LETTERS. (continued 10)

Less than the least of all,

G. W.

LETTER MCCCCLX.

To the Same.

Philadelphia, May 24, 1770.

My very dear Friend,

I WROTE to you by the last New-York packet, as well as by Mr. D――n, who was to sail from Savannah the 10th instant. I have now been here near three weeks, and in about a week more I purpose to set off for New-York in my way to Boston. A wide and effectual door, I trust, hath been opened in this city. People of all ranks flock as much as ever. Impressions are made on many, and I trust they will abide. To all the episcopal churches, as well as most of the other places of worship, I have free access. My bodily health is preserved, and notwithstanding I preach twice on the Lord’s-day, and three or four times a week besides, yet I am rather better than I have been for many years. This is the Lord’s doing. To this long-suffering, never-failing Lord, be all the glory! Be pleased to excuse my enlarging. Whilst I am itinerating, little leisure will be allowed for writing. The New-York packet will be the best opportunity for you. The particulars herein mentioned, be so good as to send by the first opportunity. I can no more at this time. God willing, you will soon have another line from, my very dear steady friend,

Less than the least of all,

G. W.

LETTER MCCCCLXI.

To the Same.

Philadelphia, June 14, 1770.

My very dear steady Friend,

THIS leaves me just returned from a hundred and fifty miles circuit, in which, blessed be God! I have been enabled to preach every day. So many new as well as old doors are open, and so many invitations sent from various quarters, that I know not which way to turn myself. However, at present I am bound to New-York, and so on further northward. Help me to praise Him whose mercy endureth for ever. As yet I am enabled to ride and travel chearfully; the heat not greater than yours in England. Expect to hear further, as we go along. The ship I find is going. Tender love to all. Cease not to stir up all to persevere in praying for, my very dear friend,

Less than the least of all,

G. W.

LETTER MCCCCLXII.

To the Same.

New-York, June 30, 1770.

My very dear Friend,

I HAVE been here just a week. Have been enabled to preach four times, and am to repeat the delightful task this evening. Congregations are rather larger than ever. You will see by the inclosed packet, what numerous invitations from every quarter I am daily receiving. Blessed be God, I have been strengthened to itinerate and preach daily for some time. Next week I purpose to go to Albany. From thence, perhaps, to the Onoida Indians. There is to be a very large Indian congress; Mr. Kirkland accompanies me. He is a truly christian minister, and missionary. Every thing possible should be done to strengthen his hands and his heart. I shall write, God willing, at my return. The letters dated February 22, with the packet of papers, I have received here from Charles-Town. The New-York packet is the surest conveyance. Perhaps I may not see Georgia till Christmas. As yet, I keep to my intended plan, in respect to my returning. Lord Jesus, direct my goings in thy way! The heat begins now to be a little intense; but through mercy I am enabled to bear up bravely. What a God do we serve! By this time I hope Mr. D――n and his wife are arrived. Hearty love to them, and to all who find it in their hearts to pray for, and enquire after, my very dear Sir,

Less than the least of all,

G. W.

LETTER MCCCCLXIII.

To Mr. R―― K――n.

New-York, July 29, 1770.

My very dear Friend,

SINCE my last, and during this month, I have been above a five hundred miles circuit, and have been enabled to preach and travel through the heat every day. The congregations have been very large, attentive, and affected, particularly at Albany, Schenecdady, Great Barrington, Norfolk, Salisbury, Sharon, Smithfield, Powkeepsy, Fishkill, New Rumburt, New Windsor, and Peckshill. Last night I returned hither, and hope to set out for Boston in two or three days. O what a new scene of usefulness is opening in various parts of this new world! All fresh work, where I have been. The divine influence hath been as at the first. Invitations croud upon me both from ministers and people, from many, many quarters. A very peculiar providence led me lately to a place, where a horse-stealer was executed. Thousands attended. The poor criminal had sent me several letters, hearing I was in the country. The Sheriff allowed him to come and hear a sermon under an adjacent tree. Solemn, solemn! After being by himself about an hour, I walked half a mile with him to the gallows. His heart had been softened before my first visit. He seemed full of solid divine consolations. An instructive walk. I went up with him into the cart. He gave a short exhortation. I then stood upon the coffin, added, I trust, a word in season, prayed, gave the blessing, and took my leave. Effectual good, I hope, was done to the hearers and spectators. Grace! grace! But I must not enlarge. The Ship is going, and I keep at home to write this. O that you had only dropped a line by the New-York packet! That is convenient for all parts of the continent. My next may be from Boston. Pray excuse me to all; for travelling and preaching entirely prevent my writing as I would. All are continually remembered by, my very dear friend,

Less than the least of all,

G. W.

LETTER MCCCCLXIV.

