_To Mr. H――――._
_London, Jan. 18, 1750._
_My very dear Mr. H――――_,
A Few days ago I received your welcome letter dated _November 1_, at
a time I was wondering that I did not hear oftener from you. Blessed
be GOD for dealing so favourably with my dear families, and for giving
the prospect of such a plentiful crop! I take it as an earnest that the
LORD JESUS will be the LORD GOD of _Bethesda_, and let the world see
that designs founded on him shall prosper. I shall not wonder to hear
by and by that you are P――――t. O that you and I, my dear man, may be
cloathed with humility, and the more we are exalted by others, the
more may we be abased in our own eyes! Then will the high and lofty One
delight to dwell in us, and prosperity itself, that dangerous thing,
shall not destroy us. O that something may now be done for the poor
negroes. A good beginning now is of vast consequence. Pray stir in it,
and let us exert our utmost efforts in striving to bring some of them
to the knowledge of our LORD and Saviour JESUS CHRIST. Mr. _Z――――_ will
readily concur in any proper measures for promoting so blessed a work.
I sent him a copy of your letter, and the original to good Lady _H――――_.
This night I have agreed to take little _Joseph_ and his sister. Mr.
_H―――― A――――_ hath been with me, and I find he is desirous, as are all
their relations, that I should take them, for they will be but poorly
provided for here. I think they have a kind of natural right to be
maintained at _Bethesda_, and I have written to Mr. _B――――_ about it. I
suppose in your next, you will acquaint me with particulars concerning
their father, and how he hath left his affairs. I hear there is a
very little infant, besides the other two. I would willingly have
that likewise, if it could be kept till it is about three years old.
I hope to grow rich in heaven, by taking care of orphans on earth. Any
other riches, blessed be GOD, are out of my view. If the crop answers
expectation, I would have Mrs. _V――――_ and the other poor of _Savannah_
reap the benefit. Pray let one ♦barrel of rice be reserved for them.
O what cannot, and what will not GOD do, if we put our trust in him! O
for faith! O for humility! May I learn of JESUS more and more! He deals
bountifully with us here. We have had a blessed Winter indeed!――I am
pretty well in health, but my wife at present is ill. We salute you
and yours, and all friends, and wishing you the best of blessings, I
subscribe myself, my very dear Friend,
Yours most affectionately in our dearest LORD,
_G. W._
♦ “barrrel” replaced with “barrel”