LETTER DLX.
To Mr. ——.
York (New-England,) Oct. 30, 1744.
Dear Friend,
DON’T judge me for not writing more frequent. It was impracticable. I have been laid on a bed of sickness, and was, in the apprehension of myself and others, at the very mouth of the heavenly harbour; but as that more than once hath been the case, I am putting out to sea again. O who would but follow the Redeemer blindfold? No convoy like him who is the God of the sea and the God of the dry land. After eleven weeks passage he hath brought us hither, but through my impatience and imprudence I and my friends were like to suffer loss. A little smack coming up to us just as we were near port, and being told that she would be in several hours before the ship, I, with others in complaisance to me, though persuaded to the contrary, ventured in her. It soon grew dark, our pilots missed their inlet and we were tossed about all night. My pain was great, having had for some time a nervous cholic, and I was so hungry that I could have gnawed the very boards. The fishermen had nothing but a few potatoes, of which I partook most eagerly; but withal, thought my situation to be like the poor disciples, who were rowing and toiling all night, when the wind was contrary. About the fourth watch of the night, deliverance came; the men discovered the proper inlet; but what passed before our arrival is somewhat striking to me. One of my friends, on asking what news, was answered, that the New-England people were turned new lights; which with us you know is a term for heterodoxy; but however, added the man, not knowing that I was lying down at his elbow, they are all expecting one Mr. Whitefield; and my sister, and a great company of her stamp, were yesterday all praying for his safe arrival. This made me to take courage. I continued undiscovered; and in a few hours in answer I trust to new light prayers, we arrived safe at York, a few miles off Piscataway, the place to which we were bound.—But you must excuse enlarging; as I recover strength you shall hear again from
Yours, &c.
G. W.
LETTER DLXI.
To Mr. ——.
York, Nov. 6, 1744.
Dear Sir,
HOW thankful ought I to be to him, whose mercy endureth for ever! God has commanded a physician (once a notorious deist, but through grace converted at my last visit in New-England) to receive me here. Worthy Colonel P——, who lives at the very mouth of the harbour, on seeing our ship, went with some other friends in his own boat to invite and conduct me to his princely habitation. But God appointed otherwise. In about half an hour after my arrival, I was put to bed, racked with a nervous cholic, and convulsed from the waste down to my toes. A total convulsion was immediately apprehended.
My wife and friends stood weeping by,
In tears resolv’d to see me die.
Filled with divine consolation, I begged them not to be shocked. My Saviour whispered that all was well, and therefore I desired them not to be surprized if I should be totally convulsed, or be suffered in a delirium to speak things that were wrong. Many, many of God’s dearest children, through the infirmities which crazy constitutions more especially are liable to, have been called to drink such a bitter cup before me. But an all-compassionate Redeemer disappointed our fears, and exceeded our strongest expectations. Apprehended convulsions were kept off; and though I was so weak as not to be able to bear the sound of a tread of the foot, or the voice of friends who came to see and pray with me, yet my heart was kept in perfect peace. After undergoing, for about four days, fomentations and exercises of different kinds, by having my feet put into warm water, &c. nature was relieved, and what I had taken four days before came away hardly discoloured. After this, whilst carried about by my tender nurse and a servant, still racked with pain, and like an helpless child, I could only say, “Look and learn what a poor creature I am.” The scene affects me yet. May it never be forgotten! I must retire, and leave enlarging to another opportunity. In the mean while, assure yourself of my being, though less than the least of all,
Yours, &c.
G. W.
LETTER DLXII.
To Mr. ——.
Portsmouth, (New-England) Nov. 16, 1744.
