LETTER MCXV.
To Lady H——n.
London, January 29, 1756.
Ever-honoured Madam,
YOUR Ladyship will see by the inclosed, how dangerous it is to give me liberty. I would not grow upon it, and yet I cannot discharge my conscience, unless I lay particular distressing applications before your Ladyship. I know the person mentioned in Mr. G——’s letter, and believe he belongs to the little flock of Jesus: the best recommendation that can be laid before your Ladyship. I doubt not but what your Ladyship hath done in behalf of the prisoner, will have good effect: I do not know how soon I may be called before my superiors myself. The sons of Tubal and Cain continue to serenade me at Long-Acre chapel. They have been called before a justice; and yesterday the Bishop of B—— sent for them, and enquired where I lived. My house is pretty public, and the Bishop of souls shall answer for me:—he does. One, who subscribes to hire men to make the noise, hath been pricked to the heart, and can have no rest till he speaks with me. Thus Jesus gets himself the victory.——One of the inclosed extracts comes from a person, that a few weeks ago was a confirmed deist: now, I trust, he is a little child. The Redeemer speaks, and it is done; he commands, and new creatures instantaneously arise before him. Your Ladyship enjoined me to be particular; I could be more so, but must send a few lines to the elect Ladies. That they may find both them and your Ladyship filled with all the fulness of God, is the earnest prayer of, ever-honoured Madam,
Your Ladyship’s most dutiful, obliged, and very ready servant for Christ’s sake,
G. W.
LETTER MCXVI.
To Mr. F——.
January 30 1756.
Honoured Sir,
GRATITUDE constrains me to send you a few lines of thanks for the care and zeal you have expressed in suppressing the late disorders at Long-Acre chapel. A better acknowledgment will, I trust, await you at his bar, by whom kings reign, and princes decree justice, and who hath instituted magistracy to be a terror to evil doers, and a praise to them that do well. I hear that some unhappy man hath incurred the penalty inflicted by our salutary laws. As peace, not revenge, is the thing aimed at, I should rejoice if this could be procured without the delinquents suffering any further punishment. Perhaps what hath been done already, may be sufficient to deter others from any further illegal proceedings, and that will be satisfaction enough, honoured Sir, to
Your much obliged humble servant,
G. W.
LETTER MCXVII.
To the Bishop of B——.
Tabernacle-House, February 2, 1756.
My Lord,
A FEW weeks ago, several serious persons chosen to be a committee for one Mr. B——, applied to me in the name of Jesus Christ, and a multitude of souls desirous of hearing the gospel, to preach at a place commonly called Long-Acre chapel. At the same time they acquainted me, “That the place was licensed; that Mr. B—— either had taken, or was to take it for a certain term of years, and had preached in it for a considerable time, as a protestant Dissenting minister: notwithstanding, (they added) I might use the Liturgy if I thought proper, so that I would but come and preach once or twice a week.” Looking upon this as a providential call, from him, who in the days of his flesh taught all that were willing to hear, on a mount, in a ship, or by the sea-side, and who after his ascension, commanded us by his Apostle, to be “instant in season and out of season,” I readily complied, and humbly hope that my feeble, though I trust sincere labours, have not been altogether in vain in the Lord. This being the case, your Lordship will necessarily suppose, that I was somewhat surprized at the prohibition I received from your Lordship this evening. For I looked upon the place as a particular person’s property, and being, as I was informed, not only unconsecrated, but also licensed according to law, I thought I might innocently preach the love of a crucified Redeemer, and for his great name’s sake, loyalty to the best of princes our dread sovereign King George, without giving any just offence to Jew or Gentile, much less to any bishop or overseer of the church of God. As I have therefore given notice of preaching to-morrow evening, and every Tuesday and Thursday whilst I am in town, I hope your Lordship will not look upon it as contumacy, or done out of contempt, if I persist in prosecuting my design, till I am more particularly apprized wherein I have erred. Controversy, my Lord, is what I abhor, and as raising popular clamours, and ecclesiastical dissentions must be quite unseasonable, especially at this juncture, when France and Rome and hell ought to be the common butt of our resentment, I hope your Lordship will be so good as to inform yourself and me more particularly about this matter; and upon due conviction, as I have no design but to do good to precious souls, I promise to submit. But if your Lordship should judge it best to decline this method, and I should be called to answer for my conduct, either before a spiritual court, or from the press, I trust the irregularity I am charged with, will appear justifiable to every true lover of English liberty, and what is all to me, will be approved of at the awful and impartial tribunal of the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls, in obedience to whom I beg leave to subscribe myself, my Lord,
