_To his Excellency Jonathan Belcher, Esq., in Boston._
_Philadelphia, Nov. 9, 1740._
THOUGH late, I now snatch a few moments to send your excellency my
acknowledgments for all honours received at _Boston_: they are much
upon my heart. I pray GOD to reward your excellency a thousand-fold.
Great things hath the glorious _Emmanuel_ done for me and his people
on the way: the word has been attended with much power. Surely our
LORD intends to set _America_ in a flame. This week Mr. _G―――― T――――_
purposes to set out for _Boston_, in order to blow up the divine fire
lately kindled there. I recommend him to your excellency as a solid,
judicious, and zealous minister of the LORD JESUS CHRIST: he will be
ready to preach daily: I suppose his brethren will readily open their
doors: may the LORD at the same time open the people’s hearts, that
they may diligently attend to the things that shall be spoken. Dear Mr.
_R――――_ grows in grace: I left him at _Brunswick_, full of gratitude
for his late journey. I am persuaded it was of GOD. I hope he will
be instrumental in quickening both ministers and people. He is worthy
of your excellency’s particular regard: under GOD he may need it. I
expect he will soon be reviled and persecuted for his blessed Master’s
sake: may the LORD enable him to rejoice and be exceeding glad. Dear
Sir, the welfare of dear _Boston_ people, especially the welfare of
your own soul, lies upon me night and day. I remember your tears: I
remember your excellency’s words, “Mr. _Whitefield_, pray that I may
hunger and thirst after righteousness.” O how did these words rejoice
me! for I thought your excellency wanted a more clear view of your own
vileness, and of the all-sufficiency of JESUS CHRIST; I mean a more
clear, experimental view: for what is all head-knowledge without that
of the heart? it only settles people more upon their lees. May GOD
give you to see and to follow the simplicity of the blessed JESUS.
Whilst you are in the world, may you not be of it: may you be dead to
magnificence, and alive to nothing but what leads you directly to your
GOD.
_Honoured Sir_, I make no apology for this freedom: your excellency
bid me not spare rulers; no, not the chief of them. Indeed I long
after your salvation; O that I could do any thing to promote it! If my
prayers, or any thing within my power may be instrumental thereunto,
your excellency may command, honoured Sir,
Your Excellency’s obliged humble servant,
_G. W._