JUST now I was informed that the bag is to be taken away this afternoon; hurried therefore as I am, you must have a few lines.—And why? Because I love and honour you for Jesus Christ’s sake. Will it not rejoice you to hear that his glorious gospel gets ground apace. Several of the clergy, both in town and country, have been lately stirred up to preach Christ crucified, in the demonstration of the spirit and with power. This excites the enmity of the old serpent, which discovers itself in various shapes. The greatest venom is spit out against Mr. R——n, who having been reputed a great scholar, is now looked upon and treated as a great fool; because made wise himself, and earnestly desirous that others also should be made wise to eternal salvation. Methinks I hear you say, O happy folly! May this blessed leaven diffuse and spread itself through the whole nation! The prospect is promising. Many students at Oxford are earnestly learning Christ. Dear Mr. H——y hath learnt and preached him some years; his loving and truly catholic heart chearfully complied with the motion about your future correspondence. As for myself, I can only say “that less than the least of all,” must be my motto still. I labour but feebly, and yet, O amazing condescension! Jesus owns and succeeds such feeble labours. People still continue to flock to the gospel, like doves to the windows. Next week I begin to take my country range. Be so good, my dear Sir, to add to my obligations, by continuing to remember a poor but willing pilgrim, and to salute all my dear friends as they come in your way. I hope, Mr. A—— (to whom I send cordial respects) goes hand in hand with you, striving together for the faith and the practice of the gospel.—Glorious strife this! I do not forget the books I promised to look out for.—I have spoken to Mr. H——, but he says they are very difficult to be procured. I would write to the Chief Justice, but suppose he is at the northward. Will you be pleased to accept of my Lisbon letters, to be disposed of as you think proper? My little communion-book is not yet come out. God be praised, that there is a time coming when we shall need books and ordinances no more, but shall be admitted into an uninterrupted communion and fellowship with the blessed Trinity for evermore. The Lord ripen us for that blissful state! I must bid you farewel. Be pleased to excuse the length of this, as being occasioned by the love unfeigned which is due to you from, reverend and dear Sir,

I THINK every thing is now procured that was in the memorandums. I would have sent the children’s cloaths, &c. but they could not be got ready; you will therefore have them by another opportunity. I am glad to hear by your last, that the children go on well in their learning. Let this encourage you to go on, and who knows, but by and by they may learn Christ? Such power belongs only unto God. I am quite satisfied in your present employ, and doubt not (if you are cloathed with humility, as I trust you will be) but God will bless and delight to honour you. To have our own mother’s children angry with and despise us, if sanctified, is a good preservative against self-love, and self-complacency: it puts us more upon the watch, and drives us nearer to God. This be your happy lot! As for your affair with Mr. C——, I can only say, you have my leave to act as you think best. —Shew thy will, O God, and give power to perform it! To A—— W—— and his wife, I have allowed twenty pounds per annum, till they have a place, or get into business. God knows, I can little afford it; but I can as yet trust on him, who feedeth the ravens, and hath promised to supply all my wants. O that the Lord of all Lords may keep you all at Bethesda of one heart and one mind, and give you to send me such news, as may gladden my frequently burdened (though I hope disinterested) mind; and cause me to go on with more chearfulness and joy! Thanks be to God, my feeble labours on this side the water, are owned and succeeded. People seem to be as lively as ever. I hope the time will come, when Bethesda also shall blossom like a rose. We wait for thy salvation O Lord; make no long tarrying our Lord and our God! My dear Nat. farewel. Feed Christ’s lambs, and he will feast thy soul.—Look upon his work as its own wages, and he will richly repay thee for all thy care. I charge you, and all, to continue wrestling in prayer for me, as being, dear Nat.

I WROTE to you amidst a great throng of business, a few days ago, by a Carolina ship. I am now retired to Mr. C——’s, in order to send you a few lines more. Matters about Mr. —— and his wife, have happened as might be expected; it is my lot to be a pelican. But all will be well at last; I know who will stand on my side. Thanks be to God for Jesus Christ! He upholds me, and daily succeeds my feeble, but I trust honest labours, and that to me is all in all. I hope you will write often. What your brother hath written, I know not. I believe you are where God would have you to be, and I pray him night and day to make you more and more a mother in Israel. Ere this comes to hand, I hope you will have received the things from the northward. However it fares with me at home, fain would I care for my dear friends and family abroad. God will provide! This is my comfort. Much depends on your success in the silk, but more on my family’s increasing in the knowledge of Jesus. O that this may be their happy case! O that the Lord of all Lords may feed you in that wilderness! He is good to us here. We have golden seasons at the tabernacle, and several ministers preach Christ in the churches. This makes my call abroad still more clear. Though I have not yet entered upon my country range, methinks I could set out for America to-morrow. What is time, relations, and even the enjoyment of God’s people, compared with the unmixed, uninterrupted joys of an happy eternity! Here I could enlarge, and on this dwell, but must away. Ere long I hope to write to you again, and in the mean while beg leave to subscribe myself, dear Mrs. C——,

