_Cast him not off, should health decline,_
_Or hoary hairs arise;_
_And round him let thy glories shine,_
_Whene’er thy servant dies._
I doubt not but the LORD JESUS will say, _Amen_. Whether I shall have
the pleasure of seeing you on this side eternity, is uncertain. It was
no small self-denial for me to leave _America_ without going to the
_Northward_; but the cloud moved towards _England_. Here (O amazing
condescension!) the glorious _Emmanuel_ vouchsafes still to own and
bless my feeble labours. In _Scotland_, _Wales_, and the parts in and
near _Yorkshire_, we have seen blessed days of the Son of Man. I am
now in my Winter quarters, longing for Spring, to take the field again.
Had I a thousand tongues and lives, JESUS should have them all. I am
sorry, quite sorry that not one of his ministers could venture over
the _Atlantick_ for _New-Jersey_ College. Two general collections have
lately been made upon other occasions in _Scotland_. What a pity, when
all circumstances concurred, that such a favourable opportunity should
have been lost? I can only lament that, which I did all I could to
prevent. And now, honoured Sir, I must bid you farewel. Ere long I
hope to see you in a better world: perhaps we may meet again in this.
Dear _America_ is much upon my heart. Thanks be to GOD, _Bethesda_ is
now put on a good and flourishing foundation, and I hear hath escaped
the late hurricane in _South-Carolina_. Great are thy judgments, O
GOD;――and great are thy mercies also! both past finding out. To the
infinitely great and gracious I AM, do I most earnestly commend both
you and yours, and with ten thousands thanks for all your unmerited
favours, I beg leave to subscribe myself, honoured Sir,
Your Excellency’s most obliged, dutiful, and ready
servant for CHRIST’s sake,
_G. W._