I Wrote to you from Boston. Your letter, written near a twelvemonth ago, came to my hand this afternoon. My soul is knit to you: we both speak and think the same things. The Lord be with your spirit. Jesus manifests forth his glory daily in these parts. Though I am such a vile, worthless, ungrateful wretch, yet the Lord fills me out of his divine fulness day by day. His word is like a fire, and a hammer: last week I saw many quite struck down. Our Lord is working upon little children. America, ere long, will be famous for christians. Surely the candlestick will shortly be removed from England. Little did I think, when Mr. E—— J—— wrote, that I should preach in all the chief places of America: but that is now done; glory be to rich, free, and sovereign grace! Perhaps about Spring I may embark for my native country: the Lord vouchsafe us a happy meeting. O Wales, thou art dear to my soul! My love to all the brethren. Dear brother H——, I pray God you may prosper, even as your soul prospers. Expect another journal shortly: but wait till we come to glory, fully to see and hear what God hath done for
Your affectionate brother and servant in Christ,
G. W.
LETTER CCXXXI.
To his Excellency Jonathan Belcher, Esq., in Boston.
Philadelphia, Nov. 9, 1740.
THOUGH late, I now snatch a few moments to send your excellency my acknowledgments for all honours received at Boston: they are much upon my heart. I pray God to reward your excellency a thousand-fold.
Great things hath the glorious Emmanuel done for me and his people on the way: the word has been attended with much power. Surely our Lord intends to set America in a flame. This week Mr. G—— T—— purposes to set out for Boston, in order to blow up the divine fire lately kindled there. I recommend him to your excellency as a solid, judicious, and zealous minister of the Lord Jesus Christ: he will be ready to preach daily: I suppose his brethren will readily open their doors: may the Lord at the same time open the people’s hearts, that they may diligently attend to the things that shall be spoken. Dear Mr. R—— grows in grace: I left him at Brunswick, full of gratitude for his late journey. I am persuaded it was of God. I hope he will be instrumental in quickening both ministers and people. He is worthy of your excellency’s particular regard: under God he may need it. I expect he will soon be reviled and persecuted for his blessed Master’s sake: may the Lord enable him to rejoice and be exceeding glad. Dear Sir, the welfare of dear Boston people, especially the welfare of your own soul, lies upon me night and day. I remember your tears: I remember your excellency’s words, “Mr. Whitefield, pray that I may hunger and thirst after righteousness.” O how did these words rejoice me! for I thought your excellency wanted a more clear view of your own vileness, and of the all-sufficiency of Jesus Christ; I mean a more clear, experimental view: for what is all head-knowledge without that of the heart? it only settles people more upon their lees. May God give you to see and to follow the simplicity of the blessed Jesus. Whilst you are in the world, may you not be of it: may you be dead to magnificence, and alive to nothing but what leads you directly to your God.
Honoured Sir, I make no apology for this freedom: your excellency bid me not spare rulers; no, not the chief of them. Indeed I long after your salvation; O that I could do any thing to promote it! If my prayers, or any thing within my power may be instrumental thereunto, your excellency may command, honoured Sir,