\nare called out to speak in his great name! Let us never fear suffering\nfor owning his eternal truths.\u2015\u2015The witnesses cannot be slain \u2019till\nthey have finished their testimony. At present here is no great fear\nof opposition from the men in power; tho\u2019 I hear the House of Lords\nintend to give a hearing to my appeal. However it be, I am easy.\nThe LORD JESUS over-rules every thing for the good of his church. I\nsuppose I cannot come over to you \u2019till about next Spring. In the mean\nwhile, tho\u2019 absent in body, I am present with you in spirit, and am,\nreverend and dear Sir,\n\n Your very affectionate, but unknown brother\n and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXCV.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 P\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Georgia._\n\n _London, June 9, 1741._\n _Dear brother P\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Am sorry to hear you are still in darkness. Let the little light\nyou have, make you hold up your head, and think not of changing your\nstation without a proper call. We are apt to place our happiness\nin places, and often think we do not please GOD, because we do not\nplease ourselves. But I find the fault is in the heart, not the place.\nWait, therefore, my dear brother, still patiently upon the LORD. Who\nknows, but by and by JESUS CHRIST may lift up the light of his blessed\ncountenance upon your soul? Why should you doubt it? My dear brother,\nCHRIST is love. He tries, but yet supports me; nay, makes me more than\nconqueror thro\u2019 his love. You will hear by other letters, how it goes\nwith the church in _England_. She is shaken, but it is only that she\nmay be the more settled. My love to your wife. I hope you find her\nan help-meet for you. May the GOD of _Abraham_, _Isaac_ and _Jacob_,\nbless, preserve, and keep you. May you both walk in the comforts of\nthe Holy Ghost, and be edified; and may GOD give you hearts to remember\n\n Your affectionate friend, and brother, and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXCVI.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. F\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Southampton._\n\n _London, June 13, 1741._\n _Rev. and dear Sir_,\n\nJUST now I received your kind letter, and the generous benefaction of\nyou and your friends for the Orphan-house. It came very opportunely,\nand strengthens my faith in the blessed JESUS. I find he will help\nme by ways I know not. O, dear Sir, the love of GOD to such an\nunworthy worm quite amazes me. Surely, if I did not stand up for\nfree distinguishing grace, the very stones would cry out against me.\nBlessed be our glorious _Emmanuel_, the gospel runs and is glorified.\nA wonderful power attends the word preached. Every day, I believe,\nsome or other are pricked to the heart. I have also glad tidings from\nabroad. In _New-England_ there is an extraordinary work of GOD. I hope\nthe dear JESUS will set the whole world in a flame. Dear Sir, help me\nwith your prayers. The archers shoot sore at me that I may fall, but\nthe LORD is my helper. I hope my thanks will find acceptance with your\nother friends, who joined in helping my poor Orphans. Good measure\npressed down and running over, may the LORD return into your bosoms.\nDear Sir, I pray GOD to make you a flaming fire, and fill you with a\nholy burning zeal for promoting our dear Redeemer\u2019s kingdom. I find\nbut few truly zealous. The love of too, too many is waxed cold. I\nthank you, dear Sir, for encouraging me, and beg leave to subscribe\nmyself, reverend and dear Sir,\n\n Your affectionate brother in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXCVII.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _London, June 13, 1741._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nI Received your kind letter. You do not know, and therefore think too\nhighly of me. \u201cLess than the least of all,\u201d shall be my motto still.\nProvidence is pleased to prevent my leaving _London_ on _Monday_ next.\nI must necessarily defer my journey to _Hertfordshire_ and _Essex_,\ntill the _Monday_ following.\u2015\u2015I approve of the circuit you have\nfixed, but I chuse to preach at each place twice. Dear Sir, I most\nheartily thank you for promising me your assistance in respect to the\norphans. I am persuaded our LORD will be well pleased. He gives me\ngreat encouragement. We daily feel and see his presence in the great\ncongregation. I hear glorious news from abroad: _New-England_ is in a\nholy flame. O that we at home, may be stirred up to spend ourselves,\nand be spent, for the good of souls! Dear Sir, pray that such a mind\nmay be given to\n\n Your most affectionate, though unworthy brother\n and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXCVIII.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Worcester._\n\n _London, June 13, 1741._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nI Thank you heartily for your last kind letter: As you are so aged and\ninfirm, I take it as an especial favour, that you are pleased to write\nto me. You need make no apology, reverend Sir, for your plain dealing:\nI love those best, who deal most sincerely with me. Whatever errors I\nhave been, or shall be guilty of in my ministry, I hope the LORD will\nshew me, and give me grace to amend. This is the language of my heart;\n\n _Correct me when I go astray,\n And lead me in the perfect way._\n\nI also thank you, dear Sir, for your kind benefaction. My arrears\nupon the Orphan-house are yet large; but I hope ere long the LORD\nwill enable me to pay them all. At present, I am kept from doubting.\nUnworthy as I am, JESUS CHRIST is yet with me, and is pleased daily to\nstrengthen me both in soul and body. My ministry (for ever adored be\nsovereign grace) is attended with a continual power. I am shortly\ngoing a large circuit, perhaps as far as _Scotland_. Dear Sir, let\nyour prayers follow after me.\u2015\u2015I am a poor, weak, unworthy worm; as\nsuch be pleased to remember, reverend and dear Sir,\n\n Your obedient, though unworthy brother and servant\n in our common LORD,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCXCIX.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Bristol._\n\n _Hertford, July 1, 1741._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nTHE LORD has been with me greatly, ever since I left _London_.\u2015\u2015I have\nbeen enabled to preach twice every day, and to ride several miles.\nThe congregations have been every where very large. GOD\u2019s presence has\naccompanied the word. People\u2019s hearts have been enlarged. Within these\nfew days, we have collected near a hundred pounds for the poor orphans.\nNumbers of souls, I believe, are under convictions. In some places we\nhave had near ten thousand hearers. Invitations are so pressing, that\nI purpose going another circuit to _Bedford_, and to preach in the\ncounties round about for near a fortnight, and then return to _London_.\nI hope the LORD is with you; I am somewhat weak in body, but sweet and\ncomfortable in my soul. Dear _J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ joins with me in love to you and\nall. Pray for,\n\n Yours in the best bonds,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCC.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Savannah._\n\n _Colchester, July 12, 1741._\n _My very dear Friend and Brother_,\n\nI Have not heard from you since you wrote last _January_. I have\nbeen a circuit into _Hertfordshire_, _Essex_, _Bedfordshire_,\n_Cambridgeshire_, and _Suffolk_. I have been enabled to preach twice\ndaily, and to ride several miles. Congregations have been surprisingly\nlarge; the word is attended with power, and the alarm in the country\nrather greater than ever. Contributions arise and increase. You are\nall much upon my heart. GOD will yet provide for you. I write this\nin great haste. GOD gives me much of his presence. I am more and more\nconvinced, that evangelizing is my proper business at present. GOD\ngives me great access every where. The LORD be with you all, Amen and\nAmen! To the best of my knowledge, I have neglected no opportunity of\nwriting. I am\n\n Ever yours in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER [CCC.]\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at London._\n\n _Coggeshall, July 13, 1741._\n\nI Received your letter at _Bury_; but cannot think matters are quite\nripe, or you duly qualified for settling a church. GOD lets me see\nmore and more, that I must evangelize. I find you are for settling:\ndo as GOD shall direct, I am easy. I only wish you may find settled\npersons to be your assistants. Without this, a church cannot be\nrightly ordered. I have no freedom, but in going about to all\ndenominations. I cannot join with any one, so as to be fixed in any\nparticular place. Every one hath his proper gift. _Field-preaching_ is\nmy plan: In this I am carried as on eagles wings. GOD makes way for me\nevery where. The work of the LORD increases. I am comforted night and\nday. O free grace to such an hell-deserving sinner! I pray GOD to give\nyou a right judgment in all things. I am, dear brother _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Yours most affectionately in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCI.\n\n _To Mrs. D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Gransden._\n\n _London, July 17, 1741._\n _My dear Sister_,\n\nI Bless GOD that I saw you at _Gransden_. The LORD was with us, and\nhas been with me the remaining part of my journey. We shall yet see\ngreater things than these. Wonderful things from abroad. The inclosed\nwill shew you, how desirous my family is of corresponding with you.\nPray write to my dear little orphans, boys and girls. GOD, I hear,\nhath been working powerfully upon their hearts. I would have you also\nwrite to Mr. _J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, a converted planter; to Mrs. _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\nhis kinswoman, who has lately received the assurance of faith; to\nMr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, a dear baptist minister; to Mrs. _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, who is carried\non the wings of faith and love; and to my dear Mr. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, who is\nSuperintendant of the Orphan-house affairs. You will excuse this\nfreedom. I am willing your usefulness should be as extensive as may\nbe. May the LORD bless you ever, more and more. I expect to go to\n_Scotland_ shortly. A ship will soon sail towards _Georgia_. Write\nsoon, dear Mrs. _D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, to\n\n Your affectionate brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCII.\n\n _To Mr. G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Gloucester._\n\n _London, July 18, 1741._\n _My dear Friend_,\n\nGOD has mightily blessed my journey in the country. Thousands, and\nten thousands, have flocked to hear the word. It was attended with\npower, and near a hundred and eighty pounds were collected for the\nOrphan-house. I know you will give thanks on my behalf. On _Thursday_\nmorning, GOD willing, I hope to embark for _Scotland_: I am persuaded\nthe LORD calls me thither. Invitations, both from the _Seceders_, and\nothers that do not secede from the _Kirk_, are very strong. I should\nbe glad of a line next post. It is now near eleven at night. I hope my\nfriends will accept my thanks for their kind benefactions to the dear\norphans, and with their prayers follow, dear Mr. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Ever yours in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCIII.\n\n _To Mr. B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Lewisham, July 23, 1741._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nTHOUGH I have but little time, yet I must redeem a little to answer\nyour kind letter. GOD is doing great things, both at home and abroad.\nThe inclosed will in some measure inform you. Every day our LORD\nappears for us in the great congregations. Weak as I am in myself, the\nLORD is my strength. O, dear Sir, I am a worm and no man; I deserve\nto be the outcast of the people, and yet the LORD delights to honour\nme. Free, free grace! I long to be above, that I may praise GOD as\nI desire. In about two days I hope to embark for _Scotland_. I will\ncome and visit you when providence permits. In the mean while, I beg\nthat you will pray that the glorious JESUS would bless all my poor\nendeavours to promote his glory! My love to all that love the dear\nEmmanuel. In his great name, I subscribe myself\n\n Your affectionate brother and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCIV.\n\n _To Mr. G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Gloucester._\n\n _Lewisham, July 23, 1741._\n _My very dear Friend_,\n\nI Thought to have embarked this morning for _Scotland_, but am\nlikely to be detained a day or two. I must therefore send you a line.\nWonderful things is the LORD doing for me. In the country I meet with\nsurprising success. In _London_ I see such things that I never saw\nin _England_ before. A mighty power almost continually accompanies\nthe word. The LORD JESUS is pleased to strengthen me very much in the\ninner man. O, my dear friend, give thanks for, and pray that I may\nwalk humbly with my GOD. The LORD be with you and yours. I hope both\nyou and dear Mrs. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ do keep close to GOD. My love to all that\nlove the dear LORD JESUS. GOD willing, you shall have a line from\n_Scotland_. Wonderful news is come from abroad, which will ere long\nrejoice your heart, and cause you to give thanks in behalf of, my dear\nMr. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Ever yours in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCV.\n\n _To Mr. T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Colchester._\n\n _Lewisham, July 23, 1741._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nPROVIDENCE detaining me one day more, I snatch a few moments to\nanswer your kind letter, and to return Mr. _A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ thanks for his kind\npresent. How good is the blessed JESUS to me the chief of sinners!\nHe takes care both of my body and soul. His power has attended me\nlately, more than ever it did before in _England_. GOD\u2019s right hand is\nbringing mighty things to pass. I earnestly intreat our LORD, that you\nmay live above the world, and be dead to all things here below. Dear\nSir, there is nothing like a life of faith. It is a glorious thing to\nbe able to say, \u201cNot I live, but CHRIST liveth in me.\u201d Then, are we\nchristians indeed, when we come to live on the invisible realities of\nanother world. This, and this only, is true and undefiled religion.\nMay GOD make you a lively partaker thereof. I hope my kind respects\nwill find acceptance with Messrs. _V\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, _D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, _J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, and all\nfriends. Fail not to pray for\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCVI.\n\n _To Mr. B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Greenwich, July 24, 1741._\n _My very dear B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nTO-MORROW, GOD willing, I embark for _Scotland_, and hope to redeem\ntime abroad to answer my dear lambs letters: They rejoiced me\nexceedingly. What I have done with yours, the inclosed will shew. Pray\nbe particular in your accounts. Much good has been done by those sent\nalready. You cannot tell how many hearty prayers are put up for you\nall, daily. May they enter into the ears of the LORD of _Sabaoth_!\nThe work is beginning afresh in _England_. The Holy Ghost descends in\na glorious manner, amidst the congregation. Weak, unworthy as I am,\nJESUS CHRIST works in and by me. O sovereign free grace! I have sent\nthe letter to Mrs. _D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. I have lately seen her. Her conversation\nis as weighty as her letters. You will receive more from her, I hope,\nbefore it be long. I believe you are where GOD would have you to be.\nI despair not of seeing your mouth opened remarkably for GOD. O that\nthe dear JESUS may bless you, and the whole houshold! I should rejoice\nto see you, but GOD, I believe, will detain me here the Winter.\nMr. _P\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s brother is to pay for the use of the Orphan-house\nseventy-five pounds. Shortly I hope to send you fresh supplies. In the\nmean while I assure you all, that you are constantly upon my heart.\nMy head pains me; good night. The LORD be with you all. Expect to hear\nagain very speedily from, dear Brother _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Yours most affectionately in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCVII.\n\n _To Mr. I\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at South-Carolina._\n\n _Greenwich, July 24, 1741._\n _Dear Mr. B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nWITH much pleasure I received your kind letter. Blessed be GOD, even\nthe Father of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, who I trust hath begotten you,\nand called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. What an\nhonour is it, that we should be counted worthy to suffer the least\ndegree of reproach for his great name sake? I am ashamed to think how\nlittle I do, or suffer for him. O free grace! sovereign and electing\nlove! how sweet to the soul, who really feels the power of it! May we\nwalk worthy of that holy vocation wherewith we are called! I hear your\nbrother is dead; happy soul! you and I shall go and see him by and by.\nI thank you heartily for your kindness to the dear orphans. I am sure\nGOD will amply repay you. The LORD be with you and yours. I must away\nto the ship bound for _Scotland_. I will answer dear Mrs. _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s\nletter, when I get on board. Adieu. O pray for\n\n Ever yours in JESUS CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCVIII.\n\n _To Mr. I\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 F\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Charles-Town._\n\n _Greenwich, July 24, 1741._\n _Dear Mr. F\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Rejoice to hear the LORD is carrying on a good work in your soul.\nI hope you will not think all is done, because you have been baptized\nand received into full communion. I know too too many that \u201cmake\na CHRIST of their adult baptism,\u201d and rest in that, instead of the\nrighteousness of the blessed JESUS. GOD forbid that you should so\nlearn CHRIST. O my dear friend, seek after a settlement in our dear\nLORD, so that you may experience that life which is hid with CHRIST in\nGOD. _Dear Mrs. F\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, I thank you heartily for your kind letter. It\nrejoices my soul to hear, that you and Mr. _F\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ are going on hand\nin hand to heaven. This is the sacred end of marriage; to be helpers\nof each other in the great things of GOD. I am not yet entered into\nthat state. I am looking up to CHRIST, and shall wait his direction.\nThe gospel runs, and is glorified. The work is beginning a fresh in\n_England_. Never was my preaching attended with so great power on this\nside the water. Our LORD pours his comforts into my soul, and rejoices\nme with the glad news I hear from your parts. May you all increase and\nmultiply in every good word and work. My most tender love to all. As\nfast as possibly I can, each shall hear from, my dear friends,\n\n Ever yours,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCIX.\n\n _To Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Georgia._\n\n _Greenwich, July 24, 1741._\n _My very dear Friend and Brother_,\n\nBEFORE the boat comes to take me down to the ship, I would write you\na line or two. I greatly rejoice to hear that you live in love. But I\nshall not be surprised, if, after this remarkable work of the spirit,\nyou meet with some trials. But fear not: we are all in the Mediator\u2019s\nhands. I find all things work together for my good, and so I am sure\nyou will. My dear friends, I know you sympathize with me.\u2015\u2015Indeed, I\nalso do with you. My dear, dear family, you are continually upon my\nheart. I redeem a moment or two as often as I can to write to you.\nGOD only knows how I love and long after you in the bowels of the\never-blessed JESUS. O may you lean on his bosom, and may his banner\nover you be love. Adieu! for the present. I must soon away to the ship.\nI have ordered hats and shoes for the children, and intend sending\nbrother _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s order and other things, with some cash, very shortly.\nBut the arrears hang on me yet. My LORD bears my burden; may he bear\nall yours for you! I am persuaded he will. With great tenderness I\nsubscribe myself, dear Mr. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your most affectionate, though unworthy brother\n and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCX.\n\n _To Mrs. S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Charles-Town._\n\n _In a boat going to Gravesend, July 24, 1741._\n _Dear Mrs. S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Am now in a boat, in order to embark for _Scotland_. I have\nthe conveniency of writing upon a trunk, and therefore cannot be\neasy without sending you a line. I rejoice to hear that you are\ncarried upon the wings of love. Methinks I see you sitting under the\nRedeemer\u2019s shadow with great delight, and exalting his free grace in\nplucking you as a brand out of the fire. O when shall we go to heaven,\nthat we may praise GOD for what he hath done for our poor souls! The\nLORD is better to me than ever. Conviction, and conversion, both in\ntown and country, are beginning again. The divine presence is much\nmanifested in our assemblies. Blessed be the LORD, who is also working\nwith you. The spiritual prosperity of the orphan family, rejoices my\nheart. GOD will ere long, I believe, make a separation between the\nprecious and the vile. Poor Mr. _G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, Commissary _G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015d_, and\nChief Justice _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, bitter, bitter, though unsuccessful persecutors,\nwhat will become of you? O that GOD may grant them repentance unto\nlife! What reason have you and I, dear Mrs. _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, to exalt rich\ndistinguishing grace! \u2019Tis that alone hath made the difference. I\nbelieve I need not remind you to pray, dear Mrs. _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, for\n\n Yours most affectionately in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXI.\n\n _To Serjeant B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Gibraltar._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, bound from London to Leith,\n July 25, 1741._\n _Dear Mr. B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Am glad to hear that you are yet alive, and what is more, I trust\nyou are alive to GOD. Perhaps I may never see you again on this side\neternity. O that we may approve ourselves good soldiers of JESUS\nCHRIST! How bright will our crown be then, at that last great day! I\nfind there is nothing like being valiant for the truth. JESUS CHRIST\nis a glorious captain. He makes me more than conqueror through his\nlove. I have seen great things, within these few months. I should\nhave answered you sooner, but could not get time till now: I am\nembarked for _Scotland_. I hope you take particular care to beat down\nself-righteousness, and exalt the LORD JESUS alone in your hearts. I\nfind, the only happiness is to lie down as a poor sinner at the feet\nof the once crucified, but now exalted Lamb of GOD, who died for our\nsins and rose again for our justification. I rejoice to hear, that\nsome even at _Gibraltar_ still dare to own a too too much neglected\nSaviour. Blessed be GOD, the governor is so favourable to you. This\nis a great motive to love and thankfulness. The work of GOD still goes\non in _England_, and other parts. O for that glorious period, when\nthe whole earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the\nwaters cover the seas! That our dear LORD may every day reign as king\nin all your souls, is the prayer of, dear Serjeant,\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXII.\n\n _To Miss R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, July 25, 1741._\n _Dear Miss_,\n\nA Few hours ago I came on board. To shew that you are in my mind, I\nemploy some of my first leisure time in answering your letter. The\ncondition you are in now, ought not to make you think that JESUS\nCHRIST has cast you off, and that it will be presumption in you to\nbelieve on him. The LORD is now shewing you, that you are poor, and\nmiserable, and blind, and naked, and such only are the persons that\nthink they want his almighty aid. I fear you look too much into\nyourself, and from thence are discouraged. Whereas you should look\ndirectly to CHRIST, and come to him in all your blood. You will always\nfly from him, as long as you count him your enemy. But do not think\nso hardly of him; JESUS is the sinner\u2019s friend. O how doth his bowels\nyearn towards you! Are you made willing to be made whole? CHRIST\ninvites and commands you to come to him; venture then upon him. If you\nnever have believed yet, it is time for you to believe _now_. \u201cLORD,\ngive me faith!\u201d for faith is the free gift of GOD . What if your heart\nbe hard, JESUS can soften it. What if you have yet no marks of your\nelection? surely you dare not say, \u201cYou are not elected,\u201d or that\nCHRIST hath not died for you, even for you. It is, indeed, a bad\nthing to have only notions in the head, and no solid experience in\nthe heart. But it is a good thing to be convinced of this. Blessed be\nGOD, who hath given you to bewail it. Look upon this as a token for\ngood.\u2015\u2015Trust not to means; when they are taken from you, CHRIST can and\nwill work without them. The LORD may bring you help in a way, and at a\ntime you know not of. Your extremity shall be GOD\u2019s opportunity. If\nthe LORD vouchsafes to bless this letter in the least degree to your\ncomfort, it will much rejoice the heart of, dear Miss,\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXIII.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Georgia._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, July 25, 1741._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nWITH much pleasure I have again read over your kind letter. GOD is a\nGOD hearing prayer. My dear brother _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ is awakened out of sleep.\nHelp me men, help me angels, to praise GOD in his behalf! My dear\nbrother, I pray GOD you may never lie down again. CHRIST is now giving\nyou light; walk and rejoice in that light. Keep close, keep close, my\ndear man, and let nothing steal away your poor heart from the blessed\nJESUS. Give it all to him, give it to him, hard, earthly, sensual,\ndevilish, as it is. He will wash it in his precious blood. Do not tie\nhim down to any degree of conviction. So that he brings you home, let\nhim do it in that way he shall think best. What a loving Saviour have\nyou to deal with! You cannot conceive how kind he is, even _to me_\nevery day. I feel and see his power more and more. He seems to be\nbeginning his work afresh in _England_, and it gladdens my heart to\nhear he is among you at _Bethesda_. O do nothing to grieve the blessed\nspirit! Let your conversation be such in all things, as becomes the\ngospel of the blessed JESUS. Have the greatest regard for the little\nlambs. Do nothing that may prove a stumbling block to their precious\nsouls. Warm yourself by talking to them. Be not one moment idle.\nRedeem your precious time; for you know not when your LORD may come.\nMy brother, my heart is full of love to thee.\u2015\u2015May you be a beloved\nphysician! Beloved of the LORD, beloved of the LORD\u2019s people, and a\ncontinual comfort to\n\n Your most unworthy, though truly affectionate brother,\n and servant in the dear JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXIV.\n\n _To Mr. Wm. G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, July 25, 1741._\n _My dear Brother G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nYOUR kind letter I have just been reading over a second time. It gave\nme comfort; but the high stile extorted a smile or two from me. I\nbelieve you have been reading over Mrs. _D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s letters. You wanted\nto imitate her way of writing, but fail for want of her experience.\nIt is a good thing not to go out of our depth. Methinks I see you\nlook down and blush; but look up again immediately to JESUS CHRIST:\nHe knows whereof we are made, and remembers we are but dust. Indeed\nI write to my dear man out of much love. Blessed be GOD, that all\nthings are carried on with such decency and order. I pray GOD that you\nmay so live, that all who come to see you may say, \u201cSurely GOD is in\nthis place.\u201d Your prayers in my behalf are heard. I am quickened, and\nstrengthened mightily both in soul and body: controversial points are\nended, and the LORD JESUS CHRIST triumphs gloriously. I find my heart\noften drawn towards _Bethesda_. I hope I shall yet meet you again in\nthe flesh, and embrace you one by one in my unworthy arms. In the mean\ntime, I commit you to the bosom of JESUS. May you lean upon his breast,\nand sit under his shadow with great delight! May you be truly simple,\ntruly childlike, and every way conformable to our great exemplar the\nspotless Lamb. I long for that time, when we shall sit down at his\nmarriage supper: though I have the lowest place, it will suffice, dear\nbrother _G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your affectionate brother, friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXV.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Georgia._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, July 25, 1741._\n _Dear John_,\n\nYOUR case puts me in mind of that passage, where we are told that our\nLORD looked upon _Peter_. Surely, he has looked upon and prayed for\nyou, otherwise how would Satan have sifted you? But see what comfort\nanother passage may afford you, \u201cGo tell my brethren and _Peter_.\u201d\nPoor, weeping, penitent _Peter_ must in no wise be forgotten. \u201cGo\ntell them that I am risen.\u201d Here are glad tidings of great joy\nto a disconsolate soul. May GOD apply it to your\u2019s in particular.\nDear _John_, may you learn from hence to stab your dear Saviour no\nmore. I wonder not that you are in darkness. GOD will surely visit\nyour offences with a rod, and your backslidings with some spiritual\nscourge. That is enough to keep us from sinning, though we know that\nhis loving-kindness he will not utterly take from us, nor suffer his\ntruth to fail. How dearly did _David_ pay for his stolen sweets? What\nanguish has your poor soul felt, since I left you. Blessed be GOD,\nthat he has awakened you out of sleep. O free grace! I rejoice, yea\nand I will rejoice. That you may never provoke GOD to leave you to\nyourself, is the earnest prayer of, dear _John_,\n\n Ever yours,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXVI.\n\n _To Rebekah B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, an Orphan at the Orphan-house._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, July 25, 1741._\n _Dear Bekky_,\n\nAND is the LORD still striving with you? O then admire his patience,\nand give him your whole heart. I had no other end in bringing you to\n_Bethesda_, but that you might be brought to JESUS. I hope you will\nyet find it a house of mercy to your soul. Take heed of resting in\nconviction. You know by experience how sadly it wears off. You may\nwell wonder, that GOD has not sent you to hell long ago. I pray GOD,\nthat his goodness may lead you to repentance, and that you may walk\nbefore the LORD in all well-pleasing, so long as you live. What sweet\nopportunities do you enjoy! How freely may you go into the woods,\nand pour out your heart before the dear JESUS. How early was _Samuel_\nacquainted with the LORD, and why should not you be acquainted with\nhim? Unless you are, you can never be at peace. Come then, my dear\nlamb, and wander no longer; return to the shepherd and bishop of your\nsoul. Behold, he shed his blood for you, and will carry you to heaven,\nrejoicing over you to all eternity. Away to him then in all your blood,\njust as you are; and when you are near to GOD, forget not\n\n Your affectionate friend,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXVII.\n\n _To Elizabeth G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, an Orphan._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, July 25, 1741._\n _Dear Betty_,\n\nI Am glad you begin to feel the hardness of your heart, and your\nutter inability to pray. I pray GOD you may in all things see your\nhelplessness, that you may come as a poor helpless nothing to JESUS\nCHRIST, and take him for your all in all. I wonder not that satan\nendeavours to terrify your soul. You know how he tore the young child\nin the Gospel, whilst he was coming to JESUS CHRIST. Your convictions\nat present seem to arise from a fear of hell; but before you receive\nthis, I hope the LORD JESUS will have sealed your pardon, and have\nsaid, \u201cBe of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee.\u201d O _Betty_, why\nhas GOD singled you out? Why was you brought to _Bethesda_? Away when\nyou read this, and bless GOD for it, and devote yourself again and\nagain to that LORD, who has bought you with his precious blood. Having\nmuch forgiven you, love much. Lie down in the dust, and be continually\nlooking to the rock from whence you are hewn. To hear that you, and my\ndear family, love the LORD JESUS in sincerity, will much rejoice the\nheart of\n\n Your sincere friend,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXVIII.\n\n _To Mary A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, an Orphan._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, July 25, 1741._\n _Dear Molly_,\n\nUPON reading your letter, I put up this prayer, \u201cLORD lift thou up\nthe light of thy countenance upon her soul.\u201d You once had joy. I found\nit puffed you up. I pray GOD to humble you by your present darkness.\nYou may now see what a poor wretch you are, how proud, how earthly,\nhow sensual, how devilish; and yet, stupendous love! JESUS CHRIST will\nstill receive you. Your loving Saviour opens his arms, and invites\nyou to throw the whole of your load upon him. I am persuaded he will\nreceive you: go to him then, and confess that you have sinned. He will\nreceive you; for what says the scripture? \u201cLook unto me, all ye ends\nof the earth, and be ye saved.\u201d Surely _Molly A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ is included here.\nThe dear JESUS is all love. He has brought you to a house of mercy.\nOut of love, keep his commandments, and love all that are around you.\nBe willing to be the servant of all, and from gratitude to GOD study\nto be a comfort to\n\n Your sincere friend in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXIX.\n\n _To the Honourable J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, Esq._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, July 26, 1741._\n _Hon. Sir_,\n\nWITH much pleasure I received yours by the hands of your son, who\noffered to do me any service that lay in his power. This, as well\nas your other past favours, quite surprize, and ought to humble me;\nfor who am I, that I should be thus highly honoured? O sovereign\ngrace! O distinguishing love! If I did not stand up in defence of\nthat, the very stones would cry out against me. Indeed, honoured Sir,\nyour kindness makes me almost to blush, and the love of JESUS quite\nconfounds me. I am lost, I want to sink into nothing whenever I think\nof CHRIST\u2019s dying for me. I really think, I am the most ungrateful\nsinner that ever was, and yet the Redeemer follows me with his mercies\nevery day. Unspeakable are the trials wherewith I have been visited\nsince my arrival. But out of all the LORD delivers me. I experience\ndaily much of his divine presence; a wider door than ever is opened\nfor preaching the everlasting gospel, and GOD seems to be beginning\nhis work again in _Old-England_: it adds to my joy, to hear what\nthe LORD is doing amongst you. Blessed, for ever blessed be GOD, for\ncausing such a stirring among the dry bones. I pray the glorious\nRedeemer, to carry on the good work begun, and to make _New-England_\nthe joy of the whole earth. I suppose you have heard, honoured Sir,\nof the remarkable effusion of the spirit among the children of the\norphan-house. Surely, JESUS CHRIST is about to bring mighty things\nto pass. Whilst the kings of the earth are enlarging their dominions,\nI trust our LORD will usher in his.\u2015\u2015I shall not be surprized, if\nafter this great commotion in _New-England_, I hear that some outward\ntroubles befal them. The removal of you, honoured Sir, from being\ngovernor, I take to be no good sign. I hope this has no other effect\nupon your own heart, than to make you more and more hunger and thirst\nafter that righteousness, which neither men nor devils shall ever be\nable to take from you. GOD only knows, how often I have prayed, that\nthis affliction may be sanctified unto you. I think, honoured Sir, I\ncannot forget you and your people. Both are dear, very dear to my soul.\nI sometimes long to see _Boston_ again, that I may rejoice in what\ngreat things the LORD has done; but various circumstances concur to\ndetain me on this side the ocean, all the next Winter. I am now in\nmy passage to _Scotland_. What the LORD is pleased to do there, your\nhonour may hear in my next. I rejoice, that I am a little retired\nfrom the world, and have the opportunity, honoured Sir, of writing\nto you. How sweet is retirement when CHRIST is present in the heart?\nHaving him, I find I possess all things. Happy they that can wrap\nthemselves in GOD. May you and yours be thus happy! This will enable\nyou, honoured Sir, to rejoice in tribulation, and give thanks for\nevery thing that does befal you. Tho\u2019 the ship is moving, and I am\nsomewhat sick, I know not how to leave off. Indeed, I love and honour\nyou in the bowels of JESUS CHRIST. That you and yours may be rooted and\ngrounded in his love, and filled with all the fulness of GOD, is the\nhearty prayer of, honoured Sir,\n\n Your most affectionate, obliged humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXX.\n\n _To the Reverend Dr. C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Boston._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, July 26, 1741._\n _Rev. and dear Sir_,\n\nI Had the pleasure of yours, and have taken the freedom to publish\npart of it, because I thought our LORD\u2019s cause might be promoted\nthereby. Glory be to the ever blessed JESUS, for the great work\nbegun in your province. Glory be to his great name, for raising up\ninstruments to carry it on; especially for working so powerfully\namong the sons of the prophets. A most promising omen this for dear\n_New-England_. Reverend Sir, the searcher of hearts only knows,\nhow deeply the welfare of your people is impressed upon my soul.\nI continually make mention of them in my poor prayers, both public\nand private, and have not failed to give thanks in their behalf. You\nseem a little offended, that I did not mention old Mr. _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015s_. It\nwas, because by his conversation I could not find he came up to that\ncharacter which you gave him. Mr. _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ I truly value, and lately\nhave had reason to think much better of him than formerly, when his\nexperiences to me seemed too superficial; but I am a poor, weak,\nfallible worm, and therefore my judgment is of little worth. I rejoice\nto hear that the ministers with you help forward the work of GOD. I\nfind no such enemies to the cross of CHRIST, as those who keep up the\nform of religion, and are orthodox in their notions, but are ignorant\nof an experimental acquaintance with JESUS. However, the work of GOD\nis beginning afresh. I have free access every where, and have been\nupon the full stretch preaching to large auditories twice a day, for\nsome time past. The LORD is pleased to strengthen me both in body and\nsoul. His presence fills the assemblies, and, I verily believe, we\nshall yet see glorious days. I have sweet accounts from the Orphans.\nI thank you, dear Sir, for your care concerning them. I have been in\ngreat straits; but the dear JESUS helps me through them all. Help me,\ndear Sir, help me to praise him. My tender love awaits both you and\nyour people. I am glad to hear, that my kind hostess is recovered.\nMay the LORD strengthen her mightily, and cause her to go down to\nthe grave in peace! I earnestly desire a continuance of your own and\npeople\u2019s prayers in behalf of, reverend Sir,\n\n Your affectionate brother in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXXI.\n\n _To John D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Boston._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, July 26, 1741._\n _My dear child_,\n\nI Thank you for your letter: I neither forgot you nor my promise. O\nthat GOD may effectually work upon your heart betimes, for you cannot\nbe good too soon, or too good. The little orphans at _Georgia_ are\ncrying out, \u201cWhat shall we do to be saved?\u201d And I am glad to hear,\nthat this is the language of some little ones in _New-England_. If\nyou know any of them, pray give my love to them, and tell them, I pray\nthat JESUS CHRIST may be revealed in their dear hearts. How early was\nJESUS CHRIST in the Temple, first hearing, and then asking questions?\nHow did he love the little children, how did he take them up in his\nsacred arms and bless them; and when he was just ascending to the\nhighest heaven, how tenderly did he speak to _Peter_, and bid him\n\u201cfeed his lambs.\u201d Let all this encourage you to come unto him. He\nwill certainly receive you, tho\u2019 you have been wicked; nay, he will\nabundantly pardon you. And what comfort will you enjoy, when you know\nyour sins are forgiven you? You will then have a heaven upon earth.\nIn expectation of seeing you a christian indeed, and grown in grace,\nI subscribe myself\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXXII.\n\n _To the Honourable J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Boston._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, July 26, 1741._\n _Honoured Sir_,\n\nPRESUMING it would not be disagreeable to you, I have taken the\nliberty to print part of the letter you was so kind as to send me.\nSurely it will rejoice the hearts of thousands, to hear what good\nthings the LORD is doing in these parts. It has put much gladness\ninto my heart, and caused me to give many thanks in behalf of the\npeople of _New-England_. How good is our GOD! When things are a little\ntroublesome without, he sends his gospel to comfort his children\nwithin. Surely JESUS CHRIST is about to set the world in a flame.\nHe is working powerfully at home; he is working powerfully abroad.\nI trust he will continue working, \u2019till the earth be filled with\nthe knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. I hope you\nwill yet feel more of this light and life in your own heart, before\nyou go hence, and be comforted with the comforts wherewith I am daily\ncomforted of GOD. Dear Sir, JESUS is a precious Master. He, as it were,\ndandles me upon his knees. He carries me in his arms, he fights all\nmy battles, and makes me more than conqueror thro\u2019 his love. My work\nis great, but my supports are greater. He assures me from day to day,\nthat he will never leave me nor forsake me. My infirmities often make\nme blush, and yet JESUS passes them all by. Dear Sir, think often\non the love of CHRIST: think of his dying love; that must give you\ncomfort. I rejoice at this opportunity of writing to you. I thank you\nfor your kind caution. I pray GOD to teach me how to improve it. Help\nme, dear Sir, with your prayers; and accept of these few lines from,\nhonoured Sir,\n\n Your most affectionate brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXXIII.\n\n _To Mr. E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Boston._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, July 26, 1741._\n _Dear Mr. D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Am to be blamed for not sending you a line. I am an ungrateful\ncreature; ungrateful to my earthly friends, unspeakably more so to\nthe friend of all. Pardon me this once. GOD willing, you shall have no\nreason to complain of me any more. If you remember, once in my sermon\nI said, \u201cO that _New-England_ was full of new creatures!\u201d I hope the\nLORD in some measure is going to answer that prayer.\u2015\u2015It rejoices my\nheart, to hear that the gospel runs so swiftly, and is so remarkably\nglorified amongst you. This is the LORD\u2019s doings, and it ought to be\nmarvellous in our eyes. Blessed are the eyes that see the things which\nwe see; blessed are the ears that hear the things which we hear, for\nmany righteous men have desired to see and hear them, and have not. I\nrejoice also to hear, that there is like to be a church in your house.\nO, dear Sir, take care that none of you rest, till you have got fast\nhold of the blessed JESUS. My kind love to dear Mrs. _D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. May\nCHRIST\u2019s justifying blood be upon you and your children. I return\nmy love to all that are so kind as to remember me. I believe I shall\nnot see you this Winter. The work is very great, and goes on very\nprosperous in _England_. However, you are all upon my heart, and the\nmore heartily you pray for me, the sooner shall I be restored unto\nyou. I hope I feel the benefit of your dear people\u2019s prayers; for GOD\ncomforts and strengthens me daily, and carries me on from conquering\nto conquer. On shore, I have scarce time to write a line; being now on\nboard, I take this opportunity of returning you my hearty thanks for\nyour kind letter, and of assuring you that I am, dear Mr. _D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXXIV.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Boston_.\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, July 26, 1741._\n _My dear Brother R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nHOW glad was I to receive a letter from your hands, having heard\nnothing of, or from you particularly, since we parted. What great\nthings has the LORD shewn us since that time. Methinks I hear you\nsay, \u201cand yet I can tell of greater things.\u201d I believe we shall see\nfar greater yet before we die. The work is beginning afresh here. I\nsometimes think _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ must take a voyage over to _Old-England_.\nMost of our _London_ ministers too much shun the cross, and do not\nappear boldly for GOD.\u2015\u2015Now the LORD hath worked so powerfully in your\ncollege, I have less to say against your joining with Mr. _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. I\nam glad to hear you speak plainly and closely. What comfort will this\nafford you in a dying hour? Go on, my dear brother, go on; venture\ndaily upon CHRIST, go out in his strength, and he will enable you to\ndo wonders. He is with me more and more. I have been sweetly carried\nthro\u2019 the heat and burden of every day\u2019s labour. JESUS bears all my\nburdens. JESUS enables me to cast all my cares upon him. O then let us\nmagnify his name together! I am now going to _Scotland_, knowing not\nwhat will befal me. What GOD does, you may expect to hear shortly.\nIn the mean while, let us pray for and write to each other. As iron\nsharpeneth iron, so doth the letters of a man his friend. Your last\nI have printed: GOD\u2019s glory called me to it. My dear brother, adieu!\nDear Brother _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ sits by and salutes you. My kind love awaits\nMr. _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, and all that love the LORD JESUS in sincerity. In hopes\nof receiving another letter from you shortly, I subscribe myself, dear\nMr. _R._\n\n Your very affectionate, tho\u2019 very unworthy brother\n and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXXV.\n\n _To the Students, &c. under convictions at the colleges\n of Cambridge and New-haven,\u2015\u2015in New-England and Connecticut._\n\n _Dear Gentlemen_,\n\nWITH unspeakable pleasure have I heard, that there seems to be a\ngeneral concern among you about the things of GOD. It was no small\ngrief to me, that I was obliged to say of your college, that \u201cyour\nlight was become darkness;\u201d yet are ye now become light in the LORD.\nI heartily thank GOD, even the Father of our glorious Redeemer, for\nsending dear Mr. _T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ among you. What great things may we not\nnow expect to see in _New-England_, since it has pleased GOD to work\nso remarkably among the sons of the prophets? Now we may expect a\nreformation indeed, since it is beginning at the house of GOD. A\ndead ministry will always make a dead people. Whereas, if ministers\nare warmed with the love of GOD themselves, they cannot but be\ninstruments of diffusing that love among others. This, this is the\nbest preparation for the work whereunto you are to be called. Learning\nwithout piety, will only make you more capable of promoting the\nkingdom of satan. Henceforward, therefore, I hope you will enter into\nyour studies not to get a parish, nor to be polite preachers, but to\nbe great saints. This, indeed, is the most compendious way to true\nlearning: for an understanding enlightened by the spirit of GOD, is\nmore susceptible of divine truths, and I am certain will prove most\nuseful to mankind. The more holy you are, the more will GOD delight\nto honour you. He loves to make use of instruments, which are like\nhimself. I hope the _good old divinity_ will now be precious to your\nsouls, and you will think it an honour to tread in the steps of your\npious forefathers. They were acquainted with their own hearts.\u2015\u2015They\nknew what it was to be tempted themselves, and therefore from their\nown experience knew how to succour others. O may you follow them,\nas they followed CHRIST. Then great, very great will be your reward\nin heaven. I am sure you can never serve a better Master than JESUS\nCHRIST, or be engaged in a higher employ than in calling home souls\nto him. I trust, dear gentlemen, you will not be offended at me for\nsending you these few lines. I write out of the fulness of my heart.\nI make mention of you always in my prayers. Forget me not in yours. I\nam a poor weak worm. I am the chief of sinners, and yet, O stupendous\nlove! the LORD\u2019s work still prospers in my unworthy hands.\u2015\u2015Fail not\nto give thanks, as well as to pray for\n\n Your affectionate brother and servant, in our common LORD,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXXVI.\n\n _To Mr. D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Boston._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, July 25, 1741._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nYOUR\u2019s as well as other letters, which I received from _Boston_,\ngave me no small satisfaction. Now, now I live, if poor sinners\nare flocking for life to the dear LORD JESUS. How may we suppose\nthe angels to be rejoicing over _Boston_, and other places in\n_New-England_! How glad are they to see the lectures frequented as in\ntimes of old, and the spirit of your good forefathers reviving among\nyou! Sure it must be delightful to see black and white, young men and\nmaidens, old men and children, praising the name of the LORD. Blessed\nbe GOD, who in this great awakening hath not passed by your house.\nFear not, dear Sir: Who knows but the blessed JESUS may yet visit you\nwith the light of his blessed countenance? I rejoice to hear he has\nbeen gracious to your wife and daughter. I pray GOD, you may be all\nbuilt up in our most holy faith, and go on from strength to strength,\ntill you come to appear before the LORD CHRIST in glory. I thank\nGOD, who hath heard prayer on my behalf. I am strengthened daily both\nin body and soul, and have reason to think my ministry is blessed\nmore and more. Let GOD\u2019s goodness to me, encourage you to expect\ngreat things from our LORD. He is able and willing to do for us more\nabundantly than we can ask or think. That you and your dear family may\ndaily drink of his divine pleasures, as out of a river, is the earnest\nprayer of, dear Sir,\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXXVII.\n\n _To John R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, an Orphan, at the Orphan-house._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, July 27, 1741._\n _Dear John_,\n\nI Remember you once wanted to go away from _Bethesda_. Adore the free\ngrace and mercy of that GOD, who has kept you there. I trust, it will\nprove the saving of your precious and immortal soul. To see oneself\nlost and condemned by nature, is the first step to conversion. I hope\nbefore this time you have found yourself saved by grace: for \u201cby grace\nalone you are to be saved, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift\nof GOD.\u201d The LORD JESUS hath indeed been knocking at the door of your\nheart. I trust, now he will break the door open, and give himself\nadmission. Dear _John_, you may well wonder, that the LORD hath not\nsent you to hell. I trust, that you feel you deserve it. O that GOD\nmay pluck you as a brand out of the burning. This was my only view\nin bringing you to _Bethesda_. This is the only desire of the dear\nfriends who have the rule over you; they watch for your soul, &c. The\ndevil (as you observe) watches to destroy it: and, therefore, my dear\nboy, away to JESUS CHRIST. He can take away the heart of stone: he can\ngive you an heart of flesh. All things are possible with Him. That GOD\nmay give you grace to take the kingdom of heaven with a holy violence,\nis the hearty prayer of, dear _John_,\n\n Your sincere friend,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXXVIII.\n\n _To James M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, an Orphan._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, July 27, 1741._\n _Dear James_,\n\nI Am glad to hear by dear brother _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s letters, that your soul\nhas received comfort. I am comforted at the news. May GOD increase it\ndaily, \u2019till your joy be full. I must think GOD loves you, and that he\nhas begun a good work in your soul. I hope to find at my return that\nit is carried on, and that you have been pressing forward towards the\nmark for the prize of your high calling in CHRIST JESUS your saviour.\nDear _James_, I do not forget you. I hope you never will forget the\nlove of CHRIST, who died and hath given himself for you. Does not\nthe very thought of this make you even to weep? Do you not want some\nprivate place where to vent your heart? Away then, I will detain\nyou no longer. Retire into the woods. Go look to him whom you have\npierced, and with a godly sorrow mourn for your sins, as a woman for\nher first-born. At the same time, forget not to sigh out a prayer in\nbehalf of, dear _James_,\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXXIX.\n\n _To Thomas Webb, an Orphan._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, July 27, 1741._\n _Dear Thomas_,\n\nHOW inconsistent is the devil! How artfully does he strive to keep\npoor souls from CHRIST! Sometimes he labours to drive poor souls\ninto despair; sometimes to presumption. These are the two rocks,\nagainst which he would fain have poor souls to make shipwreck of faith\nand a good conscience. I pray GOD to enable you to steer a middle\ncourse.