LETTER CCLIX.
To Mrs. B——, in Charles-Town.
On board the Minerva, Feb. 17, 1741.
Dear Mrs. B.,
I Am much obliged to you many ways. The Lord reward you a thousand-fold. Your prayers are heard. God is carrying us upon the wings of the wind. The angel of the covenant accompanies us in the way. The present season is a time of refreshing to my soul. I hope it will be a profitable voyage. I think I see more into the wickedness of my own heart, and the unsearchable riches of the Lord Jesus, who hath redeemed me by his precious blood. I believe you can say so: Why do you shake your head? Woman, why doubtest thou? Has not the Lord visited your soul? Have you not heard him say in his word, applied by his spirit, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love?” And do you think God would tell you so, if it was not so? Away therefore with all desponding fears; come boldly, with a full assurance of faith, and draw water plentifully out of the wells of salvation. O that all were comforted, as I am now comforted of God. I would not eat my spiritual morsels alone. I hope, a letter from you will acquaint me, how good the Lord has been to your soul. I have no greater joy, than to hear that my christian friends walk in the truth. The Lord be with you. Remember me to your father and sisters. That you all may be true members of the houshold of faith, prays
Your affectionate brother and servant,
G. W.
LETTER CCLX.
To Mr. B. and his wife at Bethesda.
On board the Minerva, Feb. 17, 1741.
Dear brother B——,
WHEN I left Charles-Town, the Lord seemed to give me a full assurance, that we should have a speedy passage.—We have hitherto had scarce any contrary winds, and are now very near the Western Islands. We had one storm the first week, but almost ever since have been favoured with weather as well as wind. O that you would call the family together, and praise the Lord for the mercies conferred on us the unworthiest of the sons of men! I do not know that I have failed praying for you one day, since I have been out. I long to hear what the Lord hath done for your souls. What say you? Do you live in love? Do you strive together with me in your prayers? Are any of the Orphan Lambs bleating after their great Shepherd? Is your mouth opened? Is your heart enlarged? Is your soul swallowed up in God? Does Bethesda answer its name? Is it, indeed, an house of mercy? These questions, I hope to have answer’d in the affirmative. If you ask, how it is with my soul? Blessed be God, I can reply, “Very well.” The Lord gives me a feeling possession of himself. I have been enabled to compose nine discourses for the press. God willing, you shall hear from me often. I write this, that I may be ready, if I should hear of any ship coming your way immediately upon my arrival; receive it as a token of my love, which God knows is unfeigned, from
Your affectionate brother and servant in Christ,
G. W.
LETTER CCLXI.
To Mr. J. B——, Charles-Town.
On board the Minerva, Feb. 17, 1741.
Dear Mr. B——,
I Think I owe you a letter; I believe you love me in the bowels of Jesus Christ. I hope our love is reciprocal. How can it be otherwise with those, who have drank of the same spirit? I long for that happy time, when we shall be swallowed up in the vision and full fruition of the glorious Godhead. The bunch of grapes makes me long to eat of the full clusters in the heavenly Canaan. The first-fruits make me pant after the full harvest. Perhaps you may go and partake of it first, and drink new wine before me in the kingdom of our Father; I hope I shall not stay long after you, if not called before. My soul is sick of love. Nothing can satisfy it, but the full sight and enjoyment of Christ. He now visits my soul, and causes it mightily to rejoice in his salvation. How lovingly he hath dealt with me in other respects, letters sent to other friends can best inform you. Haste, read, hear, and join with them in giving thanks and praying for
Your affectionate friend and brother and servant in Christ,
G. W.
LETTER CCLXII.
To Mrs. S——, in Charles-Town.
On board the Minerva, Feb. 17, 1741.
