Your most obliged friend, and ready servant, for Christ’s sake,
G. W.
LETTER MXLVIII.
To Mr. C—— W——.
On board the Deborah, July 20, 1754.
My dear Friend,
I DO not forget my promise, though hurrying from place to place, and settling my orphan-charge, hath almost put it out of my power to perform it: however, I am now once more on the great deep in my way to New-York; accept a few lines as a token that you are not forgotten by me. I wrote to you from Lisbon. From thence we had a pleasant passage to Carolina, and since that I found and left my orphan family comfortably settled at Georgia. The colony, as well as Bethesda, is now in a thriving situation. Black and white persons I have now a hundred and six to provide for. The God whom I desire to serve, will enable me to do it for his great name’s sake. At Charles-Town, and in other parts of Carolina, my poor labours have met with the usual acceptance, and I have reason to hope a clergyman hath been brought under very serious impressions. Not unto me, O Lord, not unto me, but unto thy free grace be all the glory! What will befal me at the northward, I know not; this I know, that Jesus Christ will suffer nothing to pluck me out of his hands. My health is wonderfully preserved.—My wonted vomitings have left me, and though I ride whole nights, and have been frequently exposed to great thunders, violent lightnings, and heavy rains, yet I am rather better than usual, and as far as I can judge, am not yet to die. O that I may at length learn to begin to live. I am ashamed of my sloth and lukewarmness, and long to be on the stretch for God. I hope this will find you thus employed. My cordial love awaits your whole self, your brother, Mr. B——, and in short all the followers of the blessed Lamb of God. Though unworthy of their notice, I earnestly intreat a continued interest in their prayers, as being, my very dear Sir,
Their and your affectionate friend, and ready servant in our common Lord,
G. W.