\u2015\u2015May you see your misery, and at the same time see your remedy\nin the cross and wounds of JESUS CHRIST. He calls to all weary heavy\nladen souls; consequently he calls you. Your coming to him, will be\na proof of your election. The devils know nothing of GOD\u2019s decrees.\nIf ever he should tempt you so again, say, \u201cIf I do perish, I will\nperish at the feet of CHRIST.\u201d He is willing to save, to save to\nthe uttermost. He sees, he feels your anguish. He longs to rejoice\nover you. Venture therefore upon him. _Thomas_, be not faithless, but\nbelieving. CHRIST shall yet shew you his hands and his feet. He is\nthe same now, as he was yesterday, full of love and condescension to\nself-condemned sinners. That you may experience the full power and\nefficacy of the Redeemer\u2019s blood, is the ardent prayer of, dear\n_Thomas_,\n\n Your sincere friend,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXXX.\n\n _To William B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, July 27, 1741._\n\nI Thought your father had sent for you from _Bethesda_; but I hope\nyour heavenly Father has kept you there to bring you home to himself.\nYour deadness has often grieved me. O that I may have reason to sing,\nat my return, \u201c_Billy B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ was dead, but is alive again; he was lost,\nbut is found.\u201d You do well to pray to GOD, to search your heart, and\nto try your reins; for otherwise your treacherous heart will deceive\nyou. I would not have you forget what the LORD is doing for you, for\nten thousand worlds. O defer not repentance to a death-bed. It will\nbe hard to strive with principalities and powers, when you can scarce\nturn in your bed. A man, at that time, can hardly bear up under\nhis bodily infirmities; but a wounded spirit who can bear? Reject,\ntherefore, such a horrid temptation, with the utmost abhorrence. Be a\nworker together with GOD; and now GOD is working in you to will and to\ndo, see that you work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.\nDo not stab your Saviour any more. Dear _Billy_, think on his bitter\nagony and bloody sweat, and fly to him, as a Redeemer ready and\nwilling to receive you. That you may be happy in him here, and with\nhim hereafter, is the hearty prayer of\n\n Your sincere friend,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXXXI.\n\n _To R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, an Orphan._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, July 27, 1741._\n _Dear Richard_,\n\nTHE contents of your letter pleased me. I have sometimes thought,\nif GOD did not convert _Richard W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, he would be one of the most\nunhappy boys in the world. You have _head-knowledge_; and unless you\nare made to see the sinfulness of your heart, it will much increase\nyour condemnation. Blessed be GOD, who yet hath patience with you, and\nseems to be striving with your soul. I do not wonder that the devil\ntells you, \u201cit is time to repent when you are a man.\u201d You may well say,\nit is the devil that tells you so: Such a suggestion cannot come from\nGOD. Behold, now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation!\nJESUS will even now accept you, vile as you are, and ungrateful as\nyou have been: if you feel your misery, and fly to him for succour, he\nwill accept you. Every conviction cries, \u201cCome, _Richard_, come to me,\nthat thou mayest have rest.\u201d Let me advise you, as old _Eli_ advised\nyoung _Samuel_: say, \u201cSpeak, LORD, for thy servant heareth.\u201d\n\n I am your sincere friend,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXXXII.\n\n _To John F\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, an Orphan._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, July 27, 1741._\n _Dear John_,\n\nI Willingly fulfil your request, and sit down to write you a line or\ntwo. I am glad you begin to see the wickedness of your own heart. You\ncannot conceive what a mystery of iniquity is hid therein. The more\nyou see it, the more you will find the want of a saviour, and adore\nGOD for giving his dear Son to die for sinners. There was once a young\nman, named _John_, who leaned on the Saviour\u2019s bosom, and was his\nparticular favourite. What if you should be thus highly honoured.\nWould it not be an amazing instance of love and condescension? And\nwhat doth the Saviour do less, for all that feel themselves poor, lost,\nundone sinners? Nay, does he not do for them infinitely more? Yes, he\ndoes. Come to him, therefore, by faith, and he shall embrace you in\nthe arms of his mercy, clothe you with his righteousness, sanctify\nyou by his spirit, guide you by his counsel, and after death receive\nyou up into glory. Look up, then, and never rest till you have it.\nConviction is not conversion. But you know who has promised not to\nquench the smoaking flax, or break the bruised reed. That this promise\nmay be fulfilled in your soul, is the hearty prayer of\n\n Your sincere friend,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXXXIII.\n\n _To L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, an Orphan._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, July 27, 1741._\n _Dear L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nAND are little boys and girls, at this and that corner of the wood,\ncrying unto the LORD? I hope you, dear _L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, are always among them;\nand may the LORD hear your prayers, when you cry unto him! Surely\nhe will, if you feel yourselves poor sinners. Never did JESUS reject\nan humble suppliant. \u201cSuffer (says he) little children to come unto\nme, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.\u201d Dear\n_L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, take all possible care to cherish your convictions. GOD has\nspoken once, yea twice to you, in an extraordinary manner. You are\none of the oldest; you ought to go before the rest, and to encourage\nthem to follow the ever-blessed JESUS. Satan will, no doubt, be very\nbusy; and therefore you ought to be busy also. You fight under a good\ncaptain, even JESUS CHRIST, who will tread all enemies under your\nfeet. My dear child, redeem your precious time. Fight the good fight\nof faith; and when you are wrestling with GOD, fail not to pray for\n\n Your sincere friend,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXXXIV.\n\n _To Mr. Thomas J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Savannah._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, July 29, 1741._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nI Thank you for your continued kindness to my dear family. The GOD\nwhom I serve, will richly reward you. I am more and more convinced,\nthat the Orphan-house is of GOD. He will uphold it with his mighty\narm. Dear Sir, there is nothing like a life of faith. It is more and\nmore pleasant to me every day. I pray GOD, you may experience it every\nmoment, and be enabled entirely to overcome the world. My letters,\nto my dear family, will inform you, how the LORD hath been pleased to\ndeal with me. Blessed be his name, he hath delivered, he does, he will\nyet deliver. My soul has been among lions. JESUS hath been my helper.\nI am very comfortable within, and experience more of the divine\npresence in preaching, I think, than ever I did before in _England_.\nI suppose I shall not embark for _America_ till Spring. Whatever good\noffices you are pleased to do for my family, shall be then fully\nacknowledged by, dear Sir,\n\n Your obliged friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXXXV.\n\n _To Mr. L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Bristol._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, July 29, 1741._\n _Dear Mr. L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nWE are now within thirty miles of our desired haven. We have had\na pleasant passage. Before I go ashore, I would fain answer your\nkind letter. Fear not for _Bristol_. No weapon formed against _Zion_\nshall prosper. Let us wait patiently, and we shall certainly see the\nsalvation of GOD. The LORD is beginning his work afresh. I suppose\nbrother _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ has told you something of it. I never felt greater\npower in _England_. I have had GOD\u2019s continued presence during the\npassage. GOD has given me sweet sleep at night, and a good appetite\nto my food by day. Faithful is he who hath promised, that those who\nwait upon the LORD shall renew their strength. I speak thus freely\nto you, because I know you will be thankful on my behalf. I hope both\nyou and your dear wife, are making daily advances in the divine life.\nWhilst others are disputing, let us be growing. This will be the best\nway to convince those, who you find will not be convinced any other\nway. Adieu! The LORD be with you. May your soul breathe nothing but\ngentleness and love!\n\n I am, dear Sir, Your affectionate friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXXXVI.\n\n _To Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at the Orphan-house._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, July 30, 1741._\n _My very dear Friend and Brother_,\n\nI Have been five days on board, and am now just at our desired haven.\nGOD\u2019s presence has sweetened the passage, and I have had freedom to\nwrite many letters besides those sent to _Bethesda_. If you, and dear\nbrother _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, think proper, the little ones may be called, and the\nletters read before you. A word of exhortation, and a short prayer,\nmay not be unseasonable. I thank you all for the tender care you take\nof the dear lambs. You serve a master, who will richly reward all\nyour pains. I hope there will come a time, when I shall embrace and\nweep over you all with tears of love! At present, I feel myself a\npoor sinner, and stand amazed at GOD\u2019s goodness and patience extended\ntowards me. I am less than the least of his mercies. You may expect\nto hear from me again shortly. O do not forget to pray for me. My dear\nfriends, for the present, adieu! The LORD be with your spirit.\n\n Ever, ever yours,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXXXVII.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Edinburgh, Aug. 1, 1741._\n _My very dear Brother_,\n\nTHE LORD was very gracious to me on board. He gave us a pleasant\npassage. As you know that the Messrs. _Erskines_ gave me the first\ninvitation to _Scotland_, and hath been praying for me in the most\npublic, explicit, I could almost say extravagant manner, for near two\nyears last past, I was determined to give them the first offer of my\npoor ministrations. Accordingly, I went yesterday to _Dumfermling_,\nwhere dear Mr. _R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ hath got a large and separate, or, as\nit is commonly termed, seceding meeting-house. He received me very\nlovingly. I preached to his and the town\u2019s people.\u2015\u2015A very thronged\nassembly\u2015\u2015After I had done prayer, and named my text, the rustling\nmade by opening the bibles all at once, quite surprized me: a scene,\nI never was witness to before. Our conversation after sermon, in the\nhouse, was such as became the gospel of CHRIST. They entertained me\nwith various accounts of the success of the _Seceders_ labours; and,\nas a proof of GOD\u2019s being with them, Mr. _R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s son-in-law told\nme, that, at one of their late occasions, a woman was so deeply\naffected, that she was obliged to stop her mouth with an handkerchief\nto keep herself from crying out. They urged a longer stay, in order\nto converse more closely, and to set me right about church government,\nand the solemn league and covenant. I informed them, that I had given\nnotice of preaching at _Edinburgh_ this evening; but, as they desired\nit, I would in a few days return, and meet the associate presbytery in\nMr. _R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s house. This was agreed on. Dear Mr. _E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ accompanied\nme, and this evening I preached to many thousands, in a place called\n_The Orphan-house Park_. The LORD was there. Immediately after sermon,\na large company, among whom were some of the nobility, came to salute\nme. Amidst our conversation, came in a portly, well-looking Quaker,\nnephew to Messrs. _E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, formerly a Baptist minister in the north\nof _England_, who, taking me by the hand, said, \u201cFriend _George_, I\nam as thou art; I am for bringing all to the life and power of the\neverliving GOD: and, therefore, if thou wilt not quarrel with me about\nmy hat, I will not quarrel with thee about thy gown.\u201d In this respect,\nI wish all, of every denomination, were thus minded. I find GOD has\nblessed my works in these parts. I am most cordially received by many\nthat love the LORD JESUS. I have just been in company with a nobleman,\nwho, I believe, truly fears GOD; and also with a lady of fashion, that\ndiscovers a christian spirit indeed. I already hear of great divisions.\nBut JESUS knows how to bring order out of confusion. I hope the LORD\nis much with you, my dear brother. O may you be anointed more and more,\ntill you are filled with all the fulness of GOD. Be pleased to read\nthis to all in _Wine-street_; and remember me kindly to all that love\nthe glorious Redeemer. He is a dear, dear JESUS. Tho\u2019 we die for, yet\nlet us not deny him in any wise. Pray that such a mind may be always\ngiven to\n\n Your weak and unworthy brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXXXVIII.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. G. W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Maxton._\n\n _Edinburgh, Aug. 1, 1741._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nYOUR kind letter, like all other tokens of my precious Master\u2019s love,\nquite amazes me. I hear you are a good old soldier of JESUS CHRIST. O\nthat you had wrote to me sooner! I want the advice and exhortation of\nthose who have been in CHRIST before me. The LORD is pleased greatly\nto bless me. His work seems to be beginning afresh in _England_. How\nit goes on abroad, the papers sent with this will inform you. Help me,\ndear Sir, help me with your prayers, that the LORD may bless my coming\nhere. I hope some have felt the divine presence in this evening\u2019s\nexercise. Thro\u2019 grace I can say, I did, and do now. O that I could\nbe humble and thankful! O that my heart glowed with the love of GOD\nand men! I would breathe nothing but love. I would love all that love\nthe LORD JESUS, of whatsoever denomination. May the LORD heal our\ndivisions, and grant that we may not thereby provoke him to send us\na common persecution to drive us together! O that we may stand in\na trying hour. Dear Sir, I shall be glad to see you at _Edinburgh_\nany day after _Wednesday_ next, and then we can settle when to come\ninto your parts. I am willing to preach the gospel to all. It is now\nlate, but I was willing to write, lest something should hinder me on\n_Monday_. Dear Sir, good night. I commend you to GOD, thank you for\nyour prayers, and desire a continuance of them in behalf of\n\n Your affectionate younger brother, and fellow-labourer\n in the Redeemer\u2019s vineyard,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXXXIX.\n\n _To Mr. Thomas N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at New-York._\n\n _Edinburgh, Aug. 8, 1741._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nI Have written you several letters; and I rejoice to hear that the\nwork of the LORD prospers in the hands of Messrs. _T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015s_, &c. am\nglad they intend to meet in a synod by themselves. Their catholic\nspirit will do good. The _associate presbytery_ here, are so confined,\nthat they will not so much as hear me preach, unless I only will join\nwith them. Mr. _Ralph E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, indeed, did hear me, and went up with\nme into the pulpit of the _Cannon-gate_ church.\u2015\u2015The people were ready\nto shout for joy; but, I believe, it gave offence to his associates.\nI met most of them, according to appointment, on _Wednesday_ last.\u2015\u2015A\nset of grave venerable men! They soon proposed to form themselves into\na presbytery, and were proceeding to chuse a moderator\u2015\u2015I asked them\nfor what purpose? They answered, to discourse, and set me right, about\nthe matter of church-government, and the solemn league and covenant.\nI replied, they might save themselves that trouble, for I had no\nscruples about it; and that settling church-government, and preaching\nabout the solemn league and covenant, was not my plan; I then told\nthem something of my experience, and how I was led out into my present\nway of acting. One in particular said, he was deeply affected; and the\ndear Mr. _E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ desired they would have patience with me, for that\nhaving been born and bred in _England_, and never studied the point, I\ncould not be supposed to be so perfectly acquainted with the nature of\ntheir covenants. One, much warmer than the rest, immediately replied,\n\u201cthat no indulgence was to be shown me; that _England_ had revolted\nmost with respect to church government; and that I, born and educated\nthere, could not but be acquainted with the matter now in debate.\u201d\nI told him, I had never yet made the solemn league and covenant the\nobject of my study, being too busy about matters, as I judged, of\ngreater importance. Several replied, that every pin of the tabernacle\nwas precious.\u2015\u2015I said, that in every building there were outside and\ninside workmen; that the latter, at present, was my province; that\nif they thought themselves called to the former, they might proceed\nin their own way, and I should proceed in mine. I then asked them\nseriously, what they would have me to do; the answer was that I was\nnot desired to subscribe immediately to the solemn league and covenant;\nbut to preach only for them till I had further light. I asked, why\nonly for them? Mr. _Ralph E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ said, \u201cthey were the LORD\u2019s people.\u201d\nI then asked, whether there were no other LORD\u2019s people but themselves;\nand supposing all others were the devil\u2019s people, they certainly\nhad more need to be preached to, and therefore I was more and more\ndetermined to go out into the highways and hedges; and that if the\nPope himself would lend me his pulpit, I would gladly proclaim the\nrighteousness of JESUS CHRIST therein. Soon after this, the company\nbroke up; and one of these, otherwise venerable men, immediately went\ninto the meeting-house, and preached upon these words, \u201cWatchman,\nwhat of the night? Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said,\nThe morning cometh, and also the night, if ye will enquire, enquire\nye; return, come.\u201d I attended; but the good man so spent himself\nin the former part of his sermon, in talking against prelacy, the\ncommon-prayer book, the surplice, the rose in the hat, and such like\nexternals, that when he came to the latter part of his text, to invite\npoor sinners to JESUS CHRIST, his breath was so gone, that he could\nscarce be heard. What a pity that the last was not first, and the\nfirst last! The consequence of all this was, an open breach. I retired,\nI wept, I prayed, and after preaching in the fields, sat down and\ndined with them, and then took a final leave. At table a gentlewoman\nsaid, she had heard that I had told some people, that the associate\npresbytery were building a _Babel_. I said, \u201cMadam, it is quite true;\nand I believe the _Babel_ will soon fall down about their ears:\u201d\nbut enough of this. LORD, what is man, what the best of men? but men\nat the best! I think I have now seen an end of all perfection. Our\nbrethren in _America_, blessed be GOD, have not so learned CHRIST. Be\npleased to inform them of this letter. I have not time to write now.\nThe LORD blesses my preaching here, and the work, I think, is begun\nafresh in _London_. I preach to many thousands daily, and several have\napplied to me already under convictions. I have been here about eight\ndays. You may expect to hear from me shortly again. The LORD be with\nyou. I love you in the bowels of JESUS CHRIST: He will bless you for\nwhat you have done for the poor orphans. He comforts me on every side.\nO free grace! Dear brother _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ salutes you all.\n\n Ever yours in our common LORD,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXL.\n\n _To Mr. T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at London._\n\n _Edinburgh, Aug. 8, 1741._\n\nYOU will see, my dear brother, by the following, what GOD is still\ndoing for me. On _Sunday_ evening, I preached in a field near the\nOrphan-house, to upwards of fifteen thousand people; and on _Monday_,\n_Friday_, and _Saturday_ evening, to near as many. On _Tuesday_ I\npreached in the _Cannongate_ church; on _Wednesday_ and _Thursday_ at\n_Dumfermling_; and at my return on _Friday_ morning, at about eight\no\u2019clock, I preached at a town called _Queens-Ferry_, seven miles\nfrom _Edinburgh_. Every where the auditories were large, and very\nattentive. Great power accompanied the word. Many have been brought\nunder convictions; and I have already received several invitations\nto different places, which, GOD willing, I intend to comply with. At\npresent I can say no more, but desire you to pray for, and expect soon\nto hear further from,\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXLI.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Dundee._\n\n _Edinburgh, Aug. 10, 1741._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nI Just now had the pleasure of your letter; for which be pleased\nto accept my hearty thanks. I trust your prayers will be heard\nin my behalf. Glory be to free grace! many are here brought under\nconvictions. Unworthy as I am, the glorious _Emmanuel_ is pleased to\nclothe his word with power. I am amazed at his loving-kindness, and\nwant heaven and earth to join with me in praising his holy Name. By\nyour son I have sent some papers, and shall gladly receive any from\nyou. I wish you would not trouble yourself or me in writing about the\ncorruptions of the Church of _England_. I believe there is no church\nperfect under heaven; but, as GOD, by his providence, is pleased to\nsend me forth simply to preach the gospel to all, I think there is no\nneed of casting myself out. The divisions in _Scotland_ are affecting,\nand undoubtedly they will occasion great searchings of heart. I pray\nGOD to support us in a trying hour. I am not yet determined, when\nI shall come your way. I can only promise, it shall be the first\nopportunity, and that you shall be apprized of it some time before.\nIn the mean time, be pleased to bear me upon your heart. I am a weak\nhelpless worm. Your correspondence will always be agreeable to me.\nThat you may daily receive fresh anointings from above, is the hearty\nprayer of, reverend and dear Sir,\n\n Your affectionate, tho\u2019 younger brother\n and servant in the Gospel,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXLII.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. O\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Edinburgh, Aug. 10, 1741._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nI Thank you for your kind and obliging letter.\u2015\u2015I had not time to\nanswer it before. GOD willing, I hope to come into the northern parts.\nThe precise time I cannot yet tell. For ever adored be the LORD for\nhis free grace! the word is accompanied with great power. Several\napply to me daily under convictions. I find it best simply to preach\nthe pure gospel, and not to meddle at all with controversy. The\npresent divisions are a sore judgment to _Scotland_. This is my\ncomfort, JESUS is king. He will either heal, or bring good out of\nthem. I have been with several of the associate presbytery; but I see\nno hopes of accommodation. O that the power of religion may revive!\nNothing but that can break down the partition wall of bigotry. Dear\nSir, forget not to pray for me. I see more and more that I am nothing,\nand that JESUS is all in all. Did I know how, I would send you some\npapers; but I hope ere long to have a personal interview; and in the\nmean while, I beg leave to subscribe myself, reverend and dear Sir,\n\n Your affectionate brother and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXLIII.\n\n _To the Right Honourable the Lord R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Edinburgh, Aug. 11, 1741._\n _My Lord_,\n\nTHOUGH I am just going out, yet I cannot satisfy myself without\nsnatching a few moments to write to you. I hope this will find your\nLordship safe at your journey\u2019s end, rejoicing in GOD for giving his\nangels charge concerning you in the way. It will please your Lordship,\nto inform you that the LORD of all Lords hath dealt most lovingly with\nme, since your departure hence. His power hath been frequently made\nknown in the great congregation, and many come to me daily, crying\nout, \u201cWhat shall I do to be saved?\u201d The work of the LORD also goes\non in _America_, and in _England_, so that I hope we shall see the\nkingdom of GOD come with power. This is the full desire of my soul.\nI am determined to seek after and know nothing else. For besides this,\nall other things are but dung and dross. O my Lord, why should we that\nare pilgrims, mind earthly things? Why should we that are soldiers,\nentangle ourselves with the things of this life? Heavenly-mindedness\nis the very life of a christian. It is all in all.\u2015\u2015I pray the LORD\nthat your heart may be drawn more and more towards him, and be fill\u2019d\nwith all his fulness. I could say more, but Mr. _G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ waits for\nme. I am, my Lord,\n\n Your Lordship\u2019s most obedient humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXLIV.\n\n _To Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in London._\n\n _Edinburgh, Aug. 11, 1741._\n _My very dear Brother H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nTHOUGH my eyes are dim, and my body calls for rest, yet I would fain\nsend you a line before I go. The LORD JESUS is getting himself into\nmany hearts. I scarce feel any restraint in preaching. Both in public\nand private, the LORD clothes his word with power. Poor souls come to\nme under deep convictions. Sweet letters are sent to me of the success\nof my writings and sermons; and several pressing invitations to many\nplaces. I hope GOD is beginning such a work here, as he begun, and is\nnow carrying on in _New-England_. Night and day JESUS fills me with\nhis love. My bodily strength is daily renewed. The LORD is pleased\nto open my mouth wide; praise him for it. I have preached twice, and\ntalked, and walked much to day. My dear man, good-night. The LORD be\nwith you!\n\n Ever, ever yours, in the most adorable JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXLV.\n\n _To the Most Honourable the M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015ss of L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015n._\n\n _Edinburgh, Aug. 12, 1741._\n _My Lord_,\n\nI Am surprized to find your Lordship so condescending as to write to\nme. How bright does humility shine in great personages? It is this\nrenders GOD so amiable to his creatures. He is infinitely good, and\nwithal infinitely condescending. What an unparalleled instance was\nthat of his loving kindness, his giving his only begotten Son to die\nfor sinful man. How low did JESUS stoop when he lay in a manger, much\nmore when he hung upon the accursed tree. When I think of this mystery\nof godliness, I am lost in thought. This makes me to despise all human\nhappiness, and sets my soul a longing for a full fruition of my JESUS.\nI pray GOD to give your Lordship grace to determine to know nothing\nbut JESUS CHRIST, and him crucified. He is the only center of true\nhappiness. In him alone, solid, lasting joys are to be found. Having\nJESUS, I find in him I possess all things. But whither am I going?\nYour Lordship will excuse me. My heart at present is enlarged. I pray\nGOD to visit your Lordship with his great salvation. I thank your\nLordship for your intended benefaction to the poor _Georgia_ orphans.\nI hope the glorious Emmanuel will accept it at your hands. I have\nsent your Lordship another parcel, seeing the first hath miscarried.\nI shall follow it with my poor prayers, being, my Lord,\n\n Your Lordship\u2019s most obedient humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXLVI.\n\n _To Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Edinburgh, Aug. 13, 1741._\n _My very dear Brother_,\n\nI Longed to receive a letter from you. Blessed be GOD, my longing was\nsatisfied this day. My heart is much united to you, and carried out\nfor you. I utterly disapprove of some persons separating principles.\nI find, Satan now turns himself into an angel of light, and stirs up\nGOD\u2019s children to tempt me to come over to some particular party. The\nassociate Presbytery have been hard upon me; but I find no freedom,\nany longer than I continue just as I am, and evangelize to all. I know\nnot that I differ from you in one thing. Glory be to GOD for what he\nhas done at _London_! He is doing great things here. I walk in the\ncontinual sunshine of his countenance. Every day, fresh seals are\ngiven of my ministry. This morning GOD opened my voice to speak to\npreachers of the gospel. Be pleased to accept of this summary account\nof my proceedings. On _Sunday_ morning, I visited and preached to the\norphans here, and in the evening to as many people as the _Sunday_\nbefore. Every day since, excepting _Monday_, I have preached either in\nthe churches or field twice a day, and yesterday I collected upwards\nof ninety-three pounds for the _Georgia_ orphans. People are daily\ncoming under deep convictions, and fresh invitations are sent me to\npreach at divers places round about. On _Sunday_, I purpose to preach\nin the country, and also the greatest part of the following week, and\nshall return again, GOD willing, about _Friday_ to this city. O my\nbrother, exhort all to praise the LORD. I have most sweet letters from\nmany awakened ones. GOD, I believe, will work in the ministers and\nyoung students hearts. Even so LORD JESUS. Amen. Pray fail not writing\nto\n\n Ever yours,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXLVII.\n\n _To Mr. D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Sterling._\n\n _Edinburgh, Aug. 13, 1741._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nI Received your kind letter, and heartily bless GOD, if any thing\ndropping from my unworthy lips was made of service to your soul. I\nbelieve, GOD inclined me to speak to you. The sons of the prophets are\nmuch upon my heart. I pray GOD that you may be polished shafts, and\nnoble instruments in his hands, of building up living temples for the\nHoly Ghost. The treatment I met with from the associate presbytery,\nwas not altogether such as I expected. It grieved me, as much as it\ndid you. I could scarce refrain from bursting into a flood of tears. I\nwish all were like-minded with your honoured father and uncle: matters\nthen would not be carried on with so high an hand. I fear they are led\ntoo much. Such violent methods, such a narrow way of acting, can never\nbe the way to promote and enlarge the kingdom of the blessed JESUS.\nIt surely must be wrong to fix such bounds to ourselves, as forbid\neven our hearing those who love the LORD JESUS in sincerity, and have\nalso been owned of him. CHRIST would not have done so.\u2015\u2015Supposing the\nscheme of government which the associate presbytery contend for to\nbe scriptural, yet forbearance and long-suffering is to be exercised\ntowards such as may differ from them; and I am verily persuaded,\nthere is no such form of government prescribed in the book of GOD,\nas excludes a toleration of all other forms whatsoever. Was the New\nTestament outward tabernacle to be built as punctual as the old,\nas punctual directions would have been given about the building it;\nwhereas, it is only deduced by inference, and thus we see Independents,\nPresbyterians, and Episcopalians bring the same text to support their\nparticular scheme, and I believe JESUS CHRIST thereby would teach\nus to exercise forbearance and long-suffering to each other. Was\nthe associate presbytery scheme to take effect, out of conscience,\nif they acted consistently, they must restrain, and grieve, if not\npersecute many of GOD\u2019s children who could not possibly come into\ntheir measures; and I doubt not but their present violent methods,\ntogether with the corruptions of that assembly, will cause many to\nturn Independents, and set up particular churches of their own. This\nwas the effect of archbishop _Laud_\u2019s acting with so high an hand; and\nwhether it be presbytery or episcopacy, if managed in the same manner,\nit will be productive of the same effects. Blessed be GOD, I have\nnot so learned CHRIST. I preach the simple gospel, and our glorious\nJESUS is pleased to attend it with his power. Every day I feel more\nand more of the divine presence, and people are coming to me crying,\n\u201cWhat shall we do to be saved.\u201d The love of JESUS fills my soul, and\nconstrains me to write thus freely to you. O dear Sir, I love and\nhonour your pious father. Remember me in the kindest manner to the\ngood old man. I pray GOD, his last days may not be employed too much\nin the non-essentials of religion. My heart is knit to the family.\nGOD forbid, that any thing should hinder us from taking sweet counsel\ntogether. GOD willing, I am to preach at _Falkirk_ on _Tuesday_\nevening, and purpose to be at _Sterling_ that night, and to preach\ntwice there the next day. If it was thought advisable, I would collect\nfor the Orphan-house at _Georgia_ in the afternoon. The LORD be with\nyou, and all the family. Forget me not in your prayers.\u2015\u2015I am a poor\nunworthy wretch. As such, pray for\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXLVIII.\n\n _To Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Edinburgh, Aug. 15, 1741._\n _My very dear Brother_,\n\nIT would make your heart leap for joy, to be now in _Edinburgh_. I\nquestion if there be not upwards of 300 in this city seeking after\nJESUS. Every morning, I have a constant levee of wounded souls, many\nof whom are quite slain by the law. GOD\u2019s power attends the word\ncontinually, just as when I left _London_. At seven in the morning, we\nhave a lecture in the fields, attended not only by the common people,\nbut persons of great rank. I have reason to think several of the\nlatter sort are coming to JESUS. Little children also are much wrought\nupon. GOD much blesses my letters from the little orphans. He loves\nto work by the most contemptible means. O my dear brother, I am\nquite amazed, when I think what GOD hath done here in a fortnight. My\nprinted journals and sermons have been blessed in an uncommon manner.\nI am only afraid lest people should idolize the instrument, and not\nlook enough to the glorious JESUS, in whom alone I desire to glory.\nCongregations consist of many thousands. Never did I see so many\nbibles, nor people look into them, when I am expounding, with such\nattention. Plenty of tears flow from the hearers eyes. Their concern\nappears various ways. I preach twice daily, and expound at private\nhouses at night, and am employed in speaking to souls under distress\ngreat part of the day. I have just snatched a few moments to write\nto my dear brother. O that GOD may enlarge your heart to pray for me.\nThis afternoon I shall preach out of town, and also to-morrow. Next\npost, GOD willing, you shall have another letter. I walk continually\nin the comforts of the Holy Ghost. The love of CHRIST quite strikes me\ndumb. O grace! grace! Let that be my song. Adieu. My dear fellow-\ntraveller joins with me in hearty love to you all. I must away.\n\n Ever yours in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXLIX.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Georgia._\n\n _Edinburgh, Aug. 24, 1741._\n _My very dear Friend and Brother_,\n\nWITH very great difficulty I get time to write this. The LORD is doing\ngreat things in _Scotland_. I preach twice daily to many thousands\nwith great power. I have collected here very near two-hundred pounds,\nand have a prospect of collecting much more. Mr. _N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ has drawn\nupon me for three hundred pounds sterling. I have paid two of it. Some\nhundreds remain yet unpaid. GOD gives me to put my trust in him. I\nhave bought five hundred yards of cloth for the dear orphans winter\u2019s\nwear, and shall send you the other things you mentioned. I rejoice\nto hear that the LORD is with you. I do not wonder at the contempt\nyou meet with, or the calumnies which are spread abroad. Remember\nthe burning bush. O my friend, my dear friend, how shall I thank you\nfor your prayers, care, and love? I am willing to wash all your feet.\nPerhaps in the Spring, I may embark; but cannot yet determine. I have\nwritten to you many letters, and I always remember you in my prayers.\nI am glad to hear that you can go to market without money. The LORD\nincrease your faith. My dear brother, I love you in the bowels of\nJESUS CHRIST. I will do what I can for Mr. _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. I thank dear Mr.\n_J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, from my heart, for his great kindness. I wrote to him and\nto Mr. _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, and near thirty more, a month ago. Expect also some\nmoney shortly. I had rather bear any burden, than have my dear family\nburdened. I thank Mr. _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ for his care. His brethren here are well.\nI have not time to tell you, how I love and esteem you for the care\nyou take of the dear lambs. I long to weep over you all. Excuse me for\nnot writing particularly. The LORD be with you all. As soon as I can\npossibly redeem time, you shall hear again, my dear Mr. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, from\n\n Ever yours in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCL.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Edinburgh, Aug. 24, 1741._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nI Thank you for your kind letter. I believe it proceeded from love;\nbut, as yet, I cannot think the solemn league and covenant is any\nway obligatory upon me. Indeed, dear Sir, you mistake if you think I\ntemporize on account of the orphans. Be it far from me. I abhor the\nvery thought of it. I proceed now, just as I have done ever since I\ncame out in the ministry; and so far from not setting a hedge about\nour LORD\u2019s garden, that was I called to it, I should set a much closer\nhedge than that which the associate presbytery are planting. I should\nenquire into people\u2019s experiences, before I admitted them to the\nLORD\u2019s table. I would have church members meet in church fellowship,\nand tell one another what GOD has done for their souls. You seem to\nthink I am not open to light. That I may give you satisfaction, I am\nwilling to confer with Mr. _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ at _Perth_, where I am to be by\ndivine permission on _Thursday, September 3_. On _Tuesday_ next, about\nfour in the afternoon, I purpose preaching at _Dumfermling_.\u2015\u2015I am\nengaged to sup at your collegue\u2019s house, but intend to lie at yours.\nIn the mean time be pleased to pray for me, and to remember my love to\nall your family; and believe me, reverend Sir, to be\n\n Your most affectionate, though unworthy brother and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLI.\n\n _To the Reverend Mr. O\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Aberdeen._\n\n _Perth, Sept. 3, 1741._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nI Have received two letters from you, which much affect me, knowing\nhow unworthy I am of such endearing expressions, or indeed of any\nnotice at all. But what shall I say? Grace! grace! JESUS loves me,\nand so does his servant for JESU\u2019s sake. O free grace! I am sorry to\nfind that any should insinuate, my not coming to _Aberdeen_ is owing\nto your cold invitation. Such a thought never entered my heart, but\nquite the contrary. The distance of the way, and my pressing call to\n_England_, will keep me from you, and nothing else. I love and honour\nyou for my master\u2019s sake. I should be glad to wash your feet, and if\npossible I will yet see you. But if GOD should not permit me, dear Sir,\nbe not offended. The LORD is pleased to give me much freedom and power\nin preaching. Congregations are every where large, and they have been\nvery liberal to my poor orphans. O that I was humble, and thankful!\nI am the chief of sinners: I feel myself such. O the efficacy of\nCHRIST\u2019s blood! It is omnipotent; it hath saved me. Dear Sir, my heart\nis melted down with the love of JESUS. He is a dear master. He hath\nsuffered no evil to befal me, as you have already heard. I have not\nso much as hurt my foot against a stone. Help me to praise him. Worthy\nis the Lamb that was slain, to receive all honour and glory and riches\nand power and blessing! With much difficulty, I get time to send you\nthese few lines.\u2015\u2015Reverend and dear Sir,\n\n Your very affectionate, obedient friend, younger brother,\n and servant in the gospel,\n\n _G. W._\n\nP. S. For nine days past, I have continued preaching with great power\ntwice every day, to very large and affected auditories in many towns\nand villages.\n\n\n LETTER CCCLII.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Edinburgh, Sept. 19, 1741._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nTHOUGH nature calls for rest, and I am to preach four times to-morrow,\nyet I cannot go to bed without answering your kind letter. Blessed\nbe GOD for any good done at _Dundee_! Not unto me, not unto me, but\nunto JESUS CHRIST be all the glory. Thanks be to GOD, I can yet send\nyou more glad tidings. At _Creif_ we had a most precious meeting. At\n_Glasgow_ I preached ten times. The LORD was with me of a truth. The\ncongregations were very large, as were the contributions, and many\nwere brought under the deepest convictions. With great regret we\nparted, and with great joy was received at _Edinburgh_. I had some\nthoughts of abiding in _Scotland_ longer, but last night I received\na letter, which almost determined my return to _England_. Next\n_Saturday_, GOD willing, I purpose to leave this place, and shall\nreturn into these parts, if providence points a way, in the Spring. I\ndo not despair of seeing _Scotland_ like _New-England_. Reverend Sir,\nfor the present adieu. My poor body bids me to stop. O when shall I\nsleep no more! I am exceedingly weary, but am affectionately, Reverend\nand dear Sir,\n\n Your most unworthy and obedient brother, and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLIII.\n\n _To Mr. T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in London._\n\n _Edinburgh, Sep. 24, 1741._\n _My very dear Brother_,\n\nTHIS serves to inform you, that on _Sunday_ last I preached here four\ntimes, twice in a church, and twice in the fields; in the evening I\ncollected twenty pounds for the royal infirmary. On _Monday_ morning,\nI visited the children in three hospitals, and preached in the evening\nin the park; also at _Kinglassy_, _Aberdour_, and _Innerkeithing_, on\n_Tuesday_ and _Wednesday_. On _Thursday_ I visited the prison, and in\nthe evening preached to the children of the city, with a congregation\nconsisting of near twenty thousand in the park. It is remarkable that\nmany children are under convictions, and every where great power and\napparent success attend the word preached. Calls to divers places,\nare so numerous and importunate, that I think it my duty to stay\nin _Scotland_ some time longer: being in haste, can say not more at\npresent. My love to all that love the LORD JESUS.\n\n Your most affectionate friend, brother, and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLIV.\n\n _To the Right Honourable Lord L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Edinburgh, Sept. 25, 1741._\n _My Lord_,\n\nTHOUGH nature calls for rest, yet love and gratitude oblige me to\nsit up to answer your Lordship\u2019s letter, lest I should not have time\nin the morning. Blessed be the glorious Redeemer! who seems in some\ndegree to be working upon your heart. My prayer to GOD is, that these\nconvictions may continue, \u2019till they end in a sound conversion. You\ndo well, my Lord, to fear, lest they should wear off. I have not had\nso much acquaintance with the world as your Lordship; but I know it is\na deceitful thing, and without the utmost care and watchfulness, will\ninsensibly divert the soul from GOD. Your Lordship is in a dangerous\nsituation. A fear of contempt, and a love for honour, falsely so\ncalled, render religion unfashionable amongst the rich and polite\npart of mankind. But the blood of JESUS is almighty, and makes the\nsoul more than conqueror. Here is the fountain to which you and I\nmust apply, to wash away all our sins. And is it yet open for all\npoor sinners? Come then, my Lord, and lay yourself at the feet of\nthe blessed JESUS. He can, he will, if you believe on him, abundantly\npardon you. But faith is the gift of GOD. I pray GOD to give you no\nrest, \u2019till you have received the full assurance of faith. Then will\nyou recover your primitive dignity, trample earth under your feet, and\nwith your soul be panting after GOD. O my Lord, it is a blessed thing\nto have fellowship with the Father, and with the Son. I am a poor\ndespised minister of JESUS CHRIST; but I would not change my Master\nfor ten thousand worlds. I have food to eat, that the world knows\nnothing of. I long to have your Lordship taste of it too, and shall\nas it were travail in birth \u2019till JESUS CHRIST is formed in you. Your\nLordship need not remind me to pray for you. Your eternal welfare is\nmuch upon my heart. My Lord, now is the accepted time, now is the day\nof salvation. The blessed spirit is now striving with you, and saying,\n\u201cMy son, give me thy heart; what hast thou to do any more with idols?\u201d\nI hope your reply will be, \u201cLORD, I give thee my heart, my whole heart,\nand will no longer keep back from thee the least part.\u201d Then will your\nLordship be truly happy; for so far as we are void of GOD, so far we\nare miserable. But whither am I running? It is late; but your Lordship\ndesired a long letter, and therefore I have taken the liberty to write\nfreely. I am sensible of the honour put upon me by your Lordship,\nand hope I shall never betray any trust reposed in me. I pray GOD\nto sanctify this, and bless our fellowship when we meet together. I\nthank your Lordship for your concern about the orphans. I am persuaded\nyou will in no wise lose your reward. I hope your Lordship received\nmy last letter, which gave an account of my intended preaching\nat _Kinglassie_ and _Coupar_. May the glorious JESUS sanctify my\ncontinuance in these parts, to the promoting his own glory and the\ngood of souls! I think I can say, \u201cto me to live is CHRIST.\u201d It\nrevives me to see so many seeking after JESUS. At _Kinglassie_ the\npower was extraordinary. O free grace! that GOD should make use of\nsuch a wretch as I am. I desire to lie humbly in the dust, and say,\n\u201cWhy me, LORD, why me?\u201d Fear not, my Lord, I have received remission\nof sins by the blood of JESUS. Into his arms, I am just about\nto commend your Lordship. I pray GOD to visit your soul with his\nsalvation; and hoping my humble respects will find acceptance with\nyour Lordship, your lady, and lady _Ann_, I beg leave to subscribe\nmyself,\n\n Your Lordship\u2019s most obedient humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLV.\n\n _To the Right Honourable Lord R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Gallashiels, Sept. 28, 1741._\n _My Lord_,\n\nYOUR letter I fear has been too long unanswered, but gratitude will\nnot permit me to defer answering it any longer. I have also received\nyour Lordship\u2019s liberal benefaction for the orphans, for which and all\nother favours, your Lordship hath my hearty thanks.\u2015\u2015The innumerable\ninstances of GOD\u2019s goodness quite melt me down. The word of GOD\nprevails more and more. Every where JESUS CHRIST is getting himself\nthe victory in poor sinners hearts. Young and old from many quarters\nfly to the gospel, as doves to the windows. I trust, your Lordship\u2019s\ndaughters will feel the power of CHRIST\u2019s blood. Happy they, who do\nfeel it. They rest in GOD. They are sons and daughters of the LORD\nAlmighty. What a rich person is the poorest christian? He is joint\nheir with JESUS CHRIST. Supported with this thought, and feeling\nthe power of it in my soul, I can despise all sublunary enjoyments,\nand long to be wholly swallowed up in GOD. Happy day, when we shall\nconverse with the world no more! I pray GOD to give me patience to\nwait \u2019till JESUS comes. I would leap my seventy years, and fly upon\nthe wings of faith and love, into the blessed Redeemer\u2019s presence. I\nhope your Lordship is thus minded. May the glorious _Emmanuel_ keep\nyou so, \u2019till your soul is carried into _Abraham_\u2019s bosom. This is the\nhearty prayer of, my Lord,\n\n Your Lordship\u2019s most obedient and obliged humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLVI.\n\n _To the Right Honourable lord L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\n\n _Edinburgh, Oct. 2, 1741._\n _My Lord_,\n\nLAST night I returned from the south country, and receiv\u2019d your\nLordship\u2019s kind letter. My invitation to _Coupar_ was in the name\nof many: who the persons were that signed the letter I cannot tell.\nI have sent it inclosed in this. Had I known it to have been more\nagreeable to your Lordship, I would have appointed the meeting at\n_Melvill_; but I fear, as such public notice has been given, it\nwill be now impracticable. I cannot possibly stay with your Lordship\nall _Tuesday_, being to preach at _Dundee_. But in my return from\n_Aberdeen_, I hope to be at your Lordship\u2019s house. I am glad your\nLordship intends to be at _Kinglassie_. I shall have both sermons\nvery early, and hope the glorious JESUS will be with us in our going\nto _Melvill_. O my LORD, I want a thousand tongues to set off the\nRedeemer\u2019s praise. Having him, tho\u2019 I have nothing else, I find I\npossess all things. I have not forgotten your Lordship since I wrote\nlast. You are, and will be much upon my heart. I have heard of the\npiety of your Lordship\u2019s ancestors, and hope many prayers are yet in\nstore for you. Above all, I trust, JESUS prays for you, and then you\ncannot but be a conqueror; nay, more than conqueror over the world,\nthe flesh and the devil. Take courage then, my Lord, and fear not to\nfollow a crucified JESUS without the camp, bearing his sacred reproach.\nBeware of honour, falsely so called: dare to be singularly good, and\nbe not ashamed of JESUS or his gospel. O that you may find it to be\nthe power of GOD to your salvation! Look but to CHRIST by faith, and\nyour Lordship\u2019s great possessions will not retard, but further and\npromote your progress in the divine life. What sweet communion will\nyour Lordship then enjoy with GOD, in your walks and gardens? It will\nthen be a little paradise to your soul, and every thing you meet with,\nwill only draw you so much nearer to _Jehovah_, in whom all fulness\ndwells. This I find by daily experience; and that your Lordship may\ndaily experience the same, is the earnest prayer, my Lord, of\n\n Your Lordship\u2019s most obliged humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLVII.\n\n _To Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Melvill, October 5, 1741._\n _My very dear Friend and Brother_,\n\nI Have, by the ship that brings you this, sent you 70 _l._ worth\nof different sorts of goods to be disposed of, and the money to be\napplied for the use of the _Orphan-house_. You are to let Mr. _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\nhave 20 _l._ I have also sent 600 yards of cloth, a present of my own,\nto make the boys and girls gowns and coats, some whereof I have had\nmade up here. The other things were given by various persons. Amongst\nthese, you will find some damask table-cloths, which I desire you\nwill sell, they being too good, in my opinion, for our use. O my dear\nfriend, how faithful is the LORD JESUS! He has now enabled me to pay\nmy brother, and Mr. _N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s bill of three hundred pounds sterling.\nThere is yet 200 _l._ to be paid, which I borrowed since my arrival\nin _England_; but very shortly I hope to discharge that also. I have\nbeen in _Scotland_ about two months, and think to be here about a\nfortnight longer. GOD is pleased to give me health, and to bless\nmy ministrations in an abundant manner. The little children in the\nhospitals, are much wrought upon. Saints have been stirred up and\nedified, and many others, I believe, are translated from darkness\nto light, and from the kingdom of satan to the kingdom of GOD\u2019s dear\nSon. The good that has been done, is inexpressible. I am intimate\nwith three noblemen, and several ladies of quality, who have a great\nliking for the things of GOD. I am now writing in an earl\u2019s house,\nsurrounded with fine furniture; but glory be to free grace! my soul is\nin love only with JESUS: he helps me more and more. I feel but little\nstraitness in preaching, and we have often sweet appearances of the\ndivine presence in our large assemblies. As to my own soul, it is\nvery comfortable and composed; I feel the power of JESUS more, and\nthe power of indwelling sin less. I am daily waiting for the coming of\nthe Son of GOD. I fear I am too impatient to be gone; but what can the\nsoul do, when sick of love? I have some thoughts of visiting _Ireland_.\nWhether I shall do that, or come to _America_ in the Spring, GOD only\nknows. I pray for, and long to see you and the rest of my dear family.\nI trust, I then shall behold, what I long to behold, a houshold of\nfaith, a company of poor sinners walking in the simplicity and love\nof the meek and lowly JESUS. O that you may so live, that whosoever\ncomes amongst you may say, \u201cSurely GOD is in this place.\u201d Thousands\nof prayers are put up for us, and thousands of lies are spread abroad\nagainst us. But JESUS enables me to fight my way through all, and I\nam persuaded he will make me more than conqueror through his love. In\n_England_, the work goes on well. Brother _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ is much blessed in\n_Wiltshire_; and brother _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ wrote me word some time ago, that he\nhad examined about three hundred souls of our society, most of which\nhad been wrought upon since my return from _Georgia_. Help me to cry,\nGrace! grace! My dear friend and brother, for the present adieu! I\nlove you in the bowels of a crucified JESUS. Brethren, pray for us.\n\n I am ever, ever yours in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLVIII.\n\n _To Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 in Edinburgh._\n\n _Melvill, October 5, 1741._\n _Dear Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Received your kind letter with the bill, and also that signed by you,\nand my other friends at _Edinburgh_. I take all they say in good part,\nbut think some of their reasonings a little too worldly. The calumnies\nof evil men are not to be regarded. I value them not in the least. My\nlargest donations have been from the rich and substantial. The mites\nwhich the lower sort of people have given, I am persuaded will not\nprevent their paying their debts, or impoverish their families. Mr.