Letter - to Gerrit Parmele Judd
Charles Finney expresses his love and concern for Gerrit Parmele Judd and his family, updates them on the work of God, and encourages them to write and pray for each other.
Charles Finney expresses deep affection and concern in his letter to Gerrit Parmele Judd and his family, lamenting their separation and the inability to meet before their departure. He shares his joy about the work of the gospel and the involvement of Miss Fanny Thomas in missionary efforts, emphasizing the importance of prayer and support for one another in their spiritual journeys. Finney's heartfelt words reflect a strong bond of love and commitment to the mission of spreading the gospel, urging them to stay connected through prayer and correspondence.
Text
To Gerrit Parmele Judd
22 October 1827
[MS Group 70 Box 1.6ff, Judd Family Papers, Bernice P. Bishop Museum Library, Honolulu, Hawaii.]
Address: Doct G. P. Judd.
Boston.
Massachusetts.
Letter:
Stephentown Oct. 22nd 1827.
Doct & Mrs Judd. Beloved Brother & Sister.
We have with no ordinary
degree of interest heard from you, once & again,
& regret exceedingly that Providence prevented
our seeing you once more before you left these
shores of America. But the good work of our
God was in such a state, both when we recd
your first & last letter, that I deemed it inco
mpatible with duty to leave the ground even
for a day. The work is still in as interesting a
state, so far as I can understand the state
of things, as it has been at any time.
My anxiety to see you is so great, that were
it possible for me to leave, I should visit
you at Boston before you embarked.
I should have written to you, but have all
along until now, indulged the hope of seeing
you. When you mentioned that Miss Fanny
Thomas was to make one of your number,
I could not recollect that I knew any such person.
And never learned until the arrival of Broth Frost
on Saturday evening who she was. O, Is it possible
that that dear girl is going to carry the blessed
gospel to the poor heathen. "Bless the Lord O, my
soul". I have desired exceedingly to see her, & really
it seems to me that I can hardly deny myself the
luxury of seeing you all before you go. But, I must
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be still. Give my dearest love to her & to her husband
whom I suppose I have never seen.
O I have ten thousand things to say to you & to
her. & O that we could pray together once more
While you & we live I trust myself & wife shall
not forget to pray for you "exceedingly". You are
almost constantly on our minds & we can pray for
you with many tears. O may "the arms of your hands be
made strong, with the strength of the Mighty God
of Jacob."!
And now My dear Garret, & Laura, & Fanny
beloved for the Lords sake, blessed servants of Jesus,
& Missionaries of his cross, if when you arrive at the
place of your destination, you can get time from
your other labours to write to your unworthy friends,
brother & sister F you confer on us a great favour.
Direct your letters to Utica to the care of Thomas
Hastings if you get time to write.
My dear Wife mourns sore like a dove, because she cant
see Laura once more. She would have visited Troy at the
time you was there but for the rain on monday, in
which I thought it would not do for her to venture
out, in her feeble state of health.
But I must drop my pen.
Yours most affectionately in the
bonds of the gospel.
C. G. Finney.
Sermon Outline
- Introduction and Greeting
- Update on the Work of God
- Personal Matters
- Closing and Encouragement
- Wishing Gerrit Parmele Judd and his family well
- Encouraging them to write and pray for each other
Key Quotes
“O, Is it possible that that dear girl is going to carry the blessed gospel to the poor heathen. 'Bless the Lord O, my soul'.” — Charles Finney
“O may 'the arms of your hands be made strong, with the strength of the Mighty God of Jacob.'!” — Charles Finney
“You are almost constantly on our minds & we can pray for you with many tears.” — Charles Finney
Application Points
- We should express our love and concern for one another in the faith.
- We should be encouraged and strengthened by the work of God in our lives.
- We should pray for one another and seek to support each other in our spiritual journeys.