_To Mrs. H――――e._
_Bethesda, January 11, 1770._
_Dear Mrs. H――――e_,
MY last to you left me just arrived at _Charles-Town_. This leaves me
an old inhabitant of, or rather a worthless sojourner at _Bethesda_.
Both, I hope, will find the worthy Mrs. _H――――e_ and her daughter
enjoying thriving souls in healthy bodies. Every thing here exceeds my
most sanguine expectations. I am almost tempted to say, “It is good for
us to be here.” But all must give way to gospel ranging: Divine employ!
For this let men revile my name,
I’d shun no cross, I’d fear no shame:
All hail, reproach――――
I hope _London_ friends meet with enough of this. It is bad, more than
bad, when the offence of the cross ceaseth. This cannot be, till we
cease to be crucified to the world, and the world crucified to us: and
when that is the case, things are very bad. As Mrs. _H――――s_’s heart
and house are opened to so many ministers of a despised JESUS, she must
expect a double share. Not only reproach from the world, but judgings
and censures from the narrow-hearted bigotted part of the Church. But
she hath counted the cost; she knows in whom she hath believed, and who
will be her exceeding great reward. GOD will not have us take up with
any thing short of himself. Leaving you to cry, Grace! grace! with ten
thousand thanks for all unmerited favours, I must hasten to subscribe
myself
Your most obliged and ready servant,
in our common LORD,
_G. W._