My dear Friend,
AS I promised, I must employ a little of my new-gained strength in writing to you. Soon after I began to recover, good old Mr. M—— the minister of York, who feared the Lord greatly from his youth, came to and accosted me thus: “Sir, you are first welcome to America; secondly, to New-England; thirdly, to all the faithful ministers in New-England; fourthly, to all the good people in New-England; fifthly, to all the good people of York; and sixthly and lastly, to me, dear Sir, less than the least of all.” He then urged me to give them a sermon. Too forward to reingage in my old delightful work, I complied, notwithstanding at the same time word had been sent to Boston that I was dying; upon which, my dear Gaius and a beloved physician came, either to take care of me, or attend my funeral; but to their great surprize they found me in the pulpit. God was with me but imprudently going over the ferry to Portsmouth, I caught cold, immediately relapsed, and was taken, as every one thought, with death, in my dear friend Mr. Sherburne’s house. My pains returned; but what gave me most concern was, that notice had been given of my being to preach the next evening. A great number of ministers and people flocked to hear; three physicians attended me, and Colonel Pepperel with many others were so kind as to pay me a visit and sympathize with me. God dealt so bountifully with me, that I was enabled to tell the Colonel in particular, from heart-experience, that I felt a divine life distinct from my animal life, which made me as it were to laugh at pain; this made me determine to get up and preach, though the General and all had left me, and the person appointed to lecture in my stead was just going out of the house. My dear York physician was then about to administer a medicine. I on a sudden cried, “Doctor, my pains are suspended: by the help of God I’ll go and preach, and then come home and die.” With some difficulty I reached the pulpit. All looked quite surprized, as though they saw one rose from the dead. Indeed, I was as pale as death, and told them “they must look upon me as a dying man, that I came to bear my dying testimony to the truths I had formerly preached amongst them, and to the invisible realities of another world.” Nature (by my continuing an hour in my discourse) was almost quite exhausted; but O what life! what power spread all around! All seemed to be melted, and were drowned in tears. The cry after me, when I left the pulpit, was like the cry of sincere mourners when attending the funeral of a dear departed friend. Upon my coming home, I was laid on a bed upon the ground near the fire, and I heard them say, “He is gone;” but still, you find by this I am alive, and if spared to be made instrumental in making any poor dead soul alive to God, I shall rejoice that the all-wise Redeemer has kept out of heaven a little longer,
Yours, &c.
G. W.
LETTER DLXIII.
To Mr. ——.
Boston, Jan. 18, 1745.
My dear Friend,
BY this time I suppose you have heard, by your brother’s letter, how good old Mr. Moody, in his honest way, said, I was welcome to all the faithful ministers in New-England. But the good old man judged too much by his own honest feelings. You see I am now at Boston, whither I was brought from Piscataway in a coach and four. The joy with which I was received by the common people, cannot well be described; but many of the ministers how shy?—And how different from what once they were? When last in Boston, governor Belcher was in the chair: then, reges ad exemplum, totus componitur orbis, he honoured me with great honour, and the clergy paid the nod, and obeyed. In many I then perceived it was quite forced, and I think when at his table I whispered to some and said, if ever I came again, many of those who now seem extremely civil, will turn out my open and avowed enemies. The event has proved, that in this respect I have been no false prophet. You know where it is written, “There arose a king, who knew not Joseph.” Freed therefore from their former restraint, many have appeared in puris naturalibus. Some occasions of offence had undoubtedly been given whilst I was here and preached up and down the country.—Nothing however appeared but a pure, divine power working upon, converting, and transforming people’s hearts, of all ranks, without any extraordinary phænomena attending it. Good Mr. T—— succeeded me; numbers succeeded him. Lecture upon lecture were set up in various places; one minister called to another, to help drag the gospel net; and by all the accounts that I can have from private information, or good Mr. Prince’s weekly history, which I send you with this, one would have imagined the millennium was coming indeed. But you know, in this mixed state of things, wild-fire will necessarily blend itself with the pure fire that comes from God’s altar. This the enemy long waited for; at last it broke out and spread itself; and it must be confessed, through the instrumentality of many good souls both among clergy and laity, who for a while mistaking fancy for faith, and imagination for revelation, were guilty of great imprudence. What these were, I have not time now to particularize; I can only inform you, that all is laid to me as being the primum mobile though there was not so much as the appearance of any thing of this nature when I left New-England last. But, maugre all, my poor labours are yet attended with the usual blessings, and therefore I must entreat you as usual to pray and give thanks in behalf of
Yours, &c.
G. W.
LETTER DLXIV.
To Mr. ——.
Boston, Feb. 6, 1745.
