_To Miss E――――._
_On board the Savannah, April 4th, 1740._
BE not surprised at the contents of this:――The letter sent to your
honoured father and mother will acquaint you with the reasons. Do you
think, you could undergo the fatigues, that must necessarily attend
being joined to one, who is every day liable to be called out to
suffer for the sake of JESUS CHRIST? Can you bear to leave your
father and kindred’s house, and to trust on him, (who feedeth the
young ravens that call upon him) for your own and childrens support,
supposing it should please him to bless you with any? Can you
undertake to help a husband in the charge of a family, consisting
perhaps of a hundred persons? Can you bear the inclemencies of the air
both as to cold and heat in a foreign climate? Can you, when you have
an husband, be as though you had none, and willingly part with him,
even for a long season, when his LORD and master shall call him forth
to preach the gospel, and command him to leave you behind? If after
seeking to GOD for direction, and searching your heart, you can say,
“I can do all those things through CHRIST strengthening me,” what if
you and I were joined together in the LORD, and you came with me at my
return from _England_, to be a help meet for me in the management of
the orphan-house? I have great reason to believe it is the divine will
that I should alter my condition, and have often thought you was the
person appointed for me. I shall still wait on GOD for direction, and
heartily intreat him, that if this motion be not of him, it may come
to nought.――I write thus plainly, because, I trust, I write not from
any other principles but the love of GOD.――I shall make it my business
to call on the LORD JESUS, and would advise you to consult both him
and your friends――For in order to attain a blessing, we should call
both the LORD JESUS and his disciples to the marriage――I much like
the manner of _Isaac_’s marrying with _Rebekah_, and think no marriage
can succeed well, unless both parties concerned are like-minded
with _Tobias_ and his wife――I think I can call the GOD of _Abraham_,
_Isaac_ and _Jacob_, to witness that I desire “to take you my sister
to wife, not for lust, but uprightly;” and therefore I hope he will
mercifully ordain, if it be his blessed will we should be joined
together, that we may walk as _Zachary_ and _Elizabeth_ did, in all
the ordinances of the LORD blameless. I make no great profession
to you, because I believe you think me sincere. The passionate
expressions which carnal courtiers use, I think, ought to be avoided
by those that would marry in the LORD. I can only promise, by the
help of GOD, “to keep my matrimonial vow, and to do what I can towards
helping you forward in the great work of your salvation.” If you
think marriage will be any way prejudicial to your better part, be
so kind as to send me a denial. I would not be a snare to you for the
world. You need not be afraid of speaking your mind. I trust, I love
you only for GOD, and desire to be joined to you only by his command,
and for his sake. With fear and much trembling I write, and shall
patiently tarry the LORD’s leisure, till he is pleased to incline you,
dear Miss _E――――_, to send an answer to
Your affectionate brother, friend and servant in CHRIST,
_G. W._