\n_W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, in a letter to Mr. _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, wishes there may be a private\ncontribution for myself; but I know nothing of, and will not admit of\nany such thing. I make no purse; what I have, I give away.\u2015\u2015Freely I\nhave received, freely I desire to give. \u201cPoor, yet making many rich,\u201d\nshall be my motto still. My great and professed design, is to bring\npoor sinners to JESUS CHRIST: but as my orphan family abroad is now\nlarge, and daily to be provided for, without the least visible fund,\nand I believe much glory will redound to GOD from that house; I think\nit my duty to speak to those, who I believe, for CHRIST\u2019s sake, are\nwilling to help them. I would have no one afraid of doing too much\ngood, or think, that a little given in charity will impoverish the\ncountry.\u2015\u2015May GOD reward you, and all others that have assisted me for\nhis dear Son\u2019s sake! My poor prayers will always attend my _Scotch_\nfriends. When I shall go to _England_, I know not, but I hope GOD will\ndirect me. I must have done. Dear Sir, may the LORD be with you, and\nbe your ease in pain. My kindest respects attend your kind wife, and\nall my dear friends. I thank you and them for their advice, and desire\nto subscribe myself, with much affection, dear Sir,\n\n Your obliged, and affectionate friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLIX.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Dornock._\n\n _Aberdeen, October 9, 1741._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nSOME time past, I received a letter from your Presbytery of\n_Sutherland_, and if I mistake not, with your name subscribed.\nHowever, as I this night have seen your son, I think it my duty in\na letter to you, to thank the reverend presbytery for their kind\ninvitation; but as my stay in _Scotland_ is so short, and _Sutherland_\nso far Northward, I cannot think of going thither at this time.\nNotwithstanding, my prayer to GOD is, that the glorious gospel may\nflourish in your hands, and that you may bring many, very many souls\nto JESUS. This, reverend Sir, unless my heart deceives me, is my only\naim.\n\n _For this let men revile my name,\n I shun no Cross, I fear no shame;\n All hail reproach, and welcome pain,\n Only thy terrors, LORD, restrain!_\n\nO, dear Sir, my heart is warmed with the love of JESUS; whilst I am\nwriting, the fire kindles. Amazing, that JESUS should suffer me to\nspeak for him! But what shall we say? His grace is free. Dear Sir,\nhelp me to cry, Grace! grace! Surely I shall sing it in heaven. I\nlong to be there, but am willing to tarry the LORD\u2019s leisure. Dear\nSir, excuse this freedom; I hope I am writing to one that loves JESUS.\nI would write more, but must away to give a word of exhortation. That\nthe LORD JESUS may fill you with all joy and peace in believing, is\nthe hearty prayer of, Reverend and dear Sir,\n\n Your affectionate friend, brother, &c. in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLX.\n\n _To Major M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Aberdeen, October 9, 1741._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nBEING come thus far Northward, and hearing that you are this way, I\ncannot forbear writing, though nature calls for sleep. I was concerned\nI could not see you at _London_; but hope this will find you retired\nfrom a noisy world, and walking with your dear spouse as becometh the\ngospel of JESUS CHRIST. It is what I have longed and prayed for many a\ntime. I am of the same mind as formerly. Nothing but JESUS can satisfy\nthe soul. Aided by his Almighty power, I still go on through good\nreport and evil report, preaching the gospel. Blessed be GOD, I am not\nashamed of it. For, I find it, as do many others, to be the power of\nGOD to our eternal salvation. O, dear Sir, I feel more and more of the\nlove of CHRIST every day. It is past expression. I hope ere now you\nhave had it shed abroad in your heart abundantly, by the Holy Ghost.\nA letter informing me of this, will rejoice my soul. Be pleased to\ndirect to me at Mr. _T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s, _Edinburgh_. GOD willing, I purpose\nleaving _Scotland_ in about a fortnight. Whether I shall see you in\nthe flesh, I know not. However, since I know what GOD once did for\nyou, be not offended, if I charge you, dear Sir, not to let me miss\nyou at GOD\u2019s right-hand in the great day. But GOD only can bring this\nto pass: That you and your dear wife may be kept by his mighty power\nunto salvation, prays, dear Sir,\n\n Ever yours,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXI.\n\n _To Mrs. Ann D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at great Gransden._\n\n _Aberdeen, October 9, 1741._\n _My dear Sister_,\n\nTHIS evening your letter came to hand. Though it is past eleven at\nnight, and I have rode many miles this day, yet I cannot go to-bed\nwithout sending you a line. I fear, by your manner of writing, you are\noffended with me for my last letter. I knew very well, it would be a\ntrial to you; but I wrote out of pure love, and am glad it is now in\nyour power to clear your husband, which I much desired to do. I have\ntoo many aspersions of the same nature cast upon me, not to sympathize\nwith you both. But JESUS is our advocate, and ere long we shall see\nall the accusers of the brethren cast down. In spite of all, JESUS has\nbeen, and is getting himself the victory in many sinners hearts. I am\nyet carried on day by day, strengthened in body, and much refreshed\nand comforted in soul. Your letter gives me a little present pain,\nlest my last should have pained you. But GOD permits these things to\nhappen among ourselves, to teach us to look off from all creatures,\nand to centre all our happiness in himself. Glory be to GOD for his\nalmighty love! At my first coming here, things looked a little gloomy;\nfor the magistrates had been so prejudiced by one Mr. _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, that\nwhen applied to, they refused me the use of the kirk-yard to preach in.\nThis Mr. _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ is collegue with one Mr. _O\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, at whose repeated\ninvitation I came hither. Though collegues of the same congregation,\nthey are very different in their natural tempers. The one is what they\ncall in _Scotland_, of a _sweet blooded_, the other, of a choleric\ndisposition. Mr. _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ is neither a Seceder, nor quite a Kirk-man,\nhaving great fault to find with both. Soon after my arrival, dear\nMr. _O\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ took me to pay my respects to him; he was prepared for\nit, and immediately pulled out a paper, containing a great number of\ninsignificant queries, which I had neither time near inclination to\nanswer. The next morning, it being Mr. _O\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s turn, I lectured and\npreached; the magistrates were present. The congregation very large,\nand light and life fled all around. In the afternoon Mr. _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\nofficiated; I attended. He began his prayers as usual; but in the\nmidst of them naming me by name, he intreated the LORD to forgive the\ndishonour that had been put upon him, by my being suffered to preach\nin that pulpit; and that all might know what reason he had to put up\nsuch a petition, about the middle of his sermon, he not only urged\nthat \u201cI was a curate of the church of _England_,\u201d but also quoted a\npassage or two out of my first printed sermons, which he said were\ngrossly _Arminian_. Most of the congregation seemed surprized and\nchagrined, especially his good-natured collegue Mr. _O\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, who\nimmediately after sermon, without consulting me in the least, stood\nup and gave notice, that Mr. _Whitefield_ would preach in about half\nan hour. The interval being so short, the magistrates returned into\nthe session\u2019s-house, and the congregation patiently waited, big with\nexpectation of hearing my resentment. At the time appointed, I went\nup, and took no other notice of the good man\u2019s ill-timed zeal, than to\nobserve in some part of my discourse, that if the good old gentleman\nhad seen some of my later writings, wherein I had corrected several of\nmy former mistakes, he would not have expressed himself in such strong\nterms. The people being thus diverted from controversy with man,\nwere deeply impressed with what they heard from the word of GOD. All\nwas hushed! and more than solemn! and on the morrow the magistrates\nsent for me, expressed themselves quite concerned at the treatment I\nhad met with, and begg\u2019d I would accept of the freedom of the city.\nBut of this enough. The LORD, my dear sister, my support; let us both\ncontinually fly to him, and then let men or devils do their worst.\nCHRIST will by and by take away our reproach. Into his hands I commend\nyour spirit. Good night; the LORD be with you and yours! I hope to set\nout for _England_ soon. Pray write when you hear of my arrival there,\nand so convince me, that you are not angry with\n\n Your affectionate tho\u2019 unworthy brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXII.\n\n _To Mr. W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Edinburgh._\n\n _Aberdeen, October 10, 1741._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nI Just snatch a few moments to answer your letter. Want of leisure\nprevented my doing it before. I have not as yet seen your mother\u2019s\nmemoirs. Happy are you in having such a parent. No doubt many prayers\nare in store for you. As for your entering upon the ministry, I cannot\nadvise you, \u2019till you have gotten full satisfaction that you are\nborn again of GOD. I know more than one, who are ready to give up\ntheir ministry for want of this; and as for my own part, I could not\nfeelingly press the love of GOD to others, unless I was sure of his\nlove to myself. I know not what may have passed between GOD and your\nsoul. You can tell, I suppose, whether or not GOD\u2019s spirit witnesseth\nwith your spirit, that you are a child of GOD? For he that believeth,\nhath the witness in himself. If you have got this with a moderate\nshare of learning, a good elocution and a burning love for precious\nsouls, then, I think you may do service in a public station. If godly,\nand real experienced friends are for your entering into the ministry,\ntheir advice is somewhat to be regarded. If their advice proceeds\nfrom worldly motives, do not mind them at all. The discouragements you\nmeet with from some, are not worth your notice. If GOD loves you, he\nwill try you every way. Prayer, meditation, and temptation, are three\nnecessary qualifications for a gospel minister. I know not what to\nsay about your going to _Georgia_. In _Pensylvania_, and other places,\nthere are most noble opportunities of preaching the gospel of JESUS.\nBut I hope to be in _Edinburgh_ in about ten days, and then shall be\nglad to converse with you. In the mean time, dear Sir, I commend you\nto GOD, and desire you would not forget the unworthy creature, who now\nsubscribes himself\n\n Yours in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXIII.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Aberdeen, October 10, 1741._\n _Reverend and dear Brother_,\n\nI Have for a long time expected that you would have sent me an answer\nto my last; but I suppose that you are afraid to correspond with me,\nbecause I revealed your secret about the lot. Though much may be said\nfor my doing it, yet I am sorry now, that any such thing dropped from\nmy pen, and I humbly ask pardon. I find I love you as much as ever,\nand pray GOD, if it be his blessed will, that we may be all united\ntogether. It hath been for some days upon my heart to write to you,\nand this morning I received a letter from brother _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, telling me\nhow he had conversed with you and your dear brother. May GOD remove\nall obstacles that now prevent our union! Though I hold particular\nelection, yet I offer JESUS freely to every individual soul. You may\ncarry sanctification to what degrees you will, only I cannot agree\nthat the in-being of sin is to be destroyed in this life. O, my dear\nbrother, the LORD hath been much with me in _Scotland_. I every\nmorning feel my fellowship with CHRIST, and he is pleased to give me\nall peace and joy in believing. In about three weeks I hope to be at\n_Bristol_. May all disputings cease, and each of us talk of nothing\nbut JESUS, and him crucified! This is my resolution. The LORD be with\nyour spirit. My love to brother _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, and all that love the\nglorious _Emmanuel_. I am, without dissimulation,\n\n Ever yours,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXIV.\n\n _To Peter B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Aberdeen, October 10, 1741._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nI Write this, to ask pardon for mentioning your name in my answer to\nbrother _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s sermon. I am very sorry for it. Methinks I hear you\nsay, for CHRIST\u2019s sake I forgive you. I thank you, and shall be glad\nof a conference with you when I come to _London_. There have been\nfaults on both sides. I think, my dear brother, you have not acted\nsimply in some things. Let us confess our faults to one another, and\npray for one another, that we may be healed. I wish there may be no\ndissention between us for the time to come. May GOD preserve us from\nfalling out in our way to heaven! The world and the devil are united\nagainst us; O that we could all unite against them! \u201cGOD is love,\nand he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in GOD.\u201d I long to have all\nnarrow-spiritedness taken out of my heart. JESUS is able to deliver\nme. His blood is Almighty. I trust I shall not rest, \u2019till I have felt\nthe full power of it in my soul. Blessed be GOD, I am still carried on\nfrom conquering to conquer. JESUS causes me to triumph in every place.\nI desire to lie as a poor sinner at his feet, and to cry, Grace!\ngrace! I find I am shortly to be called before the higher powers. Help\nme, my dear brother, by your prayers. In about nine days I think to\nleave _Scotland_. I commend you to JESUS, and desire to subscribe\nmyself, dear brother _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Yours affectionately in the bleeding Lamb,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXV.\n\n _To the Reverend Mr. C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Aberdeen, October 13, 1741._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nI Received your letters, and am glad to hear that the glorious\n_Emmanuel_ is pleased to countenance your ministry. May he smile on\nyou more and more, and make you the spiritual father of many children!\nI have very great reason to be thankful to our common Saviour.\nHe hath been with me greatly, both in _England_ and _Scotland_. I\ngenerally preach twice every day, sometimes three, even four times,\nand generally expound in private every night. The LORD has fought many\nbattles for me, and still continues to make me more than conqueror\nthrough his love. This morning I felt his power in the pulpit, and now\nfeel it much in my soul. O what a blessed thing it is, to have GOD\u2019s\nspirit witness with our spirit, that we are GOD\u2019s children! This,\nglory be to free grace! I have continually; and let me be in what\nframe soever, my soul is waiting for the coming of the Son of Man.\nBlessed be GOD, it will not be long ere I shall see him as he is.\nThe sight I have of him by faith, ravishes my soul: how shall I be\nravished when I see him face to face! \u201cLORD, purify me, even as thou\nart pure; for only the pure in heart see thee!\u201d My dear brother, the\nlove of GOD now fills my soul. May you feel it shed abroad abundantly\nin your heart! About Spring, perhaps, I may leave _England_. Forget\nnot to pray for me.\n\n I am, dear Mr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n Ever yours in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXVI.\n\n _To the Right Honourable the Earl of L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Brechen, October 17, 1741._\n _My Lord_,\n\nI Would have wrote to your Lordship from _Aberdeen_, but could not\nthen determine when I should be at _Melvill_. This comes to acquaint\nyour Lordship, that, GOD willing, I hope to be at your Lordship\u2019s\nhouse on _Wednesday_ night, and to preach at _Coupar_ on _Thursday_.\nI should be glad if the magistrates were apprized of it, and the tent\nfixed in a more convenient place, and at a less distance from the\nground. I cannot tell your Lordship, how good the glorious _Emmanuel_\nhas been unto me. He has caused me to triumph in every place, and\nfills my soul with joy unspeakable, even with joy that is full of\nglory. I wish your Lordship was not almost, but altogether such\nas I am, excepting my indwelling corruptions. O my Lord, none but\nChristians know the pleasure of renouncing the world for GOD. I am\npersuaded you felt unspeakable pleasure at _Coupar_. I hope those days\nhave continued with you. Happy are you in having a consort that will\nforward you in the spiritual life. That you may both live together\nas becomes heirs of the grace of GOD, and have all joy and peace in\nbelieving, is the earnest prayer of, my Lord,\n\n Your Lordship\u2019s most obedient humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXVII.\n\n _To Mr. Thomas G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at London._\n\n _Dundee, October 21, 1741._\n _Dear Brother G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nYOU will see, by the following, what GOD is still doing for me.\nOn _Wednesday_ night last I left _Aberdeen_, after preaching there\nseven times, besides expounding in private. Before I came among them,\nnumbers were much prejudiced against me; but GOD was pleased to attend\nmy ministry with such power, that all opposition fell before me. Many\nwere brought under great convictions. The magistrates made me free of\nthe city; and the people much regretted my speedy departure from them.\nOn _Thursday_ last I preached at _Stonhithe_ and _Benham_; on _Friday_,\nthrice at _Montrose_; on _Saturday_ twice, and on _Sunday_ thrice at\n_Brechen_, and lectured in the evening at a private house. On _Monday_\nI preached twice at _Forfar_; on _Tuesday_ twice at _Coupar_, in\n_Angus_; and once at _Dundee_, five miles from _Coupar_, at four in\nthe afternoon, and again at night; here I have also preached twice\nthis day. The presence of GOD accompanies me more and more. Wherever\nI have preached, I hear of the good fruits of it, both in convicting\nsinners, and reviving saints. At _Dundee_, the concern among the\nhearers is very remarkable. People are still more desirous to hear the\nword. But, GOD willing, I purpose shortly to set out for _England_.\nMy dear brother, pray for me, that I may be humble and thankful. I am\nglad to hear your wife is recovered. My love to her, and all friends.\nI am, with cordial affection, Dear brother _G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Ever yours in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXVIII.\n\n _To the Right Honourable the Lord L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Edinburgh, October 26, 1741._\n _My Lord_,\n\nIT is now past eleven at night; all is wrapt in awful silence. My\nsoul is in a quiet composed frame. I have been giving your Lordship\u2019s\nletter a second reading, with aspirations to GOD whilst I perused it.\nSurely GOD has not let me wrestle with him in vain. The Holy Spirit\nseems to be moving upon the face of your soul. I trust GOD hath said,\n\u201cLet there be light,\u201d and therefore there is light. O that the work\nmay be carried on, till you enter into that rest which remains for the\npeople of GOD. I trust your Lordship will now awake into a new world,\nand know what it is to live by faith. Did I not know the power of\nCHRIST\u2019s blood, I should fear for you. But I commend you to a glorious\nRedeemer, that will certainly take care of you. As I left your\nLordship\u2019s house, I was thinking, that the narrow escape your Lordship\nhad between the stones, foreboded something good. JESUS has taken care\nof you when in your blood. I hope he is now passing by you, and saying\nunto you, \u201cLive.\u201d O that the stone of infidelity, which before lay at\nthe door of your heart, may be now rolled away! O that you may rise,\nbe loosed from your corruptions, and go about doing good! Satan will\nnot let you go without much opposition. He will desire to have you,\nthat he may sift you as wheat. But if JESUS prays for you, all will\nbe well. The comfort which you had with him in reading the psalms, is\na taste of the food believers daily eat, and which the carnal world\nknows nothing of. My Lord, if you could be brought once to love secret\nprayer, and to converse feelingly with GOD in his word, your heaven\nwill begin on earth; you will enjoy more pleasure than in all manner\nof riches. What will those avail, if you are not rich towards GOD? Be,\ntherefore, my Lord, much in secret retirement. Commune with your own\nheart in your chamber, and be still, and you will then hear the secret\nwhispers of the Holy Ghost. As for praying in your family, I intreat\nyou, my Lord, not to neglect it. You are bound to do it. Apply to\nCHRIST for strength to overcome your present fears. They are the\neffects of pride, or infidelity, or of both. After once or twice, the\ndifficulty will be over. O that the blessed Spirit may enable you to\nmake intercession with groaning that cannot be uttered! It rejoices me\nto think, that I shall one day perhaps see a church in _Melvill_ house.\nHappy, happy are you, my Lord, in having such a consort, who will\nforward your Lordship in every good word and work. How sweet will it\nbe for you to go early to your devotions, striving to live like the\nfirst happy pair, before they had eaten the forbidden fruit. As GOD\nshall enable me, I shall bear you both upon my heart. GOD forbid that\nI should sin against him in ceasing to pray for you. My riding upon\nyour Lordship\u2019s horse, will often remind me to pray for the donor. My\nLord, you are upon my heart. Methinks I would undergo the pangs of the\nnew birth for you; but JESUS can carry you through. Fear not. Go on\nin his strength, and your Lordship will be enabled to stand the shock\nof all. I should be glad to hear, from time to time, what the LORD is\ndoing for your soul. Since your Lordship has laid your commands upon\nme, I shall write as often as possible. If your Lordship is pleased\nto write within this week, a letter may be directed to me at Mrs.\n_J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s, in _Abergavenny_. If afterwards, at Mr. _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s, Grocer,\nin _Wine-street_, _Bristol_. Your Lordship may depend on my secresy;\nno one hath seen your Lordship\u2019s letter, but Mr. _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, who copies\nthis, and who is as my own soul. His prayers, I trust, will benefit\nyour Lordship. His humble respects await both you and your lady. Once\nmore, I pray GOD to bless you both together. But it is late, the clock\nhas struck twelve. Methinks I could wish the cry was now made, \u201cBehold,\nthe bridegroom cometh.\u201d My soul longs to go forth to meet him. This\nevening I was greatly refreshed by preaching on these words, \u201cThis\nis my beloved, and this is my friend, oh daughters of _Jerusalem_.\u201d\nO when shall I see him as he is! Well may your Lordship say, \u201cHe is\naltogether lovely.\u201d The more you know him, the more you will have\nreason to commend him. Eternity is too short to utter all his praise.\nWith a heart full of affection and thanks for all favours, I beg leave\nto subscribe myself, my Lord,\n\n Your Lordship\u2019s most obliged humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXIX.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at London._\n\n _Edinburgh, October 27, 1741._\n _My very dear Brother_,\n\nALTHOUGH it be past eleven at night, yet I cannot miss a post. The\nLORD is doing very great things here. At _Dundee_ the C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 was very\nextraordinary. On sabbath-day, the LORD enabled me to preach four\ntimes, and to lecture in the evening at a private house. Yesterday\nI preached three times, and lectured at night. This day JESUS has\nenabled me to preach seven times. Once in the church, twice at the\ngirl\u2019s hospital, once in the park, once at the old people\u2019s hospital,\nand afterwards twice in a private house. Notwithstanding, I am now as\nfresh as when I arose in the morning. \u201cThey that wait upon the LORD\nshall renew their strength; they shall mount on wings like eagles.\u201d It\nwould delight your soul to see the effects of the power of GOD. Both\nin the church and park the LORD was with us. The girls in the hospital\nwere exceedingly affected, and so were the standers-by. One of the\nmistresses told me, she is now awakened in the morning by the voice\nof prayer and praise; and the master of the boys says, that they meet\ntogether every night to sing and pray; and when he goes to their rooms\nat night to see if all be safe, he generally disturbs them at their\ndevotions. The presence of GOD, at the old people\u2019s hospital, was\nreally very wonderful. The Holy Spirit seemed to come down like a\nmighty rushing wind. The mourning of the people, was like the weeping\nin the valley of _Hadadrimmon_. They appear more and more hungry.\nEvery day I hear of some fresh good wrought by the power of GOD. I\nscarce know how to leave _Scotland_. I believe I shall think it my\nduty to pay the inhabitants another visit as soon as possible. May\nthe LORD order my goings in his ways! Above five hundred pounds hath\nbeen collected, in money and goods, for the poor orphans. Let all that\nis within me praise GOD\u2019s holy name. To-morrow, GOD willing, I shall\nleave this place, and go through _Wales_, in my way to _London_. You\nmay hear from me on the road. At present, I must conclude; it is very\nnear twelve. I intreat you to pray and give thanks for, dear brother\n_C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your\u2019s most affectionately in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXX.\n\n _To the Right Honourable the Lord L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Abergavenny, Nov. 10, 1741._\n _My Lord_,\n\nI Cannot bear the thoughts of forbearing to write to your Lordship\nany longer. I know your Lordship will be pleased to hear that we had\na good journey. CHRIST\u2019s presence made it so. The horse carried me\nexceeding well. My heart was often drawn out to pray for the donor.\nDoes your Lordship\u2019s soul prosper? Has JESUS said, \u201cBe of good cheer,\nit is I; be not afraid, thy sins are forgiven thee.\u201d Can it yet be\nsaid, \u201cBehold, he prayeth.\u201d I find a restraint upon me now, so that\nI cannot write. GOD calls me to retirement; being to enter into the\nmarriage state to-morrow. I am persuaded your Lordship will not fail\nto pray, that we may, like _Zachariah_ and _Elizabeth_, walk in all\nthe ordinances and commandments of the LORD blameless. I hope my most\nhumble respects will find acceptance with your Lady. Indeed, my Lord,\nyou are both much upon my heart. Though I have only liberty now to\nsubscribe myself, with all gratitude, my Lord,\n\n Your Lordship\u2019s most obedient and obliged humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXXI.\n\n _To Mr. T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Edinburgh._\n\n _Abergavenny, Nov. 19, 1741._\n\nTHIS morning I received your kind letter; for which, and all other\nfavours, you have my most hearty thanks. I remembered you in prayer,\nsoon after your\u2019s came to hand: blessed be GOD for the news which it\ncontained. I yet expect to hear of, if not to see far greater things\nin _Scotland_. The LORD has begun, and he will carry on a work, which\nshall make the ears of his enemies to tingle. I have enjoyed much of\nthe divine presence since we parted. On _Saturday_ I was married, in\nthe fear of GOD, to one who, I hope, will be a help meet to me. GOD\nhas been pleased to work, by my hands, since I have been in _Wales_.\nO stupendous love! O infinitely condescending GOD! Be pleased to\ndirect your next to _London_. I hope to be there in about three weeks.\nMy wife I shall leave in the country for some time. Dear Mr. _T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\npray for us. I do for you and yours. Labour after an abiding of GOD\nin your soul, so that you may continually by faith see him who is\ninvisible. Do not be content with being a dwarf in religion: aspire\nafter the utmost degrees of inward purity and holiness. I could go on,\nbut must write some more letters. Dear brother _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, and my dear\nwife, salute you and all friends. They are not forgotten, dear Mr.\n_T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, by\n\n Your most unworthy, but most affectionate friend\n and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXXII.\n\n _To the Right Honourable Lady D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Scotland._\n\n _Bristol, Nov. 22, 1741._\n _Honoured Madam_,\n\nAT length I have a little leisure. I must improve it, by writing a\nletter to your Ladyship. The many favours conferred on me, loudly\ncalled for a more speedy acknowledgment; but hitherto, business for\nmy Master has prevented. Dear Mrs. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s letter will inform your\nLadyship that I have altered my state; I trust for the better; for\nI think my soul is more intimately united to JESUS CHRIST than ever.\nI would humbly hope your Ladyship can say so too; for there is no\nhappiness till we can feel an union of soul with GOD. That, and\nthat only, as your Ladyship has often heard me assert, is true and\nundefiled religion. Your own experience will best convince you of the\ntruth thereof. Your Ladyship enjoys great advantages, and glorious\nmeans of making progress in spiritual things. You are rich in this\nworld\u2019s goods; may GOD make you rich in faith and good works! My\nMaster will not forget the kindness you have shewn to one of the least\nof his servants. It gives me comfort to think, what sweet freedom of\nspirit I have enjoyed, when opening the scriptures in your Ladyship\u2019s\nhouse. Surely GOD was with us of a truth. The savour of it is not yet\ngone off my own soul, nor, I hope, from your Ladyship\u2019s also. Since I\nleft _Edinburgh_, I have put up many hearty prayers for you and your\nfamily. The LORD make it an houshold of faith, and make you perfect,\nentire, lacking nothing! The glorious _Emmanuel_ seems to be repairing\nthe breaches of his tabernacle, which were fallen down. In _Wales_ we\nhad much of the divine presence. The people there are so hungry after\nthe word, that they are resolved not to leave wrestling with the Most\nHigh, till he shall be pleased to send me thither. O that GOD may\nincline your Ladyship to intercede in my behalf! for I long to be\nhumble, and to lie low as a very poor sinner at the Redeemer\u2019s feet.\nI think I can say, he brings me nearer and nearer to himself daily;\nand I will not rest, till I am moulded into the image of my bleeding\nLORD. I pray GOD that your Ladyship may be content with no degrees\nof holiness; but may be daily pressing forward, till you arrive at\nthe mark of the prize of the high calling in CHRIST JESUS. Mr. _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\ndesires to join with me in sending our most affectionate respects and\nthanks to your Ladyship and all friends. Our particular respects await\ndear Mr. _McV\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. I trust he will yet live to see glorious days of\nthe Son of Man. Surely CHRIST is getting himself the victory. May he\nlong reign king in your soul, and reward you a thousand-fold for every\ntoken of love shewn to, honoured Madam,\n\n Your Ladyship\u2019s most obedient humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXXIII.\n\n _To the Right Honourable the Earl of L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Bristol, Nov. 24, 1741._\n _My Lord_,\n\nMY heart longs to send you another letter. I wish, above all things,\nthat your soul may prosper. I had an extraordinary power given me to\npray for you lately in _Wales_. GOD gave me to wrestle, and I think an\nassurance that I should prevail. I am looking out for an answer. Your\nLordship\u2019s next letter, I hope, will afford me matter for rejoicing in\nyour behalf. Your Lordship is now entered on the field of battle: you\nare engaged in a cruel, but a glorious warfare. Go on; though faint,\nyet still pursue: _nil desperandum, Christo duce, auspice Christo_. My\nprayer for your Lordship is this:\n\n _Give him a will, give him the pow\u2019r,\n Still equal to the war;\n Great Captain of Salvation, thou\n Thy trembling soldier chear!_\n\nO, my Lord, it is a blessed thing to fight the Redeemer\u2019s battles: I\nfind he makes us more than conquerors through his love. I still enjoy\nmuch of the divine presence, and hope I pass from glory to glory daily.\nI preach here at six in the morning, and also in the evening. GOD\ncauses his goodness to pass before us. In a week I hope to set out\nfor _London_. Be pleased to direct your next thither. The lords have\nreturned my appeal. At present, a hook is put in the leviathan\u2019s nose.\n\u201cWhen a man\u2019s ways please the LORD, he maketh his enemies to be at\npeace with him.\u201d I hope your Lady prospers both in body and soul.\nMy own, and dear fellow-travellers most humble respects and prayers\nattend your whole houshold. I am, with great affection, my Lord,\n\n Your Lordship\u2019s most obedient humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXXIV.\n\n _To T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Edinburgh._\n\n _Bristol, Nov. 27, 1741._\n _My dear Friend_,\n\nWHEN we parted, I promised your wife to write upon the road; but I\nfound it impracticable. Since I came to _Wales_ I have had no time.\nNow I have, GOD gives me freedom. Though late, be pleased to accept a\nletter of thanks for all favours. I think we felt each others spirits,\nboth, I trust, united mystically, really, and eternally to CHRIST, our\ncommon head, and to one another in love. O that all would center here.\nIt would then be said once again, \u201cSee how these Christians love one\nanother.\u201d\u2015\u2015As for my own part, I am resolved not to rest till every\nthing, contrary to true, catholic, christian love, be rooted out of\nmy soul. CHRIST\u2019s blood and spirit are able to do this for me. I only\nneed to pray to GOD to make me willing to have it done. Be pleased to\nhelp me, my dear friend, when GOD enables you to draw near unto him.\nMy dear companion would beg the same. Our tender love awaits both you\nand your wife. I am lately entered into the marriage relation. JESUS\nwas called to; JESUS was present at the marriage. We have lately\nenjoyed much of the divine presence. Many precious promises have been\npressed upon my soul. I believe I shall see greater things than ever.\nWe cannot expect too great things from GOD. But I must have done. I am\nwaited for. Accept these few lines in love, from\n\n Your affectionate friend and brother in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXXV.\n\n _To Mr. A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in London._\n\n _Bristol, Nov. 30, 1741._\n _My very dear Brother_,\n\nI Thank you for your kind letter. Though I hope to see you on _Friday_,\nyet love constrains me to send you an answer. I rejoice that your\nsoul is thirsting for holiness. GOD grant it may never cease till\nyou experience the full and glorious liberty of his children. I see\nplainly how satan loves to drive to extremes. Since there is no such\nthing as having the in-being of sin destroyed, he would not have\npeople press after a delivery from the power of it. This is also owing\nto the corruption of our own hearts. The old man doth not love to be\ncrucified and slain; but I hope the language of your heart and mine is\nthis,\n\n _Reign in me, LORD, thy foes controul,\n That would refuse thy sway;\n Diffuse thy image thro\u2019 my soul,\n And bring the perfect day._\n\n _Scatter the last remains of sin,\n And seal me thine abode;\n O set me purified within;\n A temple meet for GOD._\n\n _My root of holiness thou art,\n For faith hath made thee mine;\n With all thy fulness fill my heart,\n Till I am wholly thine._\n\nNo wonder, when we come to be thus minded, if carnal ministers, and\ncarnal professors of all kinds, cry out against us. Nay, even some\nwho have tasted that the LORD is gracious, having slumbered and slept,\nand mixed too much with the world, even such frequently fight against\ntheir privileges, and rest in an infant state of piety. But, I believe,\nthe LORD will rouse them, and let the world know, what the blood of\nJESUS can and will do. Blessed be his name, we have a growing church\nat _Bristol_. Yesterday, and several other times, the LORD hath filled\nmany as with new wine. Sometimes I scarce have known whether I have\nbeen in or out of the body; but, I find, the more I receive of grace,\nthe more I desire to lie as a poor, very poor sinner at the feet of\nthe wounded Lamb. Several have just now been with me, who have this\nlast week, especially yesterday, drank deep of divine love. They are\nnow full of the comforts of the Holy Ghost. I pray that they may walk\nhumbly with their GOD; for it is a good thing to know how to manage\na manifestation aright: nature so frequently and artfully blends with\ngrace, that, for want of a close watch and tender walk, we grieve the\nHoly Spirit. Hence arise deadness and darkness in the soul. Unbelief\ncreeps in, the chariot wheels of divine love are taken off, and the\nsoul drives heavily. Let us, therefore, my dear brother, live a life\nof great nearness to JESUS; and labour day by day to perfect holiness\nin the fear of GOD. There is a glorious rest to be entered into even\nhere. May the LORD make us partakers of it! But why should I in the\nleast doubt it?\n\n _Thou wilt give strength, thou wilt give power, thou wilt in\n time set free:\n This, great Deliverer, let me hope; this, not for self, but\n Thee._\n\nFor the present, adieu!\n\n Yours most affectionately in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXXVI.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _London, Dec. 7, 1741._\n _My very dear Friend and Brother_,\n\nI Came hither last _Friday_, and received a packet of letters from\n_Bethesda_; but wonder to find none from you. When I read brother\n_Grant_\u2019s account of the circumstances of the family, I remember what\nthe LORD pressed upon my soul on ship-board, \u201cThe bridegroom shall\nbe taken from them, and then shall they fast in those days.\u201d However,\nbe not discouraged; professor _F\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s students were once obliged\nto sell their cloaths to buy candles. The work of GOD advances here\ngreatly. We have a large society, consisting of several hundreds, and\na noble place to meet in: I have called it a _Tabernacle_, because,\nperhaps, we may be called to move our tents. In _Wiltshire_, and at\n_Kingswood_, there are many good souls, and two new houses built. In\n_Wales_ the door is opened wider than ever. From thence (_Abergavenny_)\nthe LORD has given me a wife. Her name was _James_, a widow, between\nthirty and forty years of age. She has been a housekeeper many years.\nOnce gay; but, for three years last past, a despised follower of the\nLamb of GOD. I left her about three weeks ago, and am going to-morrow\nto settle affairs, and to bring her up to _London_. I thank your\ndear wife for her letter: had I freedom I would answer it: but I have\nessayed several times before I could finish this. My sister _G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ is\ndead: I trust she slept in JESUS. GOD is pleased to let me feel more\nof his power than ever. O that his whole mind was in me! I hunger\nand thirst after righteousness: blessed be GOD, there is a promise\nthat such shall be filled. By the letters sent with this, my dear\nfamily will see that I have not forgotten them. No: I pray for them\ncontinually. I cannot certainly tell when I shall leave _England_.\nProvidence detains me here. The work is very extraordinary in\n_Scotland_. I hear daily accounts of its continuance and increase.\nThe door is opened in all places. The Lords see through Mr. _G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s\nenmity, and will have nothing to do with my appeal: so that a hook is\nput into the leviathan\u2019s jaws. I believe we shall see greater things\nthan ever. My dear friend, salute all most tenderly in my name; I am\nexceedingly engaged, or each of them should hear particularly from,\n\n Ever, ever yours in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXXVII.\n\n _To the Right Honourable Lord R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Gloucester, Dec. 19, 1741._\n _My Lord_,\n\nTHIS comes to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship\u2019s kind letter,\ndated _November 9th_. Business has prevented my answering it sooner.\nThe LORD is yet pleased to deal bountifully with me. In _England_,\nas well as _Scotland_, the Redeemer is riding on from conquering to\nconquer. About Spring I hope to see _Scotland_ again, and then, if\npossible, I will come as far as your Lordship\u2019s house. I have lately\nbeen at _Bristol_, and _London_, and have had the pleasure of seeing\nthe church walk in the comforts of the Holy Ghost. I have preached\nhere twice every day, for some days last past. The LORD greatly\ncountenances my administrations, and gives me constant peace and\nuninterrupted joy in believing. This is what, I trust, our glorious\n_Emmanuel_ will confer upon your Lordship. CHRIST wills that our joy\nshould be full; but we entangle ourselves with the world, we indulge\nourselves in sensual pleasures, we trifle away our time in what the\nworld calls innocent diversions, and thereby we grieve the spirit of\nGOD, and lose the comforts we should otherwise enjoy, from a close\nwalk and communion with GOD. Most complain of a deadness and leanness\nin their souls; what is it owing to? Not to GOD, but to ourselves. We\nleave GOD, and then GOD leaves us. Not that we can keep ourselves by\nour own faithfulness; but notwithstanding, we must be faithful, and\nworkers together with GOD. I know not why I am led to write thus to\nyour Lordship, but nothing else occurs to my mind at present. I am\nathirst for holiness myself, and long to see others athirst also. O\nmy LORD! I see such beauty and transcendent excellencies in CHRIST,\nthat I long to have his whole mind and image stamped upon my soul.\nNothing can satisfy me, but the highest degrees of sanctification and\ninward holiness. Here, I believe, I am laudably ambitious. My Saviour\nwills my sanctification, my Saviour would have me filled with all\nthe fulness of GOD. Even so LORD JESUS come quickly! Dear Mr. _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\nhumbly salutes your Lordship, and prays for your temporal and eternal\nwelfare, with, my LORD,\n\n Your Lordship\u2019s most obedient, obliged humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXXVIII.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at London._\n\n _Gloucester, Dec. 22, 1741._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nLAST _Thursday_ evening the LORD brought me hither. I preached\nimmediately to our friends in a large barn, and had my master\u2019s\npresence. On _Friday_ and _Saturday_ I preached again twice. Both the\npower, and the congregation increased. On _Sunday_ GOD by a particular\nprovidence opened a door for my preaching in St. _John\u2019s_, one of the\nparish churches. The late incumbent was my grand opposer. He being\ndead, and the new minister not having taken possession, the power of\nthe pulpit was in the church-wardens hands. GOD inclined them to let\nme preach there on _Sunday_ morning, and yesterday afternoon. Great\nnumbers came, and the LORD gave me unspeakable power. On _Sunday_\nafternoon, after I had preached twice at _Gloucester_, I preached\nat Mr. _F\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s at the hill, six miles off and again at night at\n_Stroud_. The people seem to be more hungry than ever, and the LORD to\nbe more amongst them. Yesterday morning I preached at _Painswick_ in\nthe parish church, here in the afternoon, and again at night in the\nbarn. GOD gives me unspeakable comfort, and uninterrupted joy. Here\nseems to be a new awakening, and a revival of the work of GOD. I find,\nseveral country people were awakened when I preached at _Tewksbury_,\nand have heard of three or four that have died in the LORD, who were\ncalled under GOD by me. We shall never know what good field-preaching\nhas done, till we come to judgment. Many who were prejudiced against\nme, begin to be of another mind, and GOD shews me more and more, \u201cthat\nwhen a man\u2019s ways please the LORD, he will make even his enemies to\nbe at peace with him.\u201d To-morrow morning I purpose to set out for\n_Abergavenny_, and to preach at _Bristol_, in _Wilts_, _Gloucester_,\nand _Gloucestershire_, before I see _London_. The people in these\nparts seem excellently well disposed. I hope the work of the LORD\nprospers in your hand; though absent in body, I am present with you\nin spirit. May the LORD _Jehovah_ comfort you continually with those\ncomforts wherewith I am comforted in him! I hope my comforts are of a\nright nature; they humble at the same time that they exalt me. I find\nall my happiness lies in a crucified GOD.\n\n _To the blest fountain of thy blood,\n Incarnate GOD, I fly;\n Here let me wash my spotted soul,\n From crimes of deepest dye._\n\n _A guilty, weak, and helpless worm,\n Into thy arms I fall;\n Be thou my strength and righteousness,\n My JESUS, and my all._\n\nPray for\n\n Your unworthy brother, and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXXIX.\n\n _To the Right Honourable the Lord L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Abergavenny, Dec. 24, 1741._\n _My Lord_,\n\nTHIS day I received a letter from your Lordship, which, I find, your\nLordship wrote before my third and last came to hand, wherein I gave\nyour Lordship an account of the circumstance of my marriage. As soon\nas I received your Lordship\u2019s letter, I kneeled down and prayed, that\nyour Lordship might be entirely delivered from unbelief, and be made\na partaker of that faith, which will make you more than conqueror over\nall. Blessed be GOD, for convincing you thus far. I hope the event\nwill prove, that JESUS is taking possession of your whole heart. Your\nLordship\u2019s opinion of those who call themselves christians, is very\njust. Free grace has opened your eyes. Your Lordship can therefore\njoin in the following verses, which I think applicable to your\nLordship\u2019s case.\n\n I.\n _Long did my soul in JESU\u2019s Form,\n No comeliness or beauty see;\n His sacred name by others priz\u2019d,\n Was tastless still, and dead to me._\n\n II.\n _Men call\u2019d me christian, and my heart\n On that delusion fondly staid;\n Moral my hope, my Saviour self,\n Till mighty grace the cheat display\u2019d._\n\n III.\n _Thanks to the hand that wak\u2019d my soul,\n That shew\u2019d me wretched, naked, poor;\n That sweetly led me to the rock,\n Where all salvation stands secure._\n\n IV.\n _Glad, I forsook my righteous pride,\n My moral, tarnish\u2019d, sinful dress;\n Exchang\u2019d my loss away for CHRIST,\n And found the robe of righteousness._\n\nIf your Lordship from your soul can sing thus, fear not that JESUS\nwill leave you.\n\n _O unbelief, injurious bar,\n Source of tormenting fruitless fear;\n Wherein thy loud objections fall,\n \u201cTis finished,\u201d still shall answer all._\n\nRemember, my Lord, the Redeemer\u2019s love is everlasting. If he has\npassed by, and said unto you \u201cLive,\u201d you shall live for evermore;\nfor whosoever liveth and believeth in JESUS, shall never die. Does\nmy Lord believe this? Then welcome into the new world, welcome among\nthe despised _Israel_ of GOD, welcome into the Mediator\u2019s kingdom,\nwhere you shall have all peace and joy in believing. When first I was\nawakened,\n\n _Refreshed, I thought my joys compleat,\n When lo! Immanuel\u2019s bounties rise;\n Still fresh discoveries he unfolds,\n The lovely treasures yet surprize!_\n\nMy Lord, I now wonder no longer at the choice of _Moses_. Well might\nhe count the reproach of CHRIST of more value than all the riches of\n_Egypt_. GOD forbid, therefore, that you or I should henceforth glory,\nsave in the cross of CHRIST. It will be more honour to be a suffering\nservant of CHRIST, than to be the king\u2019s commissioner. Your Lordship\nwill pardon this freedom. Methinks I hear you say, \u201cThere is no\ncomparison.\u201d Indeed there is none. I would not change my post for ten\nthousand kingdoms. Blessed be GOD, that has given you a distant view\nof the emptiness of all things here below, and the insufficiency of\nevery thing to make us happy besides GOD. May these things be realized,\nand stamped upon your Lordship\u2019s heart! Then what a happy creature\nwill your Lordship be? How will it rejoice me to see your Lordship\nnext Spring. I know not but my friends prayers may draw me there,\nabout that time. In the mean while, I pray GOD from time to time to\ngrant you a growth of grace, that you may know what it is to abide in\nGOD, and have a constant indwelling of the Holy Ghost. I rejoice to\nhear that lady _Ann_ seems to look heavenward. May JESUS make her a\nwise virgin! For her encouragement, I have sent an extract of a letter\nlately sent to me by a friend in _London_; and that your Lordship\nmay know how it is with me, I have sent a copy of a letter I wrote to\nthat friend a day or two ago. Last night I came hither, and preached\nthis afternoon. I purpose shortly to go to _Gloucester_, _Bristol_,\n_Wiltshire_, and so to _London_. The church there as well as elsewhere\nflourishes. The time for favouring _Zion_, I believe, is indeed come.\nYou see, my Lord, how long my letters are, when I have freedom and\nleisure. I have thought several times to write to your Lordship, but\nwas restrained till I received your Lordship\u2019s letter this morning.\nBe pleased to direct your next to be left with Mr. _P\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n_Leadenhall-street_, _London_. My prayers shall follow this. O may\nJESUS breath upon it, and then it must be blessed to your soul! I\nheartily and humbly salute the elect lady your wife.\u2015\u2015May you both be\nfilled with all the fulness of GOD! My dear wife and Mr. _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ join\nheartily with me. We all plead at the throne of grace in your behalf,\nand GOD alone knows, how often you are remembered and wrestled for,\nby, my Lord,\n\n Your Lordship\u2019s most obliged humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXXX.\n\n _To the Right Honourable Lady Mary H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Abergavenny, Dec. 24, 1741._\n _Honoured Madam_,\n\nTHIS morning I received your Ladyship\u2019s kind letter; when perused,\nI laid it before the LORD of all Lords, and prayed for you and yours\nwith all my power. My dear wife and Mr. _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ joined heartily with\nme, and by this send their most humble respects. We do not despair of\nwaiting upon your Ladyship next Spring: but ere that time, we may be\nall launched into the world of spirits, where we shall sing glory to\nhim that sitteth upon the throne for ever. Does not your Ladyship long\nfor that happy hour? Methinks I hear you ready to say\n\n I.\n _How long, great GOD! how long must I,\n Immers\u2019d in this dark prison lie?\n When shall I leave this dusky sphere,\n And be all mind, all eye, all ear?_\n\n II.\n _I long to see that excellence,\n Which at such distance strikes my sense;\n My soul attempts to disengage\n Her wings from this her earthly cage._\n\n III.\n _Wouldst thou, Great Love, once set her free,\n Hast\u2019ning she\u2019d quick unite to thee;\n She\u2019d for no guardian angels stay,\n But fly and love thro\u2019 all the way._\n\nThis, I believe, was the language of your honoured mother\u2019s heart, who\nis now joined with the heavenly choir above. Methinks I hear her say,\n\u201cDaughter, follow me as I followed CHRIST; aspire after the highest\ndegrees of holiness, for the more holy you are, the nearer shall you\nsit to the GOD-Man CHRIST JESUS, the deeper insight shall you have\ninto the beatific vision.\u201d This, honoured Madam, is a great motive to\nmy soul to copy after my glorious JESUS. Blessed be GOD, that made my\nletter savory to your soul. For this, and all other mercies, I desire\nto lie in the dust, and kiss the Redeemer\u2019s feet. I do not wonder that\n_Mary_ loved to sit there: I do not wonder that another _Mary_ wiped\nthem with the hairs of her head. Was my LORD here, I should wish for a\nthousand alabaster boxes of ointment, to break for him. But JESUS says,\n\u201cGive me thy heart, and I desire no more.\u201d My soul replies,\n\n _Take my poor heart, and let it be\n For ever clos\u2019d to all but thee;\n Seal thou my breast, and let me wear\n That pledge of love for ever there._\n\n _How blest are they who still abide,\n Close shelter\u2019d in thy bleeding side;\n Who life and strength from thence derive,\n And by thee move, and in thee live._\n\nO honoured Madam, I am amazed at JESUS\u2019s love. I willingly, join with\nyou in saying, \u201cAmen, Hallelujah! Worthy, indeed, is the Lamb that was\nslain.\u201d I bless GOD for enlarging your heart, and giving you freedom\nto write. It is sweet to communicate our thoughts of JESUS. I hope\nthe LORD will bless this to your Ladyship, and reward you for all past\nfavours. My humble respects attend Mr. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, and my hearty love to\nyour little lambs. I prayed for them this morning. When I go to town,\nI hope to wait upon the _Marquis_.\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015I have been a short circuit into\n_Gloucestershire_, and find the divine presence accompanying me more\nand more. O that I was humble! O that I was thankful!\n\n I.\n _And can it be that I should gain\n An interest in the Saviour\u2019s blood?\n Died he for such as caus\u2019d his pain,\n Sinners who him to death pursu\u2019d?_\n\n II.\n _\u2019Tis mystery all, Messiah dies;\n Who can explore this strange design?\n In vain the curious seraph tries\n To sound the depths of love divine._\n\nBut whither am I going? Your Ladyship will excuse me; whilst I am\nwriting, the fire kindles.\n\n _Thro\u2019 all eternity to GOD,\n A grateful song I\u2019ll raise;\n But O eternity\u2019s to short,\n To utter all his praise._\n\nWith expectation of another letter, and with hearty prayers for your\ntemporal and spiritual welfare, I subscribe myself, honoured Madam,\n\n Your Ladyship\u2019s obedient servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXXXI.