LETTER DCIII.
To .
New-York, June 29, 1747.
My very dear, dear Brother,
IT is with much pleasure I now sit down to answer your kind and welcome letters, dated April 11th and 13th. And to keep you no longer in suspence, I would inform you, that they have had such an effect upon me, that, God willing, I am determined to embark for England or Scotland early next Spring.—'Till Christmas I am already under indissoluble engagements, and am making a strong effort, in dependance on the great Head of the church, to get free from my outward embarrassments.—I thank my dear English friends for what they have done for me in this respect, and must beg you, my dear and faithful brother, still to do what you can further. The Lord Jesus seems to assure me that the time of my deliverance is at hand.—I hope before this year is out, to stock my new plantation in South-Carolina as a visible fund for the Orphan-house, and upon news of something more being done in England, (so that my poor heart may no more be oppressed as it has been for many years by outward difficulties,) my answer shall be, Lo! I come once more to see my dear, very dear friends on the other side of the mighty waters. 'Till then, I shall as it were count the hours, and long for them to glide away a-pace. My dear yoke-fellow now at Philadelphia is like-minded, being exceedingly desirous to see her dear friends once more. May Jesus grant it, if it be agreeable to his holy will! Indeed, I have lately thought I should never see you any more. For some weeks past, I have been exceedingly indisposed. God has been pleased to bring my body to the very brink of the grave by convulsions, gravel, a nervous cholic, and a violent fever. But as pain and afflictions abounded, consolations much more abounded, and my soul longed to take its flight to Jesus. For this week past I have not preached; but since my leaving Philadelphia, about three days ago, I seemed to have gathered strength, and hope once more, to-morrow, to proclaim amongst poor sinners the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ. From hence
