FL14425157

21)
Parramatta Oct. 26. 1795

Dear Madam
I received your kind presents of the Candles, & embrace this opportunity to thank you for them. I wrote to Mr Stokes since Governor Hunter arrived, to inform him that the Cows which were lost seven years ago are now found, and am not certain whether I gave you a line or no at the same time. Governor Hunter's arrival hath given Mr Johnson and myself a peculiar satisfaction. We have some hopes that the wicked will not triumph so much as what they had done heretofore; tho' I do not yet expect to see any great reformation. The Enemy hath so completely possessed himself of the minds of all ranks & orders here that it is a matter of doubt with me whether his power will ever be seen in this place to fall like lightening from heaven. I wish the unfortunate convicts were the greatest enemies to the Cross of Christ we had to encounter. Satan has hath agents everywhere and generally some person of influence & authority in the world. To do my duty here as a minister is extremely hard & burdensome. When I compare what I do with what I think I ought to do, the whole of my work seems daily neglected - I am ashamed & confounded before God for all my shortcomings. A Physician hath no business when all the inhabitants around him are whole. This is exactly my case - I do not know one person that wants the great Physician of souls. I often wonded what some of your great preachers (your Howtons & Fosters in London) men of sound piety & [indecipherable] would feel if they had to preach for six months & know that they had not for that space of time, two persons to preach to who ever made the enquiry "Where is God my maker" or had the smallest concern for their souls. I should like to know what effect this supposed situation would have on their great minds, tho' I believe they could not tell me. I know this situation hath produced very odd, & I may add a very unpleasant affect on my own mind.