\n\n _To Mr. Samuel M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in London._\n\n _Bristol, Dec. 28, 1741._\n _Dear Mr. M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nBOTH my wife and I received your letters. I send this, to thank you\nfor them. I came from _Abergavenny_ on _Saturday_ night. My dear wife\nwas pretty well; I expect her here on _Friday_. We shall bring no\nmore goods to _London_, than we shall use; but I know not what to\nsay about coming to your house, for brother _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ tells me, you\nand your family are dilatory, and that you do not rise sometimes till\nnine or ten in the morning. This, dear Mr. _M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, will never do for\nme; and I am persuaded such a conduct tends much to the dishonour of\nGOD, and to the prejudice of your own precious soul. Sometimes I have\nlooked upon you with grief; you have busied yourself about the outward\naffairs of religion in respect to others, and all the while I fear\nneglected to look into, and study the improvement of your own heart.\nI think you go backwards instead of forwards. I fear your present\nbusiness will not answer, and I am sure you will have no solid comfort,\ntill you look less abroad and more at home. Somebody said, you was\nlike the _Athenians_, who desired to hear some new-thing. I thought\nthe observation was too just. You are jealous about principles, (which\nis right) but all the while your own practice is not sufficiently\nwatched over. I have heard that you spend much time in coffee-houses,\nand from your own house. I hope these things are not so; and it is\nwith grief and out of tender love that I now mention them to you. For\nsome time I felt my heart quite locked up from writing to you. Mr.\n_M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ will not be offended with me for this plain dealing. You know\nI love you, and I am sure this letter proceeds from love. I know too\nmuch of my own weakness and infirmities to insult others; and when a\nbrother is overtaken in a fault, I desire to restore him in the spirit\nof meekness. But I know how much the glory of GOD is concerned in our\nwalk. The eyes of the world are now in an especial manner upon you.\nHow holy ought you and I, dear Mr. _M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, to be, in all manner of\nconversation and godliness! Labour therefore, my dear brother, to get\nan abiding presence of GOD in your heart. Be willing to be searched.\nPray that you may feel the full power of the Redeemer\u2019s blood; and\nwalk in the continued comforts of the holy ghost. Be not slothful in\nbusiness. Go to bed seasonably, and rise early. Redeem your precious\ntime: pick up the fragments of it, that not one moment may be lost.\nBe much in secret prayer. Converse less with man, and more with GOD.\nAccept this advice, given in great love. I purpose staying here about\na fortnight. Dear Mr. _M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, I am\n\n Your affectionate though unworthy brother,\n and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXXXII.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Dundee._\n\n _Bristol, Dec. 30, 1741._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nI Should blame myself much, for not writing to you before now, was I\nconscious it was owing to any wilful neglect: but my master\u2019s business\nhath so engaged me, that I really have not had an opportunity. GOD\ngave us a sweet journey to _England_. Since my return hither, I have\nbeen at _Gloucester_, _Bristol_, in _Wales_, and at _London_, and\nhave great reason to bless our _Emmanuel_ for what he has done for\nhis church. My soul hath drank largely of the divine love. I have been\ncarried as on eagles wings, and am now better in health than perhaps\never since I have been in the ministry. I preach here twice daily.\nIn about a fortnight, I shall remove to _London_, where I purpose to\ncontinue, GOD willing, till the weather permits of field-preaching\nagain. About Spring, if Providence favours, I hope to pay you a second\nvisit. In the mean while, I should be glad to hear from you, what\nfruits you have seen spring from my first. I hope the LORD will make\nyour latter end greatly to increase. I shall rejoice to hear of your\nsuccess. My soul is much engaged for poor _Scotland_. I shall be glad\nto hear who has succeeded the good Mr. _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ of _Perth_. Ah dear\nman! He is now gone into the world of spirits, where there is no\nseceding, but all join in one common strife, who shall praise their\nLORD and master in the most exalted strains. I long to follow, but\ndesire patiently to wait till my blessed change come. What a comfort,\ndear Sir, is it to think, that death is conquered. How sweet to be one\nof CHRIST\u2019s waiting servants! It is a blessed post! And such honour\nbelongs to all his saints. Thanks be to GOD for this unspeakable gift.\nDear Sir, whilst I am writing, the fire kindles. I long to leap my\nseventy years. Welcome eternity; I want to see time swallowed up. But\nI must have done, having other letters to write. My kind love to your\nhousehold and all friends. I hope ere long you will send a line to,\nreverend and dear Sir,\n\n Your most affectionate, though unworthy brother\n and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXXXIII.\n\n _To the Reverend Mr. O\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Aberdeen._\n\n _Bristol, Dec. 30, 1741._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nI Long to write you a line, to testify the undissembled love my\nsoul bears towards you. I also long to hear what JESUS hath done at\n_Aberdeen_. I believe he sent me thither, and I am persuaded he did\nnot send me there in vain. I have experienced fresh wonders of mercy,\nsince I saw you. The LORD has blessed my ministry in _England_, and in\n_Wales_, where I trust I was married _in the_ LORD; and as I married\nfor him, I trust I shall thereby not be hindered, but rather forwarded\nin my work. O for that blessed time when we shall neither marry nor\nbe given in marriage, but be as the angels of GOD! My soul longs\nfor that glorious season. Perhaps, sometimes I am too impatient. But\nwho that has tasted of JESUS \u2019s love, can forbear longing to be with\nhim? I long to see him as he is, and my soul will never be compleatly\nsatisfied till I arise after his divine likeness. This, I believe, is\nthe desire, and frequently the frame of dear Mr. _O\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s soul. But\nI believe we both have crosses to take up, and many trials to undergo,\nbefore we shall be admitted to the beatific vision. Alas! What a\nstranger am I to the meekness which was in JESUS? How much acrimony\nis there in my temper, that wants to be taken away? Blessed be GOD,\nmy Saviour is omnipotent. He can, he will deliver me. He can, he will\nconform me to himself. I think I can sing these lines,\u2015\u2015\n\n _My root of holiness thou art,\n For faith hath made thee mine:\n With all thy fulness fill my heart,\n Till all I have be thine._\n\nDear Sir, what a fulness is there in JESUS? What a pity is it, that we\nshould not draw largely out of it? Why should we be content with low\ndegrees of holiness? Why should we be always dwarfs in religion? I am\nquite ashamed of my low stature. I am an unprofitable servant. O dear\nMr. _O\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, pray for me, that the LORD may purge me, and that I may\nbring forth more fruit. I have lately been at _London_, _Gloucester_,\n_Wilts_, and _Wales_. The work of the LORD prospers. I preach here\ntwice every day. That GOD may bless and reward you all, is the earnest\nprayer of, dear Mr. _O\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Yours most affectionately in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXXXIV.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Gallishiels._\n\n _Bristol, December 30, 1741._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nTHE love of JESUS constrains me to trouble you with a letter at this\ntime. Nothing but his work should have prevented my writing to you\nsooner. But you know how it used to be with me. O how little do I for\nJESUS, who has done so much for me! I abhor myself in dust and ashes.\nI run to hide myself in his wounds. His righteousness, his blood alone\ncan recommend me to the Father. O that I was like CHRIST, that his\nwhole mind was wrought in my soul! I am now panting after his image;\nI am now thirsting after his purity and holiness; help me, dear Sir,\nhelp me by your prayers, that I may feel the power of the Redeemer\u2019s\nblood. He hath done great things already for me; but as yet I\nhave asked nothing. Greater things are yet before me. There is an\ninexhaustible fulness, out of which the Redeemer would have me draw\ncontinually. O for faith, for strong faith!\n\n _I more would bless, I more would thank,\n I more would live to Jesu\u2019s praise._\n\nSince my return, I have been visiting the churches. They grow and\nincrease daily. I preach twice every day. The LORD is among us. I\nhope I shall hear the same from you. In about fourteen days I go to\n_London_. About Spring I hope to see _Scotland_ once more. I have good\nnews from the Orphan-house. As yet, I have not freedom to write out\nthe sermon which you mention. Through inadvertence, I did not send\nyou Mr. _M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s letter. GOD\u2019s time is best. Perhaps disputes about\nchurch-government had better subside. I am determined to know nothing\nbut JESUS CHRIST, and him crucified. Be pleased to remember me to\ndear Mr. _O\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, at _Kelso_. I hope he behaves like a good soldier of\nJESUS CHRIST. My kind respects attend your son. Be pleased to accept\nof the same in a most tender manner from dear Mr. _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, and from,\ndear Sir,\n\n Yours most affectionately in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXXXV.\n\n _To Mr. R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in London._\n\n _Bristol, Jan. 2, 1742._\n _My dear Brother S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Find freedom to answer your kind letter immediately. I thank GOD for\nblessing my writing to your poor soul. Your salvation I long, and pray\nfor. So that souls are built up in their holy faith, let the Redeemer\nmake use of what instrument he pleases. Brother _Robert_, it is a\nblessed thing to have always a Catholic spirit. I am persuaded, JESUS\nwill give it to me. I am resolved never to rest, \u2019till self-love,\nbigotry, prejudice, and all narrowness of spirit be expelled out of my\nsoul. Blessed be the Redeemer\u2019s free grace! I see more and more into\nthe inward recesses of my mind. Dear _Robert_, there is such a thing\nas passing from glory to glory. For JESUS CHRIST\u2019s sake, strive to\nenter in at the straight gate, and never cease striving \u2019till you\nenter into that rest which awaits the people of GOD. It is a sweet\nthing to abide in JESUS\u2019s wounds, and from a feeling possession\nof GOD in the heart, to be able to say, \u201cMy fellowship is with the\nFather and the Son.\u201d It is true we are not to live, or rely on our\nframes. The righteousness of JESUS CHRIST alone, and not our doings\nor sufferings, can recommend us to the Father. But however, we ought\nalways to labour to be in a sweet and humble frame, and be watchful\nagainst any thing whatever, that may interrupt our communion with GOD.\nPeace and joy should flow in a believer\u2019s soul, like a river. If any\nthing should obstruct the passage, he should not rest \u2019till faith\noverflows, and drives it away before him. I know not what others may\nsay, but thro\u2019 grace I can sing with bishop _Ken_,\n\n _\u201cTo my soul it\u2019s hell to be,\n But for a moment void of thee.\u201d_\n\nO the fulness that there is in CHRIST! It fills my heart, and out of\nthe abundance of my heart my pen writeth. Dear _Robert_, may the LORD\nbless it to your soul, and that will greatly rejoice\n\n Your most unworthy, though most affectionate friend,\n brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXXXVI.\n\n _To Mr. I\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in London._\n\n _Bristol, Jan. 2, 1742._\n _My dear Brother H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Owe you a letter, and very much love. I thank you for calling to\nsee me, when last in _London_. May the love of JESUS be shed abroad\nabundantly in your heart by the Holy Ghost. My soul is now thirsting\nafter the Redeemer\u2019s love. I trust you and I, and all the brethren,\nshall watch and pray against every thing in our hearts, that is any\nway selfish, or contrary to the boundless love of our exalted head.\nI long after a solid, real, undissembled union with all that bear the\nRedeemer\u2019s image. If I know any thing of my heart, I care not how the\nold man be crucified and cut to pieces, so that I may put on the new\nman, which is created after GOD in righteousness and true holiness.\nBlessed be the free, rich, and sovereign grace of our glorious\nRedeemer! who has begun the good work in my soul. Great, very great\nthings hath JESUS done for me, a worthless worm: but I see infinitely\ngreater things lying before me. There is an inexhaustible fulness\nin JESUS CHRIST, out of which I hope to draw to the endless ages of\neternity. O the meekness, the love, purity and holiness, that is in\nJESUS. Why should we be dwarfs in holiness? If CHRIST came into the\nworld, that we might have life, and so much the more abundantly, why\nshould we not ask and seek for it, especially since we are sure to\nobtain? My dear brother, you see how free I write. Love constrains\nme to do so. O that I was a flame of fire! I have lately been\nat _Gloucester_. The LORD was with us of a truth. In _Bristol_,\nGOD attends me with his mighty power. Last night JESUS rode on\ntriumphantly indeed. Sometimes my heart is so full, that I am tempted\nto think\n\n _\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015My joy complete:\n When lo! |Emmanuel\u2019s| mercies rise,\n Still fresh discoveries he unfolds,\n The lovely treasures yet surprize._\n\nUnbelief says, this will not hold to-morrow; when lo, \u201cto-morrow is\nas the day past, and much more abundant.\u201d I find there is yet oil,\nif there be yet a vessel, and an empty heart to contain it. Pray that\nmy heart may be emptied of self, and that JESUS may be my all in all.\nI pray GOD, that none of us may give in to narrowness of spirit, but\nlook up to JESUS for power over self, in all its shapes. Yesterday\nI went to hear Mr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. The LORD helped him, I believe, in some\npart of his discourse. I would be free; I would meet more than half\nway; but we are all too shy. The LORD fill his soul with more of\nthe disinterested love of JESUS. To-night I begin a general monthly\nmeeting to read corresponding letters. Pray give thanks for the\nsuccess of the gospel in my unworthy hands. It shall be returned,\nas JESUS shall enable\n\n Yours most affectionately in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXXXVII.\n\n _To Mrs. K\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in London._\n\n _Bristol, Jan. 4, 1742._\n _My dear Sister_,\n\nTHIS morning, in a letter from brother _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, I heard that your\ndear husband was dangerous ill of the small-pox. I was touched with\na tender sympathy of your case; I immediately kneeled down, and laid\nyour circumstances before our compassionate high-priest. I doubt not,\nbut he is touched with a feeling of your afflictions, and will give\nyou grace to help in time of need. I hope the language of your heart\nis this:\n\n _Thy gifts, if call\u2019d for, I resign,\n Pleas\u2019d to receive, pleas\u2019d to restore;\n Gifts are thy work, it shall be mine\n The giver only to adore._\n\nI was, before I received the news of your dear husband\u2019s illness,\nthinking that GOD\u2019s people must meet with uncommon trials. We shall\noften find GOD\u2019s providences as it were contradicting his promises.\nThus it was with _Abraham_ and _Jacob_, and thus I believe it is in\nsome degree or other with all the children of GOD; for otherwise, how\ncan faith be exercised? I doubt not but the enemy of souls will now be\nvery busy with you, and break in with his fiery darts upon your soul;\nbut I pray JESUS to keep you from staggering through unbelief. May you\nbe strong in faith, giving glory to GOD! Against hope, may you believe\nin hope. However your husband may be disposed of, my prayer for you\nis, \u201cLORD! make her still and resigned.\u201d I think the love of CHRIST\nconstrains me to write you this letter. Who knows but the LORD may\nbless it to your soul? However, as you love the LORD JESUS, I hope\nyou will receive it as a token of unfeigned christian sympathy and\naffection from, dear Sister,\n\n Your most unworthy brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXXXVIII.\n\n _To Mr. Peter S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in London._\n\n _Bristol, Jan. 7, 1742._\n\nI Have been obeying your request: I mean, bowing my knees before the\nGOD and Father of our LORD JESUS CHRIST in your behalf. O that he may\nlive before thee; that he may escape the pollutions that are in the\nworld through lust; that he may be filled with all the fulness of GOD,\nwas the breathing and language of my heart. I trust the LORD is now\nworking upon brother _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. He seems to have had some discoveries of\nthe Redeemer\u2019s love. May my dear _Peter_ receive the full assurance of\nfaith, and be truly fixed upon the rock of ages! \u201cEven so LORD JESUS\ncome quickly. Amen and amen.\u201d Excuse my writing to you in this manner,\nbut GOD has put into my heart such an undissembled love for you,\nand your dear brothers, that I cannot be satisfied \u2019till I see the\nRedeemer\u2019s love shed abroad in all your hearts by the Holy Ghost. Ah\n_Peter_, _Peter_, I trust JESUS prays for thee, and then the world\nshall not steal away thy heart from GOD. Satan hath been sifting me\nseverely, these two or three days. I have had some close combats with\nthe great dragon, but JESUS hath gotten himself the victory. I am\nenabled greatly to rejoice. For, \u201cBlessed is the man that endureth\ntemptations; when he \u2666is tried, he shall receive the crown of life.\u201d\nThe brightness of it, even at this distance, dazzles my sight. Yet\na little while, and JESUS CHRIST shall give it unto us. Dear brother\n_K\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ has got the start of us. Happy man! He is at the end of his\nrace. I sympathize with, and have been praying for his surviving\nfriends. The LORD enable us all to walk so circumspectly, that the\ncommon enemy may not have an occasion to speak reproachfully of\nus. But whither am I running? Excuse me, dear _Peter_. GOD gives\nme freedom in writing to, and praying for you. I hope dear brother\n_R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ received my last in good part. GOD only knows how the\nhappiness of both of you is longed for by, dear brother,\n\n Yours in the crucified JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n \u2666 \u2018his\u2019 replaced with \u2018is\u2019\n\n\n LETTER CCCLXXXIX.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in London._\n\n _Gloucester, Jan. 28, 1742._\n _My very dear Brother_,\n\nON _Friday_ last I left _Bristol_, having first settled affairs\nalmost as I could wish. At _Kingswood_, I administred the sacrament.\nOn _Wednesday_ night it was the lord\u2019s passover; on _Thursday_ we\nhad a sweet love-feast; on _Friday_ the lord was with me twice at\n_Tockington_; on _Saturday_ morning I broke up some fallow ground at\n_Newport_, by preaching with power to about two thousand people, and\nin the evening to many thousands at _Stroud_ with wonderous power; on\n_Monday_ morning at _Painswick_, and ever since twice a day here. Our\ncongregations I think are larger than at _Bristol_. The word proves\nsharper than a two-edged sword. Every sermon is blessed. These words\nfollow, \u201cI have much people in this city.\u201d I am just now going to\n_Chafford_. To-morrow I expect my wife. In my next, I will send you\nword what I intend to do. I was one day at _Bath_. I should be glad\nto see brother _R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s defence before it be published. I told him\nof it; I believe he will be upon his guard. His soul prospers. Sinless\nperfection I fear will be propagated in these parts. The LORD in his\ndue time will root out that pernicious weed. I thank you for writing\nto me. Pray write to me often. GOD willing, I shall examine _Hampton\nSociety_ to-night. The same I think to do in _Wiltshire_. I want to be\nin _London_ as soon as may be. Pray that I may know the LORD\u2019s will.\nWe must away to _Chafford_. The LORD be with you, and abundantly\nrefresh you. My most tender love awaits all. Brethren, pray for\n\n Yours most affectionately in JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXC.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Gloucester, Feb. 2, 1742._\n _Reverend and dear Brother_,\n\nI Have longed for some time to send you a line, and have wondered that\nI have heard no oftener from you; but as I know my own circumstances,\nI can the more easily guess how it is with you. GOD has been very good\nto me since my arrival. I found when I came at first, I had all my\nwork to begin again. Brother _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ had so prejudiced the people\nagainst me, that those who were my spiritual children would not so\nmuch as come and see me; nay they have gone by me whilst preaching\nin _Moor-fields_, and stopped their ears. This I find in some measure\nhath been your case, and GOD wisely permits this, to teach us to\ncease from man. _Paul_\u2019s Epistles to the _Galatians_ much comforted\nme. Besides, I was embarrassed with brother _Seward_\u2019s death. He died\nwithout making any provision for me, and I was at the same time much\nindebted for the Orphan-house.\u2015\u2015But all this was to humble and prepare\nme for future blessings. The LORD hath enabled me, blessed be his\nname, to keep steady to my principles and usual practice. A new and\nnumerous church has been raised at _London_. In _Essex_, the LORD\nwas wonderfully with me. Every where the congregations increase. In\n_Bristol_ GOD enabled me to fight my way through. We have hired a\nlarge hall, and have expounded there twice a day. In _Scotland_, the\nwork, for its beginning, is rather greater than at _New-England_. I\nhear continually of the seed sown increasing, and springing up. GOD\nwilling, I purpose paying _Scotland_ another visit. I have lately\nbeen at _Bristol_, and both there, and here, and also at _London_,\nthe word runs and is glorified. Through the tender mercies of our GOD,\nI have been carried as on eagles wings through a variety of outward\nand inward trials. The greatness of which none knows but GOD and my\nown soul. About eleven weeks ago I married, in the fear of GOD, one\nwho was a widow, of about thirty-six years of age, and has been a\nhousekeeper for many years; neither rich in fortune, nor beautiful as\nto her person, but, I believe, a true child of GOD, and would not, I\nthink, attempt to hinder me in his work for the world. In that respect,\nI am just the same as before marriage. I hope GOD will never suffer\nme to say, \u201cI have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.\u201d I am\nglad that matters are settling so amicably at _Philadelphia_. What a\npity is it, that we should fall out in the way to heaven! I would do\nany thing except defiling my conscience, and giving up what I think\nis truth, to prevent it. The associate brethren are much to be blamed;\nI never met with such narrow spirits. I do not forget you, or your\nbrethren, or the churches in your parts. The LORD be with you. He\nis pleased to shew me more and more of my own heart, and day by day\nrefreshes my soul. My body is weak as usual; but JESUS is my strength.\nHelp me to praise him. Pray send a line to, reverend and dear Sir,\n\n Your most affectionate, though most unworthy brother\n and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXCI.\n\n _To Mr. S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at New-Brunswick._\n\n _Gloucester, Feb. 2, 1742._\n _Dear Mr. S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nLAST week I received your kind letter. Blessed be GOD, who hath\nbrought you out of darkness into his marvellous light. I hope the\nRedeemer hath now shewn you his hands and his feet, and you can now\nsay, \u201cMy LORD and my GOD.\u201d What have you to do now but to walk humbly\nwith your GOD, and daily to aspire after the whole mind that was in\nJESUS? I find but few truly labouring after this. Who can say, \u201cMy\nsoul is athirst for GOD, yea even for the living GOD:\u201d and yet to such\nonly is the promised blessedness, of being filled, given. As for my\nown part, I am ashamed to think how unlike I am to my Saviour; I see\nsuch beauty in him, that I long to be conformed to his divine image\nand likeness. May you and I, dear Mr. _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, never rest till we have\nattained unto it; and the more we do attain, the more willing we shall\nbe to come, as poor sinners, to JESUS CHRIST; it is a blessed thing,\ndear Sir, to be brought out of self. It will be continually creeping\nin: happy they who have power over it. I do not wonder at your\nbeing united with Mr. _J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_: he is a dear soul, and one whom\nthe LORD delights to honour. Blessed be GOD, the work in our hands\nevery where increases. I am supported and encouraged, quickened and\ncomforted day by day. JESUS loves and blesses me. May he bless you and\nyours more and more, and cause you to walk in the comforts of the Holy\nGhost. My tender love to all. I hope yet to see you once more in the\nflesh. In the mean while I beg leave to subscribe myself, dear Sir,\n\n Your most affectionate friend, brother, and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXCII.\n\n _To Mr. W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Gloucester, Feb. 2, 1742._\n _Dear Mr. W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Thank you for your kind letter. It should have been answered sooner,\nhad an opportunity offered. I bless GOD for you, who carries on in\nyour soul the spiritual building. I doubt not but the top-stone will\nyet be brought out, and the builders be made with shouting to cry,\n\u201cGrace! Grace!\u201d I should think it was not of GOD, if the work was not\nopposed.\u2015\u2015What difficulties did _Nehemiah_ go through in building the\nwall? But fear not, the LORD is with you. He built not for man, but\nfor the LORD. By his leave, I propose bringing a school-master and\nmistress with me. When I shall embark, I know not. The calls here\nare so loud and numerous, and so few labourers sent forth to act in a\npopular way, that I think it my duty not to leave _England_ yet. GOD\nis pleased to work by my ministry more and more. My soul is refreshed,\nand my body strengthened and renewed day by day. In _Scotland_\nthere is a very great awakening; and also in _London_, _Bristol_,\n_Wiltshire_, and _Gloucestershire_. But, notwithstanding all this, my\n_American_ friends are by no means forgotten. I continually pray for\nthem. The LORD, in his due time, will send me to you. In the mean time,\nbe pleased to remember me in the tenderest manner to all that love the\nglorious Redeemer. Grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied upon them and\nyou: so prays, dear Mr. _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your most affectionate friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXCIII.\n\n _To Mr. James R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Philadelphia._\n\n _Gloucester, Feb. 2, 1742._\n _Dear Mr. R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Was glad to hear (though by another hand) of your safe arrival. May\nyour soul prosper, being rooted and grounded in love, and built upon\nthe rock of ages, the dear LORD JESUS. Blessed be GOD, the church is\nin much greater peace than when you left _England_. There hath been\na very great awakening in several places. GOD hath brought order out\nof confusion; and (as he always will) hath caused even our divisions,\nthough no thanks to us, to work for good. I hear you have had a\nsifting time at _Philadelphia_. I never yet heard of a work of GOD,\nbut some such thing happened. This is my comfort, the government of\nthe church is upon the Redeemer\u2019s shoulders; and therefore the gates\nof hell shall never be able to prevail against it. I hope ere now\nCHRIST has revealed himself in your heart, and given you the witness\nof the Spirit. For he that believeth, hath the witness in himself. I\nsuppose you will be glad to hear, that the LORD hath, in a good degree,\ndelivered me from the embarrassments with which I was environed when\nyou embarked. GOD was then preparing me for further mercies. We must\nbe humbled before we are exalted. I suppose you have heard of my\nmarriage. The LORD hath given me a daughter of _Abraham_; she joins\nin sending love to you and all, with, dear Mr. _R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXCIV.\n\n _To Mr. G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Gloucester, Feb. 5, 1742._\n _Reverend and dear Brother_,\n\nON _Tuesday_ I received yours. I bless GOD for delivering brother\n_R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ out of the hands of his enemies. I am persuaded he will\ndeliver your brother _William_ also. By your desertion and temptations,\nI believe GOD is preparing you for a fresh work. I believe you would\nbe better, if you would always evangelize. I shall write to some\nfriends about Mr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s principles. I thank you for your kind\ncaution. My mistakes often humble me. Never did JESUS send out a\nmore weak and worthless wretch. I have not freedom now to continue\nwriting a journal as usual. I shall proceed, for the future, in a more\ncompendious way. Since I wrote the inclosed, we have seen a glorious\nappearance of the Son of Man. O infinite condescension! The LORD is\nwith me. That he may be abundantly with you, and bless your labours\nmore and more, is the hearty prayer of, Reverend and dear Sir,\n\n Your most affectionate and loving, though most unworthy brother\n in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXCV.\n\n _To Mr. B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Philadelphia._\n\n _Gloucester, Feb. 5, 1742._\n _Dear Mr. B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Was much rejoiced to receive a letter from your hands. Blessed be\nGOD for carrying on the work, which, I hope, was begun in your heart\nlong ago! I trust you will never rest till you are possessed of the\nwhole mind which was in CHRIST JESUS. He is our pattern; and if we\nhave true grace in our hearts, we shall be continually labouring to\ncopy after our great exemplar. O the life of JESUS! How little of it\nis to be seen in those that call themselves his followers. Humility,\nmeekness, love, peace, joy, goodness, faith, and the other blessed\nfruits of the Spirit, whither are they fled? I fear most take up\nwith the shadow, instead of the substance. GOD forbid that I, or dear\nMr. _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, should be of that unhappy number. Dear Sir, there is an\nunspeakable fulness, unsearchable riches in CHRIST. Out of him we are\nto receive grace for grace. Every grace that was in the Redeemer, is\nto be transcribed and copied into our hearts. This is Christianity;\nand without this, though we could dispute with the utmost clearness,\nand talk like angels, of the doctrines of grace, it would profit us\nnothing. To prevent the growth of this inward life, I am persuaded\nsatan introduces heresies in the church, hoping thereby to stir up\nstrife, envy, prejudice, and narrowness of spirit; and where these are,\nthere will be every evil work. To this end, _sinless perfection_ hath\nbeen propagated in _England_, and _Antinomian principles_ suffered to\nbe spread among you. But, blessed be GOD, both in _England_, and with\nyou, I trust disputations and distractions are abated, and love and\nunity once more are lifting up their heads. This, at present, is the\nlanguage of my heart:\n\n _Let us find out the ancient way,\n Our wond\u2019ring foes to move;\n And force the heathen world to say,\n See how these Christians love._\n\n\u201cLove is of GOD; and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in GOD.\u201d I\nam glad you are erecting a society to promote this love. Fear not\nthe smallness of your beginning. What is begun in the fear of GOD, he\nwill prosper. I believe them to be true followers of JESUS CHRIST; and\nthough we agree not in all things, yet I pray GOD to make us one in\nheart. Now, dear Mr. _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, what shall I say more. The blessed JESUS\nhas been superabundantly good to my soul since my arrival. I have\nbeen carried, though through much weakness, as on eagles wings. In\n_England_, _Wales_, and _Scotland_, GOD hath blessed my poor labours\nmore than ever. The calls to divers places, are loud and importunate;\nand, as GOD has raised up many labourers among you, I think it my\nduty to stay here some time longer, and to visit _Scotland_ once more.\nHowever, my friends abroad are continually upon my heart. I pray GOD\nfor you night and day. May the LORD fill you with all his fulness! I\ndesire to be remembered to all mentioned in your\u2019s, and to all that\nlove the LORD JESUS. I love you unfeignedly, and entreat you to write\nagain to, dear Sir,\n\n Your most affectionate friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXCVI.\n\n _To the Reverend Mr. C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Bath._\n\n _Gloucester, Feb. 5, 1742._\n _My dear Friend and Brother_,\n\nTO shew you how willing I am to comply with your request, and make\ndear Mr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ one of my close correspondents, I sit down this\nevening to write an answer to your kind letter. What has been doing\nlately, the transcript on the other side will shew you. Since the\nwriting of that, the blessed JESUS hath been wondrous kind. Yesterday\nI preached three times, and visited a private society in the evening.\nTo-day I was enabled to preach three times, with great power. Here\nis such an awakening in this country, as I never heard of, or saw in\nthese parts before: \u201cThe fields are white already unto harvest.\u201d It is\npleasant to hear the people come and tell how GOD wrought upon them by\nmy unworthy ministry two years ago. The fruits of the Spirit are now\napparent in their lives and conversations. Letters from _Scotland_\nbring blessed tidings, as also from _Philadelphia_. O the blessed\neffects of field-preaching! O that I was humble, that I was thankful!\nHelp me, my dear friend, to entreat the Redeemer to make me as a\nlittle, _a very little child_. The beginning of next week I hope to\nbe at _Bath_; but cannot tell exactly the day. I thank my friends for\ntheir kind intention to meet me, but I had rather avoid it: the less\nparade the better. Let us stand still, and we shall see the salvation\nof GOD. He will not bless what doth not come from himself. May the\nLORD make me an _Israelite_ indeed, in whom is no allowed guile! I\nam glad dear Mr. _T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ is coming. My hearty love to him. O that our\nmeeting may be blessed, and all three of us be made a flame of fire!\nDear Mr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, I love you unfeignedly. I wish, above all things,\nyour soul may prosper. Good night. My soul is filled with JESUS\u2019s love.\nI am going to pray for you and yours, being, dear Mr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, without\ndissimulation,\n\n Yours most affectionately in JESUS CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCXCVII.\n\n _To the Right Honourable the \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Thales, near Reading, Feb. 23, 1742._\n\nAND does the dear \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 know assuredly that JESUS hath died for him?\nSing, O heavens! Rejoice, O earth! I would join with angels and\narchangels in singing \u201cGlory to GOD on high.\u201d Welcome, my \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, into\nthe world of new creatures. You are infinitely more happy than those\nwho have lately been preferred, and kissed his Majesty\u2019s hand. JESUS\nhath holden out his golden scepter, and given you a patent for eternal\nlife. Methinks I hear your \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 now saying, \u201cI account the reproach of\nCHRIST, of more value than all the riches of _Egypt_.\u201d\n\n _Be gone, vain world, my heart resign,\n For I can be no longer thine;\n A nobler, a diviner guest,\n Hath took possession of my breast._\n\nWell may your \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 say, \u201cyou have been in a dream.\u201d When GOD first\nshewed me that I must be a new creature, I awaked as it were, into\na new world. I stood quite amazed. I was astonished to think, what a\ndeep sleep the world around me was in. Thought I, O that I was made\ninstrumental to some of them! The LORD heard my prayer. He has sent\nme to awaken the dear man I am now writing to. Not unto me, O GOD,\nnot unto me, but to thy free grace and rich mercy be all the glory!\nWith your Lordship\u2019s letter to-day, came several others from different\nparts, all with glad tidings of great joy. O that I was humble and\nthankful! Why me, LORD, why me? Surely I will join with your \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 in\nsaying, not because I chose GOD, but GOD (O infinitely \u2666condescending\nmajesty!) did chuse me. What shall we render to the glorious\n_Emmanuel_? Methinks I hear your \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 saying, \u201cBehold, LORD,\nhenceforward I look upon myself as a steward, and not as a proprietor\nof thy manifold gifts; I will live no longer to myself, but to\nhim that died for me.\u201d Amen, LORD JESUS, amen and amen! Be pleased\nto excuse the defects of this, being written upon the road. I am\nnow going to _London_. There has been a great awakening lately in\n_Gloucestershire_. I rejoice to hear that the lady \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 is so well\ndisposed. May a church be always in your \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 house; and every one of\nyour \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 family be made a living member of the houshold of faith! No\ngreater thing can be desired in your behalf by, my \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015,\n\n Your \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 most obedient humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n \u2666 \u2018conscending\u2019 replaced with \u2018condescending\u2019\n\n\n LETTER CCCXCVIII.\n\n _To the Right Honourable Lady M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Thales, (near Reading) Feb. 23, 1742._\n _Honoured Madam_,\n\nI Am now upon the road to _London_. This morning your acceptable\nletter came to hand. Though somewhat wearied, I would fain answer\nit before I retire to rest. Blessed be GOD who causes your Ladyship\nto be never less alone, than when alone. O Madam, what a comforter is\nthe Holy Ghost? What sweet company is JESUS CHRIST? What a privilege\nis it to have fellowship with the great Three-One? A world lying in\nwickedness knows nothing of it. Every thing yields comfort when the\nblessed Spirit breathes upon it. Even this scribble, from the chief\nof sinners, from one who is less than the least of all saints, shall\nagain refresh your soul, if JESUS speaks the word. Amazed am I, that\nGOD should work by my hands. But JESUS is love. He yet delights to\nhonour me. I have lately seen the Redeemer riding in his strength,\nand getting himself the victory in poor sinners hearts. Letters from\nabroad inform me of the same. O that our glorious JESUS may set the\nworld in a flame of love! Hasten that time, O blessed JESUS: O let\nthy kingdom come! I have heard from my dear Orphans to-day. They\nhave been reduced to straits; but the LORD hath stirred up a wealthy\nfriend or two to assist them. The everlasting GOD reward all their\nbenefactors! I find there has been a fresh awakening among them. I am\ninformed, that twelve negroes, belonging to a planter lately converted\nat the Orphan-house, are savingly brought home to JESUS CHRIST. This\nwill rejoice your Ladyship\u2019s heart. I am glad to hear that the work\ngoes on in _Scotland_. The LORD, I trust, will ripen your soul apace\nfor glory. He hath various ways of perfecting his saints. Methinks\nI see your Ladyship sitting in your chair, and ravished with the\nRedeemer\u2019s beauty day by day. Sometimes you are as it were washing his\nfeet with your tears; at other times sitting by faith at his feet, and\nhearing or reading his word. Sometimes your heart is too big to speak;\nthen again, out of the abundance of your heart, your mouth poureth\nforth hallelujahs. Sometimes you are lost in wonder; at all times\nlonging to be dissolved and to be with CHRIST; for, when you hear him\nsay, \u201cRise up, my love, and come away,\u201d\n\n _Your heart would fain outfly the wind,\n And leave all earthly loves behind._\n\nThis, I trust, is the life your Ladyship lives. This is life indeed.\nThey who live otherwise, are dead whilst they live. They call\nfor our compassion and prayers; for who hath made the difference?\nDistinguishing grace! O the unsearchable riches of CHRIST? I could\nspeak of him for ever; but it grows late; nature calls for rest.\n\n _O when shall I in endless day,\n For ever chase dark sleep away;\n And hymns with the celestial quire\n Incessant sing, and never tire?_\n\nCome, LORD JESUS, come quickly! The LORD be with your spirit, and\nabundantly bless both you, Mr. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, and your child. Indeed I do\nnot forget your Ladyship; your last should not have remained so long\nunanswered, but it came only to-day into the hands of, honoured Madam,\n\n Your Ladyship\u2019s most obedient humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER \u2666CCCXCIX.\n\n \u2666 \u2018CCCXCXIX\u2019 replaced with \u2018CCCXCIX\u2019\n \n _To Mr. Thomas N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at New-York._\n\n _London, Feb. 26, 1742._\n _My very dear Brother_,\n\nI Have herewith sent you a parcel. Be pleased to read the letters,\nand send them as directed. I received your kind letter, dated in\n_December_, and thank you for all kindnesses shewn to the poor orphans.\nThe LORD JESUS will richly reward you. Before yours came, the LORD had\ngiven me an enlarged heart, and unfeigned love and freedom to converse\nwith all his dear children, of whatever denomination. I talk freely\nwith the Messrs. _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s, though we widely differ in a certain\npoint. Most talk of a catholic spirit; but it is only till they have\nbrought people into the pale of their own church. This is downright\nsectarianism, not catholicism. How can I act consistently, unless I\nreceive and love all the children of GOD, whom I esteem to be such, of\nwhatever denomination they may be? Why should we dispute when there is\nno probability of convincing? I think this is not giving up the faith,\nbut fulfilling our LORD\u2019s new command, \u201cLove one another:\u201d and our\nlove is but feigned, unless it produces proper effects. I am persuaded,\nthe more the love of GOD is shed abroad in our hearts, the more all\nnarrowness of spirit will subside and give way: besides, so far as\nwe are narrow spirited, we are uneasy. Prejudices, jealousies, and\nsuspicions make the soul miserable, so far as they are entertained.\nBut enough of this: my dear brother _N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ is of my mind. Only let me\ngive you one caution: Take heed that your getting acquainted with any\nnew set of Christians, does not lead you insensibly to despise others\nof your old acquaintance. Watch, and deal very tenderly with all;\notherwise you will grow reserved and artful, and lose a simple, open,\nguileless, _Israelitish_ spirit, before you are aware. There needs\na close adherence to the motions of the Holy Spirit, and a constant\nwatching over the corruptions of our own hearts, in order that we\nmay walk before GOD as very little children. O that I was a little\nchild indeed! JESUS can make me one. My dear brother, I thank you for\nyour kind invitation. GOD willing, I shall accept it, if ever I see\n_New-York_. But I think Providence calls me once more to _Scotland_.\nI have been lately plowing up some fallow ground, and now preach\ntwice every day. The LORD does indeed bless the word, and gives me to\nrejoice in the felicity of his chosen. Be so kind now and then to drop\na line to my dear orphan-family. As opportunity offers, and the LORD\ngives freedom, you shall hear from, dear brother _N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Yours most affectionately in JESUS CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCC.\n\n _To Miss \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Edinburgh._\n\n _London, Feb. 27, 1742._\n _Dear Miss_,\n\nI Did not receive your letter till this night. Whilst I was reading it,\nmy heart grew warm with thankfulness to that GOD, who, I trust, by his\nalmighty Spirit hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous\nlight. In his light you now see light. Do you not, dear Miss _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\nfind what I said to be true, \u201cThat JESUS CHRIST is the fairest among\nten thousands.\u201d Is he not altogether lovely? Henceforth you may well\nsay,\n\n _I bid this world of noise and shew,\n With all its flattering snares, adieu._\n\nThe greater advances you make in the divine life, the more you will\nsee what a dream you and the polite world have been in. And O the\ndistinguishing grace of GOD to you! Methinks I hear you calling on\nangels and archangels to join in praising our common LORD. Well may\nyou say, \u201cYou are not henceforth your own:\u201d No, dear Miss, let JESUS\nhave your whole heart. Let his blood, his wounds be continually\nbefore you. GOD forbid that you should now glory, save in the cross\nof CHRIST, by whom the world is crucified to you, and you unto the\nworld. Pity the poor christless creatures about you. Pray for them,\nas the Holy Spirit gives you freedom. Tell them of the love of JESUS.\nThey need no other motive. This, backed with almighty power, must\nbreak the most hardened heart. With much pleasure I reflect on the\nblessed consolations I have been favoured with, whilst explaining\nthe scriptures to you and your honoured relations. O that not one may\nremain unconverted! May JESUS look on them; then will they look on him\nand be saved. Blessed be GOD for sending me to _Scotland_, if it was\nonly to bring you home. Ere long I hope to visit your country again;\nand then, O that I may see you all meek, humble, heavenly-minded,\nclose followers of the bleeding Lamb! Thanks be to GOD, he hath\ndirected me to a wife, who was once gay, but now with you can sing,\n\n I.\n _Come, Saviour JESUS, from above,\n Assist me with thy heavenly grace;\n Withdraw my heart from worldly love,\n And for thyself prepare the place._\n\n II.\n _O let thy sacred presence fill,\n And set my longing spirit free;\n Which pants to have no other love,\n But night and day to feast on Thee._\n\n III.\n _That path with humble speed I\u2019ll seek,\n Wherein my Saviour\u2019s footsteps shine;\n Nor will I hear, nor will I speak\n Of any other love but thine._\n\n IV.\n _To Thee my ling\u2019ring soul aspires;\n To Thee I offer all my vows;\n Keep me from vain and false desires,\n My GOD, my Saviour, and my spouse._\n\n V.\n _Wealth, honour, or whatever else\n This transitory world can give,\n Tempt as you will, my heart repels,\n To CHRIST alone resolved to live._\n\n VI.\n _Thee I can love, and thee alone,\n With inward joy and holy bliss;\n To find thou tak\u2019st me for thy own,\n O what a happiness is this!_\n\nDear Miss, whilst I am writing, the love of JESUS fills my soul. I\nhave been talking to night of his love to poor sinners. O that his\nspirit may break afresh upon your soul when you are reading this! I\nmust now commend you to the Redeemer\u2019s care. In the world you shall\nhave tribulation; be not afraid, JESUS hath overcome the world.\u2015\u2015I\nhave many letters before me unread; but I could not help writing this\nlong one to you. Accept it as a token of unfeigned regard for the good\nof your precious soul, and depend on the prayers of, dear Miss _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your most affectionate friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCI.\n\n _To the Reverend Mr. C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _London, March 4, 1742._\n _My dear Friend and Brother_,\n\nI Remember my promise. You are to be one of my close correspondents.\nI am unworthy to write to any; but love, the love of JESUS will\nconstrain me frequently to write to you. I hope you are not offended,\nbecause you did not see me in _Bath_ again. The glorious _Emmanuel_\npointed out my way hither. Since I came (O amazing goodness!) he has\nbeen wonderfully kind to me, and to his people. I am much assisted\ndaily, in preaching to poor sinners the unsearchable riches of CHRIST.\nLife and power fly all around, and the Redeemer is getting himself\nthe victory daily in many hearts. Letters from abroad give me glorious\naccounts. In _New-England_, the work goes on amazingly. In _Scotland_,\nthe awakening is greater and greater. The spirit of GOD has been\nstriving among the little orphans in _Georgia_, and in _Carolina_ I\nhear that twelve negroes belonging to a planter, converted at the\nOrphan-house, are savingly brought home to JESUS CHRIST. Indeed the\nLORD is about to do great things. \u201cBlessed are the eyes that see the\nthings which we see; blessed are the ears that hear the things that we\nhear;\u201d blessed are those that the LORD employs as his own children, to\nbring about his great designs. O that my dear Mr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ may be made\na flaming fire, and a spiritual father to thousands! Dear Mr. _T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\nwho was so kind as to come and see me last night, I trust is coming on.\nI hope both you and him will experience a solid establishment in the\ngrace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. There is no rest here, no true solid\nlasting rest, till we come to this. Our hearts are deceitful above\nall things. We seek rest in outward things. We change our places,\ncircumstances, and stations;\u2015\u2015but if JESUS loves us, he will put a\nthorn in the place where we would fain nestle. A soul that has had\nsome awakenings, and been wandring from CHRIST, is like _Noah_\u2019s dove\nwhich could find no rest for the sole of its foot, till it came back\nto the ark again. This ark is CHRIST, and when we are safely locked\nin there, and the soul hath received an abiding witness, then out of\nthe abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. This is the reason why\nJESUS bid his disciples to wait for the promise of the Father. Filled\nwith this, the woman of _Samaria_ could not but call on others to come\nand see. And were we but animated, led and influenced by this spirit,\nwhat a blessed union would there be among all the churches of JESUS\nCHRIST? It is a want of more of this, that now at present disunites\nus. I despair therefore of a greater union, till a greater measure\nof the spirit be poured from on high. Hence, therefore, I am resolved\nsimply to preach the gospel of CHRIST, and leave others to quarrel\nby and with themselves. To contend, where there is no probability\nof convincing, only feeds and adds fuel to an unhallow\u2019d fire,\nwhich a misguided zeal kindles in the heart. Love, forbearance,\nlong-suffering, and frequent prayer to your dear LORD JESUS, is the\nbest way to extinguish and put it out. O love, true, simple, christian,\nundissembled love, whither art thou fled! The language of my heart\nis,\u2015\u2015But whither am I going? You see, my friend, how freely I write.\nThe blessed JESUS warms and fills me, whilst I am writing. I know,\nthough I am unworthy, you will send me a line in return. Methinks\nI could wash your feet. Methinks, I long to see your shackles drop\noff, and your soul free for the uninterrupted service of the best of\nmasters. Faith in his bloody wounds is the only means. LORD, evermore\ngive my dear friend and his wife living faith, which may purify their\nhearts, enable them to overcome the world, and will work by love! The\nLORD make you both as little children before him! This is the prayer\nof, dear Mr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Yours affectionately in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCII.\n\n _To Mr. A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _London, March 4, 1742._\n _Dear Mr. A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Received your comfortable letter concerning the dear lambs at\n_Heriot_\u2019s hospital. I pray GOD give you grace to feed them, that they\nmay grow in grace as they grow in years, and make perpetual advances\nin the knowledge of JESUS CHRIST. Be pleased to salute them from\nme, in the kindest manner. Entreat them, O exhort them to remember\ntheir Creator in the days of their youth, and to keep close by his\nwounded side. Tell them, dear Sir, from time to time, of the power and\nefficacy of his all-atoning blood: it purifies the heart, overcomes\nthe world, and fills the believer with joy unspeakable and full of\nglory. Watch over their dear souls day by day, and wait closely upon\nthe LORD yourself, that you may be taught of him to feed his lambs.\nIt is a work of the utmost importance. No less than infinite wisdom\ncan be sufficient for you; but if any man lack wisdom, let him ask\nit from above; GOD giveth liberally to the lovers of his dear Son,\nand upbraideth not. Dear Sir, GOD is love. He hath loved me, and\nis pleased to work by me more and more. At home, and abroad, JESUS\nCHRIST rides on gloriously. I hope, at my return to _Scotland_, to\nsee greater things than ever. When it shall be, I know not yet. GOD\u2019s\npeople must pray me to them. With difficulty I get time to write this.\nI once more salute you and the dear lambs, and am, dear Sir,\n\n Your most affectionate friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCIII.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 K\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Exon._\n\n _London, March 6, 1742._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nI Now snatch a few moments to answer your kind letter. As yet, I have\nno intimation from providence in respect to coming into your parts.\nThe cloud at present doth not seem to move that way. So many places\nwant supplies, that I could wish I had a thousand lives and tongues.\nJESUS CHRIST should have them all. Only I am astonished, that the LORD\nof the harvest should send out such a worthless labourer, or rather\nloiterer as I am. But his grace is free, like himself infinite;\n\u201cFor to me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace\ngiven, that I should preach to poor sinners the unsearchable riches\nof CHRIST.\u201d Blessed be GOD, I do not preach in vain. The accounts\nfrom _New-England_, _Scotland_, and _Carolina_, are surprizing. In\n_London_, the word of the LORD runs and is glorified. Every day we see\nthe Redeemer\u2019s stately steps. I have not time, dear Sir, to tell you\nwhat great things our great master is doing for his people, and yet I\nbelieve we shall see greater things than these. From _Georgia_ also,\nI have great accounts. The spirit of the LORD hath been breathing upon\nthe orphans. I thank you, dear Sir, for your intended benefaction,\nand kind invitation. If ever our dear LORD calls me your way, I shall\naccept it: though I am utterly unworthy to come under any one\u2019s roof,\nbut more especially that JESUS should come under the roof of the house\nof my soul.