_To Mr. B――――._
_London, January 19, 1754._
_My dear Mr. B――――_,
ALL is well, and why? Because all things are of our LORD’s ordering.
May he perfect his strength in your weakness, and the more the outward
man decayeth, may you be strengthened so much the more by his holy
spirit in the inner man!――Welcome flux, welcome fever, welcome the
plague itself, if sanctified to bring us nearer to our GOD. Yet a
little while, and he that cometh, will come, and will not tarry. I
wish you much prosperity under the cross.――You must return the favour;
I stand in need of much prayer. Perhaps ere long I may be called to
occupy my business in the great waters. If not, GOD willing, you shall
see me. In the mean while, pray give my love to all, especially to
those mentioned in your last. GOD help them to hold on and hold out!
In heaven they will sing the louder for being called by such an ill and
hell-deserving creature as I am. Blessed be GOD, awakening work goes
on here: every sermon preached this Winter hath been fetched out of the
furnace.――But what are we to expect as christians and ministers, but
afflictions? I thank you for your kind offer, and orders to command.
Such I seldom comply with. Though poor, yet desiring at least to make
many rich, I would have for my motto still. Some way or another, my GOD
will supply all my wants. I am sorry that the volume of the _Christian
Library_ was forgotten. I shall write to my dear Mr. _S――――_ to send
you his, and yours may be sent to him. Whatever becomes of written
christian libraries, I earnestly pray that your heart, my dear Sir,
may be the library of JESUS CHRIST, and beg leave to subscribe myself,
Yours most affectionately in our common LORD,
_G. W._