Your affectionate brother in Christ,
G. W.
LETTER CXCI.
To W—— S——, Esq., in London.
Lewis-Town, (Pensylvania) May 24, 1740.
My dear Friend and Brother,
MY will is much to go to Georgia, but my dear Lord Jesus is pleased to cross me. For ever blessed be his great and glorious name. Just now the Lord hath brought me hither. Your letter pleased me. I hope our Lord is now beginning to answer my prayers, and that my dear Brother S—— is about to know himself. You know I have often told you, that you ought to suspect your experiences. You have mistaken, in my opinion, preparation, for conversion itself. Your nine years round of duties, were no effects of the new-birth at all. How could they be? when you did not know you was to be born again, before you heard Mr. C—— W—— expound the seventh chapter of the Romans: Then, but not till then did you begin to be enlightened, and illumination and conversion are two different things. All my great trials were consequent on this. Not that God’s way of dealing with me, ought to be a rule for others: But I think your case and mine somewhat parallel.—Those that have been most humbled, I find, always make the most solid, useful christians. It stands with reason: The more a man is emptied of himself, the more room is there made for the spirit of God to dwell in him.—Your caution to dear Mr. H. was very good. Openness is the best preservative of spiritual friendship. I would behave so, that no one might be afraid to consult me; but if people will not open their hearts, let them not blame me; I cannot speak, where I perceive a shyness, and where I see persons are afraid of me. I am sure they must harbour some ungenerous suspicions or other against me, and how then can there be a harmony of soul. My dear brother, my friend, now I have told you my heart: Be not angry, I am just ready to weep.—Indeed, I am willing to wash your feet, and to acknowledge all favours under God that I have received from you. Be stable, be willing to consult others that have trod in the spiritual road before you; do not mistake working for life, for working from life. Watch unto prayer, and do not be carried away by every wind of doctrine. How could you not see through L—— of German-Town? But I must not chide, but love. Much I owe you; have patience with me and I will endeavour to pay you. I shall long to see you at Savannah. Once more, my dear friend and brother, adieu. My heart is much melted down. God continually fills me with himself. O give thanks for, dear Sir,
Your brother and servant in Christ,
G. W.