_To Mr. I――――._
_Boston, Sept. 26, 1740._
_My dear Brother, I――――_,
I Thank you for your kind letter. It is the first I have received
from you since I left _England_.――I bless GOD the work goes on in
_Yorkshire_.――May our glorious, sin-forgiving LORD bless you and your
spiritual children more and more! I find, our friends are got into
deputing one with another.――O that the GOD of peace may put a stop to
it! I wish many may not be building on a false foundation, and rest in
a false peace. They own _free justification_, and yet seem to think,
that their continuance in a justified state depends on their doings,
and their wills.――This, I think, is establishing a righteousness
of our own. My dear brother, if we search the scriptures, we shall
find that the word _justified_ implies not only pardon of sin, but
also all its consequences.――“Thus (says Saint _Paul_) those whom
he justified, them he also glorified;” so that if a man was once
justified, he remains so to all eternity.――Here lies the anchor of
all my hopes.――Our LORD having once loved me, he will love me to
the end.――This fills me with joy unspeakable and full of glory.――I
now walk by faith.――I work not to keep myself in a justified state,
(for men or devils can never pluck me out of CHRIST’s hands,) but to
express my love and gratitude for what JESUS hath done for my soul.
This, I think, is what the apostle calls “faith working by love.”
My dear brother, my heart’s desire and prayer to GOD is, that we may
all think and speak the same things.――For, if we are divided among
ourselves, what an advantage will satan get over us? Let us love one
another, excite all to come to CHRIST without exception, and our LORD
will shew us, who are his. The work of GOD goes on exceedingly in
_America_. The LORD is pleased to manifest himself unto my soul more
and more. I am a naughty, stubborn child; but my dear LORD will have
mercy because he will have mercy. It is owing to his distinguishing
love that I am not hardened. Here is, and I believe will be a great
quickning in these parts.――The cloud seems to be moving. Perhaps in
the Spring we may meet face to face. With difficulty I get time to
write this, but I must answer dear Brother _I――――_’s letter.――May
the LORD JESUS be continually with your spirit, and make your soul
brimful of peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. I love you in the bowels
of the crucified Lamb. May he unite us more and more intimately
to his dear self, and to one another. Salute all that love him in
sincerity.――Brethren, pray for us.――That you may be kept by GOD’s
power to eternal salvation, is the prayer of
Your most affectionate, though unworthy brother and
poor weak servant in CHRIST,
_G. W._