Dear Mrs. S——,
MY soul is now in an heavenly frame, swallowed up in God, and melted down by the love of my dear Lord Jesus. It is almost too big to speak. I will give it vent by writing to you. Our master hath been exceeding gracious, and has shewn me several tokens for good, which I desired of him in secret prayer. Last night, I think I received as full satisfaction as I could desire, in respect to my marriage. I believe what I have done, is of God; tho’ I know not when my heart was more disengaged from earthly thoughts than now. I only desire, that the dear Jesus may be glorified in me, whether it be by life or by death. I depend on your sending me a particular account of affairs at Charles-Town. I have wrote to many; you will hear how my letters are received. I shall be glad to hear how it is with your own soul. I beseech you to live near to Christ, and to keep up a holy walk with God. Be inward with God in your duties. Trust and hang on God, even when he hides himself from you. He will be your guide unto death. Hunger and thirst daily after the righteousness of Christ. Be content with no degree of sanctification. Be always crying out, “Lord, let me know more of myself and of thee; O let me receive grace for grace of thy dear Son.” This, at present, is the full desire of my soul. I am persuaded the Lord will satisfy it. God is love; we cannot think too highly of him; we cannot expect too great things to be done by him. His right hand, I believe, will bring mighty things to pass. I am now entering on a scene of trials. The Lord hath sent me on the seas to prepare me for them. Not that I depend on any stock of grace already received, I would look to Christ continually. But whither am I running? I forget myself. I almost fancy, I am talking with you. I have only room to acquaint you, that dear J—— S—— sits by me, and cordially salutes you, with
Your affectionate friend, brother, and servant in Christ,
G. W.
LETTER CCLXIII.
To the Rev. Mr. S——, Charles-Town.
On board the Minerva, Feb. 17, 1741.
Rev. and dear Sir,
YOU have been very kind to me in many respects; but I have been ungrateful to you, and infinitely more so to my gracious God. I have not failed frequently to bemoan my unworthiness. Since I have been on board, the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping, and now fills my soul with all peace and joy in believing. I have been much assisted in composing sermons for the press. At present my soul is closely adverting to God, who, I believe, will bring me safe to glory. My bodily strength is much renewed. In short, I am comforted on every side. Dear Sir, praise the Lord in my behalf. O let us magnify his name together. I hope you feel what it is to have fellowship with the Father and the Son, and experience the influences of the Holy Ghost, in delivering your blessed master’s message. I salute Mr. P—— and your whole church. My request is, “Brethren, pray and give thanks for us.”—When you write to New-England, pray remember me to all friends in the kindest manner. That country, and the people, lie very near my heart. I hope to be favoured with a line from you ere I return from England. Great perils there await me; but Jesus Christ will send his angel, and roll away every stone of difficulty. In his strength alone is my trust, and for his sake and in his name, I subscribe myself, reverend and dear Sir,
Your affectionate brother and fellow-labourer in the Lord,
G. W.
LETTER CCLXIV.
To Mr. J—— H——, at Bethesda.
On board the Minerva, Feb. 18, 1741.
My dear Friend and Brother,
YESTERDAY we humbled ourselves before God, and by prayer and fasting sought for a blessing, and direction in all our affairs. I wish I had kept family fasts at Savannah. Suppose you had one monthly at Bethesda? You will see, by dear Brother B——’s letter, the frame of my mind. Since that, I have been a little in the valley, but the Lord is my comforter. I hope I grow in grace, and in the knowledge of myself, and the Lord Jesus Christ. My heart is much united to Messrs. W——s, tho’ we differ in some particulars. May God make us of one mind, as well as heart. I shall make all possible haste back, and remit money to you as often as I can. Mr. P—— tells me, his brother is to send you upwards of a hundred pounds, and I suppose other supplies will be sent from the Northward. I have also wrote to Charles-Town. I am persuaded God will not let you want. I would not have any thing left undone, that is necessary for the family’s comfortable subsistence. The Lord is our Shepherd, therefore we shall not lack. I shall long to hear how the blessed Jesus deals with you. He is wonderfully gracious unto me, and hath made this voyage profitable to my soul. O my friend, my friend, the Lord be with you. My love is firm to you at the bottom, tho’ sometimes it hath ebbed and flowed; in heaven it will not be so. On earth it is needful it should; otherwise, how should we learn to cease from man? But I am a worm and no man, and deserve to be the outcast of all people. My eyes are now ready to gush out with water. O the sovereign love of Christ in chusing me! My dear friend, let us study to be holy even as he is holy, and walk even as he also walked. Let these be your daily questions, “Am I more like Christ? Am I more meek and patient? Does my practice correspond with my knowledge, and am I a light to enlighten and enflame all that are around me?” I could say more, but I think to write again when I get on shore. God bless you and yours. I suppose you have heard that Mr. P—— sails with
