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was one of the two who called and sent me hither in 1760. I remember his last
farewell wish, may the Lord impress upon your heart the weight of immortal
souls, and Professor Gerdes’ advice to preach on the benefits of the covenant of
grace. Blessed be the Lord, this last has been blessed to my own soul and some
others and I desire more and more to feel the worth of precious souls. Oh, whilst
both my masters are gone, may I tread in their steps and follow their exemplary
piety and zeal for the propagation of the truth as it is in Jesus Christ. The Lord be
gracious to their families and preserve His other servants that still are alive, and
may I also be prepared for His will and furnished for His work. Strengthen us,
Father, and comfort and sanctify our souls through the renewed and multiplied
influences of Thy Holy Spirit, and oh, may the Lord Jesus be known more and
more as our life, hope, joy and glory. Amen.
27. Thanks be to the Lord the God of my life and loving kindness for that
gracious aid and assistance in the labors of both the days wherein we have
celebrated His praises for the sending of His Son in the world to save His people
from their sin. Though visited with toothache, especially at night, yet I have been
strengthened through the day and enabled to perform the duties thereof; may the
Father of mercies pity me and pardon my manifold imperfections and innumerable
sins of impatience and diffidence and oh who can express the various
transgressions I feel myself guilty of before the Lord, who tries the heart and reins
of men. I am sorry on account of my fretting and murmuring (when sick or
painful) at the work of the Almighty as if it were too much, and too heavy for
what an honor and privilege, though weak and tempered in the flesh, yet to
administer in Holy Things unto the Lord and His people, who tell me they are
edified and comforted. Nay, it seems that I have not labored in vain. There is
some hope concerning a good work begun in the hearts of some. Even the most
profane among us, and though perhaps there may be many adversaries, the people
in general attend to the means, and appear to be well pleased; and I cannot but
must humbly acknowledge, that the Lord at some seasons gives me to speak with
all plainness and simplicity, yes my own soul (if I do not deceive myself) longs
for the conversion and salvation of my hearers – I feel more concern for the
prosperity of Zion, and more freedom to pray for a revival of religion and for the
rulers and magistrates, that they also may become more zealous for Christ’s
Kingdom. From an experimental knowledge of the truth as it is in the Lord Jesus,
my heart, though frequently bowed down under a sense of depravity, guilt and
anxiety of mind, in several respects, yet now and then desires to rejoice in the
Lord, His being Triune, His perfections, the beauties of Holiness and happiness,
His works and ways, with His Church and in the world and with poor unworthy ill
deserving me. Blessed be the Lord for His kindnesses towards me in my native
country. How long suffering and faithful, bearing with me, a great sinner before
Him, providing for me powerful friends and patrons to finish my studies, and
through an amazing variety of events, preparing the way for my coming to
America, almost unknown to me if I had not been a particular acquaintance of
Professor Gerdes (and my soul remembers by what means I was first
recommended to him), probably my way would not have led me to this land; and
it is observable. I am the first ever sent from the University of Groningen to this
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