Chapter CDLI: Letter DCCCCXLVII: To Governor B――――

_London, Dec. 20, 1752._

_Honoured Sir_,

WITH great pleasure and satisfaction, I received and read your kind letter, and took the first opportunity of transmitting the inclosed to good Lady _H――――n_, who is now near _Bristol_. If the ship which brings this, doth not sail soon, I believe your Excellency will have an answer by the same conveyance. She is an elect lady indeed; one who hath fairly renounced the world, and scorns to divide her affections between it and her GOD. Her Ladyship corresponds with the Dutchess of ――――, but I fear that the latter doth not glory in the cross of CHRIST, so much as might be wish’d. You know, honoured Sir, that we must have true self-denial, and a disinterested spirit, before we can be sincerely willing to be accounted fools for CHRIST’s sake. And yet there is no going to heaven without it. Blessed be GOD, your fight, honoured Sir, is almost over; the days are now coming wherein you must necessarily say, “I have no pleasure in them.” The 71st psalm, translated by Dr. _Watts_, seems to be sweetly adapted to your circumstances. Part of it was lately sung for your Excellency, by many true followers of the Lamb.

I.

_Still hath his life new wonders seen,_
_Repeated every year;_
_Behold his days which yet remain,_
_We trust them to thy care._

II.

_Cast him not off, should health decline,_
_Or hoary hairs arise;_
_And round him let thy glories shine,_
_Whene’er thy servant dies._

I doubt not but the LORD JESUS will say, _Amen_. Whether I shall have the pleasure of seeing you on this side eternity, is uncertain. It was no small self-denial for me to leave _America_ without going to the _Northward_; but the cloud moved towards _England_. Here (O amazing condescension!) the glorious _Emmanuel_ vouchsafes still to own and bless my feeble labours. In _Scotland_, _Wales_, and the parts in and near _Yorkshire_, we have seen blessed days of the Son of Man. I am now in my Winter quarters, longing for Spring, to take the field again. Had I a thousand tongues and lives, JESUS should have them all. I am sorry, quite sorry that not one of his ministers could venture over the _Atlantick_ for _New-Jersey_ College. Two general collections have lately been made upon other occasions in _Scotland_. What a pity, when all circumstances concurred, that such a favourable opportunity should have been lost? I can only lament that, which I did all I could to prevent. And now, honoured Sir, I must bid you farewel. Ere long I hope to see you in a better world: perhaps we may meet again in this. Dear _America_ is much upon my heart. Thanks be to GOD, _Bethesda_ is now put on a good and flourishing foundation, and I hear hath escaped the late hurricane in _South-Carolina_. Great are thy judgments, O GOD;――and great are thy mercies also! both past finding out. To the infinitely great and gracious I AM, do I most earnestly commend both you and yours, and with ten thousands thanks for all your unmerited favours, I beg leave to subscribe myself, honoured Sir,

Your Excellency’s most obliged, dutiful, and ready
servant for CHRIST’s sake,
_G. W._