Your affectionate friend, brother and servant in Christ,
G. W.
LETTER CCLXV.
To Mr. S—— W——, at Bristol.
On board the Minerva, Feb. 20, 1741.
AND does my friend W—— look again towards God? Never did the Father with greater joy receive the returning prodigal, than I shall embrace you in these unworthy arms, if you are alive to God. I trust your late tepidity will now make you more fervent in spirit. I pray God to give you a settlement in Christ, that you may be rooted and grounded in love. My brother, the captain, gave me a particular account of your soul. I hope he will yet appear for God; will you also appear with him? Why should you strive to please a pleasure-taking world? Why should you keep in league with the apparent enemies of God? But no more of this. Let old things pass away, let all things become new. I believe God suffered you to fall, because you thought more highly of yourself than you ought to think. My love to all. I feel a great union of soul with Mr. W——; we differ in principles, but I hope the Lord will make us of one mind. You must not be surprized, if I publish an answer to Mr. John W——’s sermon, entitled, Free Grace. It is wrote in much love and meekness. Adieu for the present. Give thanks on my behalf. The Lord hath dealt wonderously kind with, dear Mr. W——,
Yours eternally in Christ,
G. W.
LETTER CCLXVI.
To Mr. T—— S——, in London.
On board the Minerva, Feb. 20, 1741.
My dear Brother,
I Have kept your letter by me till now, that I might answer it on my voyage. It speaks the language of a perplexed heart, and plainly shews me, that satan loves to keep us in bondage. My dear Brother, I think you have done wrong in holding your peace. I am sure you once felt that freedom of soul, which you are a stranger to now. The way of duty is the way of safety. Whatever you may say to the contrary, unless you will give the lie to your own experiences, you must confess, that you have indeed tasted of the good word of life. You should, therefore, have went forwards, and not have turned back again, and thereby plunged yourself into darkness; darkness that may be felt. Alas, you have too eagerly embraced principles (I fear) contrary to the gospel of Christ. You are aiming at a false voluntary humility, and are returning back to the flesh pots of Egypt. I know my words will have but little force with some, but I must deliver my soul. God was once pleased to work upon you by my ministry, and therefore I am more solicitous for your welfare. I know the advice you would give me is, “be still.” I hope I am, so far as really to know the Lord; but yet I will strive, yet will I walk in all the ordinances of God, and go on from strength to strength till I come to appear before him in his heavenly Zion. I write this, out of the fulness of my heart. Indeed I love you, and the brethren; I am willing to be the servant of you all. I am less than the least. However, I dare not embrace tenets that are not agreeable to the form of sound words. Let me see you as soon as may be after my arrival, and in the mean while accept of hearty love, from
Your affectionate brother and servant in Christ,
G. W.
LETTER CCLXVII.
To Mrs. A. D.
On board the Minerva, Feb. 20, 1741.
