Yours, theirs, &c. in our common Lord,
G. W.
LETTER MCCCVIII.
To Mr. and Mrs. D——n.
Boston, April 20, 1764.
My very dear Friends,
I WISH you much joy. Grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied upon you both! It will, it will. Your match was certainly made in heaven. How do I long to see you! I have been at my ne plus ultra northward, and am now more free and capable of settling my affairs southward. When that is done, how chearfully, with a Christ in my heart instead of my arms, could I sing, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace!” I hope you are not offended at my giving a power of attorney to Mr. H——m. The Redeemer knows it was not owing to a distrust of any of you, but only in case of my death, that he might testify to the world the integrity of your actions, and the veracity of your accounts. I am persuaded he will not desire to interfere, but act and consult jointly, as occasion offers; and you will go on in your old way. O that I was assured of your stay at Bethesda! Of this I am satisfied, that you will not distress me by leaving the place destitute of proper help. And I assure you, if I thought we should have the least demur, I would not come at all. My tottering tabernacle will not bear grief, especially from those whom I so dearly love, and who have served the institution so faithfully and disinterestedly for so many years. Verily you shall in no wise lose your reward. What I have in my view for Bethesda, may be better spoke of when me meet, than by letter. Lord Jesus, hasten the wished-for time! At present, by my late excursions I am brought low; but rest and care may brace me up again for some little further service for our glorious Emmanuel. A most blessed influence hath attended the word in various places, and many have been made to cry out, “What shall we do to be saved?” O for such a cry at the southward! Abba, Father, all things are possible with thee! To his tender and never-failing mercy do I commit you, as being, my very dear friends,
Yours most affectionately in the blessed Jesus,
G. W.