342. Letter Mcccv.
LETTER MCCCV.
T o Mr. S―― S――.
Concord, 20 miles from Boston, March 10, 1764.
My very dear Friend, SINCE my last I suppose you have heard one way or another of my being in this dying world, and in some measure improved for propagating the glorious gospel. New York was New-York indeed. We saw blessed days of the Son of Man there. Since that, in my way to these parts, a divine influence attended the word preached in various places. And how would you have been delighted to have seen Mr. Wheelock's Indians? Such a promising nursery of future missionaries, I believe was never seen in NewEngland before: pray encourage it with all your might. I also wish you could give some useful puritanical books to Harvard-college library, lately burnt down. Few perhaps will give such; and yet a collection of that kind is absolutely necessary for future students and poor neighbouring ministers, to whom I find the books belonging to the library are freely lent out from time
to time. You will not be angry with me for these hints. I know your ambitious greedy soul: you want to grow richer and richer towards God. O that there may be in me such a mind! But my wings are clipped. I can only preach twice or thrice a week with comfort. And yet a wider door than ever is opened all along the continent. A beginning is made in Boston. But as the small-pox is spreading there, I purpose preaching for a while in adjacent places. With what success, you may know hereafter. I send you and yours these few lines as a token of gratitude, respect, and love unfeigned; but must still beg you to add to my obligations, by continuing to pray for, my very dear friends, Yours, &c. &c. in our glorious Head, G. W.