GOD will work, and who shall hinder? The sacrament hath been refused to me, and I have appeared thrice in open court, before the commissary and some of his clergy; but our Lord rides on, from conquering to conquer. Many, I believe, are really pricked to the heart. The commissary’s detaining me here, has much tended to the furtherance of the gospel. I put in my exceptions against his sitting as my judge, and they were repelled; so that I have appealed home, and all other proceedings here are stopped. By this means I shall have liberty to preach the gospel without further interruption, and my call to England will be more clear. The enclosed paper will shew you what is doing in Philadelphia. Private letters received from thence last night and this morning, have much refreshed my heart. Many souls are flocking to the Lord Jesus. I need not exhort you to praise the Lord. You may advertise what paragraphs you think proper, only add that Philadelphia people are building a house for me to preach in, 106 feet long and 74 feet wide. The Lord is bringing mighty things to pass. I am surprizingly strengthened to bear the heat and burden of every day. My dear Lord never leaves nor forsakes me, but works by my unworthy ministry more and more. O that I was humble! O that I was a little, little child! I know not how soon I may be called to England. The inhabitants here are wondrous kind. They attend morning and evening most chearfully on my preaching. We often see the stately steps of our dear Lord in his sanctuary. I am more than happy. I am amazed at the divine goodness. Lord, I abhor myself in dust and ashes! See the wonders of the Lord; help us to praise him. Excuse me to all my dear friends. For this fortnight past I have not wrote a word of my journal. My sermons, &c. are bought off exceedingly, northward. O pray that an humble child-like spirit may be given to
Ever yours in Christ,
G. W.
LETTER CCXI.
To the Reverend Mr. D——.
Savannah, August 15, 1740.
My dear Brother D——,
OUR dear Lord (after being pleased to bring me low by bodily sickness) now gives me liberty to write to you. Whilst I am writing, I find my heart united with yours. I hope we have both drank into the same spirit, and are both instances of the same sovereign, distinguishing, everlasting love. O let us extol it! O let us improve daily! And since God sees fit that we shall not die, but live, let us lay ourselves out to declare the works of the Lord. I am ashamed of my past unfruitfulness. Had others received the stock, that hath been intrusted to me, how would they have improved it? Indeed I am an unprofitable servant. In the righteousness of Jesus my Lord, is my only refuge. Well may God afflict me; I richly deserve it; and when he brings me low, nothing grieves me so much, as to think that I should be so froward as to oblige the God of love to strike me with his rod. But oh the goodness of the Lord! His rod, as well as staff, do comfort and build up my soul. I would not but be tried for ten thousand worlds. Blessed be God, I am enabled to clasp the cross, and desire to glory in nothing more. Dear brother, help me with your prayers. Our victorious Jesus makes his power to be known; many have I seen struck quite down by the power of the word. The holy Ghost hath often come like a mighty rushing wind. Satan has desired to sift us as wheat. But our Lord still shews me, that the orphan-house will go on and flourish. It is often a great weight upon my soul; but through your and my dear friends prayers, the Lord I am persuaded will still support it.
Yours eternally in Christ Jesus,