To Mr. W――t.

Boston, September 17, 1770.

Dear Mr. W――t,

I AM afraid, as Mr. E――n mentioned your writing, that your letter hath miscarried. But, blessed be God! I find all was well; only I want to know what things are wanted, that I might order them from Philadelphia, by Captain Souder. Fain would I contrive to come by him, but people are so importunate for my stay in these parts, that I fear it will be impracticable. Lord Jesus, direct my goings in thy way! He will, he will! My God will supply all my wants, according to the riches of his grace in Christ Jesus. By a letter, received last night from Mr. W――y, of July 5, I find that Mr. D――n was arrived, Anderson sailed, and that all orders would be immediately complied with. Two or three evenings ago, I was taken in the night with a violent lax, attended with reaching and shivering, so that I was obliged to return from Newbury, &c. &c.; but, through infinite mercy, I am restored, and to-morrow morning hope to begin to begin again. Never was the word received with greater eagerness than now. All opposition seems as it were for a while to cease. I find God’s time is the best. The season is critical as to outward circumstances. But when forts are given up, the Lord Jesus can appoint salvation for walls and for bulwarks; he hath promised to be a wall of fire round about his people. This comforts me concerning Bethesda, though we should have a Spanish war. You will be pleased to hear I never was carried through the summer’s heat so well; I hope it hath been so with you, and all my family. Hoping, ere long, to see you, I must hasten to subscribe myself, my dear Mr. W――t,

Yours, &c. &c. &c.

G. W.

LETTER MCCCCLXV.

To Mr. R―― K――n.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire, September 23, 1770.

My very dear Friend,

YOUR letters, of May 2 and 22, came to hand. New-York packet is always the surest and most centrical medium of conveyance. Before I left Boston, on Friday afternoon, I left a large packet in the hands of a young man, who promised to deliver it to you safely. You and Mr. H――y may peruse all, and communicate what you think proper. By this time I thought to be moving southward. But never was greater importunity used to detain me longer in these northern parts. Poor New-England is much to be pitied; Boston people most of all. How falsely misrepresented! What a mercy, that our christian charter cannot be dissolved! Blessed be God for an unchangeable Jesus! You will see, by the many invitations, what a door is opened for preaching his everlasting gospel. I was so ill on Friday, that I could not preach, though thousands were waiting to hear. Well, the day of release will shortly come,¹ but it does not seem yet; for, by riding sixty miles, I am better, and hope to preach here to-morrow. I trust, my blessed Master will accept of these poor efforts to serve him. O for a warm heart; O to stand fast in the faith, to quit ourselves like men, and be strong! May this be the happy experience of you and yours! I suppose letters are gone for me, in Anderson, to Georgia. If spared so long, I expect to see it about Christmas. Still pray and praise. I am so poorly, and so engaged when able to preach, that this must apologize for not writing to more friends. It is quite impracticable. Hoping to see all dear friends about the time proposed, and earnestly desiring a continued interest in all your prayers, I must hasten to subscribe myself, my dear, very dear Sir,

Less than the least of all,

G. W.

¹ Mr. Whitefield died the 30th.

End of the Letters.

The following Letters, addressed by Mr. Whitefield to the inhabitants of Savannah, as they display his affections to the people, among whom he went to minister, so will be no unsuitable introduction to the Account of the Orphan-house. It may not be improper to observe, that Mr. Whitefield’s first arrival at Savannah, was May 7, 1738; he laboured assiduously in that place,¹ and the neighbouring settlements, till August 28 following, and then went to South Carolina, and embarked on board the Mary, Captain Cae, for England, that he might receive priest’s orders, for his further service to that people, and raise contributions for erecting an Orphan-house in the new colony at Georgia, which he saw was greatly wanted.

¹ See his letter from Savannah, dated June 10, 1738. Vol. I. p. 44.