EVER since I received your last kind letter, I have been so perpetually engaged in preaching, travelling, and a multiplicity of other business, that I have not been able to answer it till now. In London the word runs and is glorified, and every day almost we have heard of fresh ministers of our national church being called out, and spirited up to preach the truth as it is in Jesus. This is my first excursion: I came through Gloucestershire, where the fields were white, ready unto harvest. Thrice last Lord’s-day, many many thousands attended on the word preached, and I believe a divine power accompanied it. That is all in all.—People in this place hear as for eternity. Next week I shall travel further westward; but whether I can see Scotland this summer, the Redeemer only knows. But whether absent or present, you, my dear Sir, and my other Scotch friends, have my poor prayers night and day, that your souls and bodies may prosper and be in health. O that God may hear you for unworthy me! I long, I long to do something for Jesus. Glad would I be to serve the church of Christ any way. If you remember, I hinted to you something about getting a Doctor’s degree for President Burr; since that I wrote to the Marquis of L——n. His Lordship writes thus: “The university of Edinburgh desire of me to obtain some account of Mr. Aaron Burr’s literature, or performances: this I hope you will do, and a diploma will be immediately transmitted.” By this post, I shall write what I know of the President, but I would have you and Mr. E—— write also, immediately to the Marquis. Surely he is the most worthy, ingenious, diligent, and truly christian President of his age, now in the world. He hath published something lately to animate our people against the common enemy. I have it at London, and hope you have it with you. If so, be pleased to transmit it to the Marquis. I shall mention it, and so do you, to his Lordship. Adieu, my very dear Sir, adieu. I must away. May the glorious Emmanuel bless and prosper you and yours, and all the dear followers of the Lamb! I cannot forget you, and hope never shall, whilst I have strength to subscribe, what indeed I am, my very dear friend,

HOW shall I express my gratitude to your Lordship, for condescending to answer my poor letter, and so readily concurring with the motion made in it, for a degree being procured for my worthy friend? The great Head of the church will bless and reward your Lordship for it. Never was there a man in the world, that could be more safely recommended as a scholar, and a truly christian minister of the gospel, and a laborious prudent President of a college, than Mr. Aaron Burr.—He was educated at Yale College in Connecticut, New England; and for his pregnant abilities, and many years well approved piety, was unanimously chosen to succeed the Reverend Mr. D—— in the care of New-Jersey college. It would have delighted your Lordship, to have seen how gloriously he filled the chair last year, at the New-Jersey commencement. His Latin oration was beautifully elegant, and was delivered with an unaffected, yet striking energy and pathos. As a preacher, disputant, and head of a college, he shines in North America; and the present prosperity of the New Jersey college, is, under God, greatly owing to his learning, piety, and conduct. The students revere and love him. Your Lordship might have testimonials enough from good Governor B——r, Mr. Jonathan Edwards, cum multis aliis. And I believe, they would all concur in saying, “that of his age (now upwards of forty) there is not a more accomplished deserving President in the world.” As for any thing of his in print, that can be referred to, I cannot say, unless it be a little pamphlet lately published, in which he hath animated the people against the common enemy, and discovered a close attachment to the interest of our rightful sovereign King George. May the King of kings long preserve his important and precious life! This piece of Mr. Burr’s I have at London, and hope it is in Scotland. I just now wrote to Mr. G—— of Glasgow, who, together with Mr. J—— E——, I suppose will write to your Lordship concerning Mr. Burr. I wish the diploma may be transmitted against the next commencement. It will endear your Lordship more and more to the good people of America. May the Lord of all lords vouchsafe your Lordship a good degree in the kingdom of heaven! O for the lowest place there! It will be abundantly too high for such an unworthy wretch as I am: but his name and nature is Love. He still vouchsafes to employ me, and still continues to countenance my feeble labours. At London we have enjoyed golden seasons, and in the country the fields are white ready unto harvest. O that we may be helped to bear the heat and burden of every day! That your Lordship may live long to do much for Christ, and be at last gathered like a ripe shock of corn into his heavenly garner, is the earnest prayer of, my Lord,

