_To Mr. J―――― H――――, in London._
_On board the Mary and Ann, May 29, 1742._ _Dear Sir_,
YOUR letter much affected me. I hope the contents have made the angels to rejoice, and that before this time you have found rest in the wounded Lamb. That GOD, who first spoke light out of darkness, I trust is beginning to shine into your heart, and to perfect a new creation in your soul. You are not the first, dear friend, by thousands, who have thought themselves rich and increased in goods, not considering they were poor and miserable and blind and naked. I suppose you can now join with me in the following verses:
I. _Long did my soul in Jesu’s form No comeliness nor beauty see; His sacred name by others priz’d, Was tasteless still and dead to me._
II. _Men call’d me Christian, and my heart On that delusion fondly stay’d; Moral my hopes, my Saviour self, ’Till mighty grace the cheat display’d._
III. _Thanks to the hand that wak’d my dream, That shew’d me wretched, naked, poor; That sweetly led me to the Rock, Where all salvation stands secure._
IV. _Glad, I forsook my righteous pride, My moral, tarnish’d, sinful dress, Exchanged my dross away for CHRIST, And found the robe of righteousness._
These lines, dear Sir, I think are very emphatical. I trust you can now repeat them from your heart. If so, hail happy man! JESUS hath washed you in his blood, and given you eternal life. You now then have nothing to do, but to live to him, who hath lived and died for you, and if necessary would die again for you with all his heart. Surely our Saviour loves you, otherwise he would not have shewed you all these things. I love you for his sake (though unknown); and if he hath been pleased to work by my unworthy ministry, let him have all the glory, and forget not to pray for the poor, weak instrument, who has not forgotten to pray for you, being, dear Sir,
Your most affectionate friend and servant, in CHRIST,