My dear Friend,
I Remember you once told me, that you heard one of the good old Puritans, who went over to New-England, wrote back again, that he went from Old-England to avoid the Lord Bishops, and came to New-England to get under the Lord Brethren. Well is it at present that they are the Lord Brethren; for finding some of their pastors without cause shy of me, they have passed votes of invitation for me to preach in the pulpits, and some time ago prevailed upon me, as they heard I had done in Scotland, to set up a lecture at six o’clock in the morning. Not expecting a very great auditory, I opened a lecture in one of the smallest meetings, upon these words, “And they came early in the morning to hear him;” but how was I disappointed? Such great numbers flocked to hear, that I was obliged for the future to make use of two of their very largest places of worship, where I believe seldom less than two or three thousand attentive hearers hung as it were upon me, to hear the word preached. I began with the first of Genesis, and have now lectured in order, till I am almost come to the story of Abraham sending his servant to fetch a wife for his son Isaac. Many I trust have been made willing to say, “I will go with the God-man, even Isaac’s God.” It is impossible to describe the eagerness and punctuality of these early visitants. To see so many hundreds of both sexes neatly dressed, walking or riding so early along the streets to get food for their souls, has feasted my own heart. The Pharaohs who used to say, “Ye are idle, ye are idle,” now are struck dumb: for lecture, and family prayer, and breakfast, are now over in many houses before the sun is suffered to come into others windows; and it is now become almost a common proverb, “That between Tar-water, and early rising, the physicians will have no business.” One morning the croud was so great, that I was obliged to go in at the window. The high sheriff, who was once most forward in persecuting good Mr. D——t, being a little convinced under the word, accompanied me, and when he put his head into the window after me, the people were ready to cry out, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” Hoping hereafter to send you and other friends a further account of many such real instances of all-conquering grace, I subscribe myself
Yours, &c.
G. W.
LETTER DLXV.
To Mr. A——.
Ipswich, Feb. 7, 1745.
AND how does my very dear brother A——? I heard by some friend lately that he was well.—I hope this will find him yet better, and more and more happy in the ever-lovely, ever-loving Jesus.—I suppose you have heard of his great goodness to me and mine.—We have been carried through various trials; and can set up our Ebenezer, saying, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.”—I cannot help thinking but that the Lord Jesus is about to triumph gloriously.—He is pleased to bear me as on eagles wings, and causes both sinners and saints to hear his voice.—I am kept very happy, and see more and more of the mystery of iniquity that lies in my heart. I rejoice in knowing that the blood of Jesus will cleanse me from all.—I long to hear how it is with the dear lambs in Gloucestershire.—I commit you and them to the care of the compassionate bishop and shepherd of souls; and subscribe myself, my dear man,
Yours most affectionately,
G. W.
P. S. My dear wife joins in sending cordial salutations to you, yours, and all.
LETTER DLXVI.
To Mrs. ——.
Boston, Feb. 17, 1745.
Dear Madam,
THIS leaves me just retired from my spiritual levee. Our good friend Mr. S—— tells me, while I am here he looks upon his house not as his own, but mine. His parlour is large, and I sit there to receive gospel visitants. Good Mr. P—— told me some time ago, that I should shortly be favoured with the company of a very pensive and uncommon person; a man of good parts, ready wit, and lively imagination, and who had made it his business, in order to furnish matter for preaching over a bottle, to come and hear, and then carry away scraps of my sermons, which it seems were to serve as texts or theses for his tavern harangues. A few nights ago he came for this purpose to Doctor S——’s meeting; upon my coming in, he crouded after amongst the people, and having got sufficient matter to work upon as he thought, attempted to go out; but being pent in on every side, he found his endeavours fruitless. Obliged thus to stay, and looking up to me, waiting for some fresh matter for ridicule, God was pleased to prick him to the heart. He came to Mr. P—— full of horror, confessed his crimes, and longed to ask my pardon, but was afraid to see me. Mr. P—— encouraged him to venture. This morning hearing somebody knock at the parlour door, I arose, and upon opening the door, by the paleness, pensiveness, and horror of his countenance, guessed I had met with the person of whom Mr. P—— had apprized me. Immediately he cried with a low but plaintive voice, “Sir, can you forgive me?” I smiled and said, “Yes, Sir, very readily.” Indeed, replied he, Sir, you cannot when I tell you all, I then asked him to sit down; and judging that he had sufficiently felt the lashes of the law, I preached to him the gospel. That it may be the power of God through faith unto his eternal salvation, you will join in praying, dear madam, with
Yours, &c.
G. W.
LETTER DLXVII.
