_To Mr. B――――._
_London, January 19, 1754._
_My dear Mr. B――――_,
ALL is well, and why? Because all things are of our LORD’s ordering. May he perfect his strength in your weakness, and the more the outward man decayeth, may you be strengthened so much the more by his holy spirit in the inner man!――Welcome flux, welcome fever, welcome the plague itself, if sanctified to bring us nearer to our GOD. Yet a little while, and he that cometh, will come, and will not tarry. I wish you much prosperity under the cross.――You must return the favour; I stand in need of much prayer. Perhaps ere long I may be called to occupy my business in the great waters. If not, GOD willing, you shall see me. In the mean while, pray give my love to all, especially to those mentioned in your last. GOD help them to hold on and hold out! In heaven they will sing the louder for being called by such an ill and hell-deserving creature as I am. Blessed be GOD, awakening work goes on here: every sermon preached this Winter hath been fetched out of the furnace.――But what are we to expect as christians and ministers, but afflictions? I thank you for your kind offer, and orders to command. Such I seldom comply with. Though poor, yet desiring at least to make many rich, I would have for my motto still. Some way or another, my GOD will supply all my wants. I am sorry that the volume of the _Christian Library_ was forgotten. I shall write to my dear Mr. _S――――_ to send you his, and yours may be sent to him. Whatever becomes of written christian libraries, I earnestly pray that your heart, my dear Sir, may be the library of JESUS CHRIST, and beg leave to subscribe myself,
Yours most affectionately in our common LORD,