LETTER DCCCLXVII.
To Mr. T——.
Ashby, Oct. 13, 1750.
My very dear Mr. T——,
YOUR kind letter did not reach me till about two days ago. I embrace the first opportunity of answering it. If you write often, God willing, you shall hear oftener from me. You are peculiarly dear to me, and therefore I heartily wish you was thrust out into our Lord’s harvest. Vox populi, much more vox amicorum, is frequently vox Dei. I say to you, as a good old minister did to one whom you know, and who was as unwilling to go into the vineyard, as you can be, “I believe if St. Paul was alive, he would ordain you.” You have a moderate share of learning, an agreeable address, a good elocution, a little knowledge of mankind, and of yourself, and above all an experimental acquaintance with the Lord Jesus Christ, with a door of usefulness immediately opening; and what would you more? I wish some latent pride may not be at the bottom. Lose no more time, my dear man. The voice of Christ to you now is, “Follow me, and I will make thee a fisher of men.” The harvest is great, the labourers are few. Thousands are perishing for lack of that knowledge, which you have already. The world wants more heat than light. Crescit eundo, crescit agendo, is a young minister’s motto. I think the Itinerancy abroad would suit you well. By travelling before you take on you a settled charge, you will get a deeper insight into the world and the church; you will insensibly acquire larger and more sublime thoughts of God’s providence and grace, and consequently be more fit to serve whatever flock the Holy Ghost shall hereafter place you over. I believe that your honoured father loves Christ too well, to stand out long against a rational scheme for the extensive usefulness of his son. He is a dear man, whom I love in the bowels of Jesus Christ. Pray remember me to him in the kindest manner, and tell him I purpose writing to him as soon as possible. This leaves me at Ashby, at good Lady H——n’s, whose house is indeed a Bethel to those who are willing to follow her, as she follows Jesus Christ. One of high rank, I really believe, was converted lately on a dying bed, and her death I trust hath proved the life of one or two more. One of the Kendal converts is gone off in flying colours, and our blessed Lord has given us sweet seasons at Portsmouth, Chatham, Gloucestershire, Birmingham, Eversham, Wednesbury, Nottingham, &c. Next Monday, God willing, I go for London, in order to put into winter quarters. The Lord prepare me for a fresh campaign! Do you know any one fit for a Tutor at Georgia? I am glad that New Jersey college succeeds. I had lately a letter from Governor Belcher, which I suppose you have seen; it was sent to Mr. N——. Colonel W—— proposes that Mr. P—— shall come over with one of the Indians; I wish he may. I am sorry to hear that Mr. —— is likely to destroy himself by hard study. I had rather he would kill himself with hard working, and going about to do good. Mr. G—— seems to me to have chosen the better part. How is dear Mr. R—— W——? I hope he is like a flame of fire. Pray salute him and all my dear, very dear friends in the tenderest manner. I could live and die with them. In heaven we shall live together. There we shall see our dear Mr. L——. I hope your little choir are every day learning more and more of the new song, in order to join him in the realms above.—You have all my hearty love and prayers. Accept the same yourself in a very particular manner from, very dear Sir,
Yours most affectionately in a precious Christ,
G. W.