_To Mr. ――――._
_Boston, Feb. 6, 1745._
_My dear Friend_,
I Remember you once told me, that you heard one of the good old
_Puritans_, who went over to _New-England_, wrote back again, that
he went from _Old-England_ to avoid the Lord Bishops, and came to
_New-England_ to get under the Lord Brethren. Well is it at present
that they are the Lord Brethren; for finding some of their pastors
without cause shy of me, they have passed votes of invitation for me
to preach in the pulpits, and some time ago prevailed upon me, as they
heard I had done in _Scotland_, to set up a lecture at six o’clock in
the morning. Not expecting a very great auditory, I opened a lecture
in one of the smallest meetings, upon these words, “And they came early
in the morning to hear him;” but how was I disappointed? Such great
numbers flocked to hear, that I was obliged for the future to make use
of two of their very largest places of worship, where I believe seldom
less than two or three thousand attentive hearers hung as it were upon
me, to hear the word preached. I began with the first of _Genesis_,
and have now lectured in order, till I am almost come to the story of
_Abraham_ sending his servant to fetch a wife for his son _Isaac_. Many
I trust have been made willing to say, “I will go with the GOD-man,
even _Isaac_’s GOD.” It is impossible to describe the eagerness and
punctuality of these early visitants. To see so many hundreds of both
sexes neatly dressed, walking or riding so early along the streets to
get food for their souls, has feasted my own heart. The _Pharaohs_
who used to say, “Ye are idle, ye are idle,” now are struck dumb: for
lecture, and family prayer, and breakfast, are now over in many houses
before the sun is suffered to come into others windows; and it is now
become almost a common proverb, “That between _Tar-water_, and _early
rising_, the physicians will have no business.” One morning the croud
was so great, that I was obliged to go in at the window. The high
sheriff, who was once most forward in persecuting good Mr. _D――――t_,
being a little convinced under the word, accompanied me, and when he
put his head into the window after me, the people were ready to cry
out, “Is _Saul_ also among the prophets?” Hoping hereafter to send
you and other friends a further account of many such real instances
of all-conquering grace, I subscribe myself
Yours, &c.
_G. W._