Dear Sir,
I Just snatch a few moments to answer your letter. Want of leisure prevented my doing it before. I have not as yet seen your mother’s memoirs. Happy are you in having such a parent. No doubt many prayers are in store for you. As for your entering upon the ministry, I cannot advise you, ’till you have gotten full satisfaction that you are born again of God. I know more than one, who are ready to give up their ministry for want of this; and as for my own part, I could not feelingly press the love of God to others, unless I was sure of his love to myself. I know not what may have passed between God and your soul. You can tell, I suppose, whether or not God’s spirit witnesseth with your spirit, that you are a child of God? For he that believeth, hath the witness in himself. If you have got this with a moderate share of learning, a good elocution and a burning love for precious souls, then, I think you may do service in a public station. If godly, and real experienced friends are for your entering into the ministry, their advice is somewhat to be regarded. If their advice proceeds from worldly motives, do not mind them at all. The discouragements you meet with from some, are not worth your notice. If God loves you, he will try you every way. Prayer, meditation, and temptation, are three necessary qualifications for a gospel minister. I know not what to say about your going to Georgia. In Pensylvania, and other places, there are most noble opportunities of preaching the gospel of Jesus. But I hope to be in Edinburgh in about ten days, and then shall be glad to converse with you. In the mean time, dear Sir, I commend you to God, and desire you would not forget the unworthy creature, who now subscribes himself
Yours in Christ Jesus,
G. W.
LETTER CCCLXIII.
To the Rev. Mr. J—— W——.
Aberdeen, October 10, 1741.
Reverend and dear Brother,
I Have for a long time expected that you would have sent me an answer to my last; but I suppose that you are afraid to correspond with me, because I revealed your secret about the lot. Though much may be said for my doing it, yet I am sorry now, that any such thing dropped from my pen, and I humbly ask pardon. I find I love you as much as ever, and pray God, if it be his blessed will, that we may be all united together. It hath been for some days upon my heart to write to you, and this morning I received a letter from brother H——, telling me how he had conversed with you and your dear brother. May God remove all obstacles that now prevent our union! Though I hold particular election, yet I offer Jesus freely to every individual soul. You may carry sanctification to what degrees you will, only I cannot agree that the in-being of sin is to be destroyed in this life. O, my dear brother, the Lord hath been much with me in Scotland. I every morning feel my fellowship with Christ, and he is pleased to give me all peace and joy in believing. In about three weeks I hope to be at Bristol. May all disputings cease, and each of us talk of nothing but Jesus, and him crucified! This is my resolution. The Lord be with your spirit. My love to brother C——, and all that love the glorious Emmanuel. I am, without dissimulation,