\u2015\u2015But JESUS is love. That his love may be abundantly shed\nabroad in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, is the hearty prayer of, dear\nSir,\n\n Your most affectionate friend and servant unknown,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCIV.\n\n _To Mr. G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Gloucester._\n\n _London, March, 12, 1742._\n _Dear Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nBY no means leave off reading to the society. It is not taking too\nmuch upon you, or going out of your depth. The cause of your so much\nas thinking to decline, is not good. The more unworthy you are, the\nmore glory will you give to a glorious Redeemer: the greater sinner\nyou are, the more feelingly will you read of, and recommend the\nglorious Ransom paid for sinners. Go on, my dear man; venture boldly\nto the throne of grace; fear not.\u2015\u2015GOD will heal our backslidings;\nhe loves us freely. JESUS hath been my glorious Saviour. I would\nhave mentioned this affair of the society in my last, but I was then\nignorant of it.\u2015\u2015My dear wife has written to dear Mrs. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. How\ndoes the dear woman as to spirituals? I do not despair of seeing you\nboth good christians. JESUS is almighty. Go to him just as you are.\nThe LORD be with you both! I suppose you have seen the letter sent\nto dear M. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ by brother _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. My tender love to him, and all\nthat love the blessed _Emmanuel_. I have seen Mr. _J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. The LORD is\nwonderfully good to me. Pray send a line to, dear Sir,\n\n Yours affectionately in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCV.\n\n _To Miss R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _London, March 18, 1742._\n _Dear Miss_,\n\nI Am yet of opinion, there is mercy and love laid up for you in the\nheart of the blessed JESUS. You look backward, instead of forward. You\nlook into yourself, instead of looking up to Him, who is mighty and\nwilling to save. O that you may have strength to go to him just as you\nare! You would then be delivered from your bondage. The case of the\npoor _Syroph\u0153nician_ woman may give you comfort. How did the Lamb of\nGOD seem as it were to turn lion? How did he seem to turn a deaf ear\nto her complaints? And yet heard and loved her all the while. Why may\nnot you believe? He will yet say to you, \u201cBe it unto you even as thou\nwilt.\u201d I fear some tell you, that it is well to doubt. Indeed they\nare mistaken. Dear Miss, expect great things from JESUS CHRIST. \u201cHe\nis able to do abundantly for you above what you can ask or think.\u201d His\nname, his nature is Love. Fear not; be not faithless, but believing.\nWait, and you shall yet see the salvation of GOD. In JESUS there is\nplenteous redemption. That you may feel the full power of his blood,\nprays, dear Miss,\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCVI.\n\n _To Mr. W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Bristol._\n\n _London, April 6, 1742._\n _My dear, yea very dear Brother_,\n\nYOU must needs think, that your kind letter gave me no small pleasure.\nGlory be to GOD for that rich love wherewith he hath loved you! Surely\nJESUS CHRIST will be now exceeding precious to your dear soul. What\ndoes he now require of you, but to walk humbly, closely, and with a\nchild-like simplicity before him? He hath followed you, as well as\nprevented you with his mercies, and would suffer nothing to take you\nout of his hands. Satan hath desired you, satan has sifted you as\nwheat; but JESUS, that friend of sinners, hath prayed for you, and\ntherefore your faith hath not failed. The LORD hath looked upon my\ndear _Samuel_. Methinks I see him weeping tears of love, and saying,\n\u201c_Speak_, LORD, _thy servant heareth_ now.\u201d\n\nI doubt not but many will reproach you for your past backsliding, and\nquestion your future stability. Let all serve to humble you in the\ndust, and drive you to the loving JESUS for refuge. \u201cIn him,\u201d surely\nshall my dear friend say, \u201cI have righteousness and strength.\u201d Look up\nto him, and you shall be delivered from, nay, made more than conqueror\nover every temptation. He will fight your battles for you, and crown\nyou when you have done. Dear Mr. _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, the love of JESUS now\nswallows up my soul. I see him more and more lovely every day. In\nJESUS there is plenteous redemption. He came, that we might have life,\nnay that we might have it more abundantly. O what a blessing is it to\nbe redeemed from a vain conversation, and from this present evil world.\nO that every poor sinner felt it! Then would his children agree in\none, and divisions would be at an end. Blessed be our LORD, there is\na greater prospect of union than ever. It is what my soul longs after,\nand labours for. It is a great pity that poor pilgrims should fall\nout in their way to heaven; but this will be, till we get more of\nthe divine spirit. Pray we therefore for a great effusion of the\nHoly Ghost. Blessed be GOD, we feel the Holy Ghost daily in our\ncongregations. It surprizes me to see what a company of settled, solid\nchristians are amongst us. The work goes on daily. This morning, how\ndid JESUS pierce and melt poor sinners hearts? Amazing accounts are\nbrought from abroad.\u2015\u2015Fresh awakenings in many places at home. Does\nnot your soul long to tell sinners, JESUS is Love. I am glad to hear\nyou are so active. Go on in the strength of the triumphing Lamb. My\nheart is warm. Welcome home again, my dear friend, welcome to JESUS\nyour LORD and your GOD. Pray write often, dear Mr. _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, to\n\n Your most affectionate friend, brother and servant\n in the glorious _Emmanuel_,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCVII.\n\n _To Mr. O\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Leominster._\n\n _London, April 6, 1742._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nYOUR letter gave me uncommon pleasure, and confirm\u2019d me more in\nthe opinion, that where our LORD gives a will, he will also give an\nopportunity of glorifying his great and most adorable name. Indeed,\nI believe there is such a work begun, as neither we nor our fathers\nhave heard of. The beginnings are amazing; how unspeakably glorious\nwill the end be! From _New-England_, fresh and surprizing glad tidings\nare sent; the LORD takes poor sinners there by hundreds, I may say by\nthousands. In _Scotland_, the fruits of my poor labours are abiding\nand apparent. In _Wales_, I hear the word of the LORD runs and is\nglorified, as also in many places in _England_. In _London_, our\nSaviour is doing great things daily; we have many dear growing\nchildren among us, who can say, \u201cOur fellowship is with the Father and\nthe Son.\u201d We scarce know what it is to have a meeting without tears.\nOur LORD always meets with us. My dear brother, I rejoice to hear that\nyou are helped in your work. Let this encourage you; go on, go on; the\nmore we do, the more we may do for JESUS. I sleep and eat but little,\nand am constantly employed from morning till midnight, and yet I walk\nand am not weary, I run and am not faint. My strength is daily renewed.\nMy bow abides in strength, and my hands are upholden by the arms of\nthe mighty GOD of Jacob. O free grace! It fires my soul, and makes me\nlong to do something more for JESUS. It is true indeed, I want to go\nhome; but here are so many souls ready to perish for lack of knowledge,\nthat I am willing to tarry below, as long as my master hath work for\nme to do.\u2015\u2015When I shall come your way, I cannot determine.\u2015\u2015All I say\nis, I will come when the LORD gives me leave. At present my call is in\n_London_, where I propose staying for some time. My wife came up last\n_Saturday_, and joins with me in wishing you all manner of success. I\nam, my dear brother,\n\n Yours most affectionately in our glorious _Emmanuel_,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCVIII.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Gloucestershire._\n\n _London, April 8, 1742._\n _Dear Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nYOURS came to hand last night. I rejoice to hear that the LORD\nis with you, and that he was pleased to bless my poor labours in\n_Gloucestershire_. I would have you to dispute as little as possible.\nAwakened souls should be told to look continually to the LORD JESUS.\nThe more you are acquainted with CHRIST, and the more deeply you drink\ninto his spirit, the more solid you will grow. Fear not because of\nyour present trials; \u201cthe LORD is thy GOD; he will never leave thee\nnor forsake thee.\u201d Cast all your care upon him, he careth for you.\nYour wife\u2019s illness shall work for good. The things I promised, are\nprovided and shall be sent speedily. Brother _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ will be with\nyou, GOD willing, next week; I pray GOD that his coming may be in the\nfulness of the blessing of the gospel of peace! Our LORD is with us\nmuch here. I preach twice daily. Our society grows. My master fills\nme with his presence, and continually meets with us. My tender love\nawaits all the society. Be strong in the LORD, and in the power of his\nmight. Seek after a nearer conformity to the blessed JESUS. Grow in\ngrace; and as you are enabled, dear _John_, pray for\n\n Your affectionate friend, brother, and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCIX.\n\n _To Captain G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Philadelphia._\n\n _London, April 22, 1742._\n _Dear Brother G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Hope this will find you very happy in the love of CHRIST. I was glad\nto hear you had so good a time, before our friends left you. I wish\nyou no less, than that you may be filled with all the fulness of\nGOD. We have had a glorious _Easter_, or rather a _Pentecost_. JESUS\nCHRIST is risen indeed. I have been preaching in _Moorfields_, and our\nSaviour carries all before us. Nought can resist his conquering blood.\nIt would have delighted you, to have seen the poor sinners flock from\nthe booths, to see JESUS lifted up on the pole of the gospel. I have\nreceived many tickets from young apprentices, &c. &c. Our society\ngoes on wonderfully well. Every day we hear of fresh conquests. GOD\u2019s\nchildren are expecting very great things. I believe they will not be\ndisappointed of their hope. But I am in haste. Your wife was well the\nlast time I saw her. Brother _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ and his wife have been to see\nher.\u2015\u2015My dear wife and brother _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ kindly salute you, and all\nthat love our glorious _Emmanuel_. Pray write a line to, dear brother\n_G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Yours, &c.\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCX.\n\n _To the Reverend Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Yorkshire._\n\n _London, April 22, 1742._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nI Thank you and your wife for your kind benefaction. Our Saviour, I\nbelieve, will take it kindly at your hands. I rejoice that the work\nof our common master is carried on in _Yorkshire_. We see greater\nthings than ever at _London_. The awakening is quite fresh. I never\nwas strengthened more. Every day, poor sinners are brought home to\nJESUS CHRIST. Our people are filled as with new wine; it seems to be a\n_Pentecost_. I have preached six or seven times in _Moorfields_, these\nholidays. It would rejoice you to see the people flock from satan\u2019s\nbooths to hear the gospel of the Son of GOD. The people seem to have\nsuch a spirit of supplication poured out upon them, that I believe\nwe shall see great things. I am often weak in body, but, as my work\nrequires, I am proportionably strengthened in the inner man. Was\nthere ever such a sinner as I am? Was there ever such a Saviour as\nmy Saviour?\n\n _Low at thy feet, O JESUS, let me lie,\n And love and praise to all eternity._\n\nI salute all that love the LORD JESUS in sincerity, and am, dear\nbrother _J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Yours most affectionately in JESUS CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXI.\n\n _To Mr. L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _London, May 11, 1742._\n\nWITH this, I send you a few out of the many notes I have received from\npersons, who were convicted, converted, or comforted in _Moorfields_,\nduring the late holidays. For many weeks, I found my heart much\npressed to determine to venture to preach there at this season, when,\nif ever, satan\u2019s children keep up their annual rendezvous. I must\ninform you, that _Moorfields_ is a large spacious place, given, as\nI have been told, by one _Madam Moore_, on purpose for all sorts of\npeople to divert themselves in. For many years past, from one end\nto the other, booths of all kinds have been erected, for mountebanks,\nplayers, puppet shows, and such like. With a heart bleeding with\ncompassion for so many thousands led captive by the devil at his will,\non _Whit-Monday_, at six o\u2019clock in the morning, attended by a large\ncongregation of praying people, I ventured to lift up a standard\namongst them in the name of JESUS of _Nazareth_. Perhaps there were\nabout ten thousand in waiting, not for me, but for satan\u2019s instruments\nto amuse them.\u2015\u2015Glad was I to find, that I had for once as it were got\nthe start of the devil. I mounted my field pulpit, almost all flocked\nimmediately around it. I preached on these words, \u201cAs _Moses_ lifted\nup the serpent in the wilderness, so shall the son of man be lifted\nup, &c.\u201d They gazed, they listened, they wept; and I believe that many\nfelt themselves stung with deep conviction for their past sins. All\nwas hushed and solemn. Being thus encouraged, I ventured out again\nat noon; but what a scene! The fields, the whole fields seemed, in a\nbad sense of the word, all white, ready not for the Redeemer\u2019s, but\nBeelzebub\u2019s harvest. All his agents were in full motion, drummers,\ntrumpeters, merry andrews, masters of puppet shows, exhibiters of wild\nbeasts, players, &c. &c. all busy in entertaining their respective\nauditories. I suppose there could not be less than twenty or thirty\nthousand people. My pulpit was fixed on the opposite side, and\nimmediately, to their great mortification, they found the number of\ntheir attendants sadly lessened. Judging that like saint _Paul_, I\nshould now be called as it were to fight with beasts at _Ephesus_, I\npreached from these words: \u201cGreat is _Diana_ of the _Ephesians_.\u201d You\nmay easily guess, that there was some noise among\nthe craftsmen, and that I was honoured with having a few stones, dirt,\nrotten eggs, and pieces of dead cats thrown at me, whilst engaged\nin calling them from their favourite but lying vanities. My soul was\nindeed among lions; but far the greatest part of my congregation,\nwhich was very large, seemed for a while to be turned into lambs. This\nencouraged me to give notice, that I would preach again at six o\u2019clock\nin the evening. I came, I saw, but what\u2015\u2015thousands and thousands more\nthan before if possible, still more deeply engaged in their unhappy\ndiversions; but some thousands amongst them waiting as earnestly\nto hear the gospel. This satan could not brook. One of his choicest\nservants was exhibiting, trumpeting on a large stage; but as soon as\nthe people saw me in my black robes and my pulpit, I think all to a\nman left him and ran to me. For a while I was enabled to lift up my\nvoice like a trumpet, and many heard the joyful sound. GOD\u2019s people\nkept praying, and the enemy\u2019s agents made a kind of a roaring at some\ndistance from our camp. At length they approached nearer, and the\nmerry andrew, (attended by others, who complained that they had taken\nmany pounds less that day on account of my preaching) got upon a man\u2019s\nshoulders, and\nadvancing near the pulpit attempted to slash me with a long heavy whip\nseveral times, but always with the violence of his motion tumbled down.\nSoon afterwards, they got a recruiting serjeant with his drum, &c. to\npass through the congregation. I gave the word of command, and ordered\nthat way might be made for the king\u2019s officer. The ranks opened, while\nall march\u2019d quietly through, and then closed again. Finding those\nefforts to fail, a large body quite on the opposite side assembled\ntogether, and having got a large pole for their standard, advanced\ntowards us with steady and formidable steps, till they came very near\nthe skirts of our hearing, praying, and almost undaunted congregation.\nI saw, gave warning, and prayed to the captain of our salvation for\npresent support and deliverance. He heard and answered; for just as\nthey approached us with looks full of resentment, I know not by what\naccident, they quarrelled among themselves, threw down their staff\nand went their way, leaving however many of their company behind, who\nbefore we had done, I trust were brought over to join the besieged\nparty. I think I continued in praying preaching and singing, (for the\nnoise was too great at times to preach) about three hours. We then\nretired to the tabernacle, with my pockets full of notes from persons\nbrought under concern, and read them amidst the praises and spiritual\nacclamations of thousands, who joined with the holy angels in\nrejoicing that so many sinners were snatched, in such an unexpected,\nunlikely place and manner, out of the very jaws of the devil. This\nwas the beginning of the tabernacle society.\u2015\u2015Three hundred and fifty\nawakened souls were received in one day, and I believe the number of\nnotes exceeded a thousand; but I must have done, believing you want to\nretire to join in mutual praise and thanksgiving to GOD and the Lamb,\nwith\n\n Yours, &c.\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXII.\n\n _To the same._\n\n _London, May 15, 1742._\n _My dear Friend_,\n\nFRESH matter of praise; bless ye the LORD, for he hath triumphed\ngloriously. The battle that was begun on _Monday_, was not quite over\ntill _Wednesday_ evening, though the scene of action was a little\nshifted. Being strongly invited, and a pulpit being prepared for me by\nan honest quaker, a coal merchant, I ventured on _Tuesday_ evening to\npreach at _Mary le bon fields_, a place almost as much frequented by\nboxers, gamesters, and such like, as _Moor-fields_. A vast concourse\nwas assembled together, and as soon as I got into the field pulpit,\ntheir countenance bespoke the enmity of their hearts against the\npreacher. I opened with these words\u2015\u2015\u201cI am not ashamed of the gospel\nof CHRIST, for it is the power of GOD unto salvation to every one that\nbelieveth.\u201d I preached in great jeopardy; for the pulpit being high,\nand the supports not well fixed in the ground, it tottered every time\nI moved, and numbers of enemies strove to push my friends against the\nsupporters, in order to throw me down. But the Redeemer stayed my soul\non himself, therefore I was not much moved, unless with compassion for\nthose to whom I was delivering my master\u2019s message, which I had reason\nto think, by the strong impressions that were made, was welcome to\nmany. But satan did not like thus to be attacked in his strong-holds,\nand I narrowly escaped with my life: for as I was passing from the\npulpit to the coach, I felt my wig and hat to be almost off. I turned\nabout, and observed a sword just touching my temples. A young rake,\nas I afterwards found, was determined to stab me, but a gentleman,\nseeing the sword thrusting near me, struck it up with his cane, and\nso the destined victim providentially escaped. Such an attempt excited\nabhorrence; the enraged multitude soon seized him, and had it not been\nfor one of my friends, who received him into his house, he must have\nundergone a severe discipline. The next day, I renewed my attack in\n_Moor-fields_; but would you think it? after they found that pelting,\nnoise, and threatnings would not do, one of the _merry Andrews_ got up\ninto a tree very near the pulpit, and shamefully exposed his nakedness\nbefore all the people. Such a beastly action quite abashed the serious\npart of my auditory; whilst hundreds of another stamp, instead of\nrising up to pull down the unhappy wretch, expressed their approbation\nby repeated laughs. I must own at first it gave me a shock; I thought\nsatan had now almost outdone himself; but recovering my spirits, I\nappealed to all, since now they had such a spectacle before them,\nwhether I had wronged human nature in saying, after pious _Bishop\nHall_, \u201cthat man, when left to himself, is half a devil and half a\nbeast;\u201d or as the great Mr. _Law_ expressed himself, \u201ca motley mixture\nof the beast and devil.\u201d\u2015\u2015Silence and attention being thus gained, I\nconcluded with a warm exhortation, and closed our festival enterprizes,\nin reading fresh notes that were put up, praising and blessing GOD\namidst thousands at the tabernacle, for what he had done for precious\nsouls, and on account of the deliverances he had wrought out for me\nand his people. I could enlarge; but being about to embark in the\n_Mary and Ann_, for _Scotland_, I must hasten to subscribe myself,\n\n Yours, &c.\n\n _G. W._\n\n_P. S._ I cannot help adding, that several little boys and girls who\nwere fond of sitting round me on the pulpit, while I preached, and\nhanding to me peoples notes, though they were often pelted with eggs,\ndirt, &c. thrown at me, never once gave way: but on the contrary,\nevery time I was struck, turned up their little weeping eyes, and\nseemed to wish they could receive the blows for me. GOD make them in\ntheir growing years great and living martyrs for him, who out of the\nmouth of babes and sucklings perfects praise!\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXIII.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in the Isle of Man._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, bound to Scotland, May 26, 1742._\n _Rev. and dear Sir_,\n\nI Received your letter on _Saturday_ last, and felt great concern on\nmy soul, while perusing it. One thing especially pleased me; I found\nby the contents, that a report I had lately heard concerning you was\nfalse; for I had heard, that the bishop seeing your zeal, and finding\nhis opposition had inflamed, at last had ordered the clergy to open\nthe church doors for you, and that now you had done with appearing\nopenly in the defence of the glorious Gospel. Blessed be GOD this is\nnot true! Though I find, both you and your people have been greatly\ndiscouraged. I see no way of extricating yourself, but by acting up to\nthe dictates of your own conscience, and leaving the consequences to\nthe great head and king of the church. You find, dear Sir, a sensible\nwithdrawing of the spirit ever since you gave way. It would not have\nbeen so, had you obeyed GOD rather than man. Up then, and be doing,\nand the LORD will be yet with you. If you cannot preach freely in the\n_Isle of Man_, go whithersoever the LORD shall be pleased to lead you.\nOur commission is very extensive: \u201cGo into all the world, and preach\nthe gospel to every creature.\u201d We want labourers much in _England_.\nIf our ascended Saviour hath given you popular gifts, and freedom and\nauthority in speaking without notes, you need not fear. He will assist\nyou from time to time, and make you a blessing to many souls. Your\nbeing a minister of the established church, will be an advantage, and\nyour age also will give you yet more authority; but an unction from\nthe Holy One of _Israel_ is the best qualification; I would therefore,\ndear Sir (if such a one as I, am capable of advising) by all means\npersuade you to humble yourself before the great bishop of your soul,\nand ask him again and again what he would have you to do? I am apt to\nthink, he will not restore to you the comforts of the Holy Ghost, or\nstablish you with his free spirit, \u2019till you give up yourself simply\nto follow the dictates of his providence and spirit. Then let men or\ndevils say or do their worst. How can we know GOD\u2019s power unless we\ntry it? Not that I would have you, dear friend, do any thing rashly.\nNo, \u201che that believeth doth not make haste.\u201d Wait upon the LORD,\nand he will certainly shew you what he would have you to do. I wonder\nnot that your brother\u2019s love is grown cold. It is hard for one in his\nstation, unless he be thoroughly inured to contempt, and will give GOD\nleave to act in his own way, to withstand a whole body of lukewarm,\nprejudiced, envious, malignant clergy. These, have always been the\ngreatest opposers of true vital religion. These, were our Saviour\u2019s\nmost bitter enemies. These, will be ours also, if we come forth in\nhis spirit, and preach by his power. But blessed be GOD, I can say\nby happy experience, our glorious _Emmanuel_ will make us more than\nconquerors over them all. He hath continually fought my battles for me,\nand I am persuaded will do so to the end. Of late, I have seen more of\nhis power and goodness than ever, and I trust we shall yet see greater\nthings than these. I am now once more going to _Scotland_, and purpose\n(GOD willing) the latter end of the year to embark for _America_. Pray\nlet me hear from you, and if possible let me have a personal interview.\nI hope this will reach you. In the next, be pleased to tell me how\nto direct, for I have forgotten. The LORD be with you. I wish you\nabundant prosperity in the name of the exalted Redeemer, and am\n\n Your affectionate brother and servant, &c.\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXIV.\n\n _To Mr. S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Gainsborough._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, May 26, 1742._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nYOUR letter dated _May 5th_ was very agreeable to me. I think it\nsavoured of a true Israelitish spirit, and therefore I find freedom\nto send you a plain and simple answer. Who _J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ is, I cannot\ntell. If he was converted by my unworthy ministry, or others by his\nmeans, let our dear JESUS have all the glory. I shall know who they\nare, at the great day. Mr. _P\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ I know very well. I believe he is\na good man, but am not enough acquainted with his proceedings, either\nwholly to commend or condemn them. Whether he preaches in public, or\nconverses only in a private manner, I know not. This one thing I know,\nif he be sent of GOD, I wish him prosperity. The answer which our LORD\ngave to those who forbad such as were casting out devils in his name,\nbecause they followed not with them, makes me particularly cautious,\nhow I interrupt any one that seems to speak of JESUS with sincerity of\nheart. As for his speaking so little against the church of England, I\ncannot discommend him for that. I find it best to talk only of JESUS\u2019s\nblood, and the power of his Redemption, and not dwell much on outward\nthings or outward worship. When the woman of _Samaria_ asked our\nLORD, \u201cwhere men ought to worship,\u201d he diverted the discourse from the\noutward to the inward worship. \u201cThe worship of the Father in spirit\nand in truth.\u201d Some things may be wrong in the church of _England_,\nand in this mixed state we must never expect to see a perfect church,\nor a perfect man. It is therefore my constant aim to agree with all\nthe children of GOD, as far as I can, and not to quarrel though we\ndiffer in some points. In civil society, one family does not differ\nwith another, because it hath not the same orders in every respect.\nWould to GOD we observed the same rule in spirituals. The world falls\nout enough with us; it is pity we should fall out among ourselves. My\nbrother, I have written to you out of the fulness of my heart; whether\nI shall see your face in the flesh, I know not. At present, my call\nis to _Scotland_.\u2015\u2015If the cloud should move towards _Lincolnshire_,\nmy answer is, \u201cLORD, lo I come!\u201d I am quite confounded when I\nthink that such a wretch as I should ever be employed in preaching\nthe everlasting gospel. I often fall down under a sense of GOD\u2019s\ndistinguishing mercy, and with awful adoration am frequently made to\ncry out, \u201cWhy me, LORD; why me?\u201d O my brother, help me to praise the\nLamb of GOD, that taketh away the sins of the world. A wonderful work\nis carried on both at home and abroad. I shall be glad to hear from\nyou again. Be pleased to direct as before. I am, in the bowels of\nJESUS CHRIST,\n\n Your affectionate friend, brother and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXV.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in London._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, May 27, 1742._\n _My dear Brother B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nYOUR letter was sweet to my heart. Business prevented my answering it\non shore. Our Saviour is pleased at this time to give me leisure and\nfreedom. I will now endeavour to answer it on board. I need not tell\nyou, I love you. GOD has often bore witness to our fellowship, by\ngiving us his presence, and filling us as with new wine. What has\nhappened of late to disunite, will in the end, I am persuaded, only\npromote a closer union. \u201cOut of the eater will come forth meat, and\nout of the strong will come forth sweetness.\u201d Blessed be our Saviour\u2019s\nfree grace! I feel my heart more and more enlarged towards, and more\nand more disposed to love and honour all denominations of believers,\nthan ever I experienced before. In all societies of christians under\nheaven, there must necessarily be persons of a different standing in\nthe school of CHRIST. Those who are not solidly established in the\nlove of GOD, will fall too much in love with the outward form of their\nparticular church, be it what it will. But as the love of GOD gets\nthe ascendency, the more they will be like him and his holy angels,\nand consequently rejoice when souls are brought to JESUS, whatever\ninstruments may be made use of for that purpose. If therefore some\nthat you and I know, are too confined (as I believe is too much the\ncase); if they do not preach more frequently, and abound more in good\nworks, I think it is for want of having their hearts more inflamed\nwith the love of GOD, and their graces kept in more constant exercise.\nTo stir up the gift of GOD that is in us, is an apostolical injunction;\nand if we do not keep upon our watch we shall fall into a false\nstillness. Nature loves ease; and as a blind zeal often prompts us to\nspeak too much, so tepidity and lukewarmness often cause us to speak\ntoo little. Divine wisdom alone, is profitable to direct; and I would\nbe very cautious how I speak, least I should take too much upon me. I\nlove those you mention, from my soul; and all I can say is, \u201cLORD, do\nthou lead and guide both them and us.\u201d We are blind helpless creatures.\nI wish there was more confidence between us all; but I see that none\nbut the spirit of GOD can outwardly unite us, and therefore I have now\ngiven it up into the Redeemer\u2019s hand. Only this I pray, that I may be\none of the first and not the last in bringing back the king. If I have\nat any time set improper bounds to the spirit of GOD, or grieved it\nin his children, I desire to be very low, and to be broken hearted\nfor it. I am sure it hath not been done willingly. I must own, I have\nsometimes opposed you, because I think you have made, and are yet\nmaking, too much haste. You seem to be like-minded with those, who in\nour Saviour\u2019s time thought that the kingdom of GOD would then come:\nbut you know how our LORD checked them for it, and told them, \u201cit was\nnot for them to know the particular times and seasons of his coming to\nset up his kingdom.\u201d I believe with you, that our glorious _Emmanuel_\nis about to do great things. But how, when, and where, I leave to his\ndivine, sovereign disposal. I desire strictly to mind the particular\nplan assigned me; at the same time to look about, and see what others\nthe wonderful counsellor is pleased to employ in other districts: and\nthough they may differ from me in some points, I wish them abundant\nprosperity in the name of our common LORD. I am of your mind with\nrespect to the church of _England_. This, this is the constant,\nabiding, intense language of my heart; \u201cLORD JESUS, let thy kingdom\ncome.\u201d You see, my dear brother, how fully I write to you. It is\nbecause I love you. O that we may be taught to bear one another\u2019s\nburdens, and so fulfil the law of CHRIST! May the LORD keep us all\nfrom falling out in our way to heaven. Amen and amen! You and yours\nwill join heartily in the same petition, with\n\n Your affectionate brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXVI.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. O\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Leominster._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, May 27, 1742._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nI Have not till now had time to answer your kind letter. I rejoice\nabundantly in the use our dear LORD is beginning to make of you. May\nhe use and bless you ever more and more. Our LORD loves to encourage\nfaith. They that trust in him, shall find now as well as formerly,\nthat \u201cit shall be given them in that hour what they shall speak.\u201d\nThis I find true by happy experience, and am persuaded shall prove the\ntruth of it more and more. Since my last, the captain of our salvation\nhas carried me on to fresh conquest, and caused his people to rejoice\nexceedingly in his great salvation. Our society is in great order. If\nthe LORD gives us a true catholic spirit, free from a party sectarian\nzeal, we shall do well. I am sorry to hear that there is so much\nnarrowness among some of the brethren in _Wales_. Brother _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\ncomplains sadly of it. I hope dear Mr. _O\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ will be kept free, and\nnot fall into disputing about _Baptism_ or other non-essentials; for I\nam persuaded, unless we all are content to preach CHRIST, and to keep\noff from disputable things, wherein we differ, GOD will not bless us\nlong. If we act otherwise, however we may talk of a catholic spirit,\nwe shall only be bringing people over to our own party, and there\nfetter them. I pray the LORD to keep dear Mr. _O\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ and me from such\na spirit. Dear Sir, may the LORD be with you! Remember us poor but\nwilling pilgrims, especially him who is less than the least of all,\nbut\n\n Your affectionate brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXVII.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Stockport._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, May 29, 1742._\n _Rev. and dear Sir_,\n\nI Received your letter some time ago, but through multiplicity of\nbusiness could not possibly answer it on shore. I do not remember\nseeing you at _London_; but if you love the Redeemer in sincerity,\nand preach the gospel in the demonstration of the spirit and with\npower, I wish you all possible success in the name of the LORD. As\nfor coming into your parts, it is intirely uncertain. My present call\nis to _Scotland_. How my Master will dispose of me hereafter, I know\nnot. I simply desire to go whither he shall be pleased to call me.\nI am amazed that he should call me any where, or employ me as his\nambassador to beseech poor sinners to be reconciled to GOD. But what\nshall we say? I can only fall down at the feet of the Lamb, and cry,\nGrace! grace! Of late the LORD hath done greater things for me, and\nhis church, than ever; and yet greater things I am persuaded he is\nabout to bring to pass. Dear Sir, help me at the throne of grace, and\nas you seem to have a thirst for the Redeemer\u2019s glory, recommend me to\nthe prayers of GOD\u2019s people, being the chief of sinners, but, for the\nRedeemer\u2019s sake,\n\n Your most affectionate friend, brother and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXVIII.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Essex._\n\n _May 29, 1742._\n _My very dear Brother_,\n\nYOUR letter lies by me, yet unanswered; the contents however have not\nbeen forgotten before the LORD. Surely the days of your pilgrimage\nwill ere long be ended, and the star which you once saw, appear to\nyou again, and cause you to rejoice with exceeding great joy. I think\nthere is something very extraordinary in the LORD\u2019s dealing with\nyou. I can only resolve it into the divine sovereignty, and say,\n\u201ceven so, Father, for so it seemeth good in thy sight.\u201d This is often\nthe language of my heart, with respect to GOD\u2019s dealing with my own\nsoul. Many things our Saviour does to me, which I know not now. It is\nsufficient that I shall know hereafter, and that I know thus far even\nnow, \u201cthat all things are working together for good.\u201d Dear Mr. _D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\nindeed I love and pray for you. Our Saviour, I trust, will yet set\nyour feet in a large room, and enable you to run the way of his\ncommandments;\n\n _Thro\u2019 winds, and clouds, and storms, he\u2019ll gently clear the way;\n Wait then his time, so shall this night soon end in joyous day._\n\nMy tender love await the flock at _D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015m_; I pray for them and you.\nOur Saviour hath done great things of late in _London_. I believe he\nwill yet do more in _Scotland_. O my brother, forget not to pray for\nthe chief of sinners.\n\n Your truly affectionate friend, brother and servant\n in JESUS CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXIX.\n\n _To the Rev. Mr. C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Bath._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, May 29, 1742._\n _My very dear Friend and Brother_,\n\nNOT want of love, but excess of business prevented my answering your\nkind letter dated _April 6th_. In _London_ I had scarce time to eat\nbread, or to take my natural rest. Our blessed Saviour, with his own\nright hand got himself the victory in many hearts, and brought mighty\nthings to pass. I never saw the like before. I must renew my old\nrequest, \u201cHelp, my dear friend, help me to be thankful.\u201d I am now\ngoing a second time to _Scotland_, and purpose, GOD willing, at the\nlatter end of the year to embark for _America_. My soul is a thirst\nfor the salvation of poor sinners. These words, \u201cGo ye into all\nthe world, and preach the gospel to every creature, &c.\u201d have been\nparticularly pressed upon my heart. O, dear Mr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, if the\nLORD has accounted us worthy, putting us into the ministry, how\ncareful should we be to make full proof thereof? GOD willing, when\nI come on shore I will begin in earnest. For alas! _hactenus nihil\nfeci_.\u2015\u2015Indeed I am ashamed of myself from the bottom of my heart. Was\nnot my Master\u2019s love like himself, _infinite_, I should have been cast\noff long before this time. But I find those whom he loves, he loves\nto the end. Mr. _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, myself, and others, are instances of this.\nI hope our great Shepherd will now carry him in his arms, and not let\nhim to stay again. I have wrote to Mr. _T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ from on board.\u2015\u2015If you\ngo to him, or labour elsewhere, that the blessed JESUS may be always\nwith you, is the hearty prayer of, dear Mr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your most affectionate brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXX.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in London._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, May 29, 1742._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nYOUR letter much affected me. I hope the contents have made the angels\nto rejoice, and that before this time you have found rest in the\nwounded Lamb. That GOD, who first spoke light out of darkness, I trust\nis beginning to shine into your heart, and to perfect a new creation\nin your soul. You are not the first, dear friend, by thousands, who\nhave thought themselves rich and increased in goods, not considering\nthey were poor and miserable and blind and naked. I suppose you can\nnow join with me in the following verses:\n\n I.\n _Long did my soul in Jesu\u2019s form\n No comeliness nor beauty see;\n His sacred name by others priz\u2019d,\n Was tasteless still and dead to me._\n\n II.\n _Men call\u2019d me Christian, and my heart\n On that delusion fondly stay\u2019d;\n Moral my hopes, my Saviour self,\n \u2019Till mighty grace the cheat display\u2019d._\n\n III.\n _Thanks to the hand that wak\u2019d my dream,\n That shew\u2019d me wretched, naked, poor;\n That sweetly led me to the Rock,\n Where all salvation stands secure._\n\n IV.\n _Glad, I forsook my righteous pride,\n My moral, tarnish\u2019d, sinful dress,\n Exchanged my dross away for CHRIST,\n And found the robe of righteousness._\n\nThese lines, dear Sir, I think are very emphatical. I trust you can\nnow repeat them from your heart. If so, hail happy man! JESUS hath\nwashed you in his blood, and given you eternal life. You now then have\nnothing to do, but to live to him, who hath lived and died for you,\nand if necessary would die again for you with all his heart. Surely\nour Saviour loves you, otherwise he would not have shewed you all\nthese things. I love you for his sake (though unknown); and if he hath\nbeen pleased to work by my unworthy ministry, let him have all the\nglory, and forget not to pray for the poor, weak instrument, who has\nnot forgotten to pray for you, being, dear Sir,\n\n Your most affectionate friend and servant, in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXXI.\n\n _To Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Wales._\n\n _On board the Mary and Ann, May 29, 1742._\n _My very dear Brother_,\n\nTHOUGH I could not write to you on shore, yet I must not omit writing\nto you on board. I am heartily sorry that such a narrow spirit\nprevails in _Wales_. I have written to Mr. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. But what shall we\nsay? The Redeemer\u2019s love alone can unite and keep together his flocks.\nDisputing with bigots and narrow-spirited people will not do. I intend\nhenceforward to say less to them, and pray more and more to our LORD\nfor them. \u201cLORD, enlarge their hearts,\u201d is my continual prayer for\nsuch, who are so streightened in their own bowels. Blessed be GOD,\nthis partition-wall is breaking down daily in some of our old friends\nhearts in _London_. I exhort all to go where they can profit most. I\npreach what I believe to be the truth, and then leave it to the spirit\nof GOD to make the application. When we have done this, I think we\nhave gone to the utmost bounds of our commission. O my brother, I find\nmore and more, nothing but that wisdom, which is from above, can teach\nus how to build up souls. I never was so much assisted in this kind of\nwork, as since I came to _London_ last. We have public societies twice\na week, and a general meeting for reading letters once a month. Our\nLORD has been much with us. We seem to move on now in gospel dignity,\nand are terrible as an army with banners. If the LORD inclines you,\na visit to _London_ would be very acceptable. Our people can now bear\nsearching more than formerly. I find that our LORD hath particularly\nblessed you that way. We have had a most blessed funeral of one of\nour sisters in CHRIST, and the awakening, I think, has been as great\nas when I first came out, and abundantly more solid. The _Easter_\nHolidays were high days indeed. My wife doth not forget her friends in\n_Wales_. But our LORD has seen fit to exercise her with exceeding\nclose inward trials. She and all with me most cordially salute you. I\nexpect great things in _Scotland_. If possible, at my return, I hope\nto see you in _Wales_. But future things belong to GOD. Adieu. Forget\nnot to pray for\n\n Your affectionate brother pilgrim,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXXII.\n\n _To Mr. A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in London._\n\n _Edinburgh, June 4, 1742._\n _My dear Brother A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nFROM a heart overflowing with a sense of GOD\u2019s love, I write you these\nfew lines. Yesterday our Saviour brought us hither. On board, I spent\nmost part of my time in secret prayer. Satan shot many of his fiery\ndarts against me. Our great _Michael_ gave me a shield of faith, by\nwhich I was enabled to repel them all. As soon as I came on shore, the\nholy spirit filled my soul. The LORD commanded people to receive me\nand my fellow pilgrim into their houses. Our souls rejoiced in him.\nThe people were soon alarmed at my arrival. As soon as I came on shore\nat _Leith_, many came blessing me, and weeping, took hold of me. About\nfour in the afternoon we came to _Edinburgh_. Great numbers followed\nour coach, and almost catched me in their arms, as soon as I came out\nof it. How did they weep for joy! It would have melted you down to\nhave seen them. When I came to my lodging, many dear friends came to\nsalute us in the name of the LORD. About seven o\u2019clock I went to see\nsome persons of distinction, whose hearts the LORD reached, when I\nwas here last. Some were ready to faint with excess of joy: with these\nI prayed and gave thanks. The Holy Ghost filled us with all joy and\npeace in believing.\u2015\u2015At eight I went to a nobleman\u2019s house, where his\nlady and several other dear friends received us with great gladness.\nThe cushions and bible were immediately brought. I gave a word of\nexhortation. We sung, and prayed, and spent the remainder of the\nevening most delightfully in talking of the things of GOD. When we\ncame home, we joined in blessing GOD\u2019s holy name. Though late, I\nscarce knew how to go to rest.\u2015\u2015This morning I received glorious\naccounts of the carrying on of the Mediator\u2019s kingdom. The work of\nGOD is beyond expression. Three of the little boys that were converted\nwhen I was last here, came to me and wept, and begged me to pray for\nand with them. A minister tells me, that scarce one is fallen back,\nwho was awakened, either among old or young. The serjeant, whose\nletter, brother _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ has, goes on well with his company. O my dear\nbrother, help me to praise the Lamb that sitteth upon the throne for\never; and desire all the society to join with you. I believe within\nthese four months you will hear of very great things. Pray that I may\nbe very little in my own eyes, and not rob my dear Master of any part\nof his glory. We do not forget you. Once a day we meet together and\npray for absent friends. He gives us leave, as it were, to ask of\nhim what we will, and promises never to leave or forsake us. For\nthe present, my dear brother, adieu! As opportunity offers, and if\npossible every post, some or other of my dear friends shall hear, dear\nbrother _A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, from\n\n Your most affectionate, though most unworthy brother\n and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXXIII.\n\n _To the Right Honourable Lord R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Edinburgh, June 4, 1742._\n _My Lord_,\n\nYESTERDAY morning our glorious _Emmanuel_ brought us hither. Your\nLordship\u2019s kind letter was put into my hands. I heartily sympathize\nwith your Lordship; but could not help rejoicing on your honoured\nlady\u2019s account, knowing she is now entered into her blessed Master\u2019s\njoy. Indeed, my Lord, I think, among christians, death hath not only\nlost its sting, but its name. I never was so joyful as I am now at\nthe death of those who die in the LORD; and never was so reconciled\nto living myself. My general language, when I hear of the saints\ndeparture, is, \u201cLet them go.\u201d Lately at _London_ we had a sister in\nCHRIST departed. Her last words were, \u201cHoly, holy, holy!\u201d she could\nsay no more here; but our Saviour sent for her to finish her song in\nheaven. I preached over her corpse; our society attended: but surely\nnever did souls triumph over death more than we did that night.\nMany would say, \u201cO death! where is thy sting? O grave! where is thy\nvictory?\u201d As for my own part, I was enabled to trample death under my\nfeet: and, blessed be GOD, through rich grace I can do that daily. But\nthen your Lordship may ask, \u201cWhy are you reconciled to life?\u201d Because\nI can do that for JESUS on earth, which I cannot do in heaven: I mean,\nbe made instrumental in bringing some poor, weary, heavy laden sinners\nto find rest in his blood and righteousness: and, indeed, if our\nSaviour was to offer either to take me now, or to stay only to take\none sinner more, I would desire to stay to take him with me. But\nwhither am I running? O my Lord, death is a delightful topic. Excuse\nme if I forget myself when writing about it. Blessed be our GOD for\nsupporting your soul under so close a trial! How sweet will it be to\nmeet your Lady glorified at the great day! Yet a little while, and\nthat happy day shall come. But it is time to answer your Lordship\u2019s\nquestion: \u201cHow was you on the 24th of last _November_?\u201d I thank GOD,\nvery well. My soul was much refreshed with the Redeemer\u2019s presence;\nand I was rejoicing in hope of the glory of GOD. I hear of wonderful\nthings in _Scotland_. I can only fall down and worship. I have seen\ngreater things than ever in _England_. I expect to see far greater in\n_Scotland_. Our LORD will not let his people be disappointed of their\nhopes. But I must away. We were very happy together with some other\ndear friends last night. I have not seen your Lordship\u2019s daughters,\nthough they have been so kind as to send to enquire after my health.\nI hope to see them to-day; and am, my Lord, with all possible respect,\nmy Lord,\n\n Your Lordship\u2019s most obedient humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXXIV.\n\n _To the Reverend Mr. M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Cambuslang._\n\n _Edinburgh, June 8, 1742._\n _Reverend and very dear Brother_,\n\nI Heartily rejoice at the awakening at _Cambuslang_, and elsewhere.\nI believe you will both see and hear of far greater things than these.\nI trust that not one corner of poor _Scotland_ will be left unwatered\nby the dew of GOD\u2019s heavenly blessing. The cloud is now only rising as\nbig as a man\u2019s hand; yet a little while, and we shall hear a sound of\nan abundance of gospel rain. Our glorious _Emmanuel_ has given us much\nof his divine presence since my arrival. O that it may accompany me to\n_Cambuslang_! GOD willing, I hope to be with you the beginning of next\nweek; but cannot exactly tell the day. In the mean while, forget not\nto pray for, reverend and dear brother,\n\n Yours most affectionately in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXXV.\n\n _To the Reverend Mr. E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Sterling._\n\n _Edinburgh, June 10, 1742._\n _Reverend and very dear Sir_,\n\nI Am now at Mr. _G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s house; and finding his wife about to set out\nfor _Sterling_, the love which I bear you, for my dear Master\u2019s sake,\nconstrains me to send you a line. It is some concern to me, that our\ndifference as to outward things, should cut off our sweet fellowship\nand communion with each other. GOD knows my heart, I highly value\nand honour you. Reverend and dear Sir, I do assure you I love you and\nyour brethren more than ever. I applaud your zeal for GOD; and though,\nin some respects, I think it not according to knowledge, and to be\nlevelled frequently against me, yet indeed I feel no resentment in\nmy heart, and should joyfully sit down and hear you and your other\nbrethren preach. I salute them all; and pray our common LORD to give\nus all a right judgment in all things. I hope the glorious _Emmanuel_\nwill be present at the sacrament, and make himself known to you in\nbreaking of bread. I have made bold to send you the inclosed pamphlets,\nand should be glad to know your opinion of them. When I shall come to\n_Sterling_, I know not. However, I earnestly pray for you and yours.\nI could drop a tear. O when shall the time come, when the watchmen\nwill see eye to eye? Hasten that time, our LORD and our GOD! But\nperhaps I am troublesome. Forgive me, reverend and dear Sir, being,\nwithout dissimulation, your\n\n Younger brother and servant in the gospel of CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXXVI.\n\n _To Mr. D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in London._\n\n _Edinburgh, July 7, 1742._\n _Dear Friend_,\n\nI Arrived here last _Saturday_ evening from the _West_, where I\npreached all the last week: as, twice on _Monday_ at _Paisley_, six\nmiles from _Glasgow_; on the _Tuesday_ and _Wednesday_, three times\neach day, at _Irvine_, 16 miles from thence; on _Thursday_, twice\nat _Mearns_, fifteen miles from that; on _Friday_, three times at\n\u2666_Cumbernauld_; and on _Saturday_, twice at _Falkirk_, in my way to\n_Edinburgh_. In every place there was the greatest commotion among\nthe people as was ever known. Their mourning in most of the places,\nwas like the mourning for a first-born. The auditories were very\nlarge, and the work of GOD seems to be spreading more and more. Last\nsabbath-day I preached twice in the park, and once in the church, and\ntwice every day since. A number of seats and shades, in the form of an\namphitheatre, have been erected in the park, where the auditory sit in\na beautiful order. I have received very agreeable news from my family\nabroad.\u2015\u2015I purpose going to _Cambuslang_ to-morrow, in order to assist\nat the communion; and shall preach at various places westward before\nI return here. I intend to embark for _America_ as soon as possible\nafter I leave _Scotland_. Thus you see, my dear brother, how I have\nbeen employed. O give thanks to our blessed Saviour, for his great\nunparalleled goodness to a most unworthy worm. Indeed I have seen and\nfelt such things, as I never saw and felt before. I never was enabled\nto preach so powerfully as whilst I have been in the _West_. I hear\nthat brother _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ is in the country, and that you exhort in the\nsociety. May the LORD open your mouth, and cause your lips to shew\nforth his praise! Let us talk of his loving-kindness all the day long.\nGOD gives me faith for my poor orphans. Help me with your prayers.\nGOD will supply all my wants. Glory be to his name, I am kept from\ndoubting. My brother, I love you dearly. You have been a close and\nfaithful brother. May the LORD bless you and yours. Adieu! Pray fail\nnot of writing as particular as may be, to,\n\n Most affectionately yours in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n \u2666 \u2018Cambernauld\u2019 replaced with \u2018Cumbernauld\u2019\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXXVII.