_Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._
_My Rev. and very dear Brother_,
EVER ♦since I was favoured with your last most endearing letter,
you have been upon my heart more and more. As I wish all the LORD’s
servants were prophets, so it gives me uncommon pleasure, when the
LORD raises up one of our own church. Believe me, dear Sir, when I
look upon her desolations, I can scarce forbear weeping over her.
But blessed be GOD, who has been pleas’d to visit her in this our
day. Henceforward, I trust she will be a joyful mother of spiritual
children. Many of late, under GOD, have been begotten by some of her
sons through the gospel, amongst whom I may reckon ――――: He has been
I believe, and trust will still be the ghostly father of many souls.
May he increase with all the increase of GOD, and appear before
his redeemer at the last day, saying, “Behold me, O LORD, and the
children which thou hast given me.” Oh dear Sir, words cannot express
how affectionately I desire to esteem and love you. None but the
all-seeing GOD knows how earnestly I pray and desire to labour for the
prosperity of _Jerusalem_. Had we a thousand hands and tongues, there
is employment enough for them all: people are every where ready to
perish for lack of knowledge. As the LORD has been pleased to reveal
his dear Son in us, Oh let us stir up that gift of GOD, and with all
boldness preach him to others. Freely we have received, freely let
us give; what CHRIST tells us by his spirit in our closets, that let
us proclaim on the house top. He who sends, will protect us. All the
devils in hell shall not hurt us, till we have finished our testimony.
And then, if we should seal it with imprisonment or death, well will
it be with us, and happy shall we be evermore! But the proof of our
sincerity, will be when we come to the trial. I fear for no one so
much as myself. Dear Sir, pray that you never may have reason to be
ashamed of the
Most unprofitable of our LORD’s servants,
_G. W._
♦ removed duplicate word ‘since’