_To Mr. and Mrs. D――――n._
_Charles-Town, March 5, 1765._
_My very dear dear Friends_,
OFTEN have we thought, and talked of, and if it was lawful, wished
ourselves at _Bethesda_ again. No place like that for peace, and plenty
of every kind. May this find you all enjoying GOD, and each others
company, in a manner the world knows not of! It leaves me in my poor
way, aiming to do a little for Him, who hath done and suffered so much
for ill and hell-deserving me. People of all ranks fly to the gospel
like doves to the windows. The word begins to fall with great weight,
and all are importunate for my longer stay. But next week I expect
to move. Captain _M――――r_, though waited for near two months, is not
yet arrived; Mr. _S――――n_’s Lady comes with him, when you may expect
a more particular letter. He sets off for _Georgia_ immediately upon
his Lady’s arrival. The negroes shirts, &c. are in hand. O that those
_Ethiopians_ may be made to stretch out their hearts unto GOD! I feel
a great compassion for them. Letters from the northward, give sweet
accounts of the spreading of the work of GOD; but I must not enlarge.
So many various calls surround me, that I have scarce leisure to
dispatch my private business. GOD bless you! GOD bless you all in
soul and body, in time and eternity! The parting here hath been
most affecting and awful. Several presume to prophesy, that I shall
certainly and speedily see _South Carolina_, and my beloved, dearly
beloved _Bethesda_ again. I say heartily, Amen! What say you? I shall
not wait for an answer. If the LORD JESUS say amen too, it will do. And
now for the present, adieu. GOD bless you, and fill you all with all
his fulness! Pray hard for us; pray, if possible, that the glorious
_Emmanuel_ would give me to see these parts once more. A blessed work,
I trust, is begun. Grace, grace! Perhaps this is not a parting letter.
You may hear from me more minutely by the Chief Justice; but who knows
what a day may bring forth! _A―――― H――――_’s wife died suddenly, a few
days before my return hither. Others taken, and I still left. LORD
JESUS, quicken my tardy pace! On _Friday_ next, GOD willing, I shall
read prayers and preach in _Ashby-Ferry_ church. Mr. _Z――――y_ hath
preached well here. Dear, very dear friends, continue to pray for me.
Indeed I pray for you night and day; and, GOD willing, this shall be
the constant employ of, my very dear, very dear friends,
Ever yours, &c. &c. &c. in JESUS,
_G. W._