Your Lordship’s most dutiful son and servant,
G. W.
LETTER MCXVIII.
To Mr. B——.
Tabernacle-House, February 9, 1756.
Reverend Sir,
ON our late fast day, a collection was made at the Tabernacle where I preach, eighty pounds of which I have deposited in the hands of Mr. A——, in Fleet-street, for the use of the poor persecuted French protestants. That our great and compassionate High-priest may accept it as done to himself, and bless you and the honourable society established for promoting so laudable a charity, is the hearty prayer of, reverend Sir,
Your unworthy brother and fellow-labourer in the cause of our common Lord,
G. W.
LETTER MCXIX.
To the Bishop of B——.
Tabernacle-House, February 16, 1756.
My Lord,
I THIS evening received your Lordship’s kind letter, and though it is late, and nature calls for rest, yet in the fear of him to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid, I desire now to sit down and give your Lordship an explicit answer. God, even that God by whom I am to be judged, can witness, that with a disinterested view to promote his glory, and the welfare of precious and immortal souls, I entered into holy orders, according to the form of ordination of the church of England; and, as thousands can testify, for near these twenty years last past, I have conscientiously defended her homilies and articles, and upon all occasions spoken well of her liturgy. Either of these, together with her discipline, I am so far from renouncing, much less from throwing aside all regard to, that I earnestly pray for the due restoration of the one, and daily lament the wanton departure of too, too many from the other. But, my Lord, what can I do? When I acted in the most regular manner, and when I was bringing multitudes even of Dissenters themselves to croud the churches, without any other reason being given than that too many followed after me, I was denied the use of them. Being thus excluded, and many thousands of ignorant souls, that perhaps would neither go to church nor meeting-houses, being very hungry after the gospel, I thought myself bound in duty to deal out to them the bread of life. Being further ambitious to serve my God, my King, and my country, I sacrificed my affections, and left my native soil, in order to begin and carry on an Orphan-house in the infant colony of Georgia, which, through the divine blessing, is put upon a good foundation. This served as an introduction, though without design, to my visiting the other parts of his Majesty’s dominions in North-America; and I humbly hope, that many made truly serious in that foreign clime, will be my joy and crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jesus. If it was not for this hope, nay, my Lord, if I was not assured, that the blessed Redeemer (O amazing condescension) hath vouchsafed to own me for the real conversion, and turning of many from darkness to light, the weakness of my frequently worn out and decaying body, the innumerable temptations that have beset my soul, together with the violent opposition I have met with from various quarters, would long since have quite overwhelmed, and at least have prevailed on me to accept some of those offers that have been made me to nestle, by accepting of which I might have screened myself from that obloquy and contempt, which, in some degree or other, every day I have the honour to meet with for Jesu’s sake. But hitherto having obtained help from God, without eating a morsel of the church of England’s bread, I still continue to use her liturgy, wherever a church or chapel is allowed me, and preach up her articles, and enforce her homilies. Your Lordship therefore judgeth exceeding right, when you say, “I presume you do not mean to declare any dissent from the church of England.”—Far be it from me; no, my Lord, unless thrust out, I shall never leave her, and even then (as I hope whenever it happens it will be an unjust extrusion) I shall still continue to adhere to her doctrines, and pray for the much wished-for restoration of her discipline, even to my dying day. Fond of displaying her truly protestant and orthodox principles, especially when church and state are in danger from a cruel and popish enemy, I am glad, my Lord, of an opportunity of preaching, though it should be in a meeting-house; and I think it discovers a good and moderate spirit in the Dissenters, who will quietly attend on the church service, as many have done, and continue to do at Long-Acre chapel, while many, who I suppose stile themselves her faithful sons, by very improper instruments of reformation, have endeavoured to disturb and molest us. If the lessor of this chapel, my Lord, hath no power to let it out, or if it be not legally and properly licensed, I have been deceived