_To Mr. ――――._
_Boston, Feb. 6, 1745._
_My dear Friend_,
I Remember you once told me, that you heard one of the good old _Puritans_, who went over to _New-England_, wrote back again, that he went from _Old-England_ to avoid the Lord Bishops, and came to _New-England_ to get under the Lord Brethren. Well is it at present that they are the Lord Brethren; for finding some of their pastors without cause shy of me, they have passed votes of invitation for me to preach in the pulpits, and some time ago prevailed upon me, as they heard I had done in _Scotland_, to set up a lecture at six o’clock in the morning. Not expecting a very great auditory, I opened a lecture in one of the smallest meetings, upon these words, “And they came early in the morning to hear him;” but how was I disappointed? Such great numbers flocked to hear, that I was obliged for the future to make use of two of their very largest places of worship, where I believe seldom less than two or three thousand attentive hearers hung as it were upon me, to hear the word preached. I began with the first of _Genesis_, and have now lectured in order, till I am almost come to the story of _Abraham_ sending his servant to fetch a wife for his son _Isaac_. Many I trust have been made willing to say, “I will go with the GOD-man, even _Isaac_’s GOD.” It is impossible to describe the eagerness and punctuality of these early visitants. To see so many hundreds of both sexes neatly dressed, walking or riding so early along the streets to get food for their souls, has feasted my own heart. The _Pharaohs_ who used to say, “Ye are idle, ye are idle,” now are struck dumb: for lecture, and family prayer, and breakfast, are now over in many houses before the sun is suffered to come into others windows; and it is now become almost a common proverb, “That between _Tar-water_, and _early rising_, the physicians will have no business.” One morning the croud was so great, that I was obliged to go in at the window. The high sheriff, who was once most forward in persecuting good Mr. _D――――t_, being a little convinced under the word, accompanied me, and when he put his head into the window after me, the people were ready to cry out, “Is _Saul_ also among the prophets?” Hoping hereafter to send you and other friends a further account of many such real instances of all-conquering grace, I subscribe myself
Yours, &c. _G. W._