_To the Reverend Mr. G――――._
_Rhode-Island, November 25, 1754._
_Reverend and very dear Sir_,
IS it true that your father-in-law and your dear yoke-fellow are dead? I sympathize with you from my inmost soul. At the same time as I rejoice on their account, who are happily arrived,
Where pain and sin and sorrow cease, And all is calm and joy and peace.
Surely your turn and mine will come ere long. In the mean while, may I be doing something for my GOD! This shews you where I am at present, going towards _Georgia_ from _Boston_, where my reception hath been far superior to that fourteen years ago. In that and other places in _New-England_, I have been enabled to preach near a hundred times since the beginning of _October_, and thanks be to GOD, we scarce had so much as one dry meeting. Not a hundredth part can be told you. In _Philadelphia_, _New-Jersies_, and at _New-York_ also, the great Redeemer caused his word to run and be glorified. I am now returning through those and the other Southward provinces again, in my way to _Georgia_, where I expect to see our new Governor. Blessed be GOD, _Bethesda_ is in growing circumstances, and, I trust, will more and more answer the end of its institution. I was exceedingly delighted at _New-Jersey_ commencement. Surely that college is of GOD. The worthy president (Mr. _Burr_) intends to correspond with you. O that I could do it oftener: but it is impracticable. Travelling, and preaching always twice, and frequently thrice, engrosseth almost all my time. However, neither you nor any of my dear _Glasgow_ friends, are forgotten by me. No, no: they are engraven upon the very tables of my heart. O that the LORD of all lords, whose mercy endureth for ever, may give you hearts to remember poor sinful, ill, and hell-deserving me! Fain would I continue a pilgrim for life.
Christ’s presence doth my pains beguile, And make each wilderness to smile.
I have a fourteen hundred miles ride before me; but _nil desperandum, Christo duce, auspice Christo_. When I have seen Governor _D――――_, I hope to write to dear Mr. _M――――_. How is my dear _Gaius_, _S――――_, &c.? But I must not begin to mention names. Affection rises, and I shall be too eager to see them. LORD JESUS, hasten that blessed time, when we shall together see and enjoy thee for ever in glory! To this comforting and never-failing JESUS, do I most heartily commit you, as being, reverend and very dear Sir,
Yours most affectionately in our glorious Head,