indeed; and if upon enquiry I find this to be the case, I shall soon declare in the most public manner, how both your Lordship and myself have been imposed upon. But if it appears, that the lessor hath a right to dispose of his own property, and that the place is licensed, if not in the court books of the Quarter Sessions, yet in the Commons or some other proper court; and as some good, I trust, has been, and hope will yet be done by this foolishness of preaching, surely your Lordship’s candour will overlook a little irregularity; since I fear that in these dregs of time, these last days, wherein we live, we must be obliged to be irregular, or in short we must do no good at all. My Lord, I remember well, (and O that I may more than ever obey your Lordship’s admonition) and often recollect that awful day wherein I was ordained priest, and when authority was given me, by my honoured friend and father good Bishop Benson, to preach the word of God. O that the glorious exhortation, which he delivered with so much solemnity, may be written upon the tables of my heart! Mindful of this, I shall be always ready to go out, and seek for Christ’s sheep that are dispersed abroad, and be willing to spend and be spent for the good of his children which are in the midst of this naughty world. Never did I so much as dream, my Lord, that this was only a local commission, or that the condition annexed, “Where you shall be lawfully appointed thereunto,” was to confine me to any particular place, and that it would be unlawful for me to preach out of it. It is plain my Lord Bishop of Gloucester did not think so; for when his secretary brought a licence for me, his Lordship said, “It would cost me thirty shillings, and therefore I should not have it.” And when after being presented to the late Bishop of London, I applied to him for a licence, his lordship was pleased to say, “I was going to Georgia, and needed none.” Accordingly I preached in most of the London churches under his Lordship’s immediate inspection; and why any other licence than my letters of orders should now be required, I believe no substantial, I am positive no truly scriptural, reason can be assigned. It is true, as your Lordship observes, there is one canon that says, “That no curate or minister shall be permitted to serve in any place, without examination and admission of the Bishop of the diocese.” And there is another also, as quoted by your Lordship, which tells us, “That neither minister, church-wardens, nor any other officers of the church, shall suffer any man to preach within their chapels, but such as, by shewing their licence to preach, shall appear unto them to be sufficiently authorized thereunto.” But, my Lord, what curacy or parsonage have I desired, or do I desire to be admitted to serve in? Or into what church or chapel do I attempt to intrude myself, without leave from the churchwardens or other officers? No, my Lord, being, as I think, without cause denied admission into the churches, I am content to take the field, and when the weather will permit, with a table for my pulpit, and the heavens, for my sounding-board, I desire to proclaim to all, the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ. Besides, my Lord, if this canon should be always put into full execution, I humbly presume, that no bishop or presbyter can legally preach at any time out of the diocese in which he is appointed to serve; consequently no city incumbent can even occasionally be lawfully assisted by any country clergyman, or even a bishop himself be lawfully permitted to preach a charity sermon out of his own diocese, without a special licence for so doing. And what a loss would that be to many noble charities here in town? As for that other canon which your Lordship mentions, and which runs thus, “Neither shall any minister, not licensed as is aforesaid, presume to appoint or hold any meetings for sermons, commonly termed by some, prophecies or exercises, in market towns or other places, under the said pains.” I need not inform your Lordship, that it was originally levelled against those who would not conform to the church of England, and that too in such high flying times, which I cannot believe any one of the present moderate bench of bishops would wish to see again restored. And if this be the true state of the case, how, my Lord, doth this canon belong to me, who am episcopally ordained, and have very lately published a small tract (which I humbly beg your Lordship’s acceptance of) on purpose to recommend the communion office of the church of England? But, my Lord, to come nearer to the point in hand, (and for Christ’s sake let not your Lordship be offended with my using such plainness of speech) I would, as in the presence