_To Mr. H. B._
_On board the Minerva, Feb. 16, 1741._
_My dear brother in CHRIST_,
BEFORE this is brought to your hands, I suppose you will have been
arraigned before the Chief Justice. I am persuaded our LORD will plead
on your behalf, and strengthen you with his mighty power in the inner
man. The greater progress you make in the divine life, the more you
will discover of the enmity that is in the seed of the serpent. It
bruised our master’s heel; it will also bruise ours. Here is our
comfort, GOD who cannot lie, hath told us, that “we shall bruise his
head.” In the strength of this promise, I can give men and devils
the challenge. Whole legions are ready to beset me. By the help of my
GOD, I shall triumph over all.――I hope we shall grow in grace before
we meet again. You and I have weak crazy tabernacles; I hope you
rejoice in the prospect of putting them off shortly; blessed be GOD,
I do.――Dear Sir, get acquainted more and more with electing love;
study the covenant of redemption, and see how GOD loved you with
an everlasting love. This will cause you to glory only in the LORD,
and to pass through the valley of the shadow of death, with a full
assurance of faith; knowing that CHRIST hath engaged to lodge you safe
in eternal glory. Thither your dear wife is gone before us; I often
think of, I could almost say envy her; but perhaps that is wrong. Yet
a little while, and our precious LORD shall take both you, and
Your affectionate friend, brother, and servant in CHRIST,
_G. W._
♦ ‘CLII’ replaced with ‘CCLII’