_To Mr. ――――._
_Deal, Jan. 21, 1738._
SUPPOSE I answer _dear Mr. ――――_ before I reach _Georgia_, Will he
be angry? I fancy not. I had a mind to write to you again, before I
received yours. For as you have been so liberal in your presents, it
would be unpardonable in me, was I niggardly in my letters. No, my
dear friend, I hope I never shall cease praying for you and yours,
so long as I live. Hitherto I have not. I was praying for you just
as I received yours: I am glad to hear you prayed before you wrote to
me. Surely GOD will bless such a correspondence. O my friend, let us
still wrestle with GOD, that we may be stedfast, unmoveable, always
abounding in the work of the LORD. For it is perseverance crowns our
labours. _He, and He only can be saved._ The world, the flesh and
the devil are three such potent enemies, that we must strive, we must
persevere, if we will gain a conquest. Strive then; let us, my dear
friend, strive as persons striving for eternity. Let us abstain from
all appearance of evil, and avoid all company, that doth not directly
tend to the promoting our spiritual welfare. Whether one of the
societies you frequent, my dear friend, has a tendency that way, I
leave you to judge. I think I have heard you say, it keeps you from
family and secret prayer. If that is not a sufficient reason for
absenting from it, I’ll say no more. I believe you to be sincere, and
therefore, if you consult GOD by prayer and reading his word, your way
will be made clear before you. I only add, that I could wish, instead
of frequenting _that_, you would set up another society of a quite
contrary nature on the same night of the week. I know Mr. ―――― had
some such design on foot, and desired me to mention it. I wish you
good success in this and every pious undertaking in the name of the
LORD. May GOD reward you for all your kindnesses, and make you to
abound in every good word and work! may you walk by faith and not
by sight; and tho’ you are in the world, may you not be of it! I
preach here, GOD willing, to-morrow; there’s likely to be a great
congregation. O pray, that they may not be sent away empty, but
converted by, dear _Mr. ――――_,
Your affectionate friend,
_G. W._