To the Inhabitants of Savannah.

From on board the Mary, October 2, 1738.

My good Friends,

AS God has been pleased to place you more especially under my care; so whether absent or present, I think it my duty to contribute my utmost endeavours towards promoting the salvation of your precious and immortal souls. For this end, and this only, God is my judge, came I amongst you; for this end am I now parted from you for a season; and for this end do I send you this general epistle. I love, I pray for, therefore do I write to you all without exception. But what shall I write to you about? Why, of our common salvation, of that one thing needful, of that new birth in Christ Jesus, that ineffable change which must pass upon our hearts, before we can see God, and of which you have heard me discourse so often. Let this, this, my dear friends, be the end of all your actions. Have this continually in view, and you will never do amiss. The author of this blessed change, is the Holy Ghost, the third person in the ever-blessed Trinity. The Father made, the Son redeemed, and the Holy Spirit is to sanctify, and so apply Christ’s redemption to our hearts. The means to attain this Holy Spirit, you know, and the way you know; Self-denial, and the way of the Cross. “If any man will come after me (says Jesus Christ) let him deny himself, and, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” And, I cannot but think it a particular blessing, which you enjoy above others; because you are in a new colony, where daily crosses must necessarily fall in your way. O then, I beseech you by the mercies of God in Christ Jesus, make a virtue of necessity, and take up your daily crosses with resignation and thanksgiving. Another means to attain the Holy Spirit, is public worship: for Christ has promised, “where two or three are gathered together in his name, there will he, by his Spirit, be in the midst of them.” For your zeal in this particular, I have often blessed God within myself, and made mention of it to others. O continue like-minded, and as in my presence, so in my absence, do not forsake the assembling yourselves together in the house of God; for there you will have the scriptures read, though not expounded; and the Holy Spirit, if you apply to him, will open your understandings, and guide you into all truth. Many other means there are of attaining the Holy Ghost, such as, reading the scriptures,—secret prayer,—self-examination, and receiving the blessed Sacrament;—all which I would insist on, could they be comprised in a letter. But this must be deferred till I see you in person, and am qualified to administer unto you the sacred symbols of Christ’s blessed body and blood. In the mean while, think not that I shall forget you in my prayers; no, I remember my promise, and whilst the winds and storms are blowing over me, I make supplication to God in your behalf. Though absent in body, I am present in spirit, and joy in hopes of hearing of your zeal for the Lord. Remember, my dear friends, that for the space of near four months, I ceased not, day and night, warning every one of you to repent and turn to God, and bring forth fruits meet for repentance. Repent you therefore, and walk in all things as becometh the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and then, and then only, shall your sins be blotted out. Finally, my brethren, be all of one mind. Let there be no divisions among you; for a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. Be over careful for nothing, but in every thing, with supplications and thanksgiving make your wants known unto God. Speak not evil one of another, brethren, but live at peace among yourselves; and the God of peace shall in all things direct and rule your hearts. Brethren, pray for us, that God would prosper the works of his hands upon me, and restore me to you as soon as possible. In about eight months, God willing, I hope to see you; in the mean while, you shall not be forgotten by

Your affectionate, though unworthy minister in Christ Jesus,

G. W.

To the Inhabitants of Savannah.

London, January 19, 1739.

My dear Friends,

THOUGH a woman may as soon forget her sucking child, yet, I fear, you have before this time thought, that I have forgotten you. But God forbid! As I have told you often, so I tell you again; You are upon my heart, so that I am ready to live and die with you; and, God willing, as soon as my affairs are finished in England, I shall return to you again. The Trustees have now appointed me minister of Savannah, and granted all I desired of them, so that I have nothing to do, but to watch over your souls, that I may present you blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Be stedfast therefore, my brethren, be unmoveable. Carefully attend to the words spoken by your present Pastor, and strive to enter in at the strait gate. Let love be without dissimulation. Let not slander so much as be named amongst you, as becometh saints. Be not slothful in business; yet take heed that you are fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks; and assure yourselves, you are continually remembered by

Your most affectionate Pastor,

G. W.

P. S. My business in England detaining me longer than I expected, I have therefore written this to assure you, that I will return as soon as possible.¹

¹ Mr. Whitefield embarked for America, the ―― of August following.