My dear brother,
SEE how soon I write to you, and from thence infer how I love you. Whether it proceeds from the pride and naughtiness of my heart, I cannot tell; but, I frankly confess, I love to see persons humble, kind, and courteous to those, whom God hath made their spiritual fathers. I believe it is well pleasing to God, and very amiable in the sight of all good men. Your christian grateful behaviour to me in this respect, hath much endeared you to me. God only knows how I love you. I bear you upon my heart, and often secretly sigh out before the Lord,—“O let my dear brother G—— live before thee.” This is the desire of my soul for you. I cannot wish you a better thing. Yet a little while, and we shall be together again. But, before that time, I expect to suffer great things. The Lord is able to deliver me out of all. I have just now experienced his divine assistance in composing a sermon. This is the sixth which he has enabled me to finish, since I have been on board. O my dear brother, love a precious Christ, and shew it by adorning his gospel in all things. He has highly favoured you, indeed he hath. If you and I are not eminently holy, if you and I think any thing too much to be done for the Lord, we are of all men the most ungrateful. O the love of Christ! I feel it, I feel it. God now sheds it abroad in my heart. May it abundantly also be shed on you by the Holy Ghost. Write to me if in prison, my friends will bring it to me there. God will hear me for you even in a dungeon. Methinks I see you weep; but weep not for me, unless it be before the Lord, and then I care not how soon you retire, and pour out your prayers in behalf of, dear Mr. G——,
Your affectionate friend, brother and servant,
G. W.
LETTER CCXLVII.
To Mrs. L——, at Charles-Town.
On board the Minerva, Feb. 11, 1741.
Dear Mrs. L——,
YOU was upon the mount when I left Charles-Town; I hope you have not thrown yourself down. Keep close to Christ, and cast not off your first love. Remember what God has done for your soul. Forget not the glorious discovery Jesus Christ has made of himself to your heart; and though a cloud should overshadow you, let not Satan make you doubt of your being a child of God. O Mrs. L——, how holy ought you to be in all manner of conversation and godliness! Why are you taken? Why are you in the arms of everlasting love? Methinks I hear you cry out, Grace! grace! And well you may; for indeed you are saved by grace. The free grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you now and for ever more. Blessed be God, I experience much of it in the ship. I hope divine grace moves me to send you this small letter. If God blesses it to your soul, put up a short prayer for