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parochial duties in English; and your established character, and old friendships, open a door for extensive
service and usefulness among us, above any other
whatever, * * * * You know the unfeigned
affection I have long had for you, and, therefore, you
may with propriety consider me as an interested
advocate in the present business: and, indeed, I
acknowledge it: I feel myself greatly interested.
I have long desired to have you for a colleague;
and, notwithstanding the discouragements you have
given me, I now have hope that the time is come
when I shall call you by that confidential name. I
wish to have you for many reasons — but I cheerfully leave you with the Lord. Bring the matter
to him and, after weighing the whole, I hope you
will see it to be your duty to give us a favourable
answer." — In a postscript to the affectionate letter
from which these extracts are made, he says —
"My health, as I wrote you some time since, has
been much on the decline. I found it necessary to
move out of the city, and have come over to Long
Island, at Flatbush. This change of air, and necessary exercise, have been much blessed to me. I
am better than I was; but am still distressed with
pains in my breast. I cannot preach so often as I
have hitherto done in the large churches in the city.
The gentlemen who study theology have followed
me to Flatbush. It is here cheaper for them than
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in the city; they have more leisure, and better
opportunities for study, and I have more time also
to instruct them * *. I feel bound, in conscience, to
attend to the duties of the professorate, especially
when I see my health also requires it * *. I wish to
see you, and converse with you. I shall be happy,
very happy to have you near me as a colleague
given of the Lord. If your mind is clear upon the
subject of our call, I think you need not postpone
the acceptance: the sooner you come, the greater
will be the proof of your affection."
In another, dated Flatbush, 29th of August, 1786,
he observes — "The answer you sent to the Consistory, after receiving the call, was yesterday read
in full Consistory. It gave us great satisfaction to
find that you referred the whole business to the
sovereign will of God, and with a determination to
seek counsel at the Throne of Grace, had resolved
to follow what appeared to be duty. We cheerfully
join with you in our prayers, and, as it is his glory
and the prosperity of his Church, which is our great
object, we desire to look up to him alone, and trust
he will, incline your heart, with full conviction of
his will, to accept of our call. It is a great grief to
us, that our wants should interfere with others, and
our gain involve the loss of others; but we are
confident that, notwithstanding the strong ties and
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