_To the Rev. Mr. J. W._
_Savannah, March 26, 1740._
_Honoured Sir_,
SINCE I returned here, I received your letter and journal.――I
thank you for both, and shall wait almost with impatience to see a
continuance of your account of what GOD is doing or has done amongst
you――He knows my heart, I rejoice in whatever GOD has done by your
hands. I, præ, sequar, etsi non passibus equis.
I could now send a particular answer to your last; but, my honoured
friend and brother, for once hearken to a child, who is willing to
wash your feet. I beseech you by the mercies of GOD in CHRIST JESUS
our LORD, if you would have my love confirmed towards you; write no
more to me about misrepresentations wherein we differ. To the best of
my knowledge at present, no sin has _dominion_ over me, yet I feel the
strugglings of indwelling sin day by day; I can therefore by no means
come into your interpretation of the passage mentioned in the letter,
and as explained in your preface to Mr. _Halyburton_――The doctrine of
_election_, and the _final perseverance_ of those that are truly in
CHRIST, I am ten thousand times more convinced of, if possible, than
when I saw you last――You think otherwise: why then should we dispute,
when there is no probability of convincing? Will it not in the end
destroy brotherly love, and insensibly take from us that cordial union
and sweetness of soul, which I pray GOD may always subsist between us?
How glad would the enemies of the LORD be to see us divided? How many
would rejoice, should I join and make a party against you? And in one
word, how would the cause of our common master every way suffer by
our raising disputes about particular points of doctrines? _Honoured
Sir_, let us offer salvation freely to all by the blood of JESUS; and
whatever light GOD has communicated to us, let us freely communicate
to others. I have lately read the life of _Luther_, and think it in no
wise to his honour, that the last part of his life was so much taken
up in disputing with _Zuinglius_ and others; who in all probability
equally loved the LORD JESUS, notwithstanding they might differ from
him in other points. Let this, dear Sir, be a caution to us, I hope it
will to me; for by the blessing of GOD, provoke me to it as much as
you please, I do not think ever to enter the lists of controversy with
you on the points wherein we differ. Only I pray to GOD, that the more
you _judge me_, the more I may _love you_, and learn to desire no ones
approbation, but that of my LORD and master JESUS CHRIST.――Ere this
reaches you, I suppose you will hear of my late excursion to _Charles
Town_. A great work I believe is begun there. Enclosed I have sent
you Mr. _Garden’s letters_――They will serve to convince you, more and
more, of the necessity you lie under to be instant in season and out
of season. Oh, dear honoured Sir, I wish you as much success as your
own heart can wish. Was you here, I would weep over you with tears
of love, and tell you what great things GOD hath done for my soul,
since we parted last. Indeed and indeed, I often and heartily pray
for your success in the gospel: May your inward strength and outward
sphere increase day by day! May GOD use you as a choice and singular
instrument of promoting his glory on earth, and may I see you crowned
with an eternal and exceeding weight of glory in the world to come!
This is the hearty desire of, honoured Sir,
Yours most affectionately in CHRIST JESUS,
_G. W._