_To Governor B――――._
_Plymouth, Feb. 26, 1750._
_Honoured Sir_,
I Was much rejoiced to hear, by a letter lately received from Mr.
_Bradford_, that your Excellency was pretty well, and am very thankful
that you was pleased to enquire so cordially after unworthy me. I take
this first opportunity of returning my most grateful acknowledgements,
and to assure your Excellency, you are not forgotten by me at the
throne of grace. Ere now, I thought to have waited upon you in person,
but it hath pleased Him, whose I am, and whom I desire to serve in
the gospel of his dear Son, to detain me longer than I expected in
my native country. The door for usefulness opens wider and wider. The
seed sown among the rich, springs up and bears fruit in some; and the
poor in various places receive the gospel more gladly than ever. Last
fall was a glorious seed-time in the _North_ of _England_. In _London_
we had a warm winter; and in the country we have had reason to sing,
that “the voice of the turtle is again heard in the land.” GOD willing,
I purpose ranging this Summer, and then to embark for my beloved
_America_ once more. Whether I shall see your Excellency is uncertain.
You are upon the decline of life; and for my own part, I wonder that I
live so long. But I trust I shall meet your Excellency in heaven, where
the wicked heart, the wicked world, and wicked devil will cease from
troubling, and every soul enjoy an uninterrupted and eternal rest. This
I am waiting for every day; and according to the present frame of my
soul, desire no continuing city, till I arrive at and take possession
of the _New-Jerusalem_ above. My Master makes ranging exceedingly
pleasant; and I hope in his strength to begin now to begin to spend
and be spent for him, who shed his own dear heart’s blood for sinful,
ill, and hell-deserving me. O that death may find me either praying
or preaching! I hope your Excellency will increase my obligations, by
continuing to pray for me. My prayer for you is, “That your Excellency
may bring forth much fruit in old age; and that whensoever you go
off, you may be gathered like a ripe shock of corn into the Redeemer’s
heavenly garner!” That you may till then go on from strength to
strength, and increase with all the increase of GOD, is the earnest
desire of, honoured Sir,
Your Excellency’s most obliged, dutiful, and ready
servant for CHRIST’s sake,
_G. W._