_To Mr. N――――, in New York._
_Savannah, Aug. 15, 1740._
_My dear Brother_,
YOUR letter rejoiced my heart. May our dear lord’s kingdom be advanced
more and more every day! O that I may meet you at _New-England_!
Blessed be GOD that Mr. _M――――_ is yet alive. Salute him from me; I
hope to see him before I die, and so be taught the way of GOD more
perfectly. I thank you for your kind hints; I have always paid great
deference to dear Mr. _N――――_’s judgment: indeed I love him in the
bowels of JESUS. GOD has been pleased to bring me low, for some time,
by inward weakness, and faintness of spirits. The first strength that
is given me to write, I make use of in writing to you. The LORD is
purging me, that I may bring forth more fruit. I long to die, not that
I may be rid of crosses, but that I may be with CHRIST. He draws me
more and more to him every day. I have had many close domestic trials
of late. But these words, “David strengthened himself in the LORD
his GOD,” came with sweet power to my soul. I find, the nearer I come
to CHRIST, the closer my trials are. I have been sometimes through
weakness kept from preaching; but when I have spoken, the word has
come with power. I have reason to think, that three persons who came
to see the orphan-house, have been effectually called by our LORD
JESUS. I have now some _Carolina_ visitors in my house; two of them,
I believe, are coming truly to JESUS.――The word runs like lightning in
_Charles-Town_. A serious lively Baptist minister, named _Tilly_, is
here also; he has preached often for me, and last _Sunday_ received
the sacrament in our way.――O bigotry, thou art tumbling down a-pace!
Blessed be GOD.――Next week, GOD willing, I embark for _Charles-Town_,
shall stay there a few days, and from thence purpose going to
_New-England_. GOD wonderfully provides for my orphans.――I am kept
from every degree of doubting; nay, the LORD fills me daily with a
full assurance of faith. He chastens and corrects me, but it is all
in love. O help me to praise him, and thereby add to the obligations
already laid on, dear Mr. _N――――_,
Ever yours,
_G. W._