My dear Sister,
MY conscience almost reproaches me, that I have not wrote to you often, nor full enough; accept this as an acknowledgement of my fault. I am sorry for it. We are now about a thousand miles off England. I hope this will provoke you to send me a letter immediately after my arrival. I find Luther’s observation to be true: “Times of reformation are times of confusion;” as yet the churches in America are quiet, but I expect a sifting time ere long. My family in Georgia was once sadly shaken, but now, blessed be God, it is settled, and, I hope, established in the doctrines of grace. Your name is precious among them. I wish you would send them a long letter. Your book on walking with God has been blessed to one Mr. B——, and others in South-Carolina. It hath also been serviceable to a dear friend now with me, as also to myself. I cannot well tell you what great things are doing abroad. I have a scene of sufferings lying before me; I expect shortly to cry out with the spouse, “Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me, my mother’s children were angry with me.” My Lord’s command, now, I believe, is, “Take the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines; for our vines have tender grapes.”—Help me by your prayers. It is an ease thus to unbosom one’s self to a friend, and an instance of my confidence in you. O, my dear Sister, I am less than the least of all saints, I am the chief of sinners, and yet Jesus loves me, and sheds his love abroad in my heart abundantly by the Holy Ghost. I have been much assisted in composing some gospel sermons, which I intend for the press. I have sought the Lord by prayer and fasting, and he assures me, that he will be with me. Whom then should I fear? Hitherto we have had an extraordinary passage, praise the Lord. Herewith I send you a letter from one of the children which God has given me: He will rejoice to receive a line from you. If possible, I hope, tho’ you are in the decline of life, to see you face to face before I leave England. I should be glad to hear how you are as to worldly circumstances; if I can help you in any degree, freely command
Your affectionate friend, brother, and servant in Christ,
G. W.
LETTER CCLXVIII.
To T—— K——, at London.
On board the Minerva, Feb. 20, 1741.
My dear Brother K——,
I Received your kind letter at Savannah, and though I hope to see you face to face soon after you receive this, yet love to your dear soul constrains me to write you an answer before I come on shore.
I find, since my departure, the brethren have fallen into errors. Dear Brother K—— will not be offended, if I say, “He, I fear, is one of them;” for his letter bewrayeth him. My dear Brother, you say, “You have been striving a long, long while, but to very little purpose, &c.” By this, I suppose, you have left off the means, and fallen into stillness; expecting now, that Jesus Christ will so work upon your heart, that you shall not feel the least stirring of indwelling corruption in your soul; in short, that you shall be completely perfect: This was pretty near my case about six years ago, and now I see why God suffered me thus to be tempted, “that I might be more capable of succouring my brethren, now they are tempted.” My dear Brother, let us reason together. “You have been striving (you say) a long while, but to very little purpose.” And what then? must you be therefore still, and strive no more? God forbid: No, you are yet to wait at the pool. “Constantly attend on ordinances;” and who knows but by-and-by the loving Saviour may pass by and visit your soul. Have you not, in some degree at least, felt his divine power in the use of the means? Why should not that encourage you to expect more in the same way? But you say, “I find all that is of self is sin.” And do you expect ever to do any thing, or to offer up to God one sacrifice, without a mixture of sin in it? If you do, indeed you are building a spiritual Babel. My dear Brother, even our most holy thoughts are tinctured with sin, and want the atonement of the Mediator; and therefore, if you leave off striving, because “whatever is of self is sin,” you must never attempt to do any duty whatsoever again. Your stillness hath as much a mixture of self in it, as your striving, and if you proceed in this manner, you must become a professed Quietist. Six weeks did satan keep me under this delusion, but the Lord helped me in the hour of extremity: May he also help my dear Brother K——! Another error you seem to be fallen into is, “that a man cannot be a christian, at least that he is a very weak one, so long as he finds corruption stirring in his heart.” If I was to urge the seventh to the Romans, you would say, St. Paul only speaks of a man under first-awakenings, and not of a converted man; but my dear