_To ――――._
_Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._
_My dear Brethren in CHRIST_,
THE cordial love I bear you, will not suffer me to neglect writing
to you: as GOD has been pleased to bless my ministry to your souls,
so I think it my duty to watch over you for good, and assure you,
constantly you are all upon my heart. Your last letter gave me great
pleasure; but it was too full of acknowledgments, which I by no means
deserve. To him alone, from whom every good and perfect gift cometh,
be all the thanks and glory; I heartily pray GOD, that you may be
burning and shining lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse
generation. Though you are not of the church of _England_, yet
if you are persuaded in your own minds of the truth of the way
wherein you now walk, I leave it. However, whether _Conformists_, or
_Nonconformists_, our main concern should be, to be assured that we
are called and taught of GOD; for none but such are fit to minister
in holy things. Indeed, my dear brethren, it rejoiced me much to see
such dawnings of grace in your souls; only I thought most of you were
bowed down too much with a servile fear of man: but as the love of
the Creator increases, the fear of the creature will daily decrease
in your hearts. _Nicodemus_, who came at first by night to our LORD,
afterwards dared to own him before the whole council in open day. I
pray GOD make you all thus minded. For unless your hearts are free
from worldly hopes and worldly fears, you never will speak boldly, as
you ought to speak. The good old _Puritans_, I believe, never preached
better, than when in danger of being taken to prison as soon as they
had finished their sermon. And however the church may be at peace now,
yet I am persuaded, unless you go forth with the same temper, you will
never preach with the same demonstration of the spirit, and of power.
Study therefore, my brethren, I beseech you by the mercies of GOD in
CHRIST JESUS, study your hearts as well as books――ask yourselves again
and again, whether you would preach for CHRIST, if you were sure to
lay down your lives for so doing? If you fear the displeasure of a man
for doing your duty now, assure yourselves you are not yet thus minded.
But enough of this. I love to hope well of you all. I trust, as you
are enlightened with some degree of knowledge in the mysteries of
godliness, you will henceforth determine not to know any thing but
JESUS CHRIST, and him crucified. This is, and this, the LORD being my
helper, shall be the only study of, my dear brethren,
Your affectionate friend, brother, and servant in CHRIST,
_G. W._