_To the Reverend Dr. C――――, in Boston._
_Edinburgh, Sept. 24, 1742._
_Reverend and dear Sir_,
TO my great and abundant satisfaction, I received your long wished for
letter of _June 3_. It was late at night ere it came to hand; but I
could not go to rest without reading it. I read, and rejoiced, and
prayed for the writer with my whole heart. O reverend and dear Sir,
GOD only knows how closely I am knit to the dear ministers and people
of _New-England_. They are ever upon my heart, and it rejoiced me to
find I was not forgotten (unworthy as I am) by them. Dear Sir, I am
glad to hear that the work still goes on; be not surprized, if you
are forsaken. _Paul_ was served so, and when I came to _England_ most
of my old friends and spiritual children were exceedingly prejudiced
against me. Our great high-priest sees these trials to be necessary
for us, to try our faith, and teach us to cease from man. I hope they
have produced this blessed effect in some measure upon my soul. There
seems to be such a scene in _Philadelphia_, as we have had in old
_England_. I have wrote to Mr. _T――――_. He in a late letter thinks me
too charitable; but my conscience doth not reproach me for that. My
principles are still the same. I embrace the calvinistical scheme,
not because _Calvin_, but JESUS CHRIST, I think, has taught it to me.
I go on preaching the cross and power of the Redeemer, and desire to
say as little as possible about others, lest thereby I should divert
people’s minds from the simplicity of the gospel. I have often found
that opposing, instead of hurting, makes erroneous people become more
considerable. This made me wish, that the _Boston_ ministers would not
take up so much time in speaking against the Exhorters. It will only
set the people the more upon following after them; but I cannot well
judge at such a distance, and indeed I find I am such a poor creature,
that I scarce know any thing yet, as I ought to know. At the same time,
I will not deny what I have received; no, this would be dishonouring
my dear Saviour. He makes me daily more and more happy in himself, and
I continually rejoice in his great salvation. At present he supports
me in an uncommon manner, and the news of the _Spaniards_ attacking
_Georgia_ affects me no otherwise, than to increase my faith and
confidence in him, whom I am sure careth for me and mine. O dear
Sir, what a glorious thing is divine faith! May you have much of
it, and feel the power of it more and more every day! With repeated
salutations and returns of love, I once more subscribe myself,
reverend and dear Sir,
Your most affectionate friend, younger brother, and servant
in the glorious gospel of the ever blessed JESUS,
_G. W._