LETTER CCCXIX.
To the Honourable J—— B——, Esq.
On board the Mary and Ann, July 26, 1741.
Hon. Sir,
WITH much pleasure I received yours by the hands of your son, who offered to do me any service that lay in his power. This, as well as your other past favours, quite surprize, and ought to humble me; for who am I, that I should be thus highly honoured? O sovereign grace! O distinguishing love! If I did not stand up in defence of that, the very stones would cry out against me. Indeed, honoured Sir, your kindness makes me almost to blush, and the love of Jesus quite confounds me. I am lost, I want to sink into nothing whenever I think of Christ’s dying for me. I really think, I am the most ungrateful sinner that ever was, and yet the Redeemer follows me with his mercies every day. Unspeakable are the trials wherewith I have been visited since my arrival. But out of all the Lord delivers me. I experience daily much of his divine presence; a wider door than ever is opened for preaching the everlasting gospel, and God seems to be beginning his work again in Old-England: it adds to my joy, to hear what the Lord is doing amongst you. Blessed, for ever blessed be God, for causing such a stirring among the dry bones. I pray the glorious Redeemer, to carry on the good work begun, and to make New-England the joy of the whole earth. I suppose you have heard, honoured Sir, of the remarkable effusion of the spirit among the children of the orphan-house. Surely, Jesus Christ is about to bring mighty things to pass. Whilst the kings of the earth are enlarging their dominions, I trust our Lord will usher in his.—I shall not be surprized, if after this great commotion in New-England, I hear that some outward troubles befal them. The removal of you, honoured Sir, from being governor, I take to be no good sign. I hope this has no other effect upon your own heart, than to make you more and more hunger and thirst after that righteousness, which neither men nor devils shall ever be able to take from you. God only knows, how often I have prayed, that this affliction may be sanctified unto you. I think, honoured Sir, I cannot forget you and your people. Both are dear, very dear to my soul. I sometimes long to see Boston again, that I may rejoice in what great things the Lord has done; but various circumstances concur to detain me on this side the ocean, all the next Winter. I am now in my passage to Scotland. What the Lord is pleased to do there, your honour may hear in my next. I rejoice, that I am a little retired from the world, and have the opportunity, honoured Sir, of writing to you. How sweet is retirement when Christ is present in the heart? Having him, I find I possess all things. Happy they that can wrap themselves in God. May you and yours be thus happy! This will enable you, honoured Sir, to rejoice in tribulation, and give thanks for every thing that does befal you. Tho’ the ship is moving, and I am somewhat sick, I know not how to leave off. Indeed, I love and honour you in the bowels of Jesus Christ. That you and yours may be rooted and grounded in his love, and filled with all the fulness of God, is the hearty prayer of, honoured Sir,
Your most affectionate, obliged humble servant,
G. W.
LETTER CCCXX.
To the Reverend Dr. C——, at Boston.