_To Mrs. L――――, in Bristol._
_Cambuslang, Aug. 26, 1742._ _Honoured Mother_,
I Rejoice to hear that you have been so long under my roof. Blessed be GOD, that I have a house for my honoured mother to come to. You are heartily welcome to any thing my house affords, as long as you please. I am of the same mind now, as formerly. If need was, indeed these hands should administer to your necessities. I had rather want myself than you should. I shall be highly pleased when I come to _Bristol_, and find you sitting in your youngest son’s house. O that I may sit with you, in the house not made with hands eternal in the heavens! Ere long, your doom, honoured mother, will be fixed. You must shortly go hence, and be no more seen. Your only daughter, I trust, is now in the paradise of GOD. Methinks I hear her say, “Mother, come up hither.” JESUS, I am sure, calls you in his word. May his spirit enable you to say, “LORD, lo I come!” My honoured mother, I am happier and happier every day. JESUS makes me exceeding happy in himself. I hope by Winter to be at _Bristol_. If any enquire after me, please to tell them, I am well both in body and soul, and desire them to help me to praise free and sovereign grace. O that my dear, my very honoured mother may be made an everlasting monument of it! How does my heart burn with love and duty to you? gladly would I wash your aged feet, and lean upon your neck, and weep and pray ’till I could pray no more. With this I send you a thousand dutiful salutations, and ten thousand hearty and most humble thanks for all the pains you underwent in conceiving, bringing forth, nursing, and bringing up, honoured mother,
Your most unworthy, though most dutiful son, ’till death,