\n\n _To Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at the Orphan-house._\n\n _Edinburgh, July 7, 1742._\n _My very dear friend, faithful steward, and brother in_ CHRIST,\n\nLAST _Monday_ I received an agreeable packet of letters from you. I\nthink they are dated in _October_ and _December_ last. They rejoiced\nour hearts. As soon as I read yours, my wife said, let us give thanks\nand pray. Accordingly we kneeled down, and had very near access to the\nFather of Mercies on your behalf. At night, after our coming home, we\ndid the same. Our common LORD enabled us to wrestle in faith. We all\nfelt our hearts drawn mightily towards you. I could wish for wings to\nfly unto you. I long to thank you in person, for your faithfulness to\nyour poor unworthy, but most affectionate friend. My dear brother, GOD\nis still doing greater things for me than ever. The awakening here in\n_Scotland_ is unspeakable. The congregations in the _West_, are just\nlike those which you and I saw at _Foggs-Manor_, in _Pensylvania_.\nGOD seems to awaken scores together. I never was enabled to preach so\nbefore. O that I may lie low at the feet of my dear Redeemer! to whose\nimage I am studying to be more conformed every day. Your letter to\ndear brother _A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ pleased us very much. I have desired him to print\nit. I paid a three hundred pound bill drawn upon me by Mr. _N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, as\nwell as Mr. _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s: whether you include that in the eleven thousand\npounds, I know not. However, blessed be GOD, if it were eleven\nthousand more I hope I should be kept from doubting. At present, I am\nlooking up to our great Housholder for fresh supplies; which I believe\nhe will give me, and which I will send to you as soon as possible.\nI hope to see you soon, and to thank you in particular for your\nfaithfulness to me. My friend and brother, you shall in no wise lose\nyour reward. I believe GOD will take _Georgia_ into his own hands. Its\naffairs have lately been before the House of Commons. Mr. _Ste\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\nwas reprimanded for his abuse of the trustees; the use of rum was\ngranted, but the use of slaves denied. Let us stand still, be instant\nin prayer, and we shall certainly see the salvation of GOD. I am\nyet made to hope against hope, in behalf of poor _Georgia_. The LORD\nstrengthen your weak body, and continually comfort your soul. That you\nmay be filled with all the fulness of GOD, is the hearty prayer of,\ndear Mr. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Yours eternally in the strictest bonds of gospel love,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXXVIII.\n\n _To Mrs. Whitefield._\n\n _Edinburgh, July 7, 1742._\n _My dear Love_,\n\nSINCE I wrote the last, I have seen such things as I never beheld\nbefore. Yesterday morning I preached at _Glasgow_ to a very large\ncongregation. At noon I came to _Cambuslang_, the place which GOD hath\nso much honoured. I preached at two, to a vast body of people, and\nat six in the evening, and again at nine at night. Such a commotion\nsurely never was heard of, especially at eleven at night. It far\nout-did all that I ever saw in _America_. For about an hour and a\nhalf there was such weeping, so many falling into deep distress, and\nexpressing it various ways, as is inexpressible. The people seem to\nbe slain by scores. They are carried off, and come into the house\nlike soldiers wounded in, and carried off a field of battle. Their\ncries and agonies are exceedingly affecting. Mr. _M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ preached\nafter I had ended, till past one in the morning, and then could scarce\npersuade them to depart. All night in the fields, might be heard\nthe voice of prayer and praise. Some young ladies were found by a\ngentlewoman praising GOD at break of day. She went and joined with\nthem. The LORD is indeed much with me. I have preached twice to-day\nalready, and am to preach twice, perhaps three times more. The\ncommotions increase. To-morrow, and on sabbath-day, I shall preach at\n_Calder_; on _Monday_, here again; and on _Tuesday_ at _Kilsyth_, and\nthen, GOD willing, at _Glasgow_. I am persuaded the work will spread\nmore and more. My kindest respects to all. Accept of the same from, my\ndear love,\n\n Yours, &c.\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXXIX.\n\n _To the Reverend Mr. W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, of Dundee._\n\n _Edinburgh, July 7, 1742._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nYOUR letter gave me some little concern, I thought it breathed much of\na sectarian spirit; to which I hoped dear Mr. _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ was quite averse.\nMethinks you seem, dear Sir, not satisfied, unless I declare myself a\nPresbyterian, and openly renounce the church of _England_. GOD knows\nthat I have been faithful in bearing a testimony against what I think\nis corrupt in that church. I have shewn my freedom in communicating\nwith the church of _Scotland_, and in baptizing children their own way.\nI can go no further. As for what you mention about the Quakers, I know\nnot what particular exceptionable passages there were in my sermons,\nin which I mentioned them. That some good souls are among the\nQuakers, I doubt not.\u2015\u2015For such I have charity, because our LORD hath\ngiven to them his spirit.\u2015\u2015Though I am a strenuous defender of the\nrighteousness of CHRIST, and utterly detest _Arminian_ principles, yet\nI know that GOD gave me the Holy Ghost, before I was clear in either\nas to head-knowledge: and therefore, dear Sir, I am the more moderate\nto people who are not clear, supposing I see the divine image stamped\nupon their hearts. Mr. _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, Mr. _L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, &c. I take to be holy men\nof GOD, though they think far widely from me, and from each other in\nsome particular branches of doctrine. Dear Sir, be not offended at my\nplain speaking. I find but few of a truly catholic spirit. Most are\ncatholic till they bring persons over to their own party, and there\nthey would fetter them. I have not so learned CHRIST. I desire to act\nas GOD acts. I shall approve, and join with all who are good in every\nsect, and cast a mantle of love over all that are bad, so far as is\nconsistent with a good conscience. This I can do without temporizing;\nnay I should defile my conscience if I did otherwise. As for my\nanswer to Mr. _M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, dear Sir, it is very satisfying to my own soul.\nMorning and evening retirement is certainly exceeding good; but if\nthrough weakness of body, or frequency of preaching, I cannot go to\nGOD in my usual set times, I think my spirit is not in bondage. It\nis not for me to tell how often I use secret prayer; if I did not use\nit, nay, if in one sense I did not pray without ceasing, it would be\ndifficult for me to keep up that frame of soul, which by the divine\nblessing I daily enjoy. If the work of GOD prospers, and your hands\nbecome more full, you will then, dear Sir, know better what I mean.\nBut enough of this. GOD knows my heart, I would do every thing I\npossibly could, to satisfy all men, and give a reason of the hope that\nis in me with meekness and fear; but I cannot satisfy all that are\nwaiting for an occasion to find fault: our LORD could not; I therefore\ndespair of doing it. However, dear Sir, I take what you have said in\nvery good part: only I think you are too solicitous to clear up my\ncharacter to captious and prejudiced men. Let my master speak for me.\nBlessed be GOD, he will, so long as I simply throw myself into his\nalmighty arms. I am glad the work goes on with you. Glory be to GOD,\nwe have seen glorious things in the _West_. My tender love to all that\nare pleased to remember me. When I shall come your way, I know not.\nOn _Friday_, GOD willing, I go to _Cambuslang_, where I expect to see\ngreat days of the son of man. That GOD may bless you abundantly more\nand more, and cause your latter end greatly to increase, is the hearty\nprayer of, reverend and dear Sir,\n\n Yours &c.\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXXX.\n\n _To the Reverend Mr. A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Dublin._\n\n _Glasgow, July 12, 1742._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nON _Saturday_ I received your very kind letter, and being just now\nreturned from _Cambuslang_, I snatch a few moments to acknowledge it.\nI have long since waited for a call to _Ireland_. In such an important\nstep, I care not to proceed without great caution. When I find the\ncloud of divine providence moving your way, I trust the language of\nmy heart will be, LORD, I come to do or suffer thy will! In the mean\nwhile, I will watch unto prayer. I doubt not but you, reverend and\ndear Sir, will help me herein. I thank you most heartily, for being\njealous over me. I believe it is with a godly jealousy. I wish I was\nmore jealous over myself. But blessed be GOD, this I can say in the\nmidst of the honours wherewith the glorious _Emmanuel_ hath honoured\nme, \u201cNot unto me, O LORD, not unto me, but unto thy name be all the\nglory.\u201d Dear Sir, I think I am the worst of the sons of men. Yet I\ndare not deny what the blessed JESUS hath done for my sinful soul. He\nis pleased (O infinitely condescending GOD!) to honour me still more\nand more. _Saturday_ last I came to _Cambuslang_, and I think I never\nsaw such things before. The work seems to be spreading. O that it may\nreach and overspread poor _Ireland_ also! All things are possible with\nGOD. Now the LORD is watering so many other places, I pray he may not\nleave that intirely destitute and dry.\u2015\u2015O for faith to expect great,\nand very great things from GOD! He does not love to disappoint people\nof their hope. Dear Sir, my heart is now enlarged with a sense of\nthe freeness and fulness of the Redeemer\u2019s loving-kindness. You, dear\nSir, are an old weather beaten soldier. You are ripened for glory, and\nare ready to sing your _Nunc dimittis_\u00b9.\u2015\u2015I am just about to begin to\nbe a soldier. But, blessed be GOD, I shall follow soon. The hopes of\nbringing more souls to JESUS CHRIST, is the only consideration that\ncan reconcile me to life. For this cause I can willingly stay long\nfrom my wish\u2019d-for home, my wished-for JESUS. But whither am I going?\nI forget myself when writing of JESUS . His love fills my soul, O free\ngrace! Surely I shall sing the loudest in heaven; but I must have done;\nnature calls for rest. Depending on the continuance of your prayers,\nand with my hearty salutation to all that love the blessed JESUS, I\nsubscribe myself, reverend and dear Sir,\n\n Your most affectionate, though younger and most unworthy brother\n and servant in the gospel of GOD\u2019s dear Son,\n\n _G. W._\n\n \u00b9 Now lettest thou thy servant, &c.\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXXXI.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in London._\n\n _New-Kilpatrick, July 15, 1742._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nOF all my fellow-labourers letters, I think yours come the sweetest\nto my soul. You do not forget the rock from whence you was hewn, and\ntherefore the LORD will honour you more and more. Though I have so\nsmall a degree of humility myself, I can see and admire it in others.\nIt is the queen of graces. O beg of the exalted JESUS to make me\nhumble. Indeed I have need of humility, for I am honoured more and\nmore. What I have sent you already, does not near come up to what I\nhave seen since. Last _Thursday_ night, and _Friday_ morning, there\nwas such a shock in _Edinburgh_ as I never felt before. O what a\nmelting and weeping was there! I have heard blessed effects of it\nsince. All glory be to GOD through CHRIST. On _Friday_ night I came to\n_Cambuslang_, to assist at the blessed sacrament. On _Saturday_ I\npreached to above twenty thousand people. In my prayer the power\nof GOD came down and was greatly felt. In my two sermons, there was\nyet more power. On sabbath day, scarce ever was such a sight seen in\n_Scotland_. There were undoubtedly upwards of twenty thousand people.\nTwo tents were set up, and the holy sacrament was administered in\nthe fields. When I began to serve a table, the power of GOD was felt\nby numbers; but the people crouded so upon me, that I was obliged\nto desist and go to preach at one of the tents, whilst the ministers\nserved the rest of the tables. GOD was with them, and with his people.\nThere was preaching all day by one or another, and in the evening,\nwhen the sacrament was over, at the request of the ministers I\npreached to the whole congregation. I preached about an hour and a\nhalf. Surely it was a time much to be remembered. On _Monday_ morning,\nI preached again to near as many; but such an universal stir I never\nsaw before. The motion fled as swift as lightning from one end of the\nauditory to another. You might have seen thousands bathed in tears.\nSome at the same time wringing their hands, others almost swooning,\nand others crying out, and mourning over a pierced Saviour. But I must\nnot attempt to describe it. In the afternoon, the concern again was\nvery great. Much prayer had been previously put up to the LORD. All\nnight in different companies, you might have heard persons praying to,\nand praising GOD. The children of GOD came from all quarters. It was\nlike the passover in _Josiah_\u2019s time. We are to have another in about\ntwo or three months, if the LORD will. One Mr. _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, a minister,\nwho has great popular gifts, was as well as others much owned and\nhelped at this time. On _Tuesday_ morning I preached at _Glasgow_, (it\nwas a most glorious time) and in the afternoon twice at _Inchannon_.\nThe LORD gave a blow to many. Yesterday morning I preached there\nagain, and here twice. Every time there was a great stir, especially\nat this place. A great company of awakened souls is within the compass\nof twenty miles, and the work seems to be spreading apace. I am\nexceedingly strengthened, O unmerited mercy! both in soul and body,\nand cannot now do well without preaching three times a day. The LORD\ngives me great confidence about the Orphan-house, and assures me that\nhe will provide for me and mine. O help me to thank him. Call upon all\nto bless his holy name. I know you will not be slack to praise him. I\nrejoice, my dear brother, to find that you enjoy so much of GOD. May\nhe fill you with all his fulness. The trials you meet with, will only\nmake you a more able minister of the New Testament. I am of your mind\nwith respect to \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015. He will not prosper. The LORD hates sectarian\nzeal. Dear brother, adieu. Expect to hear every opportunity from\n\n Yours most affectionately and eternally in the blessed JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXXXII.\n\n _To the Reverend Mr. R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in London._\n\n _Inchannon, July 21, 1742._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nI Heartily rejoice that the LORD is blessing and owning you. Go on,\ndear Sir, go on, and you will certainly find the glorious _Emmanuel_\nwill be with you more and more. It is observable, that there is but\none thing in scripture, that we are commanded to do out of season,\n_preaching_. Be instant therefore, dear Sir, in season and out of\nseason. The LORD will stand by you and strengthen you, and deliver you\nfrom wicked and unreasonable men. You will find the blessedness of the\ncross, and the spirit of CHRIST and of glory to rest upon your soul.\nThe Messrs. _E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ and their adherents, would you think it, have\nappointed a publick fast to humble themselves, among other things, for\nmy being received in _Scotland_, and for the delusion, as they term it,\nat _Cambuslang_, and other places; and all this, because I would not\nconsent to preach only for them, till I had light into, and could take\nthe solemn league and covenant.\u2015\u2015But to what lengths may prejudice\ncarry even good men?\u2015\u2015From giving way to the first risings of bigotry\nand a party spirit, good LORD deliver us!\n\n Your most affectionate brother in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXXXIII.\n\n _To Mr. M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Morpeth._\n\n _Edinburgh, July 26, 1742._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nI Just now received and read your letter. It much affected me. It\nbespeaks the language of an uneasy restless heart. In reading it, I\nthought of the great _Austin_, who used, when he prayed against lust,\nsecretly to wish that his prayer might not be answered, and yet he\nmade a most eminent saint, and shone in the church as a star of the\nfirst magnitude. I likewise thought how our Saviour would receive\nyou, if here on earth; even as he received and answered the poor woman\ntaken in adultery.\u2015\u2015I am sure he would say, \u201cNeither do I condemn\nthee.\u201d Another text offers itself, \u201cI will heal their backslidings,\nand love them freely.\u201d GOD does not say, I will heal thy backsliding\nfor any certain term of years, but I will heal thy backslidings in\ngeneral. Dear Sir, if you have been a backslider these fifty years,\nnay, was it possible for you to have been a backslider a thousand\nyears, yet if with hearty repentance and true faith you turn unto\nhim, he will abundantly pardon you. O dear Sir, if any one had need\nto despair of mercy, I had; but JESUS has washed me in his blood,\nand I know that my Redeemer liveth. Your temptations, and atheism,\nand hard thoughts of GOD, do not surprize me. Dear Sir, what else can\nbe expected from a heart desperately wicked, and deceitful above all\nthings? Dear Sir, let all this drive you to the fountain which is open\nfor sin and all uncleanness. I once, in your circumstances, thought\nCHRIST was hard-hearted; but now I find, nay have long since found,\nthat his heart is full of love. Take courage, dear Sir; draw near to\nthe Lamb of GOD that taketh away the sin of the world. Return, thou\nwandering prodigal, thy heavenly father is running to meet thee.\u2015\u2015Come\nback, thou fluttering dove, JESUS is ready to take thee into the ark.\nMay GOD bless this to you! If he does, I will bless his name. I am a\nvile sinner, and have need to lie low before him, whom I have pierced\nby my transgression and unprofitableness, times without number. In his\nblood and righteousness I find perpetual refuge. Many in these parts\nare flying to him. May you, Sir, add to the happy number. You are but\na sinner, and JESUS died for sinners. Come and welcome to JESUS CHRIST.\nI expect to remain in _Scotland_ a few months, and hope to be your way,\nif the LORD direct. If your way should be directed hither, I should\nbe glad to see you; if not, you are welcome to write to me. As my\nmultiplicity of affairs will admit, you shall be answered by, dear Sir,\n\n Your truly affectionate friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXXXIV.\n\n _To the Reverend Mr. McL\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Edinburgh, July 28, 1742._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nWITH this, I suppose, you will receive several young ones, who I think\nhave acted wrong in leaving their respective employs under parents\nand masters to go after me. Be pleased to examine them, and send them\nhome. The LORD was with me at _Falkirk_, and is pleased to work by me\nhere. O free grace! I am persuaded I shall have more power, since dear\nMr. _G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ hath printed such a bitter pamphlet. Now I begin to be a\ndisciple of JESUS CHRIST, I rejoice and am exceeding glad. The archers\nshot sore at me that I might fall, but the LORD is, and the LORD will\nbe my helper. At present I can add no more; but beg the continuance of\nyour prayers for me and mine. We all join in hearty salutation to you\nand your whole houshold. I am, reverend and dear Sir,\n\n Your most obedient humble servant, and brother in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXXXV.\n\n _To Mr. D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in London._\n\n _Edinburgh, July 30, 1742._\n _Dear Brother A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nWHAT is the meaning I hear no oftner from you? It always gives me\ngreat pleasure to hear of your welfare. I write to you as often as\npossible. At present I am somewhat indisposed in body; but, glory be\nto GOD, the joy of the LORD is in my soul. I feel a blessing I cannot\nexpress.\n\n\n _July 31._\n\nSo far I wrote yesterday, but was obliged through illness to leave\noff.\u2015\u2015Notwithstanding, in the pulpit the LORD out of weakness makes\nme to wax strong, and causes me to triumph more and more. One of the\nassociate presbytery has published the most virulent pamphlet I ever\nsaw, ascribing all that has been done here, and even in _New-England_,\n&c. to the influence of the devil. O how prejudice will blind the eyes\neven of good men. Last night some of my friends thought I was going\noff; but how did JESUS fill my heart! To-day I am, as they call it,\nmuch better; next post, if able, I will send you some more news. My\nhealth will not permit me to enlarge now. In less than a month, we\nare to have another sacrament at _Cambuslang_, a thing not practised\nbefore in _Scotland_. I entreat all to pray in an especial manner for\na blessing at that time. Our blessed master is exceeding good to us.\nO help me to praise him for the signal unmerited mercies conferred on,\ndear brother _A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your most affectionate brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXXXVI.\n\n _To Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in South-Carolina._\n\n _August 6, 1742._\n _Dear Mr. B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Have just been walking with a nobleman\nin his fine house, and likewise talking with him about the house not\nmade with hands, of which you and I are heirs. Blessed be GOD, who\nhas given us the earnest of an inheritance amongst all them that are\nsanctified. This you shall surely in a very little time be a possessor\nof, notwithstanding of late satan has bruised your heel. That cunning,\ncruel archer has shot sorely at you, that you might fall, but the\nLORD has been, and the LORD will be your helper. Even this shall work\ntogether for good to your own and many other souls. Our Saviour would\nnever have given satan leave to have sifted you, had he not prayed\nfor you, and intended to bring great good out of it. If it makes\nyou more like a little child, and your friends and acquaintance more\nwatchful and self-diffident, it will be very well. O dear Sir, I\nsee every day plainer and plainer that I am nothing, have nothing,\nand can do nothing, and yet I can do all things through JESUS CHRIST\nstrengthening me. What GOD has lately done for me and his church, is\nunspeakable. Ere long I hope to tell you face to face. In the mean\ntime, be pleased to remember me in your prayers and praises. Accept\nmy hearty thanks for all favours conferr\u2019d on my orphan family. Be\npleased to remember me in the kindest and most cordial manner, to all\nyour dear relations, and believe me to be, dear Mr. _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your most obliged affectionate friend, brother\n and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXXXVII.\n\n _To Mr. R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Strath-martin, August 10, 1742._\n _Dear brother Robert_,\n\nI Can never let a letter of yours lie long unanswered. The love I\nbear to you and yours is unfeigned, and I continually remember you\nbefore the LORD. His word runs and is much glorified in these parts.\nI trust it also makes advances in your soul. How is it with you, my\ndear brother _R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_? Do you grow in grace? Is the world more under\nyour feet than usual? Do you find a real, solid, abiding rest in\nJESUS CHRIST? Or is it only transitory and superficial? It is a very\nuncommon thing to be rooted and grounded in the love of JESUS. I find\npersons may have the idea, but are far from having the real substance.\nTo say, \u201cI am a poor sinner,\u201d and to be a poor sinner indeed, are two\ndifferent things. Methinks I hear my dear man say, and so they are.\nWell then, let us go to JESUS, and he will make us poor and yet free.\nBlessed be his name, I feel the power of his precious, life-giving,\nall-atoning blood more and more every day. I was happy when at\n_London_. I am ten times happier now. The LORD hath done great things\nfor us, whereof we are glad. How is my dear _Peter_? Is his heart yet\nestablished and settled upon the rock? Or is the dove only fluttering\nabout the door of the ark? If so, may the dear Redeemer reach out\nhis almighty and extended arm, and take him in! Dear _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ I hope\ngrows, because he seems to see more of his heart. We shall certainly\nbear fruit upwards, in proportion as we take root downwards. May the\neternal spirit breathe upon this letter, and bless it to your soul!\nO my brother, keep close to JESUS. Do not be content, unless you feel\na sensible growth in your soul. Accept my hearty love from,\n\n Ever yours,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXXXVIII.\n\n _To P\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at London._\n\n _Strath-martin, August 10, 1742._\n _Dear P\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nTHE great trouble which I gave you when at _London_, and the readiness\nyou shewed in waiting upon a poor unworthy minister of CHRIST, hath\nmade me often to pray for you, and also to hope, that in time you\nwould be brought to love the LORD JESUS himself. I trust that time is\nnow come, and that the glorious _Emmanuel_ hath at length captivated\nand taken full possession of your heart. Will you give me leave to ask\na few friendly questions? Has religion sunk out of your head into your\nheart? You was civilized when I was at _London_: Are you yet really\nconverted? Your affections were now and then raised towards,\u2015\u2015are they\nnow centered in and fixed on the LORD JESUS? If you can answer these\nquestions in the affirmative, I pronounce you a wise virgin, even wise\nto eternal salvation; blessed art thou among women. If not, I do not\ndespair of you. JESUS can change the heart. JESUS can make of a proud\npharisee, a poor sinner. Let you and I then, dear _P\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, apply to\nthe Redeemer\u2019s blood. He can wash us as white as snow. I feel his\npower every day more and more, and so do those with me. May we go on\nfrom strength to strength, till grace be swallowed up in glory. We\nsee great days of the son of man in _Scotland_. May the kingdom of GOD\ncome with full power over all the earth! The LORD be with you. Accept\nthis as a token of unfeigned love, from\n\n Your affectionate friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXXXIX.\n\n _To Mr. B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at the Orphan-house._\n\n _Cambuslang, August 17, 1742._\n\nAND has my dear brother _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ got the start of me? What, put into\nprison before me? I wish you joy, my dear brother, with all my heart.\nHad I been at _Savannah_, surely I would gladly have come (and if\nthere had been need) gladly have washed your feet. I doubt not but\nyour imprisonment was for CHRIST\u2019s sake. I am persuaded, the letter\nfrom your friend that doubted, was the sorest stab of all; but all\nis intended to draw us from the creature, even from the new creature,\nand bring us nearer to the Creator, GOD blessed for evermore. _Paul_\u2019s\nfriends deserted, and no doubt judged him. \u201cAll they in _Asia_ forsook\nme,\u201d says he; and again, \u201cAt my first trial no man stood by me;\u201d\nand what follows? but \u201cthe LORD stood by me:\u201d and will he not, dear\nbrother, also stand by you? I cannot help believing but that _Georgia_\nwill yet be a glorious colony. The counsel of GOD shall stand. He\nsurely put it into my heart to build the Orphan-house. He certainly\nbrought you to _Georgia_ to superintend it. He will bless you and\nyours. I join in blessing GOD with you, and in admiring how he has\nspread a table for my dear family in that wilderness. But what shall\nwe say? The LORD loves to encourage faith; and since his honour is so\nmuch concerned, I am sure he will vindicate it, and never suffer his\nenemies to say thus of us, \u201cThere, there, so would we have it.\u201d I am\nkept from the least doubting; and GOD only knows how many prayers of\nfaith I have put up for you. I have often wished as it were for the\nwings of a dove, that I might fly unto you, and take you one by one\ninto my unworthy arms, and weep over you with tears of love. Blessed\nbe GOD, the time draws near apace. I am just now about to publish a\nfurther account of the Orphan-house, and hope shortly to collect some\nmore money towards its support. I am blessed with far greater success\nthan ever, and satan roars louder. You will see by what I here send,\nhow the archers of different classes shoot at me; but the LORD (for\never adored be his never-failing love) causes my bow to abide in\nstrength, and enables me to triumph in every place. The comforts\nand success the LORD gives to me, is unspeakable. Last LORD\u2019s day, I\nbelieve there were here thirty thousand people, and above two thousand\nfive hundred communicants. The work spreads, and I believe will yet\nspread. My bodily strength is daily renewed, and I mount on the wings\nof faith and love like an eagle. I can only cry Grace! grace! My dear\nbrother, I feel every day more and more, that I am a poor, very poor\nsinner. I often wonder why JESUS suffers me to live, much more to\nspeak for him. But he will have mercy on whom he will have mercy. O\nfree grace! Oh unparalleled love of an infinitely condescending GOD!\nWhilst I am musing, the fire kindles. Surely we shall have a happy\nmeeting in _Georgia_. My Master will, I trust, come along with me.\nOtherwise, may I not go up hence. In the mean while, I pray him to\nquicken and revive your dear souls, and fill you as with new wine.\nThus he deals with me and mine daily. I am retired for a day, on\npurpose to write letters. The LORD bless them to your dear souls, whom\nI love in the bowels of JESUS CHRIST. I wish you had told me who stood\nby at _Savannah_ and brought you refreshment. Greet them, and give\nthem particular thanks in my name. My heart is full; I know not how to\nstop. But I must write to the trustees, and to others. I heard nothing\nof the affair, till I received your letter last week. A word or two\nof yours to Mr. _O\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, I think a little too harsh; but _Paul_ spoke\nonce a little too harsh to the high-priest. Our JESUS will overlook\nthis; and reward you for your imprisonment by and by. Adieu! my dear\nman, adieu! Forget not,\n\n Ever yours,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXL.\n\n _To the Honourable Trustees for Georgia._\n\n _Cambuslang, Aug. 17, 1742._\n _Honoured Gentlemen_,\n\nSOME letters, which I received last week from _Georgia_, occasion my\ntroubling you with this, which I doubt not will meet with a candid\nreception at your hands. I find that Mr. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ and Mr. _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ have\nbeen taken up by a warrant, and were imprisoned above a week, for a\nthing which, I believe, none of you, honoured gentlemen, will judge\ncognizable by the civil magistrate. It seems that Mr. _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, in a\nprivate conversation with Mr. _O\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, (who, I suppose, is the present\nminister of _Savannah_) told him, \u201cHe was no \u2018christian\u2019; that he\nwondered at the impudence of young men in subscribing articles they\ndid not believe; and that he should think it his duty to warn his\nfriends not to hear him.\u201d I acknowledge that such language was too\nharsh; but Mr. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, who did not say near so much, was linked in\nthe same prosecution, and imprisoned with him. Mr. _J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, who was\nthen at _Frederica_, being informed of it, declared such a procedure\nto be illegal; and his Excellency General _Oglethorp_, desired my\nfriends to lay the matter before the board of the Honourable Trustees.\nI being now upon the spot, they have sent to me a very particular\naccount of what has passed; which, if you please, honoured gentlemen,\nI will transmit unto you, or, when I come to _London_, will wait upon\nyou in person. I find also, that my friends were denied a copy of\nthe proceedings of the court: in which, I am persuaded the honourable\ngentlemen to whom I am writing, will think they have been wronged.\nMy friends require no satisfaction, but only desire such a proceeding\nmay be animadverted upon; knowing that otherwise it will be a great\ndiscouragement to people\u2019s settling in _Georgia_. I am sorry also\nto inform you, honoured gentlemen, that five very small children,\n(_Swiss_ or _Dutch_) whose parents lately died in their passage from\n_England_, have had their goods sold at _Vendue_, and are bound out\ntill the age of twenty-one years. This I think directly contrary\nto the grant given me by you, honoured gentlemen; for thereby I\nwas impowered to take as many orphans into the house as my fund\nwould admit of. The magistrates, I understand, have also been at the\nOrphan-house, and claim a power to take away the children when they\nplease, whether the children chuse it, or complain of ill-treatment,\nor not. This grieves some of the children, and makes others of them\ninsolent, who are hereby taught, that they have a power to go away\nwhen they will. This, honoured gentlemen, must be very discouraging to\nthose who are entrusted with their education; and who, I am persuaded,\naim at nothing but the glory of GOD, the welfare of the colony, and\nthe salvation of the children\u2019s souls. I suppose that the magistrates\n(I mean Mr. _P\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ and Mr. _T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_) have taken such a liberty from\nthe instructions which were sent, honoured gentlemen, from you some\ntime ago. But Mr. _J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ has told them, they have misunderstood you;\nand his Excellency General _Oglethorp_ I find has wrote to you,\nhonoured gentlemen, about it. By the accounts I have, our plantation\nthrives well; and Mr. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ hopes we shall do with white servants\nalone. I do assure you, honoured gentlemen, I will do all I can, with\nthe most disinterested views, to promote the good of _Georgia_: only\nI beg the management of the Orphan-house, and orphans, may be secured\nto me and my successors for ever; and that the magistrates be not\nsuffered to disturb us, when there is no ground of complaint. They\nacknowledged, when at the Orphan-house last, that the children were\ntaken good care of, both as to their bodies and souls; and will it\nnot then, honoured gentlemen, tend much to the welfare of the colony,\nthat the Orphan-house should meet with all possible encouragement.\nHis Excellency General _Oglethorp_ has informed my friend Mr. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\nthat, if I desired it, he thought you would grant me a greater tract\nof land, which I should be obliged to give away in a certain term of\nyears, and that we might have our own magistrates, as have the people\nof _Ebenezer_. Whether I shall desire such a favour, I know not; but,\nif I should, I desire to know, what you, honoured gentlemen, would\nsay to it. Many have applied to me to settle in _Georgia_; hitherto\nI could give them no encouragement. I wish I may be enabled to give\nthem a great deal for the future. Indeed, honoured gentlemen, I do not\ndesire to find fault. I doubt not but you have been prejudiced both\nagainst me and my friends. The event will shew what friends we are to\n_Georgia_. The Orphan-house will certainly be of great utility to the\ncolony; and the children educated therein, I trust, will be the glory\nof the society to which they belong. They are bred up to industry, as\nwell as to other things; and are taught to fear GOD, and honour the\nking. I am glad to hear that you have lately sent over a gentleman\nwho (I suppose) will do justice. I think I desire nothing else; and\nheartily pray GOD to bless him, and you, honoured gentlemen, and all\nthat are concerned in the management of _Georgia_ affairs. I hope to\nbe in town in about two months; in the mean while, I would beg the\nfavour of a line by your secretary; and also entreat you, honoured\ngentlemen, to write to the magistrates of _Savannah_, to let the\nOrphan-house managers alone. If I or my friends should happen to\nsay or do any thing amiss, I assure you, honoured gentlemen, you\nshall have all possible satisfaction given you by them, and also by,\nhonoured gentlemen,\n\n Your very humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXLI.\n\n _To Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Georgia._\n\n _Cambuslang, Aug. 17, 1742._\n _My very dear Friend and Brother_,\n\nWITH a great deal of pleasure I received your letters dated _May 14th_,\n_26th_, _29th_, and _June 1st_. Blessed be GOD! for all his goodness,\nin providing for my dear family in that wilderness, by such various\nunexpected ways. It caused my heart to leap for joy. I find you have\nbeen wrongfully imprisoned. I should have been glad (if time had\npermitted) that you had wrote me word, how it has been with your soul\nunder such a circumstance. I hope the spirit of CHRIST and of glory\nrested upon you. Glad should I have been to have sung and prayed\nwith you; but my hour is not yet come. I have just now wrote to the\ntrustees, and intend waiting upon them as soon as I come to _London_.\nI am persuaded the LORD will influence their hearts to do us justice.\nI am glad you wrote so properly to the General, and that GOD hath\ngiven you favour in his sight. \u201cWhen a man\u2019s ways please the LORD,\nhe makes his very enemies to be at peace with him.\u201d I intend sending\nhim and Mr. _Jones_ a letter of thanks. I owe Mr. _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ only about\nninety pounds, and about a hundred and fifty more in all, upon the\nOrphan-house account in _England_. I am just publishing a further\naccount, which I am persuaded the LORD will bless. I would not have\nyou to undertake any business you do not like. I think the LORD has\nfitted you for your present station. Professor _Franck_ held it\ndangerous to change persons frequently, who were entrusted with the\ncare of the orphans. I am of your opinion as to hiring servants.\u2015\u2015It\nis impossible to tell you, my dear man, what I have seen, heard, and\nfelt since I came last to _Scotland_. The glorious _Emmanuel_ rides\ndaily on in the chariot of his gospel, from conquering and to conquer.\nThe congregations are just like that at _Fogg-Manor_.\u2015\u2015I am opposed\non all sides. Dear Mr. _E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s people have lately kept a fast\nupon my account. The kirk presbyters also, now they see the Seceders\nsplitting, notwithstanding I have been instrumental in GOD\u2019s hands,\nin some degree, in stopping the secession, begin to call some of their\nministers to account for employing me: but who can stand before envy?\nIn the midst of all, my dear Master keeps me leaning upon himself,\nand causes me to walk in the comforts of the Holy Ghost from morning\nto night. I wish time would have allowed you to have wrote a little\nabout his love, and to have abounded more in thanks for the opportune\nsupplies which he sent you. But I am sure that my dear Mr. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ is\nnot wanting in either of these. I think that I see you grow in grace.\nI assure you, you are dearer to me than ever. My wife readily excuses\nyour not writing, knowing what it is to be in a hurry of business. O\npray that we may have a prosperous voyage to you, by the will of GOD.\nBy this time I suppose you are a father. May GOD teach you and your\nwife how to order the child! I have much to say to you both, when\nI see you. My dear old friend, and first fellow-traveller, GOD has\nyet great blessings in store for us. He will give grace and glory,\nand no good thing will he with-hold from them that lead a godly\nlife. Methinks I am conversing with you now. May GOD give us a happy\nmeeting! He will, he will! For the present I must bid my dear man good\nnight. I stole this day from public preaching, to dispatch my private\naffairs. All join in hearty love to, and prayers for you. Accept of\nthe same in the most tender manner, from, my dear Mr. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your most affectionate friend, brother, and servant till death,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXLII.\n\n _To his Excellency General Oglethorp._\n\n _Cambuslang, Aug. 18, 1742._\n _Honoured Sir_,\n\nI Most heartily thank you for being so kind to my family in _Georgia_,\nand for espousing my friends cause when I think they were apparently\nwronged. In a letter, I yesterday laid the case before the honourable\ntrustees, not doubting but they will preserve us from oppression, and\nfrom persecution in all its shapes. I think we have only the glory\nof GOD, and the good of the colony at heart. Prejudices may be raised\nagainst us by evil reports and misrepresentations; but your Excellency\nis more noble than to hearken to insinuations, which are not supported\nby evident matters of fact. I am sure GOD will bless you for defending\nthe cause of the fatherless, and espousing the cause of injured\ninnocence. My friends, I trust, will at all times readily acknowledge\nany thing they may either say or do wrong; and, if I know any thing of\nmy own heart, I would not offend any one causelessly and wilfully, for\nthe world. In a few months I hope to see _Georgia_. In the mean while,\nI beg your Excellency to accept these few lines of thanks from,\nhonoured Sir,\n\n Your Excellency\u2019s most obliged humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXLIII.\n\n _To Thomas J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, Esq., in Georgia._\n\n _Cambuslang, Aug. 18, 1742._\n _Dear Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nWITH this I send you my repeated thanks for your great kindness to\nmy dear family. The Father of Mercies and the GOD of all Consolations\nwill plentifully reward you for such well-doing. In a few months\nI hope to thank you in person. GOD hath done, and is still doing\ngreater things for me than I am able to express. Indeed many souls\nhave been born again, both in _England_ and _Scotland_, since I left\nyou at _Georgia_. I desire to cast my crown at the feet of JESUS,\nand to cry Grace! grace! Dear Sir, what a charming word is that? I am\nsure I can freely own, that all my salvation is of grace, unmerited,\ndistinguishing, electing grace! If I could be saved by my own\nrighteousness, I had rather be saved by the righteousness of CHRIST;\nbecause that way of salvation brings most glory to our glorious GOD. I\ndoubt not but Mr. _J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ is like-minded. May he be so more and more,\nand daily feel the full power of the Redeemer\u2019s blood! Be pleased to\nremember me to all that are pleased to enquire after unworthy me, who\nam, dear Sir,\n\n Your most obliged friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXLIV.\n\n _To Mrs. B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at the Orphan-house._\n\n _Cambuslang, Aug. 18, 1742._\n _Dear Sister B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nHAS the LORD called for your dear lambs? If so, I trust you have been\nenabled to say, \u201cThe LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away: blessed\nbe the name of the LORD.\u201d I am glad to find you was so well reconciled\nto your dear husband\u2019s imprisonment. It is sweet when wives are\nstrengthened to encourage their husbands in a suffering hour. Then\nare they helps meet for them indeed. You do well, my dear Sister, to\nlament the vileness of your heart. I find more and more that my heart\nis desperately wicked. But, blessed be GOD, I have a fountain to go\nand wash in every moment, even the blessed fountain of the Mediator\u2019s\nblood. There I can have free access; there I can wash, and daily be\nmade clean. Indeed, my dear sister, without dissimulation, I am a poor,\nvery poor sinner; but I am rich in JESUS, and rejoice in his great\nsalvation from day to day. I long to see you and my dear family, to\nacquaint you what GOD hath done for my soul: and yet he is still doing\nmore and more. He does, he will delight to honour me. I thank you\nfor the great respect you pay me for his great name\u2019s sake. I will\nendeavour not to be behind with you, and the rest of my dear friends,\nin humility and love. I am, my dear sister, most sincerely,\n\n Your affectionate friend, brother, and servant in JESUS CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXLV.\n\n _To Mr. B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Cambuslang, Aug. 18, 1742._\n _Dear Mr. B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Think there is a mystery in the LORD\u2019s dealing with you and your\nbrother. Surely he would never suffer you to be thus tempted, did he\nnot intend to honour you by and by. What our Saviour does to us now we\nknow not; it is enough that he hath assured us we shall know hereafter.\nI rejoice to hear that you have so many christian negroes. I hope they\nare only the first-fruits of a more glorious harvest. Though the work\nmay be at a stop for a while, fear not; JESUS will revive his own work\nin his own time. Notwithstanding our blunders, imprudence, and the\nopposition of enemies from without, yet the counsel of the LORD shall\nstand, and he will set his king upon his holy hill of _Zion_. The\nMediator\u2019s kingdom makes glorious advances here. I cannot tell you the\nhundredth part. I verily believe we shall see greater things abroad. I\nknow you pray that I may have a prosperous journey to you, by the will\nof GOD. I expect to embark for _Georgia_ in a few months. In the mean\nwhile, you shall not be forgotten by, dear Mr. _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your most affectionate friend, brother and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXLVI.\n\n _To Mrs. T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in South-Carolina._\n\n _Cambuslang, Aug. 18, 1742._\n _My dear Friend_,\n\nI Am glad to hear by your sister, that you are become a despised\nfollower of the lowly JESUS.\u2015\u2015O glorious character! I am persuaded you\nhad rather have that title truly applied to you, than to be empress\nof the universe. I long to see you, and to hear you tell what a happy\nchange you feel. How does dear Mr. _T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_? Is he yet truly broken,\nand going hand in hand with you to heaven? Happy pair!\u2015\u2015I know, by\nsweet experience, the comforts you enjoy. Death itself shall not part\nyou. I hope, nothing that has happened to dear Mr. _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ will prove\na stumbling block to your soul. Such things must be glory to him, that\nhas said \u201call things shall work together for good.\u201d My dear friends,\nwhat a mystery is the christian life? Happy those, who are acquainted\nwith it. That it may be revealed more and more in your hearts, is the\nearnest prayer of, dear friends,\n\n Your most affectionate friend, brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXLVII.\n\n _To Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Cambuslang, Aug. 26, 1742._\n _My very dear Brother_,\n\nGLAD was I last night to receive a letter from your hands. I love your\nsimple honest heart, and earnestly pray the dear Redeemer to give you\na true, lasting, abiding rest in himself. Blessed be his name, I think\nI can say, through free grace, that I am in a measure entered into it,\nand know what it is by happy experience, to pass from glory to glory\nevery day. My dear brother, I am opposed on every side; the archers\nshoot sore at me that I may fall, but the LORD is my helper. He causes\nmy bow to abide in strength, and makes me more than conqueror through\nhis love. The account sent with this, will shew you how often I\nhave been enabled to preach; but with what efficacy and success, pen\ncannot describe. The glorious Redeemer seems to be advancing from\ncongregation to congregation, carrying all before him. The Messrs.\n_E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s people have kept a fast for me, and give out, that all\nthe work now in _Scotland_ is only delusion, and by the agency of\nthe devil. O, my dear brother, to what great lengths in bigotry and\nprejudice may good men run? Blessed be GOD, I can see the differences\nbetween GOD\u2019s children, and yet love them from my heart. What you said\nabout poor _Wales_, affected me. I laid upon my face this day, and for\nsome time pleaded with groans unutterable, for direction in that, and\nseveral other matters of great consequence. I fear my dear brother\nthinks too highly of me. Indeed, I feel myself to be a poor sinner,\nand yet I am rich in CHRIST, and lean upon his bosom from morning to\nnight; nay, all the night long. By his grace alone I am what I am;\nand if he is pleased to honour me so far, I should be glad to help the\nbrethren in _Wales_. I am sorry to hear there has been such divisions.\nBut dividing times generally precede settling times. Upon the receipt\nof your last, I wrote to Mr. _O\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. Last night I received his\nanswer. He speaks very honourably of you, but thinks that you are too\ncensorious, in condemning a whole society for the faults of but some,\nand too bigotted also to your own way. My dear brother will excuse\nthis. I would not deal so freely, or take such liberty, did I not\nbelieve you would take it kindly. My brother, my soul loves you.\nDear Miss _Nancy_ wrote me word you was at my house, (I rejoiced) and\nthat you prayed heartily for unworthy me. The LORD reward, and fill\nyou with all joy and peace in believing! Our LORD is sovereign in\nhis dealing with his dear children. I walk in much liberty. O free\ngrace! Your being so exercised with inward conflicts, helps you to\nsearch hypocrites. But glory be to our heavenly Father, there is a\nglorious rest awaits us, and all the children of GOD. I think I feel\na foretaste of it now; nay, I believe I feel the thing itself in a\ndegree, and when I speak of it, I speak what I know. O infinitely\ncondescending GOD! My brother, my heart is full. The LORD JESUS bless\nyou, and fill your dear soul with all his fulness! So prays, with his\nwhole heart,\n\n Your most affectionate though most unworthy brother,\n and willing servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXLVIII.\n\n _To Mrs. L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Bristol._\n\n _Cambuslang, Aug. 26, 1742._\n _Honoured Mother_,\n\nI Rejoice to hear that you have been so long under my roof. Blessed\nbe GOD, that I have a house for my honoured mother to come to. You are\nheartily welcome to any thing my house affords, as long as you please.\nI am of the same mind now, as formerly. If need was, indeed these\nhands should administer to your necessities. I had rather want myself\nthan you should. I shall be highly pleased when I come to _Bristol_,\nand find you sitting in your youngest son\u2019s house. O that I may sit\nwith you, in the house not made with hands eternal in the heavens! Ere\nlong, your doom, honoured mother, will be fixed. You must shortly go\nhence, and be no more seen. Your only daughter, I trust, is now in the\nparadise of GOD. Methinks I hear her say, \u201cMother, come up hither.\u201d\nJESUS, I am sure, calls you in his word. May his spirit enable you to\nsay, \u201cLORD, lo I come!\u201d My honoured mother, I am happier and happier\nevery day. JESUS makes me exceeding happy in himself. I hope by Winter\nto be at _Bristol_. If any enquire after me, please to tell them, I am\nwell both in body and soul, and desire them to help me to praise free\nand sovereign grace. O that my dear, my very honoured mother may be\nmade an everlasting monument of it! How does my heart burn with love\nand duty to you? gladly would I wash your aged feet, and lean upon\nyour neck, and weep and pray \u2019till I could pray no more. With this\nI send you a thousand dutiful salutations, and ten thousand hearty\nand most humble thanks for all the pains you underwent in conceiving,\nbringing forth, nursing, and bringing up, honoured mother,\n\n Your most unworthy, though most dutiful son, \u2019till death,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXLIX.\n\n _To Mr. A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in London._\n\n _Cambuslang, Aug. 27, 1742._\n _My very dear Brother A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nTHIS day fortnight I came to this place, to assist at the sacramental\noccasion with several worthy ministers of the church of _Scotland_.\nSuch a passover has not been heard of. The voice of prayer and praise\nwas heard all night. It was supposed, that between 30 and 40,000\npeople were assembled, and 3000 communicated. There were three tents.\nThe ministers were enlarged, and great grace was among the people. I\npreached once on _Saturday_, once on the LORD\u2019s Day morning, served\nfive tables, and preached about ten at night to a great number in the\nChurch-yard. Though it rained much, there was a great awakening. On\n_Monday_ at seven in the morning, the Reverend Mr. _Webster_ preached,\nand there was a very great commotion, and also in the third sermon\nwhen I preached, a very great and serious concern was visible through\nthe whole solemnity. The LORD\u2019s people went home much refreshed. On\n_Thursday_ I preached twice at _Greenock_; on _Friday_ three times at\n_Kilbride_, and again on _Saturday_ once, and twice at _Stevenson_;\non _Sunday_ four times at _Irvine_. On _Monday_ once at _Irvine_, and\nthree times at _Kilmarnock_; on _Tuesday_ once at _Kilmarnock_, and\nfour times at _Stewarton_; on _Wednesday_ once at _Stewarton_, and\ntwice at the _Mearnes_; and yesterday twice at this place. I never\npreached with so much apparent success before. At _Greenock_, _Irvine_,\n_Kilbride_, _Kilmarnock_, and _Stewarton_, the concern was great:\nat the three last very extraordinary. The work seems to spread more\nand more. O, my friend, pray and give praise in behalf of the most\nunworthy wretch that was ever employed in the dear Redeemer\u2019s service.\nI speak this from my inmost soul. I must cry out continually, \u201cWhy\nme LORD, why me?\u201d My dear brother _A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, I love you dearly in the\nbowels of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. I think I could live with you always.\nThe LORD, I think, hath given you a meek and teachable disposition. O\nwhat is it to be as little children! I am glad to find, you so hunger\nand thirst after a continual abiding rest in GOD. Assure yourself,\nthe LORD will fill and satisfy your soul. He is faithful, who hath\npromised, who also will do it. Wait, and thou shalt see and feel the\nsalvation of GOD. I think I have seen it more for some days past, than\nin any journey before. Our Saviour loves to let us see yet greater\nthings. O for a large heart to receive all the fulness of GOD! I\nrejoice to hear that the LORD is with you at the Tabernacle. May his\nglory appear, and shine in it more and more! I believe it will: I\nbelieve GOD will bless your school. Our LORD\u2019s Disciples are generally\ntoo much in a hurry; at least I am. They are not content to wait. \u201cHe\nthat believeth, doth not make haste.