_To the Reverend Mr. T――――._
_Cannonbury-House, April 27, 1761._
_My very dear Friend_,
ACCEPT a few lines of love unfeigned from a worthless worm, just returning from the borders of an eternal world. O into what a world was I launching! But the prayers of GOD’s people have brought me back. LORD JESUS, let it be for thy glory and the welfare of precious and immortal souls! Thou hast been digging and dunging round me. O that the barren fig-tree may at length begin to bring forth some fruit! O, my dear man, how ought ministers to work before the night of sickness and death comes, when no man can work! LORD JESUS, quicken my tardy pace, according to the multitude of thy tender mercies! You will not cease to pray for me, who am indeed less than the least of all. Weakness forbids my enlarging. Hearty love to all who are so kind as to enquire after an ill and hell-deserving, but redeemed creature. Not only pray, but also give thanks to a never-failing _Emmanuel_, who hath been ease in pain, health in sickness, life in death, to, my very dear friend,
Yours, &c. &c. for his great name’s sake,