To Mrs. ——.
Boston, Feb. 19, 1745.
My dear Friend,
TEMPORA mutantur; a confederacy, a confederacy! The clergy, amongst whom are a few mistaken, misinformed good old men, are publishing halfpenny testimonials against me. Even the president, professors, and tutors of Hertford college, where I was, as you know, some few years ago received with so much uncommon respect, have joined the confederacy. Good Mr. C——, that venerable, truly primitive, good old Puritan, as I am informed, had many of these testimonials brought him, in order to judge of their importance. He took them, weighed them in his hands and having read them before, returned them immediately, saying, “They did not weigh much.” However, I thank God, “out of the eater hath come forth meat.” They have done me real service. Some unguarded expressions, in the heat of less experienced youth, I certainly did drop. I was much too precipitate in hearkening to, and publishing private informations, and thereby Peter-like cut too many ears off: but this is my comfort, when we mean well, though no thanks to our own too forward though well-meant zeal, Jesus, that almighty, all-compassionate physician, will heal and restore the ears again. Some good friends on my side the question are publishing testimonials in my favour. Thus you see what a militant state we are in at present. Laudatur ab eis, culpatur ab illis. Amidst all, the word runs and is glorified, and many are so enraged at the treatment I meet with, that they came to me lately, assuring me, that if I’ll consent, they will erect in a few weeks time, the outside of the largest place of worship that was ever seen in America; but you know ceiled houses were never my aim. I therefore thanked them for, but at the same time begged leave to refuse the accepting of their kind offer. How or when the present storm will subside, for subside I am persuaded it will, is as yet uncertain. I can only, at present, earnestly beg the continuance of your prayers, that whilst tossing in this floating ark I may be purged of some of my corruptions, and be kept in good temper towards those who I believe really think they do God’s service in opposing, dear Madam,
Yours, &c.
G. W.
LETTER DLXVIII.
Piscataqua, March 6, 1745.
My very dear, dear J.
THIS comes by Captain Darling. I hear from Boston, a bookseller has got the books you sent over. I have sent a letter to Doctor C——, with my answer to Harvard college, which I would have you print, with their testimony, (which is an original:) and my answer to the second part of the observation and remarks upon the charge of the Bishop of L——. May Jesus give them his blessing. I would have them printed so as to be sold cheap: you may collect or print them severally as you will. I cannot yet get time to prepare my sermons, or the other part of my life, for the press. I am writing another New-England journal, which I will send when I leave it; when that will be, I know not. I expect Mr. Habersham every hour. W—— N—— and J—— are got safe to Charles-Town. I heard from friends there last week. America, I am afraid, begins to be too dear to me. The Lord smiles upon me and mine, and makes us very happy in himself, and happy in one another. Here is a very large field of action. A very fine and effectual door is opened; my bodily strength is recovered, and my soul more than ever in love with a crucified Jesus. I could write more to you and other dear friends, but if I do, I shall neglect things of a more public and immediate concern; neither can my dear wife write, because she is fully employed in copying my letters. However, we do not forget our dear London and English friends. We pray for them often, and sometimes cannot help wishing some more may come over into this delightful wilderness; it is a fruitful field. Jesus waters it with his blessings. We expect sister W——. Here are wars and rumours of wars, on this, as well as your side of the water. But Jesus’s disciples may be at peace. O that this may find thy dear heart quite swallowed up in his amazing love! Be pleased to remember us most tenderly to all, and lose no opportunity of sending a line in any American ships. So, my very dear dear man, I rest
Thy very affectionate happy friend, and servant in Jesus Christ,
G. W.
LETTER DLXIX.
To Mr. C——.
Piscataqua, March 6, 1745.
My very dear Brother C——,
IT gives me some concern, that I cannot send thee a long letter, but at present I have so many things of importance before me, which must be immediately dispatched, that I desire others to excuse me too. I do not forget any of you as I know of, and, God willing, shall redeem every opportunity of sending to England. Our Saviour wonderfully smiles on us here; several years work I think lies before me. The Lord helps me to preach with the demonstration of the spirit and with power, my strength is daily renewed, and my wife and I go on like two happy pilgrims, leaning upon our beloved. O help us to adore and praise free grace. We salute all the conference and trustees, and every particular choir, and the societies in every place, “Grace, mercy and peace be multiplied upon them, from God our father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” To his tender mercy do I commit thee and them, and am, my very dear C——,
Yours most affectionately in Christ Jesus,
G. W.
P. S. My dear wife cordially salutes you and all.
LETTER DLXX.