\u201d O for a passive, tender, truly\nbroken, child-like heart! that we could watch in reality, and from\nmoment to moment hear the cry of every Christian, with every call from\nGOD, whether by his providence or spirit. It is said, that GOD brought\nand kept _Abraham_ at his feet. O that we were always there, waiting\nfor divine direction! Blessed be his name, I am for the most part at\nthe feet of JESUS, and indeed he graciously teaches me moment after\nmoment. I have many things before me now. I know brother _A\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ will\nhelp me by his prayers. Blessed be GOD, our heaven is begun here.\n\n Your truly affectionate brother and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCL.\n\n _To Mr. S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Deptford._\n\n _Glasgow, Sept. 2, 1742._\n _My very dear Brother C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Am just now come from the pulpit, wherein I have experienced much of\nthe Redeemer\u2019s power, and seen his stately outgoings in the sanctuary.\nMy brother, the cry of my heart is, \u201cand will GOD indeed dwell with\nsuch a wretch as I am.\u201d Methinks a voice echo\u2019s from above, \u201cI have\ndwelt in thee, I do dwell in thee, I will dwell in thee for evermore.\u201d\nMy heart replies, \u201cLORD, I believe and worship.\u201d\n\n _A heart that no desire can move,\n But still to adore, believe, and love._\n\nThis, my dear brother, is the present, and indeed continual bent of my\nsoul, which I trust prospers. I feel myself to grow more poor inwardly;\nI see, I am but a learner in the school of CHRIST, and my dear Master\nteaches me new lessons every day. About a week ago, I think he did\nmore for me than ever I saw before. Glory be to GOD, that he is so\nmuch with you at _London_. I rejoice, yea and I will rejoice. I am\namazed when I hear, as I do almost every day, of some fresh persons\nwrought upon by my unworthy ministry. This humbles me very much, and\nbrings me very low at the feet of the ever-loving JESUS. I dare not\ndeny that I am one of his chosen; but I am jealous for myself and for\nthose about me, lest we should grieve the holy Spirit, and oblige him\nto withdraw for our ingratitude, unfruitfulness, pride, selfishness,\nand insensibility of the blessings we enjoy. Last night I went to\nsleep quite angry, but chiefly with myself.\u2015\u2015I saw that I had received\nmuch, and did so little for my GOD, and CHRIST, that I could feelingly\nsmite upon my breast, lay my head upon my pillow, and close my eyes\nwith these words, \u201cGOD be merciful to me a sinner?\u201d And to-day, what\nhave I seen and felt, yea what do I now feel? My soul is swallowed\nup in GOD. His presence is filling my soul, and renewing my bodily\nstrength. Here is free grace, my dear brother. Was you here, I think\nI could now warm your heart with a lecture upon the unparalleled love\nof JESUS; but time is short: blessed be GOD, an eternity is before me,\nbut \u201ceternity too short to utter all his praise.\u201d I think I love you\nand yours unfeignedly, and rejoice that you enjoy sweet fellowship\ntogether. Glory be to GOD, that you have gotten many living stones.\nTrust the great Redeemer, the all-wise contriver and perfecter of his\nspiritual temple, to put them together. I have been faulty in looking\ntoo much to foreign help, and despising that which GOD had given me.\nWhen our LORD was to feed the multitude, he would not create new bread,\nbut multiplied the loaves that were already at hand. \u201cYe need not send\nthem away, give ye them to eat,\u201d said he: so say I to my dear brethren\nat the tabernacle. \u201cWork with the materials you have.\u201d In doing the\nwork, GOD will teach you how to do it.\u2015\u2015Experience will grow up with\nthe work itself. Thus GOD hath dealt with me, and so he continues to\ndeal. May his blessed spirit guide you all into all truth, and give\nyou a right judgment in all things! I love to see the little child in\nothers, though I see so little of it in my unworthy self. But I must\nnot exceed; other business demands my attention. Write to me often\nabout the state of the church. Mr. _E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s people rather run greater\nand greater lengths in misguided zeal. Our love to all. I intreat a\ncontinuance of your prayers, because the archers are shooting from\nevery quarter at, dear brother _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your poor weak brother in the kingdom\n and patience of JESUS CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLI.\n\n _To Brother T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in London._\n\n _Glasgow, September 4, 1742._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nI Hope this letter will find you, where your last left you, at the\nfeet of the meek and lowly JESUS. My dear brother, it is a delightful\nsituation: _Mary_ found it so. O true poverty of spirit, what a rare,\nyet what a precious thing it is! The foundation of it, is a deep,\nabiding knowledge of the corruption of the heart, and its desperate\nwickedness. I find more and more the necessity of leaning upon my\nbeloved, whilst travelling through the wilderness of this world.\nI find I am yet but learning in the school of CHRIST, and scarce\nknow any thing as I ought to know. I often blush at a sense of my\nunfruitfulness, ingratitude, &c. and yet am made continually to\nrejoice in his great salvation. My brother, press on and faint not;\nthough faint, yet still pursue. When your father and mother forsake\nyou, the LORD will take you up. I do not wonder at your father\u2019s\nopposition. His letter bespeaks him to be a man of a very bad spirit.\nI thought proper to burn it. My brother, pray for him, and beg of\nJESUS that you may behave with all meekness, humility and love.\nI would enlarge, but time is short, and much of my dear Master\u2019s\nbusiness is lying before me. For the present, adieu! My kind love\nto all. May the LORD keep you unspotted from the world. You shall\novercome by the blood of the Lamb. We see wond\u2019rous things here. Pray\nand give thanks for\n\n Your affectionate friend, and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLII.\n\n _To Mr. B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in London._\n\n _Glasgow, Sept. 4, 1742._\n _My dear Brother B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Embrace a few moments to answer your kind letter. Not want of love\nbut leisure prevented my doing it before; yet I have not forgotten you\nin my prayers. Your case hath been upon my heart. I pray GOD you may\nbe enabled, at this time especially, to plead the promise of temporal\nblessings. Remember, my dear brother, you can call GOD, your GOD\nand Father: if so, your GOD will supply all your wants. These words\nwere so pressed upon my soul once when in extremity, that I hope\nI shall never forget them: \u201cBe careful for nothing, but by prayer\nand supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known\nunto GOD.\u201d I have for these eight or nine years past, had no visible\nsettled fund, but fetched in all temporal supplies by pleading the\npromises. My GOD never failed me, he never will. This morning I have\nbeen lecturing upon _Elisha_\u2019s multiplying the widow\u2019s oil. The LORD\nGOD of _Elisha_ is yet living. O that you may have faith to apply to\nhim. O that you may be willing to be made poor. My brother, I find\nfreedom in writing to you. Blessed be GOD, who hath made any thing\nthat I have spoken of use to your soul. Tell your wife, she must take\nmy advice, and pray with you. She sins, I think, in omitting it. I\nrejoice to hear that the LORD is with you at the tabernacle. May he be\nwith you more and more! My brother, GOD is doing wonders here indeed.\nEvery day he shews us great things. Yesterday, and the day before,\nhow did he display his power? I am lost when I think of it. O that GOD\nshould ever dwell with such an ill and hell-deserving wretch as I am!\nAmazing! Thy mercies, O GOD, they humble me. Adieu.\n\n Your unworthy and affectionate friend and brother,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLIII.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Edinburgh, Sept. 13, 1742._\n _My very dear brother N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Have just been writing to our dear brother _G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, and now\nsit down to write to you. Both your letters came to me at the same\ntime, and had I not been used to trials of that nature, would have\naffected me much. Dear Mr. _T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ speaks many things, that I know are\ntoo true of the _Moravian Brethren_; but his spirit seems to be too\nmuch heated, and I fear some of his own wild-fire is mixed with that\nsacred fire of zeal, which comes from GOD. My dear brother, I want to\nbe more like unto GOD, who sees and corrects all things that are amiss,\nand yet continues unmoved in his own nature. I want to be more like\nunto JESUS, GOD blessed for evermore! who sees all the quarrels and\nheart-risings of his children one amongst another, and yet bears with,\nand loves them still. My heart doth not reproach me, for my kindness\nand friendship with those that differ from me. I think I have been\nled by the word and spirit of GOD into this part of my conduct; but\nI confess that I am jealous, and trust with a godly jealousy, over\nmany who talk and write of the Lamb, and who mimic some particular\npersons in their outward way of behaviour, but yet are not truly poor\nin spirit. They act too much like me, who at my first setting out\nimitated the outward shew of humility in Monsieur _Dezenly_, before I\ngot true simplicity of heart. Indeed, I have too little of it now. But,\nblessed be GOD by his free grace, I am what I am. I think I can say I\nam made unfeignedly happy in the LORD JESUS CHRIST, and can discover\nin some measure between a false and disguised holiness. Glory be to\nthe Redeemer\u2019s name, I walk in light and liberty, and am enabled to\nrejoice in the LORD always. Though I can say to corruption, \u201cThou\nart my sister,\u201d yet I can with a full assurance of faith at all times\nsay, \u201cGOD is my father, and all is mine, because I am CHRIST\u2019s.\u201d My\ndear, very dear host and brother, I pray GOD that you and I may more\nexperience the glorious liberty of the children of GOD: a liberty\nnot from the in-being, but from the reigning power and dominion of\nsin. JESUS came to make us kings, as well as priests, and it is our\nprivilege to reign upon the earth. We that believe, do enter into rest.\nFaith is of an all-conquering nature, and causes us to trample sin,\ndeath, and hell under our feet. My dear brother, I experience more,\nunspeakably more of the Redeemer\u2019s power, than when I saw you last.\nMy happiness increases daily, and I am persuaded will increase, \u2019till\ngrace is swallowed up in glory. My principles as to the fundamentals\nof the gospel are just the same as yours. I cannot renounce those\nprecious truths, that I have felt the power of, and which were taught\nme not of man but of GOD. At the same time, I would love all that love\nJESUS, though they differ from me in some points. The angels love all\nthe true worshippers of JESUS every where, and why should not we? If\nour brethren will quarrel with us, let us not quarrel with them. O my\ndear brother, I pray our dear Redeemer to give you meekness to those,\nwho may not see so far as you do. I entreat you, my dear brother, to\novercome their evil with your good. Zeal for GOD may excite others\nto oppose you, as well as you to oppose them; therefore bear with\nand love them. This will shew you to be a disciple indeed, and to\nhave that mind, which was in CHRIST JESUS. O that we grew up into\nhis divine likeness, and were indeed conformed to our great Exemplar!\nHow truly simple and void of guilt should we be! Our brother, I fear,\nhas not dealt uprightly with me. At first he called me a servant of\nGOD, and then a blasphemer and deceiver, and said, I should be in a\nmiserable condition. Pray tell _P\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ of it, and acquaint him at the\nsame time, that I grow happier and happier in the Lamb every day, and\nmore and more honoured by the great Head and King of the Church. O\nsimplicity! whether art thou fled?\u2015\u2015In a short time I hope to embark\nfor _Georgia_, and then, GOD willing, I shall see you face to face.\nWonderful things have been doing here; things unspeakable and full\nof glory. The confusions abroad are no greater than what I expected\nto hear of. Just such a scene hath been at home; but the glorious\n_Emmanuel_ will over-rule all for good. Why have you not written to my\npoor family in _Georgia_? I am persuaded great things will come from\nthe orphan-house. O remember, my dear brother, to exercise catholic\nlove in all its branches. I love and long much to see you. I shall\nwrite, GOD willing, to Mr. _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. I find his spirit is also\nimbittered. May the LORD sweeten all your hearts! With hearty thanks\nfor all favours, I am, my very dear brother,\n\n Most affectionately yours in the glorious JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLIV.\n\n _To Mr. E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Philadelphia._\n\n _Edinburgh, Sept. 14, 1742._\n _My very dear Brother_,\n\nYOUR kind letter came to hand a few days ago, and I rejoice to hear\nthat you are now happy. I wish you may be really settled and rooted\nand grounded in love, and no longer so tossed about as you have\nbeen in times past. I find many talk and boast of rest, of which I\nfear they have not yet got a feeling possession. There is as much\ndifference between these two, as between a shadow and the substance.\nFar be it from me, to think thus of you, my dear brother. No, I\nbelieve our Saviour has really loved and washed you in his blood,\nand redeemed you unto GOD, that you might be a king and priest, and\nreign upon the earth. There is plenteous redemption in the blood of\nJESUS. He came, not only that we might have life, but that we might\nhave it more abundantly. He that believeth on JESUS, out of his belly\nshall flow rivers of living water. They that believe enter into rest.\nO glorious redemption! O glorious liberty of the children of GOD!\nBlessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed; they,\nwho having not seen, yet have loved JESUS, and do rejoice with joy\nunspeakable, even with joy that is full of glory. Blessed be GOD, that\nyou feel more of this than you did a twelvemonth ago. In a year\u2019s time,\nyou will be ashamed to think what a dwarf you are now. A believer is\nto pass from glory to glory. It is ignorance and pride that makes us\nthink we have already attained. The more we are acquainted with JESUS,\nthe more we shall be acquainted with our own hearts, and grow more\ntruly poor in spirit every day. Indeed, my dear brother, I am a\nthousand times happier than when you saw me. JESUS hath saved me from\nmany corruptions, and is every day transforming me more and more into\nhis own likeness. I cannot rest, unless I feel a sensible growth in\nmy soul, and find that I get more of the true artless simplicity that\nwas in JESUS. Blessed be GOD for that fulness which is in CHRIST, out\nof which we are all to receive grace for grace. Many, many souls have\nlately been drawing out of this fulness. I am amazed at his love to\nme! O free grace! O sovereign, distinguishing, unmerited love!\u2015\u2015I\nthink you did well in receiving some particular persons into your\nhouse. \u201cBe not forgetful to entertain strangers,\u201d says the Apostle. I\ncannot think it is right, to be so far carried away with an orthodox\nscheme, as to neglect acts of love to the members of CHRIST\u2019s body.\nGive me leave, my dear brother, to behave with all meekness toward\nthose, who may not be so well affected toward such whom you love. If\nyou do not take care, and keep close to the blessed JESUS, your spirit\nmay be imbittered, and you may yet insensibly sink into bigotry. Some\nof our _English_ friends, I am sure, have done so. It is a blessed\nthing to be kept free. JESUS can do this for you, my dear brother, and\nI am persuaded he will. In the love of a crucified JESUS,\n\n Ever yours,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLV.\n\n _To Mr. M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Cambuslang._\n\n _Edinburgh, Sept. 15, 1742._\n _Rev. and dear Brother_,\n\nYOUR kind letter I received this morning. I wonder you can love me,\nfor I feel myself more unworthy every day; and yet, dear Sir, the\nKing of Kings still delights to honour me. At _Cumbernauld_, and\n_Torphichen_, the LORD was with me. I was much led to discourse upon\nwalking with GOD, and had a sweet opening upon those words, \u201cAnd\n_Enoch_ walked with GOD, &c.\u201d Since I have been at _Edinburgh_, the\nLORD has much blessed me, and given me some fresh teachings from his\nblessed spirit. I believe hundreds are fed day by day. O dear Sir,\nhelp me to adore free grace. May GOD reward you for all kindnesses\nshewn to me and mine! Indeed, dear Sir, I have scarce patience with\nmyself. I can do so little in the day for GOD, that when I go to bed\nat night, I am quite ashamed. I trust I shall begin to do something\nnow. Dear Sir, help me, help me by your prayers, that I may stir up\nthe gift of GOD that is in me. I shall not easily forget you; fear\nnot, the LORD will yet be with you. I have sent to Messrs. _O\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\nand _L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. I fear I cannot reach either of their places; but, GOD\nwilling, I purpose to come home once more to _Cambuslang_, and then\nmust take a long, long farewel. Blessed be GOD, we shall meet by\nand by, never to part any more. Then, dear Sir, our warfare will be\naccomplished, and the archers will shoot at us no more. My soul glows\nwith love whilst I am writing. Sometimes I am enabled to look within\nthe veil, and to take a view of the promised land. I am nothing, but\nCHRIST is my all. For the present, adieu! Dear Sir, adieu! My love to\n_Robert_, surnamed _Nathaniel_. All with me dearly love him. O join\nwith him in praying, and giving thanks for us, especially, dear Mr.\n_M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, for\n\n Your weak, unworthy, though happy brother\n and servant in JESUS CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLVI.\n\n _To Mr. F\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Pensylvania._\n\n _Edinburgh, Sept. 22, 1742._\n _My dear Brother F\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Received your two kind letters, dated _June_ the 1st and 6th, and\ncan only say, CHRIST is king in _Zion_, and orders all things well.\nI think you cannot have a scene of greater confusion among you, than\nthere has been in _England_. But blessed be GOD, matters are brought\nto a better issue, and though we cannot agree in principles, yet we\nagree in love, Tho\u2019, as you know, I am clear in the truths of the\ngospel, yet I find that principles of themselves, without the spirit\nof GOD, will not unite any set of men whatever; and where the spirit\nof GOD is in any great degree, there will be union of heart, though\nthere may be difference in sentiments. This I have learnt, my dear\nbrother, by happy experience, and find great freedom and peace in my\nsoul thereby. This makes me to love many, though I cannot agree with\nthem in some of their principles. I dare not look upon them as wilful\ndeceivers, but as persons who hazard their lives for the sake of the\ngospel.\u2015\u2015Mr. _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ I think is wrong in somethings, and Mr. _L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\nwrong also; yet I believe that both Mr. _L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ and Mr. _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, and\nothers, with whom we do not agree in all things, will shine bright\nin glory. It is best therefore for a gospel-minister, simply and\npowerfully to preach those truths he has been taught of GOD, and\nto meddle as little as possible with those who are children of GOD,\nthough they should differ in many things. This would keep the heart\nsweet, and at the same time not betray the truths of JESUS. I have\ntried both the disputing, and the quiet way, and find the latter\nfar preferable to the former. I have not given way to the _Moravian_\nBrethren, or Mr. _W\u2015\u2015y_, or to any, whom I thought in an error, no\nnot for an hour. But I think it best not to dispute, when there is\nno probability of convincing. I pray you, for CHRIST\u2019s sake, to take\nheed lest your spirit should be imbittered, when you are speaking or\nwriting for GOD. This will give your adversaries advantage over you,\nand make people think your passion is the effect of your principles.\nSince I have been in _England_ this time, _Calvin_\u2019s example has been\nvery much pressed upon me. You know how _Luther_ abused him. As we\nare of _Calvinistical_ principles, I trust we shall in this respect\nimitate _Calvin_\u2019s practice, and shew all meekness to those who may\noppose. My dear brother, you will not be offended at my using this\nfreedom. I am a poor creature, unworthy to advise you; but I simply\ntell you a little of my own experience. May the LORD give you, and all\nthat stand up for the doctrines of the gospel, a right judgment in all\nthings! For JESUS CHRIST\u2019s sake, as much as in you lies, put a stop\nto disputing. It imbitters the spirit, ruffles the soul, and hinders\nit from hearing the small still voice of the Holy Ghost. May you be\nfilled with all joy and peace in believing! GOD has been very gracious\nto me here. Wonderful things have been done in _Scotland_. When I\nshall come to you, I cannot as yet determine. I hope to embark in a\nfew months. In the mean time, be pleased to remember me to all that\nlove the glorious _Emmanuel_, and accept this in tenderest love from,\nmy very dear brother,\n\n Your most affectionate though most unworthy brother and servant\n in the kingdom and patience of JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLVII.\n\n _To Mr. H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Edinburgh, Sept. 24, 1742._\n _My most endeared Friend and Brother_,\n\nYOUR short letter, dated _July_ the 14th, I received two days ago,\nto my great satisfaction. I am glad my dear family is removed to Mr.\n_B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, and rejoice, that our glorious GOD had raised him and his\nbrother up, to be such friends in time of need. Our all-wise Saviour\nsaw this, and therefore sent them to be converted at the Orphan-house.\nO LORD, thou art fearful in praises, glorious in holiness, doing\nwonders! I trust this will find you, my dear friends, and my dear\nlambs, happily settled at _Bethesda_. I cannot think, GOD will give\nyou over into the enemies hands, or that he will suffer the enemy to\nabide in _Georgia_ for any considerable time. My thoughts have been\nvariously exercised, but my heart kept stedfast and joyful in the\nLORD of all Lords, whose mercy endureth for ever. The kings taking\n_Lot_, and _Abraham_ recovering him out of their hands, hath been much\npressed upon my heart. _Abraham_\u2019s going into the land of _Canaan_,\nand being driven out by a grievous famine soon after he came there,\nhas also been applied to my soul. And those words of _Moses_, \u201cThese\nenemies which you see, you shall see them no more,\u201d have fallen with\ngreat warmth, and wait upon me. These things put together, keep my\nmind humbly depending upon GOD, in a full assurance that some great\nand good event for the kingdom of JESUS will ere long be brought about.\nI am supported in a peculiar manner, and kept from staggering through\nunbelief.\u2015\u2015With this, I send you a continuation of the Orphan-house\naccount, which I printed to satisfy the public, and to promote future\ncollections. The news about the _Spaniards_, perhaps may strike a damp\nupon the collection at this time; but even this shall work for good.\nGOD has a wheel within a wheel. O, my dear brother, how do I long\nto be with you! You need not say, \u201cif possible now come over,\u201d for I\nhave long wished for the wings of a dove to fly to _Georgia_. I yet\nowe upwards of two hundred and fifty pounds in _England_, upon the\nOrphan-house account, and have nothing towards it. How is the world\nmistaken about my circumstances: worth nothing myself, embarrassed for\nothers, and yet looked upon to flow in riches? Our extremity is GOD\u2019s\nopportunity. O faith, thou hast an all-conquering power! Surely, my\ndear man, you and the rest of you will grow now in this time of trial.\nFear not, neither be dismayed: the LORD your GOD will fight for you.\nI put my trust in him, and through his mercy I shall not miscarry. He\nstill strengthens me to go on from conquering to conquer. I pray for\nyou, I think and dream of you almost continually. I long, I long to\nbe with you, and methinks could willingly be found at the head of you\nkneeling and praying, though a _Spaniard_\u2019s sword should be put to my\nthroat. But alas! I know not how I should behave, if put to the trial:\nonly we have a promise, \u201cthat as our day is, so our strength shall\nbe.\u201d I would gladly write to you all, but being so variously employed,\nhaving the superintendency of so many souls and so many spiritual\naffairs, in many different places, I feel a little of what St. _Paul_\nsays, when he wrote these words, \u201cbesides that which cometh upon me\ndaily, the care of all the churches.\u201d What am I? LORD, I adore and\nworship! I hope ere now you have had letters from brother _G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ and\n_Philadelphia_ friends. Some there, are suspicious that I am joined\nwith the _Moravian_ Brethren, but indeed I am not. My principles are\nstill the same; only as I believe many of them love the LORD JESUS, I\nwould love and be friendly to them, as I would be to all others, who\nI think bear the image of our common Master, notwithstanding some\nof my principles differ from theirs, and are as far distant as the\nEast is from the West. Glory be to GOD, for keeping me stedfast\nto those truths, which himself and not man hath taught me. I feel\nthe power of them more and more every day, and am continually made\nhappier and happier in the righteousness of the glorious Redeemer.\nO free, sovereign, distinguishing, electing, everlasting, infinitely\ncondescending love! it quite amazes me. The thoughts of this love\ncarry me above every thing. My dear friend, the _Spaniards_ cannot\nrob us of this, nor can men, or devils. It is immutable and eternal as\nGOD himself. May the meditation on this, lead us nearer and nearer to\nGOD in CHRIST, that we may every day, every hour, every moment be more\nand more conformed to his blessed image, and ripen more and more for\neternal glory. But I must have done. Adieu! my dear man, adieu! I am\nready to weep tears of love. Humbly hoping, that I shall shortly hear\nof the spiritual and temporal welfare of you all, I subscribe myself,\nwith the utmost sincerity and affection,\n\n Ever, ever yours,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLVIII.\n\n _To the Reverend Dr. C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Boston._\n\n _Edinburgh, Sept. 24, 1742._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nTO my great and abundant satisfaction, I received your long wished for\nletter of _June 3_. It was late at night ere it came to hand; but I\ncould not go to rest without reading it. I read, and rejoiced, and\nprayed for the writer with my whole heart. O reverend and dear Sir,\nGOD only knows how closely I am knit to the dear ministers and people\nof _New-England_. They are ever upon my heart, and it rejoiced me to\nfind I was not forgotten (unworthy as I am) by them. Dear Sir, I am\nglad to hear that the work still goes on; be not surprized, if you\nare forsaken. _Paul_ was served so, and when I came to _England_ most\nof my old friends and spiritual children were exceedingly prejudiced\nagainst me. Our great high-priest sees these trials to be necessary\nfor us, to try our faith, and teach us to cease from man. I hope they\nhave produced this blessed effect in some measure upon my soul. There\nseems to be such a scene in _Philadelphia_, as we have had in old\n_England_. I have wrote to Mr. _T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. He in a late letter thinks me\ntoo charitable; but my conscience doth not reproach me for that. My\nprinciples are still the same. I embrace the calvinistical scheme,\nnot because _Calvin_, but JESUS CHRIST, I think, has taught it to me.\nI go on preaching the cross and power of the Redeemer, and desire to\nsay as little as possible about others, lest thereby I should divert\npeople\u2019s minds from the simplicity of the gospel. I have often found\nthat opposing, instead of hurting, makes erroneous people become more\nconsiderable. This made me wish, that the _Boston_ ministers would not\ntake up so much time in speaking against the Exhorters. It will only\nset the people the more upon following after them; but I cannot well\njudge at such a distance, and indeed I find I am such a poor creature,\nthat I scarce know any thing yet, as I ought to know. At the same time,\nI will not deny what I have received; no, this would be dishonouring\nmy dear Saviour. He makes me daily more and more happy in himself, and\nI continually rejoice in his great salvation. At present he supports\nme in an uncommon manner, and the news of the _Spaniards_ attacking\n_Georgia_ affects me no otherwise, than to increase my faith and\nconfidence in him, whom I am sure careth for me and mine. O dear\nSir, what a glorious thing is divine faith! May you have much of\nit, and feel the power of it more and more every day! With repeated\nsalutations and returns of love, I once more subscribe myself,\nreverend and dear Sir,\n\n Your most affectionate friend, younger brother, and servant\n in the glorious gospel of the ever blessed JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLIX.\n\n _To Jonathan B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, Esq., in New-England._\n\n _Edinburgh, Sept. 25, 1742._\n _Honoured Sir_,\n\nI Rejoiced to hear by the reverend and dear Dr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, that you are\nretired from the world, full of piety and devotion. I congratulate you,\nhonoured Sir, upon your happy change, and pray that you may be filled\nwith all the fulness of GOD. Exceedingly engaged as I am, I could\nnot but send a line to you, because I love you in the bowels of JESUS\nCHRIST. I remember your command; I have you upon my heart, and pray\nthe glorious _Emmanuel_ to do more abundantly for you and yours, than\nyou are able to ask or think. It is impossible to tell you what the\nLORD hath done for unworthy me. Honoured Sir, I feel a bliss I cannot\nexpress. My happiness in JESUS increases daily. I am only ashamed\nof my unfruitfulness, and the little I do for GOD. Indeed, honoured\nSir, I could wish for a thousand lives. My JESUS should have them all.\nMethinks I hear you say, \u201cthus it is with me.\u201d Hail then happy man!\nAll generations shall call you blessed. Honoured Sir, my soul is full\nin the midst of many trials. O what a glorious redemption hath JESUS\npurchased for us! Indeed it is a plenteous redemption. By the power\nof his death we are enabled to tread sin, death, and satan under our\nfeet. This is the present frame of my soul. O free grace! unsearchable\nriches! The brightness of it dazzles the eyes of my faith. LORD, I\nadore and worship in the temple of my heart! Honoured Sir, be pleased\nto accept these few lines from a heart overflowing with love to GOD,\nand for his great name sake to you. With most humble respects, and\naffectionate returns of gratitude for all favours, I beg leave to\nsubscribe myself, honoured Sir,\n\n Your most obliged humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLX.\n\n _To Mr. E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Philadelphia._\n\n _Edinburgh, Sept. 25, 1742._\n _My very dear Brother E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nSINCE I wrote last, your other kind letter, dated _July 24_, came\nto hand, by which I find matters at _Philadelphia_ are much the same\nas when you wrote before. I pray GOD to give me wisdom, and a right\nunderstanding, to judge of those different jarring accounts that\nare sent me. As far as I am able to determine, I think some who have\nthe truths of GOD on their side, defend themselves with too great a\nmixture of their own spirit, and by this means perhaps some persons\nmay be prejudiced even against truth itself. This is one rock, I pray\nGOD, my dear brother, to keep your soul from splitting against. Again,\nI think the _M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015n_ Brethren shew a better and milder spirit in the\ngeneral; but many of their principles deviate as far from the truths\nof JESUS CHRIST, as the east is from the west, or the north from the\nsouth. I wish you may not have gone a step too far. It was unjust\nfor Mr. _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s brother to be denied preaching in the new building.\nShall I commend Mr. _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ for this? I commend him not. The brethren\nshould have some other place to preach in, and not make that house a\nBabel. I cannot give up truth for them, or for any other under heaven.\nI find they are as weak and fallible as those whom they judge not to\nhave drank so deeply of the spirit of CHRIST; and therefore, my dear\nman, though we love all, we must be upon our guard, and follow not\nman\u2019s teaching, but the teaching of the Holy Ghost. Though principles\nare not to be rested in, yet it is a good thing to have a clear head\nas well as a clean heart. Some people make nothing of principles; but\nwhy are they so zealous in propagating their own? I think, my dear\nbrother, I am a happy sinner, and have really entered into an abiding\nrest in GOD, through the LORD JESUS CHRIST; but yet the stirrings of\ncorruption I expect in some degree or other, till I breathe my last.\nThis I hope is all that dear Mr. _T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ insists on. My dear brother,\nlove the brotherhood, but do not give up the truths of GOD; and when\nyou are brought off from idolizing one creature, take care you do not\ninsensibly fall into idolizing another. Do not think that all things\nthe most refined christian in the world does, is right; or that all\nprinciples are wrong, because some that hold them are too imbittered\nin their spirits. It is hard for good men, when the truths of GOD are\nopposed, to keep their temper, especially at the first attack. Nothing\nbut the all-conquering blood of the dear Redeemer can destroy the\nwild-fire in the heart. You will see what I have wrote to the dear\nTrustees. I hope our loving Saviour will incline you to comply with my\nadvice. I believe it is from him, and will much tend to the prosperity\nof Zion. That, I trust, we have all at heart. I pray GOD we may be\nenabled so to act, as to do nothing to obstruct it, but bear and\nforbear with one another in love, and give way in some things to\npromote the common good. You see, my dear man, how freely I write\nto you. It is out of the fulness of my heart. I hope you and I shall\nbe happily surprized, in finding each other better than we expected.\nGOD forbid that we should live one hour without growing more like the\nblessed Lamb of GOD. I am too credibly informed, that some make it\ntheir business to prejudice my friends against me. Such wisdom cometh\nnot from above. They are as the false apostles, of whom Saint _Paul_\nspoke, \u201cThey would exclude us, that you might affect them.\u201d But glory\nbe to free grace! I can repose myself in JESUS, and am happy in him.\nHowever I may be dealt with by man, blessed be his name, I am now\nhappy in the midst of various trials, even beyond expression. I only\nadd, through grace I have laid the foundation; let others beware how\nthey build thereon. Adieu, my dear brother. I am, with cordial\nrespects and affection,\n\n Ever, ever yours,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXI.\n\n _To the Reverend Mr. E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Wales._\n\n _Edinburgh, Oct. 6, 1742._\n _My very dear Brother_,\n\nYESTERDAY your kind and profitable letter came to hand. My dear wife\nbeing embarked, I opened, read, and now snatch a few moments to answer\nit. I took your hints upon _Jacob_\u2019s ladder, and preached upon it\nwith freedom yesterday in the afternoon. I trust some will be induced\nto begin to climb, and others be stirred to climb faster; at least I\nshall myself for one, for indeed I am ashamed I have mounted no higher\nyet. Blessed be GOD, I am ascended so far as to have the world almost\nout of my sight, and I see my dear master standing at the top reaching\nout his hand, ready to receive me up into heaven. Indeed, my dear\nbrother, the LORD hath dealt most bountifully with me; he gives me to\nrejoice in all his dispensations towards me. It well becometh GOD\u2019s\nchildren to give thanks for all things that befal them, since it is\nGOD \u2019s will concerning them. I am taught more and more every day to\nlive by faith in the Son of GOD, who loved and gave himself for me.\nGOD keeps me, and brings me where I would desire to be, at his feet,\nwaiting his will, and watching the motions of his blessed spirit,\nword, and providence. Here I find safety and refuge amidst the various\nstorms of opposition and reproach which I daily meet with. GOD is on\nmy side, I will not fear what men nor devils can say of, or do unto me.\nThe dear Messrs. _E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015s_ have dressed me in very black colours.\u2015\u2015Mr.\n_G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s pamphlet will shew you how black. Dear men, I pity them.\nWriting I fear will be in vain. Surely they must grieve the holy\nspirit much. O for a mind divested of all sects and names and parties!\nI think it is my one simple aim to promote the kingdom of JESUS,\nwithout partiality and without hypocrisy, indefinitely amongst all.\nI care not if the name of _George Whitefield_ be banished out of the\nworld, so that JESUS be exalted in it. Glory be to his great name, we\nhave seen much of his power and greatness in _Scotland_. The work in\nthe west still goes on and increases. Last sabbath-day, and _Monday_,\nvery great things, greater than ever, were seen at _Kilsyth_. There\nis a great awakening also at _Muthel_, and many living stones building\nup in _Edinburgh_. I preach twice every day with great power, and\nwalk in liberty and love. At the same time I see and feel my vileness,\nand take the blessed JESUS to be my righteousness and all. I purpose,\nGOD willing, to go through _Newcastle_ and _Yorkshire_ to _England_.\n_Ireland_ I believe must be left till another circuit. In about three\nweeks, I purpose, GOD willing, to leave _Scotland_, and hope to spend\na month ere long in _Wales_. My dear and honoured brother, I hope the\nLORD will give you an heart to pray for me, for indeed I am a very\npoor sinner, and many are waiting for my halting; but JESUS is able\nand willing to make me stand. I have been much strengthened, since\nthe _Spaniards_ have invaded _Georgia_. I think I am like the ark\nsurrounded on all sides with waves, but through free rich grace am\nenabled to swim above all. Ere long, I shall rest on mount _Zion_ in\nthe arms of my beloved JESUS. Here is love would make me drop a tear,\nand set my pen a writing quicker, but other business calls for me.\nDear Sir, be pleased to pray for me, and remember me to your dear\nwife, and all the followers of the Lamb. Pray write to Mr. _McC\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\nimmediately, and send as often as you can, dear Mr. _J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, to\n\n Your weak, unworthy, but truly affectionate brother and servant,\n in the kingdom and patience of JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXII.\n\n _To Colonel G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Edinburgh, October 7, 1742._\n _Honoured Sir_,\n\nTHOUGH I never had the pleasure of seeing you, yet I have often prayed\nfor you, and can assure you I love you in the bowels of JESUS CHRIST.\nI hope you will not be offended with me, for troubling you with\nthis. Your honoured lady tells me, you will not. Love, I am persuaded,\ninclines me to write, and I doubt not but you will receive it in the\nsame spirit. Dear Sir, I rejoice to hear that you are a good soldier\nof JESUS CHRIST, and that you delight to fight the Redeemer\u2019s battles.\nMay you be covered with all his armours and filled with all his\nfulness! I have the pleasure often to go without the camp, and to bear\na little of his sacred reproach, and I prefer it to all the treasures\nin the world. Weak as I am, my JESUS makes me more than conqueror\nthrough his love. He has brought mighty things to pass here, and\ngotten himself the victory in many hearts. I trust, there is not a\nday passes but some poor creature or another is plucked as a brand out\nof the burning. I wish I could hear GOD was more in the camp. Blessed\nbe his name for raising you up, honoured Sir, to lift a standard\nfor him. May you be endued with the meekness of _Moses_, the courage\nof _Joshua_, the zeal of _Paul_, and a large portion of the blessed\nspirit of CHRIST! I hope, honoured Sir, you will now and then remember\nme a poor sinner, and speak a word for me to the King of kings and\nLORD of lords, that I may not turn my head in the day of battle, but\nrather die for, than deny him in any wise. Neither you nor yours are\nforgotten by me. Indeed I am a poor creature, but happy, very happy in\nthe once crucified, but now exalted JESUS. For his sake, and in his\ngreat name, I beg leave to subscribe myself, honoured Sir,\n\n Your affectionate humble servant, &c.\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXIII.\n\n _To the Reverend Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _Edinburgh, October 11, 1742._\n _Reverend and dear Sir_,\n\nABOUT ten days ago, I sent you a packet by my dear wife, which I hope\nyou will have received ere this comes to hand. Yesterday morning I\nhad your kind letter dated _October 5_. In answer to the first part\nof it, I say, \u201cLet old things pass away, and all things become new.\u201d\nI can heartily say, \u201cAmen\u201d to the latter part of it. \u201cLet the king\nlive for ever, and controversy die.\u201d It has died with me long ago. I\nshall be glad to see the extract of your journal. Be pleased to send\nit immediately, under cover, to Mr. _E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, member of parliament in\n_Edinburgh_. I shall not leave _Scotland_ in less than three weeks.\nBefore yours came, I had engaged to go through _Newcastle_ in my\nway to _London_. I rejoice to hear the LORD has blessed your dear\nbrother\u2019s labours. I am enabled to preach twice daily with great power,\nand find I walk in light and liberty continually. Like the ark, I am\nsurrounded on all sides, but enabled to swim triumphantly over all. O\nfree grace! I thank you, dear Sir, for praying for me, and thank our\ncommon LORD for putting it in your heart so to do. I have been upon my\nknees praying for you and yours. O that nothing but love, lowliness,\nand simplicity may be among us. It grieves me to see what a sad spirit\nprevails among Mr. _E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s people. Father, forgive them! I trust\nyou will remember my poor orphans. GOD gives me strong faith for them,\nthough no news yet of the _Spaniards_ leaving _Georgia_. Yesterday\nmorning a dear little hospital girl went off in triumph. The work\nis still increasing in _Scotland_, especially at _Kilsyth_. Surely\nwe shall see great things ere long. Dear friend, my soul is on fire.\nO let us not fall out in the way! Let us bear with, and forbear one\nanother in love. GOD be praised for giving you such a mind. My kind\nlove to all that love the LORD JESUS in sincerity. In much haste, and\nwith great thanks for your last letter, I subscribe myself, reverend\nand very dear Sir,\n\n Your most affectionate, though younger brother, in the gospel\n of our glorious _Emmanuel_,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXIV.\n\n _To Mrs. Ann D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Huntingdonshire._\n\n _Edinburgh, October 13, 1742._\n _My very dear Sister_,\n\nWITH great pleasure I received your kind letters. They increased that\nlove, which I had before to the writer of them. I redeem a few moments\nto return you an answer to them, and am ashamed to think how I put\nyou off; but I see you consider my circumstances, and love to our dear\nJESUS inclines you to excuse me. Blessed be GOD, I can still send you\nan account of the increase of _Emmanuel_\u2019s kingdom. I preach always\ntwice, sometimes three or four times in a day. The people are more\neager than ever, and much solid work is done for GOD. My strength\nis daily renewed. Still I desire to cry, grace! grace! I am fondled\nexceedingly, I scarce have any damp. My soul continually magnifies the\nLORD, and my spirit rejoices in GOD my Saviour. I know you will help\nme to praise him. I collected last week 128 _l._ for my poor orphans.\nI have sent you an account of them. You will continue writing to, and\npraying for my dear family. I hope to see you before I embark. By this,\nyou will receive a line from one Mr. _R\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, an humble walker with\nGOD, and Mr. _T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, a bookseller, who I believe loves the LORD\nJESUS in sincerity. Pray answer them. I would have your correspondence\nenlarged, and therefore I set other people writing to you, though I\ncannot write so much myself. My dear sister, adieu. The LORD be with\nyou, and yours. I am now in a lady\u2019s family, whom GOD has blessed.\u2015\u2015We\nhave several such here. With great sincerity and affection, I\nsubscribe myself,\n\n Ever yours, in yours and mine,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXV.\n\n _To Mr. T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Edinburgh._\n\n _Glasgow, October 20, 1742._\n _Dear Mr. T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nYOUR letter much refreshed me. Thanks be to GOD, for putting it\ninto your heart to write to unworthy me. The blessed JESUS hath been\nthe author of our friendship, and therefore it will be blessed. I\nrejoice much, that the LORD is with you and your ministers. May you\nall increase with all the increase of GOD! O that the societies may\nremember to pray and give thanks on my behalf. Dear Mr. _T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, what\ndeliverances hath the LORD wrought for me? Before the news came of the\n_Spaniards_ leaving _Georgia_, the words came to my mind, that were\npressed on me in the park with great power: \u201cThese enemies which you\nhave now seen, you shall see no more.\u201d What a life is a life of faith?\nI know I am reckoned enthusiastic, even by many christian friends,\nin respect to my Orphan-house; but \u201che that believeth, doth not make\nhaste.\u201d I find we must be tried by friends, as well as by foes. All is\nintended to bring us nearer to the friend of all. I hope I improved my\ninterest in him just now, for you and yours, and for all _Edinburgh_\nfriends. As soon as we had perused the letters, we kneeled down, and\nprayed, and gave thanks. Good news came from _London_, I hope, next\npost, to hear that our dear friends have got safe thither. O what\nreason have I to be thankful! Help me still, my dear Mr. _T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, to\npraise the LORD. I hope to be with you next week. In the mean time\npray for, and if leisure permit, drop a line to, dear Mr. _T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Ever yours, &c.\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXVI.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Edinburgh._\n\n _London, Nov. 6, 1742._\n _Dear Mr. T\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nABOUT five this evening, our ever blessed JESUS brought us hither,\nand gave us a happy meeting with our dear friends. How good is JESUS\nto the chief of sinners! He solaced my soul all the way, and gave his\nangels charge concerning us, otherwise we must have been frequently\nhurt in our ways: but he heard the prayers of his people. I am\npersuaded he gave them a spirit of supplication in our behalf. I felt\nit, I feel it now, and long to preach again. My dear friend, remember\nus in the dearest manner to all. I hope to write to several on\n_Monday_ next. How sweet is rest after fatigue! How sweet will heaven\nbe, when our journey is ended. Forgive the brevity of this.\n\n Ever yours,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXVII.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Bethesda._\n\n _London, Nov. 12, 1742._\n _My dearest Friend and Brother in a crucified JESUS_,\n\nHOW do I long to come over to see you, and the rest of my dear family?\nHow do I long to hear how it is with your dear souls, and that you\nare returned to _Bethesda_ in safety! The cloud seems now to be\nmoving toward _America_. I trust I shall be with you in a few months.\nWonderful great things did the LORD perform for me and his people\nin _Scotland_. The concern expressed at my departure, was really\nunspeakable. O my dear, my very dear brother, the love of GOD to such\nan unworthy wretch quite amazes me. I rode post, and came here in\nrather less than five days from _Edinburgh_ on _Saturday_ last, and\nhere seems to be a new awakening. We have been obliged to enlarge the\ntabernacle. The LORD\u2019s glory does indeed appear in it. Dear brother\n_H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ has been sent with a sweet searching commission. Brother\n_C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ is much blest in _Wiltshire_. The word runs and is glorified\nin _Wales_, and GOD is raising some fresh witnesses of the power of\nhis dear Son\u2019s blood in _Gloucestershire_. Blessed are the eyes that\nsee the things that we see. GOD doth greatly countenance us indeed. O\nfree grace! O electing love! The collections in _Scotland_ were large.\nAt _Edinburgh_, I collected 128 _l._ at one time, and 44 _l._ at\nanother; at _Glasgow_ about 128 _l._ with private donations. I think\nwe got about 300 _l._ in all. Blessed be GOD, I owe nothing now in\n_England_ on the Orphan-house account; what is due is abroad. I think\nsince I have been in _England_, we have got near 1500 _l._ The LORD\nwill raise up what we want further; glory be to his name. He keeps my\nfaith from failing, and upholds me with his right hand, and makes me\nhappier in himself every day. My wife lies now very weak. She was\ntossed for ten days in her voyage from _Scotland_: The ship was in\nimminent danger, but the LORD gave her much of his presence, and I\ntrust she will be ready shortly for another voyage. She heartily and\nmost lovingly greets you all, as does in haste,\n\n Ever, ever yours, &c.\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXVIII.\n\n _To Lady Frances G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _London, Nov. 13, 1742._\n _Honoured Madam_,\n\nMINDFUL of my promise, which I made before I left _Edinburgh_, I\nnow steal a few moments to send your Ladyship a letter of thanks,\nand which I trust will find you sitting under the Redeemer\u2019s shadow\nwith great delight. It rejoiced me when I heard that our infinitely\ncondescending GOD had blessed my unworthy ministry, to recover your\nLadyship from a state of darkness and spiritual desertion. Glory,\nglory be to rich, free and sovereign grace! I trust your Ladyship\nwill now be kept in the love of GOD, and no idol interpose between the\nRedeemer and your soul. I hope the dear Colonel is now in his proper\nplace, and that you can think of him without anxiety or distracting\ncare. This is that freedom, wherewith JESUS CHRIST makes us free.\nTo love all things in him, and for him, and to love him above all.\nThus we have peace and joy. Whenever we deviate from it, we fall into\ndarkness and distress of soul. I pray GOD your Ladyship may be thus\nkept, and enabled to rejoice in GOD all the day long. For ever adored\nbe free grace. I have enjoyed much freedom of soul since I left\n_Edinburgh_. Very good was my master to us on the road, and still\nbetter to me now I am in _London_. We have blessed seasons. O who can\nexpress the loving-kindness of the LORD, or show forth all his praise!\nWe beg your prayers; and wishing you and your honoured Colonel all\nmanner of prosperity, I beg leave to subscribe myself, with unfeigned\nthanks for all past favours, honoured Madam,\n\n Your Ladyship\u2019s most obliged humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXIX.\n\n _To Miss S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _London, Nov. 13, 1742._\n\nAS I have been writing to the honourable lady _Frances_, I am willing\nto inclose a line to you. I trust it will find you walking by faith,\nand trampling upon the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the\npride of life. This is the happiness which JESUS CHRIST has purchased\nfor poor sinners. This is that better part, which I hope you have been\nenabled to choose, and in which, I trust, through grace you will be\nenabled to persevere even to the end. Dear Miss, if this be the case,\nwell will it be with you, and happy, exceedingly happy shall you be.\nMethinks I hear you say, \u201cI feel my happiness begun.\u201d Keep close, Dear\nMiss, keep close to the lovely JESUS, and you will find it increase\nday by day. Many, many temptations and difficulties you will meet\nwith; but fear not; look unto JESUS, and he will make you more than\nconqueror through his love. Never rest without looking up to him, in\nand for every thing you stand in need of. He will richly supply all\nyour wants. I speak this by happy experience. Many blessings have I\nreceived since I came hither. O help me to praise our prayer-hearing\nGOD.\n\n Your most affectionate friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXX.\n\n _To the Honourable Lady Jane H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Edinburgh._\n\n _London, Nov. 13, 1742._\n _Honoured Madam_,\n\nIT is with some regret, that I look back upon my not writing to you,\nwhen I was at _Glasgow_. I resolved ever since, to send your Ladyship\na line as soon as possible, after I reached _London_. Being now\nsomewhat settled, I attempt in the divine strength to put my design\nin execution. And now, honoured Madam, what shall I say? I hope this\nwill find you a very poor sinner, and sitting at JESU\u2019s feet. With\npleasure I have often thought your Ladyship has been made willing to\nbecome truly, inly poor, and to feel the full power of the Redeemer\u2019s\nprecious blood. If I mistake not, your soul is athirst for GOD, yea\nto be filled with all the fulness of GOD. Go on, dear Madam, for GOD\nshall satisfy all your desires: He has promised, and he will perform.\nI find my happiness in JESUS increasing daily, and that there is no\nend of his goodness. Greatly did he strengthen me on the road; greatly\nhas he blessed me since I came hither. I believe your Ladyship will\nhear shortly from Mr. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. He is a dear soul indeed, and left\n_London_ on _Thursday_ morning last, full of simplicity and love.\nThe work goes on bravely in _Wales_, and elsewhere. Surely it is the\nmidnight cry; Surely the bridegroom is coming. Methinks I hear your\nLadyship say, \u201cThen I will make ready to go forth to meet him.