YOUR treatment of me at Honslow, put me in mind of Joseph’s steward, who put his brothers money, unknown to them, into their sacks mouth. Well! Jesus takes notice of all help vouchsafed his servants, and will not forget those who assist them in their pilgrimage for his great name’s sake. You and yours then will not be forgotten:—and God forbid that I should cease praying for you both. The Searcher of hearts knows that I love you both in the bowels of Jesus Christ; and my heart’s desire night and day is, that you may be rich, yea very rich towards God. Such are durable riches. Every thing else is less than vanity itself. Thanks be to God for such an unspeakable gift! This supports me in my pilgrimage, and makes me go on my way rejoicing. Thousands and thousands flocked in Gloucestershire; and here the congregations fall little short of those at London. The blessed Redeemer shews us his stately steps. O that we may feel his renovating, sin-subduing, heart-refining power more and more! So shall we approve ourselves to be his disciples, who hath said, that those “whom the Son of man makes free, are free indeed.” Adieu. The Lord be with you and yours. My love to Mr. W——, Mr. K——, &c. I forget none of you. I pray the Lord of all lords to keep you unspotted from the world, and entreat you not to forget

YESTERDAY about noon, after being worn down with travelling, and preaching twice and thrice a day in Gloucestershire, at Bath and Bristol, a gracious and never-failing Providence brought me to town, where I had the pleasure of receiving two kind, very kind and undeserved letters from your Ladyship’s hand. Had I the least leisure or strength, I should have written a letter of condolence to your Ladyship from Bristol. There I heard of the death of good Lady Ann, and was glad to find that Miss W—— bore the news of it with so much composure. Alas! how many have your Ladyship lived to see go before you! An earnest this, I hope, that you are to live to a good old age, and be more and more a mother in Israel. A short, but sweet character. God knows how long I am to drag this crazy load, my body, along. Blessed be his holy name, I have not one attachment to this inferior earth. I am sick of myself, sick of the world, sick of the church, and am panting daily after the full enjoyment of my God. John C—— is now added to the happy number of those who are called to see him as he is. I do not envy, but I want to follow after him. Give me patience, holy Jesus, to wait till my appointed time shall come. In the mean while, if it be thy holy will, improve me to promote, in some small degree, thy glory and the good of souls! Thanks be to his adorable majesty, the fields at Bristol and Kingswood were whiter, and more ready to harvest than for many years last past. Was the new Tabernacle at Bristol as large as that in London, it would be filled. Thrice last Sunday, and twice the Sunday before, I preached in the fields to many, many thousands. The youngest of the Miss W——’s, and little Miss H—— attended twice, and again by six on the Sunday morning. At Bath we had good seasons; good Lady G——, Mrs. B——, G——, Miss H——, &c. were very hearty, and God was with us of a truth. Mr. T——’s wife, of Cornwall, is dead, and my brother hath been very ill of a fever; but they tell me (and he doth himself) that the blessed Jesus hath visited his soul. If so, his journey hither will be a happy one. Lord, help me to pray, and not to faint! O for an humble, thankful heart! I am now looking up for direction what course to steer next. I suppose it will be northward. I wish your Ladyship’s plan may do; but I fear the parts about your Ladyship are too cold. O how unworthy of such a guest! Well, honoured, ever-honoured Madam, in the New-Jerusalem, your Ladyship will have company enough. There the Redeemer shall hold up before the mighty and the noble, and let them see what almighty, rich, and sovereign grace could do. Be pleased, my good Lady, to excuse the length of this. Gratitude always gives motion to my pen, when writing to your Ladyship. I am ashamed, that I have not so much as a pepper-corn to offer as an humble tribute. Jesus, the ever-loving, the altogether lovely Jesus must pay you all. I must away to preach the everlasting gospel. O how unworthy of such a divine employ! Pardon, honoured Madam, this poor, and too prolix scribble, and assure yourself, that neither your Ladyship nor family are ever forgotten by

