_To Mr. V――――._
_Philadelphia, August 15, 1754._
_My very dear Mr. V――――_,
ONCE more, after having my cables out ready (as I thought) to cast anchor within the port, I am constrained to put out to sea again. My late sickness, though violent, hath not been unto death. O that it may be to the glory of GOD! With some difficulty I can preach once a-day. Congregations rather increase than decrease; and many, O strange! are desirous of my making a longer stay. But the time is fixed for next _Tuesday_, and all the following days till _Sunday_, are to be employed between this and _New-Brunswick_. There I am informed some execution was done. Whilst I live, LORD JESUS, grant I may not live in vain. I could enlarge, but really am so faint, that I have been obliged to stop, and can now with difficulty subscribe myself, my very dear friend,
Yours most affectionately in our common LORD,