To the Reverend Mr. H——.
Portsmouth, April 28, 1750.
My very dear friend and Brother,
YOUR letter should have had an immediate answer, if the least leisure had offered when in town. But there I am continually hurried, and had scarce time to eat bread. However, our Lord gave me meat which the world knows not of, and enabled me to preach three or four times a day to great multitudes, and I trust with great blessings. Fear not your weak body; we are immortal till our work is done. Christ’s labourers must live by miracle; if not, I must not live at all; for God only knows what I daily endure. My continual vomitings almost kill me, and yet the pulpit is my cure, so that my friends begin to pity me less, and to leave off that ungrateful caution, “Spare thyself.” I speak this to encourage you. Persons whose writings are to be blessings, must have some thorns in the flesh. Your disorders, like mine, I believe are as yet only to humble, not to kill us. Though I long to go to heaven, yet I am apt to think we are not to die presently, but live and declare the works of the Lord. You by your pen, I by my tongue. May the glorious Emmanuel bless us both! I believe he will. Courage, my dear, very dear Mr. H——; Courage. When we are weak, then are we strong.—But to your letter. I am glad Dr. S—— preaches, and that Mr. H——, is at work. In working we shall be blessed. To him that hath, shall be given. How shall we contrive to meet. I purpose being at Oulney next Sunday sevennight, and in a day or two after at Northampton. I wish I could have a line from you. In the mean while I shall endeavour to get Dr. W——. There is a glorious plan set on foot by the Great and Good, for a college in the New-Jersies; the particulars will ere long be published. I wish it much prosperity. Your Meditations are now printing in Philadelphia. Why do you not sit for your picture?—The seed sown here months ago, hath sprung up. People hear with great attention. What cannot God do? The Lord be with you! I love you most tenderly. I thank you ten thousand times for all favours, and am, very dear friend,
Yours most affectionately and eternally in our dear Lord Jesus,
G. W.
LETTER DCCCXXXI.
To the Reverend Mr. D——.
London, May 1, 1750.