Page:The Works of the Reverend George Whitefield, M.A. (1771 Vol 1).djvu/208

 silent? why withdrawn? Did you go before you was called or qualified? If so, you have done right: but I suspend my judgment; for I find there is no judging at a distance. I only pray that you may always feel yourself a very poor sinner, and find refuge in the wounds and blood of the Lamb. I rejoice to hear the work of goes on, and heartily wish you may not be divided among yourselves. Our dear is with us here: I only want a few more gracious, solid assistants. The will send them in his due time to

Your affectionate brother and servant in ,

G. W.    LETTER CCV. To J B.

Good Hope, (South-Carolina) July 2, 1740.

My dear Brother B,

IS it true, that one night whilst you was expounding, you told your hearers, from your own experience, that "they could not go on without throwing aside the means of grace?" or words to that purpose? If so, I pity you; for you are not only misled yourself, but are also misguiding others. But this is no more than I expected. I think you begun to teach too soon, and before you had a commission given you from above. Brother J was of the same opinion, before I left England. For that reason, I would not take you to Georgia. Blessed be, I have no such over-forward spirits there. My dear B, I write in love. For 's sake try your spirit: I fear you was never yet truly humbled. I know you have had joy; but I always thought it was joy floating on the surface of an unmortified heart. From such a joy, good deliver us! O that you had been in the wilderness a little longer! then you might have been an experienced teacher; but I fear you are now only a novice. May the keep you from falling into the condemnation of the devil. I write not this to damp, but to regulate your spirit; if you are humble, you will take it kind. knows, I wish all the 's servants were prophets; but I would not have my Master's work suffer by a too heady way of proceeding. Why should you dishonour him by acting above your sphere;