\u201d That\nyou may be always ready to obey the most sudden call, is the hearty\nprayer of, honoured Madam,\n\n Your Ladyship\u2019s most obliged humble servant in JESUS CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXXI.\n\n _To Miss N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2019s._\n\n _London, Nov. 13, 1742._\n _Dear young Ladies_,\n\nTHIS week I wrote a few lines to your honoured mamma. I now snatch a\nfew moments to send a line to you. And why? Because I love you both\nin the bowels of JESUS CHRIST, and wish above all things, that your\ndear souls may prosper. I saw a happy alteration in you for the better,\nwhilst I was at _Edinburgh_, and my constant prayer is, that you\nmight still go on from strength to strength. Here seems to be a new\nawakening. We had a glorious fast-day indeed. I trust you had the\nsame at _Edinburgh_. I am sure we prayed heartily, it might be so. O\n_Edinburgh! Edinburgh!_ I think I shall never forget thee. Surely many\ncan say, \u201cOur fellowship has been with the Father and with the Son.\u201d\nAnd now though absent, we may have fellowship together in and through\nthe eternal Spirit. Thus it is with me, and thus it is, I believe,\nwith my dear wife. She most heartily joins with me in saluting your\nmost honoured mamma, as well as yourselves. Wishing that your lamps\nmay be always trimmed, and your loins always girded, and that you may\nbe continually in readiness to meet the heavenly bridegroom; I\nsubscribe myself, dear young ladies,\n\n Your most affectionate friend and servant in JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXXII.\n\n _To \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _London, Nov. 15, 1742._\n _My Lord_,\n\nIT has given me some concern, that I could not write to your Lordship\nbefore I left _E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. My departure from thence was very sudden, and\nit was but a few days before that I heard of your Lordship\u2019s illness.\nHowever, I have not been unmindful of your Lordship, and I trust, in\nanswer to prayer, our LORD has rebuked your fever, and that this will\nfind you risen and ministring unto him. O, my Lord, I think I can say,\n\u201cIt is good for me that I have been afflicted;\u201d for had it not been so,\nI should have gone astray. How apt are we when in health, to follow\nJESUS afar off, and sink into tepidity and a laodicean spirit? May\nthis sickness be sanctified to the purging of your Lordship\u2019s soul,\nand be a means of drawing you nearer to GOD! Our glorious High-priest\nstill continues to load me with his benefits. He dealt most tenderly\nwith me on the road, and blesses me much here. I am now in my winter\nquarters, preparing for a fresh campaign. Happy they that fight under\nthe Redeemer\u2019s banner! That your Lordship may be always fighting the\ngood fight of faith, and at length lay hold on eternal life, is the\nearnest prayer of, my Lord,\n\n Your Lordship\u2019s most obedient and obliged humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXXIII.\n\n _To Mr. S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, of Bristol._\n\n _London, Nov. 15, 1742._\n _My dear Brother S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Gave thanks on your behalf, when I read your letters; being\nencouraged thereby to hope, that JESUS CHRIST is indeed about to\ntake full possession of your soul. A proper season this to enter into\nthe marriage state, an union representing the mystical union between\nJESUS CHRIST and his Church. My brother, you cannot think of it with\ntoo much solemnity. It is a matter of great importance, in which the\nfuture comfort of your life much depends. I would advise you to read\nover the matrimonial office, and turn it into a prayer. As for outward\naffairs, I think it quite proper to have them settled, as I am a\nminister of JESUS CHRIST, and ought therefore to be freed as much\nas may be from all worldly incumbrances. Be pleased to draw out your\naccount, and when the captain comes, desire him to draw out his, that\nreceipts may pass on both sides. I shall pay Mr. _N\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ as desired.\nI am glad you are so friendly with Mr. _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. I trust we shall learn\nmore and more to love one another.\n\n Yours most affectionately in JESUS CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXXIV.\n\n _To the Bishop of Bangor._\n\n _London, Nov. 17, 1742._\n _My Lord_,\n\nTHE inclosed was sent by a young man, who was coming up to _London_,\nand was in his way as far as _Ludlow_, on purpose to wait on your\nLordship about the contents of it. If your Lordship pleases, I will\nwait upon your Lordship for your Lordship\u2019s answer. The character\nyour Lordship has for candour and moderation, makes me believe, your\nLordship will not favour any persecuting proceedings against those\nthat love the LORD JESUS in sincerity. If your Lordship thinks proper\nto speak with me, upon the least intimation, you shall be attended by,\nmy Lord,\n\n Your Lordship\u2019s most obedient son and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXXV.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, of Toven in Wales._\n\n _London, Nov. 18, 1742._\n _My dear Brother_,\n\nHOW sweetly does the blessed JESUS guide the meek in his way! I\nbelieve your turning back from _Ludlow_ was of GOD. Dear brother\n_H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ was about that time going into _Wales_, and the LORD sending\nme hither (unworthy as I am) to transact affairs for you. I have seen\nyour letter to Mr. _L\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, and likewise that from brother _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\nto the bishop of _Bangor_. I am just now sending it to him, with a\nletter from myself, desiring leave to wait upon his Lordship. What\nthe event will be, our LORD only knows. This, however, we know, \u201cAll\nthings shall work together for good to those that love GOD;\u201d and the\ngates of hell shall never prevail against the church of JESUS CHRIST.\nWhat you have met with, is no more than might be expected long ago.\nThere has been a hook in the Leviathan\u2019s jaws, or otherwise our mouths\nhad been stopped long before this time. I had once the honour of\nbeing publickly arraigned, for not reading the Common Prayer in\na Meeting-house. At another time, I was taken up by a warrant for\ncorrecting a letter wherein were these words, \u201cShall our Clergy break\nthe Canons.\u201d The prosecutions were unjust, but there is our glory.\nI remember when _Socrates_ was about to suffer, his friends grieved,\nthat he suffered unjustly. What, says he, would you have me suffer\njustly? If we are buffetted for our faults, and take it patiently,\nsays a greater than _Socrates_, we are not to glory; \u201cbut if we are\nreproached for CHRIST, and suffer as Christians, happy are we.\u201d I\nthink our present sufferings are for him. Surely the spirit of CHRIST\nand of glory will rest upon you. However, I trust this storm will\nsoon blow over. If possible, let an open separation from the church\nbe avoided. Mr. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ can tell you more by word of mouth. I trust\nthe glorious JESUS has sent him amongst you, in the fulness of the\nblessing of the gospel of peace. He is a dear soul. I am persuaded you\nare dear to him: I find you are dear to me, though I never saw you.\nIt is enough, that we have drank into one spirit. This creates an\nindissoluble union. Pray remember my kind love to dear brother _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_.\nI wish him joy with all my heart; but would not have him deny that\nexhorting is preaching. The Chancellor will be too many for him; for\nto be sure, exhorting is at least one part of preaching. Granting this,\nhe has warrant enough, notwithstanding, from scripture, to tell others\nwhat GOD has done for his soul, and to bid them come and see and\nbelieve in a precious CHRIST. O that word! How sweet is it to my soul?\nIt is like ointment poured forth. Had I time, I could tell you much of\nhis love. He has been exceeding good to me in _Scotland_: He is still\nso to me here. Vile, base, ungrateful as I am, he lets me lean on his\nbosom night and day. My dear brother, help me to praise him, and\nengage all the brethren\u2019s prayers in behalf of one, less than the\nleast of all saints, but\n\n Yours most affectionately in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXXVI.\n\n _To the Reverend Dr. C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, in Boston._\n\n _London, Nov. 18, 1742._\n _Rev. and dear Sir_,\n\nGLAD was I to receive another letter from you, before I sent off my\npackets. I thank our loving LORD, for granting me the continuance\nof his ministers affections. I hope this, and all his other mercies,\nwill lead me nearer and nearer to himself the fountain of all\nmercies. Surely the friends of JESUS pray in my behalf; for I am still\nstrengthened more than ever, and enabled to rejoice in his goodness\nall the day long. The confusion at _New-England_ has given me concern;\nbut our LORD will over-rule all for good. I was sorry to hear of\nMr. _D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s imprisonment; and to be imprisoned for an unguarded\nexpression, I think is too, too severe, and not for the honour of\n_Boston_ at all. Had I been in his place, I should have accepted bail.\nWhen I shall come to _Boston_, the LORD JESUS only knows. I believe\nit will not be long. I find I shall come in perilous times; but that\nall-gracious Saviour, who has helped me hitherto, will guide me by\nhis council, and give me a true scriptural zeal. This is what I desire\nall my friends to beg in my behalf. How hard is it to keep in the\ntrue narrow path, when speaking for the LORD JESUS? GOD preserve me,\nand all his ministers, from defending his truths and cause in our own,\nor under the influence of a false spirit! It destroys the very cause\nwe would defend. As yet, in _Scotland_ there have been but few of\nthe disorders complained of amongst you. But as the work increases, I\nsuppose the enemies stratagems will increase also. This is my comfort,\nJESUS reigns. The gates of hell shall never be able to prevail against\nhis church. I have had a late instance of his power and goodness,\nin driving the _Spaniards_ out of _Georgia_. I hear they are gone.\nI hope the Orphans are now at _Bethesda_ in peace. The continuation\nof my account, I have sent with this, and a parcel of my sermons. Be\npleased to dispose of them, as you shall think proper. I salute all my\nReverend brethren that preach JESUS CHRIST in sincerity. I wish them\nprosperity with all my heart, and pray for them every day, Reverend\nSir, my soul is now filled with a sense of redeeming love. O why me,\nLORD, why me? Even so my Saviour, for so it seemed good in thy sight!\nBut I can write no more, having much business on my hands. We go on\nwell here. Our LORD blesses us much. I am, with much affection, Rev.\nSir,\n\n Your most unworthy and younger brother\n in the gospel of JESUS CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXXVII.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _London, Nov. 18, 1742._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nYOUR letter pleased me much. As soon as I read it, I kneeled down,\nprayed, and gave thanks on your behalf. How faithful is he that hath\nsaid, \u201cI will never leave thee, or forsake thee.\u201d Surely the LORD\nintends to honour you, in making you an instrument in bringing many\nsons to glory. I hope he will bless your first public essays to serve\nthe interest of his great name, and enable you to go on from strength\nto strength. I cannot think you will be long without a feeling\npossession of your GOD. Shortly, I trust, you will be touched with a\ncoal from the heavenly altar, and be made to say, \u201cLORD send me.\u201d I\nthink our Saviour has given you great knowledge in the scriptures. May\nyou be kept close to and be daily taught of him. My prayer for you is,\n\n _Take his poor heart, and let it be\n For ever clos\u2019d to all but thee._\n\nI think you may study conveniently in _Scotland_; but in this and\nevery thing else, I pray the LORD JESUS to direct and guide your soul.\nI most heartily love you, and wish you prosperity in the name of the\nLORD. Our blessed Saviour has been exceeding kind, since I have been\nhere. I go on my way rejoicing, and am strengthened day by day. That\nyou may abundantly experience the same, is the hearty prayer of, dear\nSir,\n\n Yours most affectionately in CHRIST JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXXVIII.\n\n _To Mr. M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, Isle of Man._\n\n _London, Nov. 19, 1742._\n _Rev. and dear Sir_,\n\nI Am concerned to find by your last, dated _November 4th_, that the\nletter I sent you from _Scotland_ did not come to hand. But providence\nover-ruleth all things; even this shall work for good. I wonder\nnot, if the LORD has given you more zeal, that you meet with more\nopposition. However, I would not have you rash, or over hasty in\nleaving the _Isle of Man_. Wait, continue instant in prayer, and you\nshall see the salvation of GOD. I have not heard from my family abroad\nfor some time, and cannot give you any determinate answer about your\ngoing to _Georgia_, because I know not how their affairs stand. GOD\nwill yet shew you what he would have you to do. Even so LORD JESUS,\nAmen and Amen! Our glorious _Emmanuel_ blessed me exceedingly after\nwe parted from _Scotland_, and blesses me in like manner, now he has\nbrought me to _England_. Vile, ungrateful as I am, he vouchsafes to\ngive me much of his presence, and keeps me under the shadow of his\nwings. Let his goodness to me, encourage you to hope and trust in him.\nRemember, dear Sir, JESUS came to make poor sinners happy, and to give\nthem victory over their lusts and passions. Plead his promises, be\nmuch in secret prayer, and never give GOD rest, \u2019till your soul is\nfilled with all his fulness. That the LORD may hasten that blessed\ntime, wherein his kingdom shall come with full power into your dear\nsoul, is the earnest prayer of, Rev. and dear Sir,\n\n Your most affectionate friend, brother and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXXIX.\n\n _To Mr. B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Bethesda._\n\n _London, Nov. 19, 1742._\n\nBLESSED, blessed be GOD, the packet is not gone; so that I have just\ntime to tell you, I received your kind, very kind letter, though\nI have not time to read it thoroughly, least I should miss this\nopportunity. GOD only knows how I sympathize with you and my dear\nfamily. Though I have no money to pay Mr. _Jones_, &c. yet, if I\ncan take up two or three hundred pounds upon my own account, I will\ncome over, GOD willing, the very first opportunity. The time of your\nfasting, I hope is now near over, and the days of your mourning ended.\nRemember the burning bush; it was on fire, but not consumed. Surely\nsome great good is to come out of the Orphan-house. Blessed be GOD,\nfor strengthening you to stay with my dear family. Ten thousand\nblessings descend upon your soul! I wish dear brother _G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ joy. I\nam much obliged to my dear friend and faithful steward. Next ship, I\nhope to answer his letters distinctly. O my dear man, I do not forget\nany of you. GOD, and not my own will, has kept me on this side the\nwater so long. But surely you must judge me sometimes. You need not\nmake any apology for moving; it is what I wished you might do. Your\ncare and tenderness towards me, makes me long to embrace and weep over\nyou one by one. Forget you! no, no; I think I could rather die for\nyou. My brother, my dear brother, go on. Surely GOD is with us. Great\nthings are to come out of _Georgia_. Remember _Abraham_, how did\nhe sojourn in the land of Promise, as in a strange land? The LORD\nincrease your faith. My tenderest love, and ten thousand thanks, to\ndear Mr. _J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015s_. GOD will bless him for helping you. The LORD JESUS\nbe with you all.\n\n Ever, ever yours,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXXX.\n\n _To the Bishop of Bangor._\n\n _London, Nov. 19, 1742._\n _My Lord_,\n\nTHIS evening I received your Lordship\u2019s kind letter. I humbly thank\nyour Lordship for it. It confirmed me in the character given me of\nyour Lordship\u2019s spirit. I verily believe your Lordship abhors every\nthing that has a tendency to persecution, and yet, in my humble\nopinion, if Mr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ is not somewhat redressed, he is persecuted\nindeed. That your Lordship may know his spirit, and the spirit of\nthe person who came as far as _Ludlow_ on the business, I have sent\nyour Lordship a letter from each, which was written some time ago to\nMr. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. In them your Lordship will see their whole hearts.\nI verily believe they would rather die than wilfully speak or write\na falshood. My Lord, the whole of the matter seems to be this: In\n_Wales_ they have little fellowship meetings, where some well-meaning\npeople meet together, simply to tell what GOD has done for their souls.\nIn some of these meetings, I believe Mr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ used to tell his\nexperience, and to invite his companions to come and be happy in\nJESUS CHRIST. He is therefore indicted as holding a conventicle; and\nthis I find is the case of one, if not two more. Now, my Lord, these\npersons thus indicted, as far as I can judge, are loyal subjects to\nhis Majesty, and true friends to, and attendants upon the Church of\n_England_ service. You will see by these letters, how unwilling they\nare to leave her; and yet, if all those acts, which were made against\npersons meeting together to plot against Church and State, were put\nin execution against them, what must they do? They must be obliged\nto declare themselves Dissenters. I assure your Lordship, it is a\ncritical time in _Wales_. Hundreds, if not thousands, will go in a\nbody from the Church, if such proceedings are countenanced. I lately\nwrote them a letter, dissuading them from separating from the Church,\nand I write thus freely to your Lordship, because of the excellent\nspirit of moderation discernible in your Lordship, and because I would\nnot have (to use your Lordship\u2019s own expression) \u201csuch a fire kindled\nin, or from your (Lordship\u2019s) diocese.\u201d I would beg the favour of your\nLordship to return me the inclosed, because I have not kept copies.\nI send them to your Lordship just as they are, that your Lordship\nmay see the whole affair, and censure what is exceptionable. I really\nbelieve the writers will thank your Lordship for it. I ask pardon for\ntaking up so much of your Lordship\u2019s time, but I thought your Lordship\nwould desire to have all possible information, that you might be\nbetter capable of judging. I pray the great Shepherd and Bishop of\nsouls to direct your Lordship in this, and every other affair that\ncomes before you, and that you may be saluted at the great day with\nan _Euge bone_, is the hearty and fervent prayer of, my Lord,\n\n Your Lordship\u2019s most obedient son and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXXXI.\n\n _To Mr. C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _London, Nov. 20, 1742._\n _My dear Brother C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nI Catch a few moments to give you an account of my agency. Your letter\nI sent to the Bishop of _Bangor_, inclosed in one from myself. His\nanswer you have transcribed in this. That he might not be imposed\nupon by the Chancellor\u2019s representing of things, I last night sent\nhis Lordship another long letter, with that which you wrote to dear\nbrother _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ some time ago. As the Bishop seems to be a man of\na moderate spirit, I trust this storm will blow over. In the mean\nwhile, let us wait upon the LORD, commit the cause into his hands who\njudgeth righteously, and pray, that we may be \u201cas wise as serpents,\nand harmless as doves.\u201d Glad shall I be to serve you, my dear brother,\nin this, or any other affair, for advancing our glorious Mediator\u2019s\nkingdom. Let this be our comfort, the gates of hell shall never be\nable to prevail against it. Let us go on then, and never fear what men\nor devils can say of, or do unto us. I suppose this is the language of\nyour heart,\n\n _The love of CHRIST doth me constrain\n To seek the wand\u2019ring souls of men:\n All hail reproach, and welcome pain,\n Only thy terrors, LORD, restrain._\n\nAnd if so, surely the spirit of CHRIST and of glory will rest upon\nyou. Our dear brother _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ is sadly used in _Wiltshire_. The\ncompassionate Redeemer of souls pities my weakness, and suffers very\nlittle disturbance to be made. We have sweet times, and, vile as I am,\nJESUS is pleased to keep me near him. I hope this will find your dear\nsoul sitting under his shadow with great delight. I know you not in\nthe flesh, but hope to see you before I embark. Letters call me loudly\nto _Georgia_. My dear family are returned to their _Bethesda_ in\nsafety. O help me, my dear brother, to praise the LORD. Salute all the\nbrethren in behalf of\n\n Yours most affectionately, &c.\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXXXII.\n\n _To Mr. V\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, Secretary to the Trustees of Georgia._\n\n _London, Nov. 20, 1742._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nGOD willing, I intend waiting upon the honourable Trustees at the time\nappointed. Yesterday I received a packet of letters from my friends\nat the Orphan-house. I find they are returned in safety to _Bethesda_,\nand give a noble account of the General\u2019s conduct. Blessed be GOD, for\nenabling him to repel the enemy; but now another distress is come upon\npoor _Georgia_. A violent sickness rages and has taken off many. My\nletters say, the Orphan-house surgeon had 50 under his hands. This,\nI trust, will more and more convince the Honourable Trustees, of the\nbenefit the Orphan-house is and will be to the Colony. I hear, that Mr.\n_O\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, the minister of _Savannah_, is dead. I know one Mr. _M\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\na clergyman in the _Isle of Man_, who would go over and supply his\nplace, if he was applied to. The Bishop of _Sodor and Man_ I believe\nwill give him a recommendation. You may acquaint the Honourable\nTrustees with this, and let me know their answer. I hope in about two\nmonths to embark for _Georgia_. I find GOD has given my family a good\ncrop; but the hands are sick, so they cannot speedily carry it in.\nWhat condition the Orphan-house was in lately, the inclosed will shew.\nBe pleased to let the Honourable Trustees have a sight of it, and\nbelieve me to be, dear Sir,\n\n Your obliged friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXXXIII.\n\n _To Mr. C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _London, Nov. 20, 1742._\n _My very dear Brother_,\n\nTHE first part of your letter did not surprize me at all, though it\nmade me look up to the LORD for you. I believed you would be down in\nthe valley of humiliation soon; but fear not, it is only that you may\nbe exalted the more. I trust, this will find you mounting on wings\nlike an eagle, walking, yet not weary; running, yet not faint. GOD\nhas, does, and will remarkably appear for you. Doubtless, you are his\nservant and minister. He therefore that touches you, touches the apple\nof GOD\u2019s eye. Poor _Wiltshire_ people! I pity them. If I knew their\nBishop, I would apply to him on their behalf. I wrote to the Bishop\nof _Bangor_ for our brethren in _Wales_, and have received a very\nfavourable answer. The wrath of man shall turn to GOD\u2019s praise, and\nthe remainder of it he will restrain. How wonderfully has he appeared\nin all ages for his church and people! My dear family abroad has\nbeen marvellously preserved. Blessed be GOD, they are returned to\n_Bethesda_ in peace. We have sweet seasons daily, and I am carried\nin the arms of love. My Master careth for me, and seems to order my\ngoings in his way. O help me to praise him. I think you are never\nforgotten by, my dear _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your most affectionate brother and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXXXIV.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _London, Nov. 23, 1742._\n _Dear Sir_,\n\nHOW gently does the LORD deal with his followers? \u201cAs a father pitieth\nhis own children, so is the LORD merciful to them that fear him.\u201d Now\nyour father is a little uneasy, your grandfather is more favourable.\nThe LORD will never suffer you to be tempted above what you will be\nenabled to bear. He will make a way for you to escape. I am glad you\nhave determined to study at _E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. Two things, I would earnestly\nrecommend to your constant study, the _book of_ GOD, and _your own\nheart_. These two, well understood, will make you an able minister of\nthe New Testament. In what manner you shall be hereafter employed, I\nwould have you be indifferent about. \u201cTake no thought for the morrow.\u201d\nLet the LORD send you, when and where he will send you. In the mean\nwhile, do as much for GOD in a private way as you can. \u201cExercise\nthyself unto godliness,\u201d and walk so humbly, that all may know our\nLORD has chosen you to be a gospel prophet. I rejoice, that the work\nis still going on. Blessed be GOD, we have good times here. I am kept\nin great liberty. Be pleased to desire all to accept of hearty love\nfrom, dear Sir,\n\n Your most affectionate friend and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXXXV.\n\n _To the Earl of \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _London, Nov. 23, 1742._\n _My Lord_,\n\nSINCE I wrote to your Lordship, I have received a comfortable packet\nof letters from _Georgia_, giving me an account of my family\u2019s safe\nreturn to their _Bethesda_. The deliverance of _Georgia_ from the\n_Spaniards_, one of my friends writes me, is such as cannot be\nparralleled, but by some few instances out of the Old Testament.\nI find that the _Spaniards_ had cast lots, and determined to give\nno quarter. They intended to attack _Carolina_, but wanting water\nthey put into _Georgia_, and so would take that Colony in their way.\nBut \u201cthe race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong.\u201d\nProvidence ruleth all things. They were wonderfully repelled and sent\naway, before our ships were seen. Surely GOD remembered the prayers\nof the poor orphans, and the earnest cries which have been put up on\ntheir behalf. I find they now live at a smaller expence. They hunt\nand shoot for a good part of their food. Their crop gives them a\nconsiderable quantity of peas, potatoes, &c. and they kill some of\ntheir own stock. There has been a great sickness at _Savannah_. Some\nof the labourers have been taken off, but none of the children, as I\nhear, have died as yet. I hope this will find your Lordship perfectly\nrecovered, and your honoured consort, Lady \u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, and all your\nLordship\u2019s family, rejoicing in GOD. He is pleased to give me much of\nhis love, and to bless me every day. Several of our friends in _Wales_\nhave been unjustly excommunicated. I have sent two letters, and have\nreceived kind answers from the Bishop of _Bangor_. Perilous times,\nperhaps, are coming on; but this is my comfort, \u201cthe gates of hell\nshall never prevail against the church of CHRIST.\u201d Hoping for a line\nfrom your Lordship, if it be not too much trouble, I subscribe myself,\nmy Lord,\n\n Your Lordship\u2019s most obedient, obliged humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXXXVI.\n\n _To Miss W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _London, November 23, 1742._\n _My dear Miss W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\nYOUR letter affected me much, and if it had not been for business, I\nshould have answered it ere now. It is the hardest thing in the world\nto keep the creature in his proper place. We are apt to esteem the\nministers of JESUS either too much or too little. One while, we could\npluck out our eyes to give them; at another time, run into a contrary\nextreme, and not pay them that respect which is their due for their\nMaster\u2019s sake. The love that a child of GOD feels for its spiritual\nfather, is certainly unspeakable. O how can I but love him, who under\nGOD has brought me from darkness into light! Methinks I hear dear Miss\n_W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ say, \u201chow indeed!\u201d But here is danger, lest the affections\nshould be too much entangled, and we unwilling to give up the beloved\nobject to our GOD. This, I suppose, is dear Miss _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s case, and I\ncan say,\n\n _I know how sore this trial is,\n For I have felt the same._\n\nO what have I suffered in parting from spiritual friends, especially\nsuch as were my _Isaac_\u2019s! But CHRIST\u2019s grace has been sufficient for\nme, and so it will be for you. I have prayed for you, and hope by this\ntime dear Miss _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ can say, my spiritual Father keeps his proper\nplace, and I walk in liberty and the love of GOD. Indeed, my dear Miss,\nno one but the searcher of hearts knows, what a real concern I have\nfor your eternal welfare. I verily believe I shall see you sitting at\nthe right hand of your Redeemer. Surely he has captivated and stolen\nyour heart away. I hope nothing will divert you from him; but with\na single eye to his glory, you will go through good report and evil\nreport, \u2019till you come to the blessed place, where the wicked will\ncease from troubling, and your weary soul enjoy an everlasting rest.\nGlad shall I be to hear from you every opportunity. Ere long I must\naway. Pray our Saviour to help me under all my difficulties, but\nat the same time help me to praise him: for amidst all my various\ncircumstances, I am kept joying in GOD, and made more than conqueror\nthrough his love. We have had blessed times since my arrival here.\n\n Your most affectionate friend and servant in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXXXVII.\n\n _To the Bishop of Bangor._\n\n _London, Nov. 23, 1742._\n _My Lord_,\n\nI Humbly thank your Lordship for your Lordship\u2019s second kind letter.\nYour Lordship shall have Mr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s letter whenever your Lordship\npleases to demand it. I sent it for no other purpose, than to let your\nLordship into the affair as far as lay in my power. I am quite willing\nyour Lordship should hear both sides. I doubt not but your Lordship\nwill do justice. The candour and moderation which breathe in your\nLordship\u2019s letters, and your condescension in writing to me, incline\nme to take the freedom of begging your Lordship\u2019s acceptance of my\nlast volume of sermons, and the Orphan-house accounts, from, my Lord,\n\n Your Lordship\u2019s most obliged, obedient son and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXXXVIII.\n\n _To Professor Frank, in Germany._\n\n _London, Nov. 24, 1742._\n _Rev. Sir_,\n\nLONG have I designed writing to you, but something or another has\nalways prevented me. However, I can now defer it no longer. For though\nI never saw you in the flesh, yet I love and highly esteem you in the\nbowels of JESUS CHRIST, and wish you much prosperity in the work of\nthe LORD. Your honoured father\u2019s memory is very precious to me. His\naccount of the Orphan-house hath, under GOD, been a great support\nand encouragement to me in a like undertaking. How it prospers, the\naccount sent with this will inform you. Only it will be proper to\nobserve, that since the publication of the last, there have been\nupwards of 300 _l._ collected. I am yet about 400 _l._ in arrears. But\nI know in whom I have believed, for the carrying on of that building.\nHitherto it has answered its motto, and has been like the burning\nbush on fire, but not consumed. The Colony\u2019s late deliverance from\nthe _Spaniards_ was very extraordinary. I cannot but think the LORD\nintends yet to do great things for _Georgia_. How is it with the\n_Saltzburghers_? I have not heard. Sometime ago I sent them over\ntwenty pounds, and wish it was in my power to send them more. About\n_January_, GOD willing, I intend to embark. In the mean while, I\nshould be glad to know, Rev. Sir, how it is with your Orphan-house?\nand whether you have any commands to _Georgia_? I suppose you have\nheard of the work of GOD in _Scotland_. Indeed the word has run and\nbeen glorified, and JESUS has gotten himself the victory in many\nhearts. In _England_ also he is pleased to bless us. Here are many\nclose followers of the blessed Lamb of GOD, and though there is a\ndifference of opinion between me and Mr. _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, yet JESUS pities us\nand blesses us all. I long for that time, \u201cwhen the watchmen shall all\nsee eye to eye; when the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the lion\neat straw like the ox, and the people of GOD learn war and jangle no\nmore.\u201d Hasten that time, O glorious _Emmanuel_, and let thy kingdom\ncome!\u2015\u2015Rev. Sir, whilst I am writing, the fire of love kindles in\nmy heart. I am amazed, to think the blessed JESUS should employ such\nan unworthy wretch as I am: But thy grace is free, for, O my GOD, it\nfound me out. The love you bear to the lovely JESUS, I am persuaded\nwill excite you to pray for me. Glad should I be of a line from you,\nand the Rev. Mr. _Ulspurgher_; but I deserve no regard for not writing\nto you both. But you know how to forgive, for GOD for CHRIST\u2019s sake\nhath forgiven you. Hoping therefore for a line from you by the hands\nof the Rev. Mr. _Z\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, I subscribe myself, Reverend and dear Sir,\n\n Your most obliged, affectionate, tho\u2019 unworthy younger brother\n and servant in the kingdom and patience of the blessed JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCLXXXIX.\n\n _To Mr. P\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, of Newbury._\n\n _London, Nov. 27, 1742._\n _Rev. and dear Sir_,\n\nTHIS morning I received your sweet and lovely letter. It humbled me\nbefore GOD; but I rejoiced, as I had long since publickly recanted\nall that is exceptionable in that extract. I think I was overseen\nin publishing it; but this is not the first blunder I have made. My\nmistakes have been so many, and my imprudence so great, that I have\noften wondered that the glorious JESUS would employ me in his service.\nBut he has proved his eternal goodness, long-suffering, and love, by\nbearing with me, and, Rev. and dear Sir, he still delights to honour\nme. Since I have been in _London_, he has given me great freedom\nof soul, and caused his word to come with power. I have news of my\nfamily being safe at _Georgia_. GOD willing, I purpose to embark next\n_January_. I most heartily thank you for this last instance of your\nlove, and pray our dear JESUS to reward you for it. Your seeing what\na poor, weak, fallible creature I am, I trust will stir you up to be\nmore earnest for me at the throne of grace. Next week I intend sending\nyou a parcel, wherein you will have more particular accounts of the\nwork in _Scotland_. I hear the gospel flourishes in _Gloucestershire_\nand _Wales_. Dear Mr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ will be sadly missed. But he is in peace,\nand the residue of the spirit is in the Redeemer\u2019s hands. That you and\nyour dear flock and family may experience a large effusion of it in\nyour dear souls, is and shall be the earnest prayer of, dear and Rev.\nSir,\n\n Your most affectionate, tho\u2019 most unworthy brother\n and servant in JESUS CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXC.\n\n _To the Bishop of Sarum._\n\n _Nov. 30, 1742._\n _My Lord_,\n\nI Beg your Lordship\u2019s pardon for troubling you with this. I believe\nyour Lordship will not be offended, when you know the cause. There\nis one Mr. _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, a true lover of JESUS CHRIST, who has been much\nhonoured in bringing many poor sinners in _Wiltshire_ to the knowledge\nof themselves and of GOD. He is a member of the Church of _England_,\nbut sadly opposed by the clergy in _Wiltshire_, as well as by many\nthat will come to hear him preach. In a letter, dated _November 16th_,\nfrom _Toxham_, he writes thus: \u201cThe enemy seems to be more awakened in\nthe villages round about us, than before. The ministers of _Bramble_,\n_Segery_, _Langley_, and many others, have strictly forbidden the\nchurch-wardens and overseers to let any of the _C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s have any\nthing out of the parish; and they obey them, and tell the poor,\nif they cannot stop them from following any other way, they will\nfamish them. Several of the poor, who have great families (to my own\nknowledge) have already been denied any help, for this reason, because\nthey follow this way. Some of the people have, out of fear, denied\nthey ever came, and others have been made to promise they will come\nno more; whilst the most part come at the loss of friends and all\nthey have. When the officers threatned some to take away their pay;\nthey answered, if you starve us, we will go, and rather than we will\nforbear, we will live upon grass like the kine. Surely the cries of\nthe distressed people have already entered into the ears of the LORD\nof _Sabaoth_.\u201d In another letter I received from him last night, he\nwrites thus: \u201cI should be glad if you could mention the cruelty of the\nministers of _Bramble_, and _Segery_, to the Bishop of _Sarum_; indeed,\ntheir doings are inhuman. The cry of the people, because of their\noppression, is very great; several suffer amazingly.\u201d\u2015\u2015In compliance\nwith my dear friend\u2019s request, I presume to lay the matter, as\nhe represents it, before your Lordship, being persuaded that your\nLordship will not favour persecuting practices, or approve of such\nproceedings to keep people to the Church of _England_. Should this\nyoung man leave the Church, hundreds would leave it with him. But I\nknow that at present he has no such design. If your Lordship pleases\nto give me leave, I would wait upon your Lordship upon the least\nnotice. Or if your Lordship is pleased to send a line into _Wiltshire_,\nto know the truth of the matter, and judge accordingly, it will\nsatisfy, my Lord,\n\n Your Lordship\u2019s most obedient son and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXCI.\n\n _To Mr. J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _London, Dec. 4, 1742._\n\nIF my dear brother _J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ took it kind, that I called at his house,\nI am sure I took it much kinder that he was pleased to send unworthy\nme so kind a letter. It has so affected me, that I have been praying\nbefore my Saviour for you; and though nature calls for rest, I\ncannot obey it, before I have written to my dear Mr. _J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. Vile,\nunfaithful as I am, my Master lets me have my hands full of work. From\nmorning \u2019till midnight I am employed, and, glory be to rich grace,\nI am carried through the duties of each day with chearfulness, and\nalmost uninterrupted tranquility. Our society is large, but in good\norder, and we make improvements daily. My Master gives us much of his\ngracious presence, both in our public and private administrations.\nIn our love-feasts, JESUS comes and says, \u201cPeace be unto you.\u201d In\nour great congregation, he gives poor sinners to look, and mourn, and\nlive. In _Scotland_ the work was very extraordinary. In _Wales_ the\nword runs and is glorified much. In _Gloucestershire_, _Wiltshire_,\nand _Bristol_, our LORD gets himself the victory in many hearts. In\n_Newcastle_, our brother _W\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_\u2019s are blessed much, and I heartily\nrejoice to hear that our dear Saviour is so much among you. If I know\nany thing of this my desperately wicked heart, I am dead to parties,\nand freed from the pain, which on that account once disturbed the\npeace of my soul. Indeed, JESUS has taken many things from me, and\nmade me to experience, that in him there is plenteous redemption.\nAbout _January_, I purpose, GOD willing, to embark for _Georgia_. My\ndear family hath been wonderfully preserved. As the Orphan-house was\nbuilt by faith, I trust the gates of hell shall never prevail against\nit. Methinks I hear my dear Mr. _J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ say, Amen. I most cordially\nsalute your dear Lady, dear brother _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, and all the brethren.\nI saw our dear _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_ before he went. I intended having some sweet\nfellowship with the church in _Yorkshire_, but was prevented by riding\npost. If dear brother _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, or _D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, or any of the brethren,\nhave any thing to say to a poor sinner, I should be glad to hear from\nthem. Let this provoke you, my dear brother, to send me another letter.\nI\u2019ll redeem time from sleep, rather than it should not be answered by,\nmy dear Mr. _J\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\n\n Your most affectionate, though unworthy, sinful\n and younger brother in JESUS CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXCII.\n\n _To the Bishop of Bristol._\n\n _London, Dec. 5, 1742._\n _My Lord_,\n\nAS your Lordship was pleased to contribute towards the Orphan-house\nin _Georgia_, I think your Lordship has a right to hear how that\nundertaking succeeds. I have made bold to send your Lordship the\naccounts of it, which are published. Since the last was printed, I\nhave collected about 300 _l._ and have heard that my family are all\nsafe at the Orphan-house. I have also taken the freedom of sending\nyour Lordship my last volume of sermons; in accepting of which, your\nLordship will much oblige\n\n Your Lordship\u2019s most obedient son and servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXCIII.\n\n _To Mr. S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, at Worcester._\n\n _London, Dec. 9, 1742._\n _Rev. and dear Sir_,\n\nHOWEVER engaged I may be, I think it my duty to answer your kind\nletter as soon as possible. It is not fit that my Master\u2019s aged\nservant should wait long for an answer from a younger brother,\nespecially as I know you write with so much difficulty. I thank you,\nRev. Sir, for your plain dealing. It is what pleaseth me well. Indeed,\nI feel myself a poor, vile, worthless creature, and am glad to receive\nadvice from you, who have been so long in the Redeemer\u2019s service.\nHowever ungrateful it may be to the old man, the language of my heart\nis, \u201cLORD, search me and try me, and whatever secret wickedness lurks\nin my soul, discover it to me, and give me power over it, that nothing\nmay divert me from that way, which leads me to life everlasting.\u201d\nYour advice, Rev. Sir, in respect to preaching, was salutary and good,\nand if I may speak any thing of myself, is what I keep close to. I\nam remarked for my evangelical preaching, and comforting the mourners\nof _Zion_. I am never so much in my element, as when I preach free\ngrace to the chief of sinners. As to the gentleman you mention, I do\nnot remember I ever conversed with such a person. I believe there can\nscarce an instance be given of any one sent to _Bedlam_ by my sermons.\nBut I rejoice in this, and all other calumnies that are cast upon me.\n\n _All hail reproach, welcome pain,\n Only thy terrors, LORD, restrain._\n\nI must have some thorn in the flesh, to serve as a poise to the\ngreat honour my Master is pleased to put upon me. In _Scotland_, my\nreception was extraordinary. It was almost wholly amongst the people\nand clergy of the _kirk_, with many of the highest rank. I was very\nintimate with several persons of quality, who I trust have been\nawakened to a true sense of the divine life, and enabled to count\nall things but dung and dross for the excellency of the knowledge\nof CHRIST JESUS their LORD. My chief opposition was from the dear\nMr. _E\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015s_ and the associate presbytery. They first invited me\nto _Scotland_; but finding I would preach for the ministers of the\nestablished church, as well as for them, they spoke all manner of\nevil against me falsly, and imputed all the work in _Scotland_ and\n_New-England_ to the agency of the evil spirit. I pitied, prayed for,\nand loved them, and do so still. O, reverend Sir, what thanks shall I\ngive to my LORD for carrying me through so many trying dispensations?\nI know you will help me to adore and praise him. I am much blessed\nhere. We have many gracious souls. Ere long I must leave them. I have\nnot the least thought of seeing _Worcester_. Glad shall I be to kiss\nyour aged hands; but I shall see you in glory. Begging the continuance\nof your prayers, and with all possible thanks for all favours, I\nsubscribe myself, reverend and dear Sir,\n\n Your most obliged and affectionate friend and younger brother\n and servant in JESUS,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXCIV.\n\n _To Mr. D\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015, of Edinburgh._\n\n _London, Dec. 18, 1742._\n _My very dear Friend and Brother_,\n\nLAST night, just before your kind letter came to hand, I had been\nlying on my face before our compassionate High-Priest, telling him\nwhat great expences lay before me for his great Name sake. I wanted\n300 _l._ to pay for the Orphans, and much to pay for my own necessary\nexpences, which he, by his providence, brought upon me. Your letter\ncame as an answer to my prayer. It humbled, at the same time that it\nelated my soul, and greatly strengthened my faith. Surely the LORD is\non my side, and the Orphan-house will stand unconsumed in fire. The\nenemies, and even many friends of JESUS speak against it; but this is\nall to bring me nearer to the blessed JESUS, and to convince me that\nour extremity is GOD\u2019s opportunity. My dear man, GOD will abundantly\nbless you for helping me at this juncture. I can find but few, who\nthink it a favour to do any thing for GOD, and love to help a friend\nto the very last. O, dear Sir, was you here, I could weep over you,\nand thank you most heartily. Last night I was enabled to intercede\nfor you very much. GOD will hear my prayer, and not let my dear friend\nlose his reward. The 16th of this month was my birth-day. It made me\nblush to think how much sin I have committed against, and how little\ngood I have done for GOD. As soon as I opened and read your letter,\namazed, I cried out, I am the vilest wretch living, and so I think now.\nI know you will pray for me, and thank our Saviour too. He is very\nkind to me. Our society goes on well. I am now in my winter-quarters,\npreparing for a fresh campaign. Though I richly deserve it, yet our\ninfinitely condescending JESUS will not lay me aside, until he has\nperformed all his good pleasure in and by me. Wishing you, my dear\nSir, all the blessings of the everlasting covenant, and sending you\nten thousand thanks for all favours, I subscribe myself,\n\n Your most obliged affectionate friend, brother,\n and unworthy servant in JESUS CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXCV.\n\n _To Mr. I\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _London, Dec. 21, 1742._\n _My very dear Brother_,\n\nWHEN your letters come, I find great freedom to send immediate answers.\nA proof this, I trust, that our Saviour intends our brotherly love not\nonly to continue, but increase. This day I dined with old Mr. _F\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_,\nand was kindly entertained by him and his wife. I then remembered what\nsweet counsel we had there taken together, and rejoiced in the happy\nprospect of our being ere long for ever together with our blessed and\nglorious LORD. My brother, what has our Saviour done for us since that\ntime? What is he doing for us now? what did he do ere time began? what\nwill he do when time shall be no more? O how sweet is it to be melted\ndown with a sense of redeeming love! It is this must strike the rock,\nand break the bars of unbelief asunder. O! to be kept always low\nat the feet of JESUS! It is right, my brother, always to insist on\npoverty of spirit, and emptying the creature of self. I heartily join\nwith you in your petition for yourself and unworthy me. I know what a\ndreadful thing it is, to carry much sail without proper ballast, and\nto rejoice in a false liberty. Joy floating upon the surface of an\nunmortified heart, is but of short continuance. It puffs up, but doth\nnot edify. I thank our Saviour that he is shewing us here more of our\nhearts, and more of his love. I doubt not but he deals so with you. I\nheartily greet your dear houshold, and your societies, and return my\nlove to Mr. _S\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. I have heard him mentioned by lady _F\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_.\nIf our Saviour gives me leave, I would gladly come to _Yorkshire_.\nBut I think the cloud points strongly towards _Georgia_. He hath taken\nwonderful care of the sheep left in yonder wilderness, and interposed\nmightily in their behalf. I know you will thank him for it. I have had\na loving conference with dear Mr. _B\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_, and have received a sweet\ngospel-letter from dear Mr. _H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015_. With this I send to him, you, and\nyours, and all the brethren, most hearty love, and am, my very dear\nbrother,\n\n Ever yours in CHRIST,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXCVI.\n\n _To the Honourable Colonel G\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _London, Dec. 21, 1742._\n _Honoured Sir_,\n\nYOUR kind letter put me in mind of righteous _Lot_, whose soul was\ngrieved day by day at the ungodly conversation of the wicked. It\nwas the same with holy _David_. His eyes, like yours, honoured Sir,\ngushed out with water because men kept not GOD\u2019s law. Let this be\nyour comfort, honoured Sir, that ere long \u201cthe wicked shall cease from\ntroubling you, and your weary soul shall be at rest.\u201d Our Saviour will\ngive you a discharge, when you have fought a few more battles for him.\nAn exceeding and eternal weight of glory is laid up for you, which\nGOD the righteous judge shall give you at that day. I confess your\nsituation and employment cannot be very agreeable to a disciple of\nthe prince of peace. But persons can better judge for themselves, than\nstrangers can judge for them. However, I cannot say, I would change\nposts. Indeed, honoured Sir, I think mine is a glorious employ. I am\nnot ashamed of my master, though my master may well be ashamed of me.\nI know no other reason, why JESUS has put me into the ministry,\nthan because I am the chief of sinners, and therefore fittest to\npreach free grace to a world lying in the wicked one. Blessed be\nGOD, he gives much success, and for the generality answers your\nprayers, by giving me a thriving soul in a healthful body. But O my\nunfruitfulness! I am often ashamed that I can do no more for that\nJESUS who hath redeemed me by his own most precious blood. Honoured\nSir, the thoughts quite confound me. O that I could lie lower! then\nshould I rise higher. Could I take deeper root downwards, then should\nI bear more fruit upwards. I want to be poor in spirit. I want to be\nmeek and lowly in heart. I want to have the whole mind that was in\nCHRIST JESUS. Blessed be his name for what he has given me already.\nBlessed be his name, that out of his fulness I receive grace for grace.\nO that my heart was CHRIST\u2019s library! I would not have one thief to\nlodge in my Redeemer\u2019s temple. \u201cLORD, scourge out every thief,\u201d is\nthe daily language of my heart. The LORD will hear my prayer, and let\nmy cry come unto him. I have just been writing to your honoured lady.\nI think she grows in grace. May you and yours be filled with all the\nfulness of GOD! In about six weeks, GOD willing, I purpose to embark\nfor _Georgia_. Our LORD has wonderfully appeared for my poor orphans.\nI am yet in arrears for them, but my GOD knows how to supply all my\nwants. I am enabled to cast all my care upon him, believing that he\ncareth for me. I hope to have the favour of another letter before I\nembark. In the mean while, I beg the continuance of your prayers, and\nam, honoured Sir,\n\n Your most affectionate, though very unworthy brother,\n and servant in our glorious head,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n LETTER CCCCXCVII.\n\n _To Lady Jane H\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015 C\u2015\u2015\u2015\u2015._\n\n _London, Dec. 23, 1742._\n _Honoured Madam_,\n\nHOW are we obliged to your Ladyship? Had I time I would endeavour to\ntell you; but this is my comfort, when I have not time to write, I\nhave a heart given me to pray for my dear friends, and you, Honoured\nMadam, have a constant share in my poor petitions. I find by yours to\nmy wife, that you complain of darkness. Ere now, I hope the day-star\nhath again risen in your heart, and you have been made to rejoice\nwith exceeding great joy. Our LORD will not leave you comfortless; he\nwill send the Holy Ghost to comfort you. The time of singing of birds\nshall come. Our LORD will not be always chiding.\u2015\u2015This is only to\nshew you more of your heart, and make you what you long to be, a very\npoor sinner. Our hearts, Honoured Madam, are so desperately wicked,\ndeceitful above all things, that without repeated instances of feeling\nour helplessness and misery, we should forget ourselves, and run away\nfrom the feet of our LORD and Saviour. He therefore, in love, empties\nbefore he fills; humbles before he exalts. At least, he is pleased to\ndeal thus with me. I thank him for it, from my inmost soul: for was\nit not so, his mercies would destroy us. He helps me also to praise\nhim. When I discover a new corruption, I am as thankful as a centinel\nkeeping watch in a garrison, would be at spying a straggling enemy\ncome near him. I stand not fighting with it myself in my own strength,\nbut run immediately and tell the captain of my salvation. By the sword\nof his spirit, he soon destroys it, and makes me exceeding happy.\nThis is what I call a simple looking to CHRIST. I know of no other\neffectual way of keeping the old man down, after he has gotten his\ndeadly blow. Look up then, dear Madam, to a wounded Saviour. Go to\nhim as a little child. Tell him your whole heart. He will hear your\nlisping, and set your soul at liberty. He is pleased graciously to\nanswer my petitions, and to bless my poor labours. We have many good\nsouls in our society, that are gently coming into the knowledge of\nthemselves. Our Saviour deals most lovingly with us indeed. Last night\nwe had a general love-feast. It was exceeding awful and refreshing.\nI could have wished for some of my dear _Scotland_ friends. I was\nenabled to pray for them most fervently. May JESUS bless this letter\nto your soul! Wishing, above all things, that it may be in health and\nprosper, and with humble acknowledgments for all favours, I subscribe\nmyself, Honoured Madam,\n\n Your Ladyship\u2019s most obliged humble servant,\n\n _G. W._\n\n\n The END of the FIRST VOLUME.","title":"The works of the Reverend George Whitefield, M.A., Vol. 1 (of 6) : $b Containing all his sermons and tracts, etc.","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":177262}