_To Mr. W――――._
_Edinburgh, Oct. 12, 1748._
_Reverend and dear Sir_,
THOUGH I have not written to you, yet not one day hath passed since my
being this time in _Scotland_, without my thinking of you. The love and
respect I owe you, as an aged minister of JESUS CHRIST, will not suffer
me to be silent any longer. How do you, reverend Sir? I doubt not but
you find that promise true, “The righteous shall bring forth much fruit
in old age.” This leaves me, though faint, yet pursuing, and resolved,
in the blessed JESUS, to spend and be spent in the blessed cause
wherein I have embarked. Indeed, when I consider my blunders, mistakes,
and imprudencies, I wonder the glorious _Emmanuel_ does not lay me
aside; but his grace is like himself, _infinite_ and _eternal_. I hope
he has given me a sight of, and humbled me for some of my mistakes;
and I trust as I grow in years, if I am to live longer, I shall grow in
knowledge and every christian virtue. Reverend and dear Sir, be pleased
to pray for me. I do not forget you, though perhaps you may judge
otherwise. O for heaven! There christian ministers shall see eye to
eye.――But I must not weary you. In a few days I suppose you will hear
what has happened in the _West_. Dear Mr. _M――――_ perhaps may acquaint
you with particulars. With this, I send you a few of my last accounts
of the Orphan-house. You may dispose of them as you think proper.
When you see Mr. _B――――_ or _R――――_, or any of the ministers that
were friendly to me, be pleased to remember me to them in the most
respectful manner. I hope Mrs. _W――――_ and your whole houshold enjoy
much of Him whose presence is better than life. I earnestly entreat
the LORD to fill you with all his fulness, and beg leave to subscribe
myself, reverend and dear Sir,
Your most affectionate, though unworthy younger brother
and servant in JESUS CHRIST,
_G. W._