To Mr. J. S. in London.
Piscataqua, March 12, 1745.
I Wrote to you last week, and have sent you by Capt. Darling two letters, and a box. This comes by a young gentleman that expects to return to South-Carolina by August next. By him I send you one of each sort of the pamphlets that I have published here. I would have them sent to Scotland as soon as may be. My wife has sent you a few lines in one of my letters. We are more than happy! O grace! grace!—I trust it is so with you. America is pleasanter and pleasanter every day. I expect Mr. Habersham hourly. The door for preaching opens wider and wider. O my dear friend, I could tell thee what would rejoice thy heart, wast thou here. But I have little time to write. I am now going to prepare my sermons for the press: And am also writing another journal. You shall have them the first opportunity. Our tender love awaits all dear friends. As often as possible, you and others shall hear from, my dear friend, &c.
G. W.
LETTER DLXXI.
On board Capt. Grant, bound from Charles-Town to Philadelphia, May 2, 1745.
My very dear, dear Brother H——,
HOW do you find your heart these trying, sifting, purging times? I hope you are enabled to joy in God, and are made more than conqueror through his love. It has given me some concern that I could not write to you oftner: but Jesus knows my heart has been with you; and I have not failed to pray for the preservation of the tossed ark. ♦Antinomianism, I find, begins to shew its head and stalk abroad: may the glorious Redeemer cause it to hide its head again, and prevent his children’s spirits being imbittered against each other. I am glad to hear the Welsh brethren continue steady: and that amongst our English friends, Antinomianism seems only to be speculative; this is a great evil, but not so great as when it affects the practice, and leads the people of God unwarily into licentiousness. The late outward troubles, I hope will do good, and put a stop to the many disputes and various sects which, like so many hydra’s, always spring up when the Lord suffers false principles to abound. I expect to hear that Jesus has made thee immoveable like a wall of brass, held as a lion, but meek as a lamb. Blessed be his name, he continues to be very kind to us: we have been six months in these parts, and are now going northwards for the summer season. The Orphan-house is in a promising way. My temporal affairs begin to be settled; and I am blessed substantially to many souls. Jesus, I trust, has given me a more gospel-heart; and causes many of my professed most imbittered enemies to be at peace with me. I know you will help me to praise him, and beg him to continue to stand by a poor unworthy creature, who simply desires to spend and be spent for the good of precious and immortal souls. You’ll remember me to your dear wife, and all our Welsh brethren, in the most endearing manner: we frequently talk of, and pray for them; and don’t despair of seeing them once more in the flesh. My dear wife loves them exceedingly, and warms her heart often by reflecting on past times. Wishing that grace, mercy, and peace may be multiplied upon you all, I subscribe myself, my very dear brother,
Ever, ever thine in Jesus,
G. W.
LETTER DLXXII.
To Mrs. ——.
Boston, July 29, 1745.
