_To Mr. B――――, at the Orphan-house._
_Cambuslang, August 17, 1742._
AND has my dear brother _B――――_ got the start of me? What, put into
prison before me? I wish you joy, my dear brother, with all my heart.
Had I been at _Savannah_, surely I would gladly have come (and if
there had been need) gladly have washed your feet. I doubt not but
your imprisonment was for CHRIST’s sake. I am persuaded, the letter
from your friend that doubted, was the sorest stab of all; but all
is intended to draw us from the creature, even from the new creature,
and bring us nearer to the Creator, GOD blessed for evermore. _Paul_’s
friends deserted, and no doubt judged him. “All they in _Asia_ forsook
me,” says he; and again, “At my first trial no man stood by me;”
and what follows? but “the LORD stood by me:” and will he not, dear
brother, also stand by you? I cannot help believing but that _Georgia_
will yet be a glorious colony. The counsel of GOD shall stand. He
surely put it into my heart to build the Orphan-house. He certainly
brought you to _Georgia_ to superintend it. He will bless you and
yours. I join in blessing GOD with you, and in admiring how he has
spread a table for my dear family in that wilderness. But what shall
we say? The LORD loves to encourage faith; and since his honour is so
much concerned, I am sure he will vindicate it, and never suffer his
enemies to say thus of us, “There, there, so would we have it.” I am
kept from the least doubting; and GOD only knows how many prayers of
faith I have put up for you. I have often wished as it were for the
wings of a dove, that I might fly unto you, and take you one by one
into my unworthy arms, and weep over you with tears of love. Blessed
be GOD, the time draws near apace. I am just now about to publish a
further account of the Orphan-house, and hope shortly to collect some
more money towards its support. I am blessed with far greater success
than ever, and satan roars louder. You will see by what I here send,
how the archers of different classes shoot at me; but the LORD (for
ever adored be his never-failing love) causes my bow to abide in
strength, and enables me to triumph in every place. The comforts
and success the LORD gives to me, is unspeakable. Last LORD’s day, I
believe there were here thirty thousand people, and above two thousand
five hundred communicants. The work spreads, and I believe will yet
spread. My bodily strength is daily renewed, and I mount on the wings
of faith and love like an eagle. I can only cry Grace! grace! My dear
brother, I feel every day more and more, that I am a poor, very poor
sinner. I often wonder why JESUS suffers me to live, much more to
speak for him. But he will have mercy on whom he will have mercy. O
free grace! Oh unparalleled love of an infinitely condescending GOD!
Whilst I am musing, the fire kindles. Surely we shall have a happy
meeting in _Georgia_. My Master will, I trust, come along with me.
Otherwise, may I not go up hence. In the mean while, I pray him to
quicken and revive your dear souls, and fill you as with new wine.
Thus he deals with me and mine daily. I am retired for a day, on
purpose to write letters. The LORD bless them to your dear souls, whom
I love in the bowels of JESUS CHRIST. I wish you had told me who stood
by at _Savannah_ and brought you refreshment. Greet them, and give
them particular thanks in my name. My heart is full; I know not how to
stop. But I must write to the trustees, and to others. I heard nothing
of the affair, till I received your letter last week. A word or two
of yours to Mr. _O――――_, I think a little too harsh; but _Paul_ spoke
once a little too harsh to the high-priest. Our JESUS will overlook
this; and reward you for your imprisonment by and by. Adieu! my dear
man, adieu! Forget not,
Ever yours,
_G. W._