Thames Ditton.
GRACE, mercy, and peace be with her, from him which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. I received thy epistle yesterday, and was glad to hear that my poor blind child was alive, with her tottering faith. And now Phebe is desirous of knowing what the Lord hath done for me. Listen to a parable, my daughter, and I will open my dark sayings on the harp: To thee it is given to know the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. Why, then Jesus is so immense that the heaven of heavens cannot contain him, and yet my heart holds him; be is incomprehensible, and yet I know him; invisible, and yet I see him; immortal, yet dells with mortal man; eternal, and yet born in time. Now, if thou dost not plough with Christ's heifer, thou wilt not find out the riddle: and poor Phebe said it was manna, for she wist not what to call it. See then that thou lay up a little of this hidden manna in thy golden pot, for thou wilt want it in the great day.
I think, by thy letter, thou art not grown at all; thou art little of stature, I wish thou wouldest get up into the tree of life, surely thou art rickety, or else they do not nurse and feed this poor blind child. Thy hands seem very weak, and thy knees feeble, I advise thee to bathe in Ezekiel's holy waters, and do not be afraid; paddle in them up to thy very heart, and drink a little new wine of the kingdom, for thy stomach's sake, and thy often infirmities; and take a little of the oil of joy to anoint thee, for thou knowest not how soon thou mayest be called to stand before the king. Let no filthiness appear in thy skirts; go in peace, and be whole of the plague of thy unbelief. If I bad thee here, I should search thy tent very narrowly; I should examine thy stuff' to see if thou hast got an image instead of Christ. Take Christ, and eat him up, for he only creates an appetite.
But you want to know how I go on. Why faith, hope, love, and godly zeal, are with me still, and they are very profitable to me for the ministry; but patience I have left at Miletum sick. The old man is with me still, and in a thriving condition; by all that I call do I cannot keep him lame in both his feet, I and obliged to dwell with him that hates peace; but, blessed be God, I have great success in my labours, and preach more than ever, but am weak in body. You want to know how my wife does: she is with me still in the tent, and a flying in my face every now and then as usual; she is very fond of Hagar, and determined not to part with Moses if she can help it, and he is a cruel husband to her soul; there will be a divorce soon, I believe, for he has almost killed her.
Little Ebenezer is well, but cannot walk, and there is another just at hand will tread upon his heels; old Leah has, and will have a good dowry, she is neither barren nor unfruitful. We are all well here at present, and I wish thee better in soul; lay by thy leading strings, and lean on Christ by faith more, Betty; mind what I say, lean on the Lord as thy staff I suppose I shall receive an answer within a year, for she is idle, she is idle. Fare thee well, the God of peace be with thee; I believe I shall see thee by and by. My dame joins in love to you, in Christ,
W. HUNTINGTON
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