Brother, did you ever know a man, that was not really converted, delight in the law of God after the inner man? And yet such an one the Apostle speaks of in the latter part of that chapter. Be not deceived, we are to be holy as Christ is holy; we are to receive grace for grace; every grace that is in the blessed Jesus, is to be transplanted into our hearts; we are to be delivered from the power, but not from the indwelling and being of sin in this life. Hereafter, we are to be presented blameless, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. If you labour after any other perfection here, you will labour in vain. St. Paul had attained no other, when he wrote to the Philippians, and to the other churches: But my dear Brother K—— seems to think, “I did wrong in writing to Mr. H—— to know his sentiments upon several texts of scripture, and in sending for several of Calvin’s books.” And why, my dear Brother, was this wrong? Why you say, “you think it is contrary to St. Paul in his Epistles, when he says, he would not speak other men’s words;” but St. Paul says no such thing: The place you aim at, I believe, is 2 Cor. x. 16. “And not to boast in another man’s line, of things made ready to our hand.” My dear Brother, examine the context, and you will find the Apostle means no more than that he would not enter into other men’s labours, as ver. 15. He would not preach where churches were already settled, but go where the gospel had not been delivered. This, and this only, is the meaning of the passage, which dear mistaken Mr. K—— has wrongly quoted. My dear Brother, did not St. Paul bid Timothy to give himself to reading? What, if the Holy Spirit is to lead us into all truth, does not the Holy Spirit make use of, and lead us by the means? Has he not indited the scriptures? Has he not helped holy men to explain those scriptures? And why may I not, in a due subordination to the Holy Spirit, make use of those men’s writings? Has not my dear Brother K—— bought sermons? And why then does “He make use of other men’s words?” O, my dear brother, you are in the wilderness; God bring you safe out of it.
I suppose, because the Dissenters oppose some of your new principles, you term them enemies; but, my dear Brother, though there are many Christless talkers, and hypocritical formalists among the Dissenters, as no doubt there are some such in the purest church under heaven; yet many of them hold and practice the truth as it is in Jesus. But I have done. Count me not your enemy, because I tell you the truth. I expect that great numbers will look shy on me, for thus opposing what I think to be error. Thus the Galatians treated St. Paul; but I must be tried every way. I could add a thousand kind things, but I hope you shortly will have a personal interview with
Your affectionate brother and servant in Christ,
G. W.
LETTER CCLXIX.
To Mrs. J—— F——, in Charles-Town.
On board the Minerva, Feb. 25, 1741.
My very dear Friend,
I Know you will rejoice at the receipt of this: You have abundant reason; the Lord hath been wonderous kind. We are now flying on the wings of the wind, and if it continues, we hope to be at Cowes the beginning of next week. Your kind presents were of great service to my crazy body. The woman passenger has been serviceable in making us bread; and in short, God has wonderfully ordered all things for our great conveniency and comfort. O that my dear friends at Charles-Town, may hereby be excited to thankfulness on our behalf. I have frequently prayed for you both with my friends, and when in secret before the Lord. Indeed you are seldom out of mind. Dear Mrs. F——, I believe God sent you to invite me to your house, and I believe the Lord will plentifully reward both of you, for all your works of faith and labours of love. I think henceforward I must call you Mary, and your husband, I hope, will be truly stiled James the servant of the Lord. I trust you will both serve the Lord Christ, and give yourselves up to the guidance of his blessed word and providences day by day. It is a glorious privilege to be led by the spirit of God. I think I have felt, and do feel, at this time, his sacred influences upon my soul. My body is but weak, though better by much than when I left Charles-Town; however, my soul hath confidence in God. The archers will shoot sorely at me that I may fall; but God will cause my bow to abide in strength, and my arms shall be strengthened by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob. I need not ask for a continuance of your prayers, nor you for mine. I hope we shall be always present with each other in spirit, at the throne of grace. My dear friend, adieu: All with me salute you. Write often to
Your unworthy guest, but truly affectionate servant, friend, and brother in the Lord,
G. W.
LETTER CCLXX.
