Chapter CCLI: Letter CCLI: To the Reverend Mr. C――――, in Charles-Town

_On board the Minerva, Feb. 17, 1741._
_My dear Brother_,

THE LORD hath been with me, and is now with me in an especial manner. I have been enabled to prepare nine discourses for the press. My body waxes stronger, and last night the great GOD in a glorious manner filled and overshadowed my soul. I am panting after the compleat holiness of JESUS my LORD. I have various scenes of action lying before me, and am waiting upon the LORD my GOD for direction. He assures me that he will be with me. He saith unto me, “Fear not, speak out, no one shall set upon thee to hurt thee.” Dear Mr. _C――――_, GOD’s goodness quite surprizes me. I cannot express myself better, than in a stanza or two of _Erskine_ in his Paraphrase upon _Solomon_’s song.

I.

_What wonders LORD dost thou perform,
That stoopest thus so low,
To put thy beauty on a worm,
And then commend it so._

II.

_What, dost thou praise a native black?
I blush to find it true;
O lend me words to render back
The praise to whom ’tis due._

I hope my love will find acceptance with all your flock who know me, and who love the LORD JESUS in sincerity. I have often comforted myself and companions with this saying, “Now Mr. _C――――_ and our other friends are praying for us.” At the receipt of this, turn your prayers into praises, and then turn your praises again into prayers, in behalf of, dear Mr. _C――――_,

Your affectionate brother and fellow-labourer in CHRIST JESUS,

_G. W._

LETTER ♦CCLII.

_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’