of the living God, put it to your Lordship’s conscience, whether there is one bishop or presbyter in England, Wales, or Ireland, that looks upon our canons as his rule of action? If they do, we are all perjured with a witness, and consequently, in a very bad sense of the word, irregular indeed. May I not, therefore, say on this, alluding to what my blessed Master did on another occasion, “He that is without the sin of acting illegally, if the canons of our church be implicitly to be obeyed, let him cast the first stone at me and welcome.” Your Lordship knows full well, that canons and other church laws are good and obligatory, when conformable to the laws of Christ, and agreeable to the liberties of a free people; but when invented and compiled by men of little hearts and bigotted principles, on purpose to hinder persons of more enlarged souls from doing good, or being more extensively useful, they become mere bruta fulmina; and when made use of only as cords to bind up the hands of a zealous few, that honestly appear for their King, their country, and their God, like the withes with which the Philistines bound Sampson, in my opinion, they may very legally be broken. What pains and penalties are to be incurred for such offence, (as I have not the canons at present before me) I cannot tell; but for my own part, my Lord, if any penalty is incurred, or any pain to be inflicted upon me, for prophesying or preaching against sin, the Pope, and the devil, and for recommending the strictest loyalty to the best of princes, his Majesty King George, in this metropolis, or any other part of his Majesty’s dominions, I trust, through grace, I shall be enabled to say,
All hail reproach, and welcome pain!
I think there now remains but one more particular in your Lordship’s letter to be answered:—your Lordship’s truly apostolical canon taken out of 2 Corinthians x. 16; upon turning to, and reading of which, I could not help thinking, my Lord, of a passage I once met with in good Mr. Philip Henry’s life. It was this: Being ejected out of the church, and yet thinking it his duty to preach, he used now and then to give the people of Broad-Oaks, where he lived, a gospel sermon; and one day, as he was coming from his exercise, and meeting with the incumbent, he thus addressed him: “Sir, I have been taking the liberty of throwing a handful of seed into your field.” “Have you so, said the good man? may God give it his blessing! There is work enough for us both.” This, my Lord, I humbly conceive, is the case not only of your Lordship, but of every minister’s parish in London, and every bishop’s diocese in England; and therefore as good is done, and souls are benefited, I hope your Lordship will not regard a little irregularity, since at the worst, it is only the irregularity of doing well. But supposing this should not be admitted as an excuse at other seasons, I would hope it will have its weight at this critical juncture, wherein, if there were ten thousand sound preachers, and each preacher had a thousand tongues, they could not well be too frequently employed in calling upon the inhabitants of Great-Britain to be upon their guard, against the cruel and malicious designs of France, of Rome, and of hell. After all, my Lord, if your Lordship will be pleased to apply to Mr. B—— himself, (who, I suppose, knows where the place is registered) or if upon enquiry I shall find, that the lessor hath no power to let it out, as I hate and abhor every dishonourable action, after my setting out for Bristol, which I expect to do in a few days, I shall decline preaching in the chapel any more. But if the case should appear to be otherwise, I hope your Lordship will not be angry, if I persist in this, I trust not unpardonable, irregularity: for if I decline preaching in every place, meerly because the incumbent may be unwilling I should come into his parish, I fear I must seldom or never preach at all; and this, my Lord, especially at this juncture, when all our civil and religious liberties are as it were at stake, would to me be worse than death itself. I humbly ask pardon for detaining your Lordship so long, but being willing to give your Lordship all the satisfaction I possibly could, I have chosen rather to sit up and deny myself proper repose, than to let your Lordship’s candid letter lie by me one moment longer than was absolutely necessary. I return your Lordship a thousand thanks for your favourable opinion of me, and good wishes, and begging the continuance of your Lordship’s blessing, and earnestly praying, that whenever your Lordship shall be called hence, you may give up your account with joy, I beg leave to subscribe myself, my Lord,
Your Lordship’s most dutiful son and servant,
G. W.
LETTER MCXX.