To Mrs. F——, in Charles-Town.
On board the Minerva, Feb. 25, 1741.
I Hope dear Mrs. F—— will not be offended with these few lines; they are written with a sincere desire to promote your welfare. I want to see you entirely dead to the world, and alive to God. You have been often convinced under the word; may it sink deep into your heart. God, by the late fire, hath shewn you the vanity of all things here below; henceforward set your affections on things above. You are old, and at the head of a great family; you have sealed your promise to lead a holy life, more than once, by receiving the symbols of the blessed body and blood of Christ.
Henceforth let no profane delight
Divide your consecrated soul;
But give it Christ, who has the right,
As Lord and Master of the whole.
Be not ashamed to own you have vowed never to dance again: Dear Mrs. F——, fear not contempt. What is it? only a little breath. Rest not in duties; rest not in outward partial reformation.—He that is in Christ, is a new creature. That old things may pass away, and all things become new in your heart, is the hearty prayer of, Madam,
Your sincere friend and servant in Christ,
G. W.
LETTER CCLXXI.
To the Rev. Mr. C——, in Boston.
On board the Minerva, Feb. 26, 1741.
Reverend and dear Sir,
ACCEPT a few lines from one, who desires feelingly to stile himself, less than the least of all. I hope you received my packet from Charles-Town: What happened to me there, was only an earnest of future trials. God hath blessed the reading of the prophecy of the prophet Jeremiah to my soul; as also the history of Joseph, and hath let me see more into the covenant of redemption between the Father and the Son: I am more and more in love with the good old Puritans; I am pleased at the thoughts of sitting down hereafter with the venerable Cotton, Norton, Elliot, and that great cloud of witnesses, which first crossed the Western ocean for the sake of the gospel, and faith once delivered to the saints. At present, my soul is so filled, that I can scarce proceed. Dear Sir, God is with me of a truth; he now gives me a feeling possession of himself: I bless his holy name for sending me to sea; it is profitable both for soul and body. I find the Psalmist’s words to be true, “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him.” O that I may walk humbly with my God! The language of my soul is this:
Correct me when I go astray,
And lead me in thy perfect way.
And now, dear Mr. C——, I have in some measure unbosomed my heart. What shall I say more? Pray for me both in public and private; give thanks, as well as pray, especially for the mercies of this voyage. Dear Sir, adieu till I come on shore, which I hope will be very speedily, being now in soundings; then you shall hear again, God willing, from
Your truly affectionate friend, brother, and servant,
G. W.
LETTER CCLXXII.
To Mr. J—— H——.
London, March 25, 1741.
My dear Sir,
I Wrote to you immediately on my coming on shore. We arrived at Falmouth last Wednesday was sevennight, and got here the Sunday following.—Blessed be God, we had a summer’s passage. Many of our friends, I find, are sadly divided, and, as far as I am able to judge, have been sadly misled. Congregations at Moorfields, and Kennington Common, on Sunday, were as large as usual.—On the following week days, quite contrary: Twenty thousand dwindled down to two or three hundred. It has been a trying time with me. A large orphan family, consisting of near a hundred, to be maintained, about four thousand miles off, without the least fund, and in the dearest part of his Majesty’s dominions; also, above a thousand pounds in debt for them, and not worth twenty pounds in the world of my own, and threatened to be arrested for three hundred and fifty pounds, drawn for in favour of the Orphan house, by my late dear deceased friend and fellow-traveller Mr. S——. My Bookseller, who, I believe, has got some hundreds by me, being drawn away by the M——ns, refuses to print for me; and many, very many of my spiritual children, who, at my last departure from England, would have plucked out their own eyes to have given to me, are so prejudiced by the dear Messrs. W.’s dressing up the doctrine of Election in such horrible colours, that they will neither hear, see, nor give me the least assistance: Yea, some of them send threatening letters, that God will speedily destroy