December 13, 1770

My dear Friend: — I have been offering up my thanks and praise to the loving Head of the Church, for bringing this matter to a happy issue. Glory be to him, his delays were not denials. He only wanted us to take it from his hands, as his gift, and therefore he laid difficulties in the way. When faith was tried, he removed them. Everything is at last ended favorably. The presentation is sealed, and is safe in my study. Although I have been more than a little hurt by dancing attendance here and there, yet now I seem ready to do a thousand times more to oblige such dear friends. You have it in your power to reward me a thousand fold. Lay out your thanks in prayers for me and mine; and especially for my little book, which is swelled now into two volumes. It is a child of many prayers; I scarce ever sit down to write, without asking a blessing upon every line. Beg it may come out with the unction of the Spirit, and carry, wherever it goes, a sweet savor of the precious name of my Lord and my God.

I would rejoice with Mr. M, and inform him that he must not fail to write a

short letter of thanks to my Lord C r

B, expressing his great obligations to

him for keeping the living of K vacant,

till the Rev. Mr. S was provided for;

acknowledging how much he is beholden to him, and desiring to express it on all occasions. I mentioned, in my letter of yesterday, the necessity of writing to my Lord

My kind love to my dear brother, the vicar

of K. I wish he may lie low in the

dust, as unworthy, utterly unworthy, of this great trust committed to him. But there is grace sufficient in Jesus; I wish he may live on that, and do all in his parish in a settled dependence on the assistance of the great Head of the Church.

My prayer is for the family of the B s,

that this may be a favorable providence for them all; may the Miss M s enjoy present and eternal salvation by means of it.

But why do I leave out Mr. I? Why,

indeed? May his heart leap for joy at the

good news out of Mr. B ’s mouth, and

children yet unborn bless God for this happy event!

My dear Miss W r will be among the

foremost. O let him have his glory! pray, let there be a public thanksgiving. If I was

at K, I would preach on the occasion,

and recommend praise to a prayer-answering God. I wish you a warm Christmas, and warm hearts; I am sure they ought to be so; and may you and yours rejoice in the glad tidings of the birth of our dearest Immanuel! Continue your prayers for your servant in Jesus.

The Lord keep Mr., and be his Jesus in the evening of his life, and his strength in age, and his comfort in weakness. So prays W. R.