_To Mr. B――――._
_Bristol, March 22, 1751._
_Reverend and very dear Sir_,
I Lately received your last kind letter, and am glad to find that you
are enabled to joy in tribulation, and to say, “Father, not my will,
but thine be done.” May the LORD increase your faith, and if you should
be called to give up your _Isaac_, your dear yoke-fellow, may you,
_Aaron_ like, hold your peace, and by an undissembled resignation
to the divine will, glorify your GOD! My wife has been in pitiable
circumstances for some time. The LORD only knows what will be the issue
of them. This is my comfort, “all things work together for good to
those that love GOD.” He is the father of mercies, and the GOD of all
consolation. He can bring light out of darkness, and cause the barren
wilderness to smile. This I trust will be verified in _Georgia_. Thanks
be to GOD, that the time for favouring that Colony seems to be come.
I think now is the season for us to exert our utmost for the good of
the poor _Ethiopians_. We are told, that even they are soon to stretch
out their hands unto GOD. And who knows but their being settled in
_Georgia_, may be over-ruled for this great end? As for the lawfulness
of keeping slaves, I have no doubt, since I hear of some that
were bought with _Abraham_’s money, and some that were born in his
house.――And I cannot help thinking, that some of those servants
mentioned by the Apostles in their epistles were or had been slaves.
It is plain, that the _Gibeonites_ were doomed to perpetual slavery,
though liberty is a sweet thing to such as are born free, yet to those
who never ♦knew the sweets of it, slavery perhaps may not be so irksome.
However this be, it is plain to a demonstration, that hot countries
cannot be cultivated without negroes. What a flourishing country might
_Georgia_ have been, had the use of them been permitted years ago? How
many white people have been destroyed for want of them, and how many
thousands of pounds spent to no purpose at all? Had Mr. _Henry_ been in
_America_, I believe he would have seen the lawfulness and necessity of
having negroes there. And though it is true, that they are brought in a
wrong way from their own country, and it is a trade not to be approved
of, yet as it will be carried on whether we will or not; I should think
myself highly favoured if I could purchase a good number of them, in
order to make their lives comfortable, and lay a foundation for
breeding up their posterity in the nurture and admonition of the LORD.
You know, dear Sir, that I had no hand in bringing them into _Georgia_;
though my judgment was for it, and so much money was yearly spent to no
purpose, and I was strongly importuned thereto, yet I would not have a
negro upon my plantation, till the use of them was publicly allowed in
the colony. Now this is done, dear Sir, let us reason no more about it,
but diligently improve the present opportunity for their instruction.
The trustees favour it, and we may never have a like prospect. It
rejoiced my soul, to hear that one of my poor negroes in _Carolina_
was made a brother in CHRIST. How know we but we may have many such
instances in _Georgia_ ere it be long? By mixing with your people, I
trust many of them will be brought to JESUS, and this consideration,
as to us, swallows up all temporal inconveniencies whatsoever. Thus,
my dear Sir, I have opened my mind to you on this head; if it satisfies
you, I shall be glad; though I suppose what holy Mr. _Z――――n_ has
already written, has been sufficient. His heart seems touched with
a sympathy for these poor creatures, and in the fall, GOD willing,
I intend seeing what can be done towards laying a foundation. LORD
prosper this work of our hands upon us, prosper thou, O GOD, our handy
work! I am now entering upon my spring campaign, and long for the time
to embark for _Georgia_. This I believe will shortly come. Blessed
be GOD, the work on this side increases daily. You will help me with
your prayers, and you will remember me in the kindest manner to your
collegue, your wife and dear congregation, and believe me to be,
reverend Sir,
Your most unworthy, but affectionate brother and
fellow-labourer in the kingdom of our LORD,
_G. W._
♦ “new” replaced with “knew”