I WRITE this from Mr. C——’s, whither I have retired for a little relaxation, and to get leisure to write a few letters. Your brother is just gone from me, and would send you his hearty love if he knew of my writing. T—— is gone to Plymouth, and Miss L—— is sick of a fever (though I hope not dangerously) at Lewisham. Mrs. W——, one of the conference, I buried last Tuesday; and am longing for that happy time when this frail tabernacle shall be also laid in the silent grave. It hath tottered lately more than ever, and yet the Redeemer vouchsafes so to comfort me within, that methinks I am not yet to die, but live and declare the works of the Lord. O that I may begin to begin to do something for my God! I am afraid we are at the eve of a war: but fear not. Bethesda especially, I believe, will be hid under the shadow of the Redeemer’s wings. Whilst I have persons there (as I think is the case now) that act with a single eye, I am persuaded it will be like the burning bush. Pray remember me to all in the kindest manner. I hope to write when the childrens cloaths are ready. We have blessed seasons at Tabernacle. I have met with some outward as well as inward trials; but this is my comfort, “The Lord knoweth the way that I take. When I am tried I shall come forth like gold.” O that faith and patience may have their perfect work in this sin-sick soul! Desire dear Nat, Mr. Dix, &c. not to be uneasy, because I do not write now; it is impracticable. Night and day you are all upon my heart, and I long to hear how you go on. My blessing attends you all, even you and the children. Surely, was I retired from public work, feeding Christ’s lambs should be my constant employ. But alas! I must be in the front of the battle. Lord Jesus, magnify thy strength in my weakness, or I shall deny thee and desert my post! Pray hard all of you, I intreat you, for me, and let me know all your wants. I will labour night and day to have them supplied, and will pray the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls to pay you blessed wages. I know you will be content with such a paymaster. I commend you all to his never-failing mercy, as being, dear Mrs. C——,

HOW glad was I some time ago to receive a letter from your Ladyship! How glad am I now to sit down to answer it, and thereby renew a correspondence, which to me was always profitable and delightful! Shall I wish your Ladyship joy? Of what? Not barely of your additional estate and honour, but of your having an opportunity, with your noble Lord, of moving in a superior orb, and letting your light shine more before men. The Lord of all lords only knows, how I love and honour you both; though I have not written, yet I have not ceased praying for you and yours these many years. Your honoured family on both sides, must always be dear to me. What Bethels, what gates of heaven have we been in together, whilst engaged in social prayer, and reading and opening the lively oracles of God! Had I wings, gladly would I fly to see your Ladyship’s dear little growing family: but God only knows, whether I shall be able to reach Scotland this year. I am now at Norwich, where there hath undoubtedly been a glorious work of God. Twice a day, both gentle and simple flock to hear the word, and I think it comes with power. Lord, what am I? In London, I think, our people are as lively as ever; in Bristol they are the same; and as for America, words cannot express the glorious scenes that opened in various parts, especially at Boston in New-England. The tide ran full as high as ever your Ladyship knew it at Edinburgh, or in any part of Scotland. This I know is the best news I can send to your Ladyship; for what news, comparatively speaking, is worth hearing, except that which concerns the kingdom of God? What beauties worth admiring, but the beauties of Jesus Christ? What riches worth possessing, but the substantial and durable riches of the divine life? What honour worth acquiring, but that honour which cometh from God? May these be the beauties, these the riches, these the honours of you and your noble Lord! I assure your Ladyship that my heart springs when I think of him, or write his name. I truly loved the father, I as truly and most affectionately respect and love the son. God almighty bless you both, and give you grace to keep yourselves unspotted from the world! Glad shall I be to see his Lordship in town. In the mean while, I hope his Lordship, and the honourable family where you are, will accept not of bare compliments, but unfeigned and most cordial acknowledgments and respects. May the great physician of souls vouchsafe to give you all thriving souls in healthy bodies! I am glad to hear good Lady D—— is well. My obligations to her, and all your honoured family, are very great. Be pleased to accept this poor pepper-corn, which, except my poor prayers, is all the acknowledgment that can be made by, my good Lady,

TILL Tuesday evening, I knew no more of coming to Norwich than the child unborn. Had I been well enough, and my private business permitted, I should have been some miles in my way towards ♦Donnington park. This I told Mr. H——ly, and acquainted him with every step; he should have written himself, and not retailed our conversation. As I expect to be in town some time next week, I choose to defer writing more till we have a personal interview. My time is too precious to be employed in hearkening to, or vindicating of myself against, the false and invidious insinuations of narrow and low-life informers. Never was I more satisfied of my call to any place, than of my present call to Norwich. The Redeemer knows the way that I take. I came hither purely for his glory, without the least design to make a party for myself, or to please or displease any other party whatsoever. In this way, and in this spirit, through his divine assistance, I hope to go on. Blessed be his name, I trust my feeble labours have not been in vain. Sin, I hope, hath been prevented, errors detected, sinners convicted, saints edified, and my own soul sweetly refreshed. But I must add no more. That Jesus may give us all a right judgment in all things, and keep all parties whatsoever from giving a wrong touch to the ark, is and shall be the constant prayer of, reverend and dear Sir,

LETTER MXCIII.