me. As for the people of the world, they are so imbittered by my injudicious, and too severe expressions against Archbishop Tillotson, and the Author of the old Duty of Man, that they fly from me as from a viper; and what is most cutting of all, I am now constrained, on account of our differing in principles, publicly to separate from my dear, dear old friends Messrs. J—— and C—— W——y, whom I still love as my own soul: But, through infinite mercy, I am enabled to strengthen myself in the Lord my God. I am cast down but not destroyed, perplexed but not in despair. A few days ago, in reading Beza’s Life of Calvin, these words were much pressed upon me, “Calvin is turned out of Geneva, but, behold a new church arises!”—Jesus, the ever loving, altogether lovely Jesus, pities and comforts me. My friends are erecting a place, which I have called a Tabernacle, for morning’s exposition. I have not, nor can I as yet, make any collections; but let us not fear.—Our heavenly Father, with whom the fatherless find mercy, will yet provide; let us only seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all other necessary things shall be added unto us. In about a fortnight, though I scarce know an oak from a hickery, or one kind of land from another, I am subpœna’d to appear before parliament, to give an account of the condition of the province of Georgia, when I left it. This, I suppose, is occasioned by the party, which hath been so inveterate against the honourable the trustees, whom they accuse of misemploying the public monies. The event, which undoubtedly will be in favour of the trust, you may know hereafter. In the mean while, believe me to be
Yours most affectionately,
G. W.
LETTER CCLXXIII.
To Mr. J—— C——.
London, March 25, 1741.
My very dear Brother,
HASTEN hither with all speed, and then we shall see what God intends to do for and by us. It is a trying time now in the church.—The Lord give us a due mixture of the lamb and lion. Some that have been led astray, begin to recover. The Lord make way for his own truths. My love to the Colliers, and all friends. Many, I suppose, will be shy. I am become a monster even to several who were wrought upon by my ministry; but it must needs be that offences should come: otherwise, how should I learn to cease from man? Adieu; excuse brevity—Hasten, and speak face to face with
Yours most affectionately in Christ Jesus,
G. W.
LETTER CCLXXIV.
To Mr. H——.
London, April 10, 1741.
My very dear Friend,
I Ordered Mr. H—— to send you some sermons and accounts, some time ago: I suppose he has done it. I have been at the Parliament-house; the Georgia affair was adjourned. The gentlemen seemed apprehensive that my account of the colony, would have too much weight. It was somewhat of a trial to be in the House. I then remembered what the Apostle said, “We are become a spectacle to men and to angels.” My appeal will come to nothing, I believe. I have waited upon the Speaker; he received me kindly. I cannot yet determine when I shall see you. If you fear, I hope you will pray for me. The Lord blesses my ministry. Salute dear Mrs. H——: I will write to her next; but you two are one. The Lord be with you both. At present I am weak in body, and therefore must beg leave to subscribe myself
Yours, &c.
G. W.
LETTER CCLXXV.
To Mr. S—— M——, at London.
Bristol, April 27, 1741.
My dear Friend and Brother,
ON Tuesday, April 22d, I left London, and preached on Wednesday and Thursday morning at Newbury, to large congregations. On Friday evening I preached at Bristol, and have continued to do so twice every day to great and affected auditories. I received your kind letter, and thank you for it. I rejoice in the good news from New-England. Last night, I rejoiced much in seeing a soul wonderfully exult in God, just at the borders of death. Great manifestations of the divine presence have attended my sermons. Praise the Lord O my soul! I am glad to find Mr. S—— goes on well. Pray give my love to brother G——. My body is sometimes weak, but my soul rejoices in God my Saviour. I know not, whether I shall come so soon as proposed to London. I find it necessary, through the increase of awakened souls, to get a society-room built adjoining to our new tabernacle. I pray God to fill it with his glory, and beg leave to subscribe myself, dear Mr. M——,
Your affectionate friend, brother and servant in Christ,
G. W.