Your most affectionate brother, friend, fellow-labourer, and obliged servant,
G. W.
LETTER CXXXIX.
Philadelphia, Nov. 28, 1739.
Dear Brother,
IT is much upon my heart to send you a line. Although you are not with me, yet as God was pleased to touch you by my unworthy ministry, I love you with a peculiar love. Business prevented my writing to you when in Yorkshire. I was sorry to hear that Brother J—— had reason to blame your conduct. My dear brother, be not offended, if in the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I exhort you to be sober-minded. Follow after, but do not run before the blessed Spirit; if you do, although you may benefit others, and God may over-rule every thing for your good, yet you will certainly destroy the peace of your own soul. God has been pleased to call you by his grace, and to give you joy in the Holy Ghost: But, my brother, I hope it will be more settled and substantial, and joined with meekness and humility of heart. A joy which is the result of inward trials, and flowing from a long experience of the buffeting of satan. Such a joy will make you apt and fit to teach, and keep you from being puffed up above measure. It will exalt, at the same time as it humbles your soul. The Lord direct my dear brother in all things: I wish all his servants were prophets; but let every one be rightly persuaded of his call to public teaching. It is dangerous to touch the ark, though it be falling, without a commission from above. But no more. I am
Your most affectionate brother in Christ,
G. W.