_To the Reverend Mr. H――――._
_Portsmouth, April 28, 1750._
_My very dear friend and Brother_,
YOUR letter should have had an immediate answer, if the least leisure
had offered when in town. But there I am continually hurried, and had
scarce time to eat bread. However, our LORD gave me meat which the
world knows not of, and enabled me to preach three or four times a day
to great multitudes, and I trust with great blessings. Fear not your
weak body; we are immortal till our work is done. CHRIST’s labourers
must live by miracle; if not, I must not live at all; for GOD only
knows what I daily endure. My continual vomitings almost kill me, and
yet the pulpit is my cure, so that my friends begin to pity me less,
and to leave off that ungrateful caution, “Spare thyself.” I speak this
to encourage you. Persons whose writings are to be blessings, must have
some thorns in the flesh. Your disorders, like mine, I believe are as
yet only to humble, not to kill us. Though I long to go to heaven, yet
I am apt to think we are not to die presently, but live and declare the
works of the LORD. You by your pen, I by my tongue. May the glorious
_Emmanuel_ bless us both! I believe he will. Courage, my dear, very
dear Mr. _H――――_; Courage. When we are weak, then are we strong.――But
to your letter. I am glad Dr. _S――――_ preaches, and that Mr. _H――――_,
is at work. In working we shall be blessed. To him that hath, shall
be given. How shall we contrive to meet. I purpose being at _Oulney_
next _Sunday_ sevennight, and in a day or two after at _Northampton_. I
wish I could have a line from you. In the mean while I shall endeavour
to get Dr. _W――――_. There is a glorious plan set on foot by the Great
and Good, for a college in the _New-Jersies_; the particulars will ere
long be published. I wish it much prosperity. Your Meditations are now
printing in _Philadelphia_. Why do you not sit for your picture?――The
seed sown here months ago, hath sprung up. People hear with great
attention. What cannot GOD do? The LORD be with you! I love you most
tenderly. I thank you ten thousand times for all favours, and am, very
dear friend,
Yours most affectionately and eternally in our
dear LORD JESUS,
_G. W._