Dear Madam,
YOU will be surprized to hear that a messenger of the prince of peace, especially such a weak creature as I am, should beat up to arms. No doubt you have judged me, as well you may; but providence seemed to force me to it. You have now heard of the Cape-Breton expedition, which was carried on and finished with the greatest secrecy and expedition here, before it could be scarcely known to you at home. Worthy Colonel P—— was fixed upon to command. The day before he accepted of the commission, he purposed to dine with me to ask my advice. I told him, “that I hoped if he did undertake it, he would beg of the Lord God of armies to give him a single eye; that the means proposed to take Louisburgh, in the eye of human reason, were no more adequate to the end, than the sounding of rams horns to blow down Jericho; that the eyes of all would be upon him; and if he should not succeed in the intended enterprize, the widows and orphans of the slain soldiers would be like lions robbed of their whelps; but if it pleased God to give him success, envy would not suffer him to take the glory, and therefore he should take great care that his views were disinterested, and then I doubted not, if providence really called him, he would find his strength proportioned to the day, and would return more than conqueror.” He thanked me, and his Lady having given her free consent, he commenced general. The sound now was to arms! to arms! new recruits were eagerly sought after, and my worthy friend Mr. S—— was appointed one of the commissaries. Being at his house, he told me one evening that he was preparing the flag, and that I must give him a motto, and that the people must know it too. I absolutely refused, urging that it would be acting out of character; he replied, that the expedition, he believed, was of God, and that if I did not encourage it, many of the serious people would not inlist. I still refused; he desired me to consider, and sleep upon it, and to give him my answer in the morning. I retired, I prayed, I slept; and upon his renewing his request in the morning, I told him, that since he was so urgent, and as I did not know but divine providence might intend to give us Louisburgh, therefore he might take this motto. Nil desperandum Christo duce. Upon this, great numbers inlisted, and before their embarkation, their officers desired me to give them a sermon: I preached from these words: “As many as were distressed, as many as were discontented, as many as were in debt, came to David, and he became a captain over them.” Officers, soldiers, and others attended. I spiritualized the subject, and told them how distressed sinners came to Jesus Christ the Son of David; and in my application exhorted the soldiers to behave like the soldiers of David, and the officers to act like David’s worthies; then, I made no manner of doubt, but we should receive good news from Cape-Breton. After this, I preached to the general himself, who asked me if I would not be one of his chaplains: I told him, “I should think it an honour, but believed, as I generally preached three times a day in various places to large congregations I could do my King, my country, and my God, more service, by stirring up the people to pray, and thereby strengthen his and his soldiers hands.” Through divine grace, I was enabled to persist in this practice for some weeks; but at last news arrived that the case was desperate. Letter upon letter came from one officer and another to those who planned this expedition, and did not know the strength of the fortress. I smiled, and told my friends, that I believed now we should have Louisburgh;—that all having confessed their helplessness, God would now reveal his arm, and make our extremity his opportunity. I was not disappointed of my hope; for one day having taken a weeping leave of dear Boston, and being about to preach a few miles out of the town, news was brought that Louisburgh was taken. Numbers flocked with great joy from all quarters, and I immediately preached to them a thanksgiving sermon from these words: “By this I know that thou favourest me, since thou hast not permitted mine enemies to triumph over me.” Here ends, dear Madam, my beating to arms. It is left to you, to judge as you please of, dear Madam,
Yours, &c.
G. W.
Postscript. I forgot to tell you, to the honour of worthy Madam P——, that during the time of the expedition, at her desire, I preached in the General’s house, and took the liberty before sermon, to ask her, how she came to give up the General? She answered, “That it was God who enabled her to do it for his glory, and her country’s good, and that now the General was gone, she had the pleasing reflection, that thro’ divine mercy, home had never been made so disagreeable to him by her conduct, as to make him wish to be gone.”
LETTER DLXXIII.
To Mrs. L——.
Philadelphia, August 26, 1746.
Honoured Mother,
WHETHER your affections are abated to me or not, (which one would imagine by your not writing in two years) yet duty, love, and gratitude oblige me to write to her, to whom, under God, I owe my being brought into the world. I am glad to find by a letter from Mr. Syms, dated last March, that you was well, at least I hoped so, because I heard nothing to the contrary. May the Father of mercies, and God of all consolation, grant that your latter end may greatly increase! Whether you ever see me or not any more, you need not be anxious concerning me.—That God whom I serve in the gospel of his dear Son, is exceeding good and gracious to me and mine. We have all things pertaining to life and godliness. Many offers are daily made me; but as yet the Lord Jesus keeps me from catching at the golden bait. Favour is given to me in the sight of the rich and great, and the door for my usefulness opens wider and wider. I love to range in the American woods, and sometimes think I shall never return to England any more. I was never better in health, take all together. My dear wife would send you a few lines, but she is weak by reason of a miscarriage about four days ago. I send you most dutiful respects for her, and praying the Lord of all Lords continually to lift up the light of his blessed countenance upon your dear soul, I subscribe myself, honoured mother,
Your most dutiful, though unworthy son,
G. W.
LETTER DLXXIV.
To the Rev. Mr. Z——.
Bohemia, (Maryland) Oct. 8, 1746.
