_To the Honourable J―――― B――――, Esq._
_On board the Mary and Ann, July 26, 1741._
_Hon. Sir_,
WITH much pleasure I received yours by the hands of your son, who
offered to do me any service that lay in his power. This, as well
as your other past favours, quite surprize, and ought to humble me;
for who am I, that I should be thus highly honoured? O sovereign
grace! O distinguishing love! If I did not stand up in defence of
that, the very stones would cry out against me. Indeed, honoured Sir,
your kindness makes me almost to blush, and the love of JESUS quite
confounds me. I am lost, I want to sink into nothing whenever I think
of CHRIST’s dying for me. I really think, I am the most ungrateful
sinner that ever was, and yet the Redeemer follows me with his mercies
every day. Unspeakable are the trials wherewith I have been visited
since my arrival. But out of all the LORD delivers me. I experience
daily much of his divine presence; a wider door than ever is opened
for preaching the everlasting gospel, and GOD seems to be beginning
his work again in _Old-England_: it adds to my joy, to hear what
the LORD is doing amongst you. Blessed, for ever blessed be GOD, for
causing such a stirring among the dry bones. I pray the glorious
Redeemer, to carry on the good work begun, and to make _New-England_
the joy of the whole earth. I suppose you have heard, honoured Sir,
of the remarkable effusion of the spirit among the children of the
orphan-house. Surely, JESUS CHRIST is about to bring mighty things
to pass. Whilst the kings of the earth are enlarging their dominions,
I trust our LORD will usher in his.――I shall not be surprized, if
after this great commotion in _New-England_, I hear that some outward
troubles befal them. The removal of you, honoured Sir, from being
governor, I take to be no good sign. I hope this has no other effect
upon your own heart, than to make you more and more hunger and thirst
after that righteousness, which neither men nor devils shall ever be
able to take from you. GOD only knows, how often I have prayed, that
this affliction may be sanctified unto you. I think, honoured Sir, I
cannot forget you and your people. Both are dear, very dear to my soul.
I sometimes long to see _Boston_ again, that I may rejoice in what
great things the LORD has done; but various circumstances concur to
detain me on this side the ocean, all the next Winter. I am now in
my passage to _Scotland_. What the LORD is pleased to do there, your
honour may hear in my next. I rejoice, that I am a little retired
from the world, and have the opportunity, honoured Sir, of writing
to you. How sweet is retirement when CHRIST is present in the heart?
Having him, I find I possess all things. Happy they that can wrap
themselves in GOD. May you and yours be thus happy! This will enable
you, honoured Sir, to rejoice in tribulation, and give thanks for
every thing that does befal you. Tho’ the ship is moving, and I am
somewhat sick, I know not how to leave off. Indeed, I love and honour
you in the bowels of JESUS CHRIST. That you and yours may be rooted and
grounded in his love, and filled with all the fulness of GOD, is the
hearty prayer of, honoured Sir,
Your most affectionate, obliged humble servant,
_G. W._