To Doctor R——.

London, August 20, 1755.

Honoured and very dear Sir,

AS long as God is pleased to hold my soul in life, and I hear that you also are in the land of the living, I shall always think it my bounden duty to thank, and pray for you. Surely you have been to me, honoured Sir, a father and a friend. Be pleased to accept repeated acknowledgments for all favours conferred on me at college, and the great care you took to prepare me for the ministry of the church. Alas! I am ashamed of my unfruitfulness, and wonder that the blessed Redeemer continues to improve me at all. But his name and nature is Love. He hath once more brought me safe over the mighty waters, and hath vouchsafed to own my poor feeble labours in yonder new world. The Orphan-house, blessed be his name, is on a good footing, and I trust will prove a nursery for church and state, when my head is laid in the silent grave. I am waiting daily for my discharge, and long to be at home. Be pleased to add to my innumerable obligations, by continuing to pray for me. I retain my old name, being the chief of sinners, and less than the least of all saints, but, honoured and very dear Sir,

Your most obliged, dutiful son and servant,

G. W.

LETTER MXCIV.

To ——.

London, August 26, 1755.

My dear Friends,

I RECEIVED both your kind letters, and likewise one from Mr. W——, and last night a long one from Mr. C——; but alas! I have no time for controversy. To their own Master they must both either stand or fall. All I can say in your present circumstances, is, “that you had best make a trial, and let matters for a while stand as they are.” I have sent letters, if possible, to prevent the spreading, at least the publishing any further tales. In the mean while, my dear friends, do you strengthen yourselves in the Lord your God. The cause is his; you honestly, I believe, embarked in it for his great name’s sake, and he will help you out of all. When I see Mr. R——r, I shall speak to him again. But to-morrow I must away to the northward. Follow me, I entreat you, with your prayers, and assure yourselves, that you and yours, and the dear people of Norwich, will not be forgotten by me. If ever the Redeemer, in his good providence, should bring me thither again, I can then converse with Mr. W—— and C—— face to face;—but I beg to be excused from writing, when I think by so doing I can do no service. The Lord cloathe us all with humility, and give us all true simplicity and godly sincerity! Then we need fear nothing. Blessed be his name, we have golden seasons here. Blessed be his name, if any good was done by my poor feeble labours in your city. To Him, who delights to shew himself strong in behalf of those who are of an upright heart, be all the glory. If I know any thing of myself, I want to supplant none, but to strengthen the hands of all that preach and live Christ Jesus. In his great name, and with repeated thanks for all favours, I subscribe myself, my very dear friends,

Yours most affectionately,

G. W.

LETTER MXCV.

To Miss P——.

Weston-Favell, August 30, 1755.

Dear Miss,

A FEW days past, as I was going into the Tabernacle to read letters, yours came to hand; immediately I read it among the rest, and you and my other dear New-England friends had the prayers of thousands. But how did I wish to be transported to America! How did I long to stir up all against the common enemy, and to be made instrumental in doing my dear country some little service! But surely God sent me over at this juncture, and therefore I hope to be resigned. Already, blessed be his name, he hath vouchsafed to own my feeble labours in London, Gloucestershire, Bristol, Bath, and Norwich. I have been at the last place very lately, and notwithstanding offences have come, there hath been a glorious work begun, and is now carrying on. The Polite and Great seem to hear with much attention, and I scarce ever preached a week together with greater freedom. Praise the Lord, O my soul! I am now going my northern circuit, and perhaps may take a trip to Ireland. O what a pity is it, that we have but one body and one soul for Jesus Christ! I write this from dear Mr. H——’s, who sends kind love to all his dear New-England friends, and earnestly begs the continuance of their prayers. He is now writing another volume upon sanctification: that, you say, dear Miss, is what you want. That is what the ever-loving, ever-lovely Jesus longs to give. Out of his fulness we are all to receive even grace for grace. But how slow are we to believe! Lord, I believe, help my unbelief! must be my language still. I thank your honoured father for the kind present of the sermons, charter, &c. I see you are resolved to increase my obligations, till they amount to a prodigious sum. My blessed Master must pay you all. O that I may be remembered before him; night and day, in public and in private! Dear New-England, dear Boston lies upon my heart; surely the Lord will not give it over into the enemies hand. He hath too many praying ministers and praying people there, for such a dreadful catastrophe. Immediately upon hearing of your late defeat, I preached from those words, “When the enemy comes in like a flood, then the spirit of the Lord lifts up a standard against him.” This we shall find true in a temporal and spiritual sense.