Rev. and dear Sir,
I Took the freedom some months ago to send you a letter, wherein was inclosed a letter for Professor Frank, both which I hope came safe to hand, and were accepted in love. Since that, I have been travelling and ranging the woods, in the service of the best of Masters, who makes his work more pleasant to me every day. I trust that the time for favouring this and the neighbouring southern provinces is come. Every where almost, the door is opened for preaching; great numbers flock to hear; and the power of an ascended Saviour attends the word. It is surprizing, how the Lord causes prejudices to subside, and makes my formerly most bitter enemies to be at peace with me. O Rev. Sir, help me to praise him, whose mercy endureth for ever! I doubt not but he has been wonderfully good to you, and supports you under a feeble tottering tabernacle. The prayers of me and mine are always for you, because we honour and love you in our common head, the blessed Jesus. Be pleased, when you write, to present my most dutiful and affectionate respects to the Professor, and Mr. Ulspurgher. I have had some sweet times with several of the Lutheran ministers at Philadelphia. I love them dearly. Mr. Drisezler does bravely at Frederica. Mr. Boltzius and his collegue I hear are well. By and by, I trust, Georgia will lift up its drooping head.—All is well at the Orphan-house. I am, Rev. and very dear Sir,
Your most affectionate, though unworthy younger brother and servant in Christ,
G. W.
LETTER DLXXV.
To Mr. H—— H——.
Anapolis, (Maryland,) Nov. 8, 1746.
My very dear, dear Brother,
I Just now received a wished-for packet from England, in which are two or three letters from you. My dear fellow pilgrim will exceedingly rejoice at the receipt of them. She is gone forward with a Boston young lady towards Georgia.—I hear they traverse the woods bravely.—I wrote to you very lately.—I can only send you a few loving lines now.—I am just setting out.—Lately I have been in seven counties in Maryland, and preached with abundant success.—Our Lord gives me health, and his work (O free grace!) prospers in my unworthy hands. I shall consider of the calls sent me to return to my native country.—My tender love to all.—I am, my very dear man,
Ever yours whilst
G. W.
LETTER DLXXVI.
To a friend at the Tabernacle, London.
Anapolis, November 8, 1746.
My very dear Brother,
JUST now I have received your kind letter with some others, but have not time to read them all, being just setting out from this place. I shall consider of your loud call, and pray our Lord to direct me.—Poor English friends! May Jesus heal their divisions! Courage, my dear brother—Land is in sight—Ere long we shall sail into the haven of eternal rest.—The harvest is great here. I have lately been in seven counties in Maryland, and preached to great congregations of people with great power.—I have now a journey of seven hundred miles before me.—My tender love to all. God willing, you shall hear again shortly from,
Ever yours in our triumphant Jesus,
G. W.
LETTER DLXXVII.
To Mr. H—— H——.
Hanover county, (Virginia) Nov. 16, 1746.
My very dear Brother,
ABOUT a week ago I had the pleasure of receiving a long letter from you, which I immediately answered at Anapolis.—That you wrote to my dear wife is gone to her, and I suppose will rejoice her exceedingly.—She is well, and enjoys much of God.—I was glad to find that the Tabernacle was given up to your care.—Whether its breaches are yet repaired, or whether it be entirely fallen down, I know not.—I suppose when I come to England, I shall have all to begin again.—It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good.—The account of dear brother H——’s trial affected me much. I rejoice that he comes bright out of the furnace of affliction. I salute him and all my dear friends most tenderly.—Sometimes affection works strong, and I almost determine to come over.—But the cloud does not seem to move that way as yet.—However, my eyes are to the Lord.—Whenever his providence points out the way, the language of my heart is, “Lo I come.”—I wrote to brother H—— J—— and A—— lately, and since have received their kind letters.—I have lately been in seven counties in Maryland, and ere long think to preach in as many in this province.—There is a sweet stirring among the dry bones.—I have a thousand tender things to say, but time will not permit.—Well, my dear dear man, heaven is at hand;—there we shall have talk enough.—O let us take as many souls with us to that blessed place as we can.—Blessed be God, my soul springs with fresh desires to hunt after poor straying sheep, which Jesus has purchased with his dear heart’s blood.—O that I may begin now to do something for him, who hath done and suffered so much for me! But I can no more.—I am lost, I am quite overcome when I think of this.—Lord, I believe and worship!—Pray remember me to all most tenderly.—Remember me before the Lord as the chief of sinners, but, my very dear brother,
Ever, ever yours,
G. W.