To the Bishop of B——.
Tabernacle-House, February 23, 1756.
My Lord,
SINCE I had the honour of writing my last letter to your Lordship, I have made inquiry, and find that the certificate is in the hands of one Mr. Culverwell, with whom Mr. Gardiner lodges. I think he told me, the place was licensed in the Commons, and as far as I can judge, Mr. Barnard’s committee do not intend to let the chapel go out of their hands. As therefore, your Lordship would undoubtedly chuse that the church liturgy should be read in it sometimes, rather than it should be entirely made use of in a non-conformist way, I hope your Lordship will not be offended, if I go on as usual after my return from Bristol. I assure your Lordship, through the divine blessing, real good hath been done; and therefore I am sorry to inform your Lordship, that notwithstanding the admonitions I hear your Lordship hath given them, some unhappy persons have still endeavoured to disturb us, by making an odd kind of a noise in a neighbouring house. I hear that some of them belong to your Lordship’s vestry, and therefore wish that your Lordship would so far interpose, as to order them once more to stop their proceedings. But I only just mention it, and shall leave it to your Lordship’s discretion. I can only entreat the continuance of your Lordship’s blessing, and begging your Lordship’s acceptance of a short address I am now publishing, I hasten to subscribe myself, my Lord,
Your Lordship’s most dutiful son and servant,
G. W.
LETTER MCXXI.
To Mr. W——.
London, March 18, 1756.
My dear Friend,
YESTERDAY I received your kind letter, and this morning I send you a few lines by way of New-York. May they find you and all my dear Boston friends strong, yea very strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Every day do I make mention of them, and dear New-England, in my sermons and prayers. Thousands I trust are interceding for you continually. Last night I preached upon Moses’s praying on the mount, whilst Joshua fought against Amalek in the valley. I hope some spiritual shot went after the fleet, that we hear is gone to America. What awaits us here at home, the Redeemer only knows. We deserve the greatest scourge, but I trust we have too many praying people amongst us, to have such a one as the threatened invasion, laid upon our backs.—The event will prove. Blessed be God, for the effects of the late earthquake. May they be lasting! no doubt they will be upon some. The awakening at London continues, and more ministers are coming out for the ever-blessed Jesus. Last Lord’s day I opened my spring campaign, by preaching thrice in the fields to many thousands in Gloucestershire. O that I may begin to begin to spring for my God! I trust you and my other never to be forgotten friends will not fail to remember us here. Though at such a distance, we can meet at the throne of grace. Why does not dear Mr. S—— send me one line? I desire to be remembered in the kindest manner to him, and his, and all my dear, very dear friends. I can now add no more, but hoping to have another opportunity, I beg leave to subscribe myself, with tender affection to your whole self,
Yours most affectionately in our common Lord,
G. W.
LETTER MCXXII.
To the Bishop of B——.
Tabernacle-House, March 20, 1756.
My Lord,
TO my great surprize, upon my coming up to town, I found that the disturbances so justly complained of near Long-Acre chapel, had been continued. On Thursday evening last, when I preached there myself, they were rather increased. Notwithstanding some of the windows were stopped up, to prevent in some degree the congregations being disturbed by the unhallowed noise, yet large stones were thrown in at another window, and one young person badly wounded. This constrains me to trouble your Lordship once more, and to beg the favour of your Lordship so far to interpose, as to desire the persons belonging to your Lordship’s vestry, to desist from such irregular proceedings. For my own irregularity in preaching, I am ready at any time to answer; and was I myself the only sufferer, I should be entirely unconcerned whatever personal ill treatment I might meet with in the way of my duty. But to have the lives of his Majesty’s loyal subjects endangered, when they come peaceably to worship God, and to pray for his long and prosperous reign, is an irregularity, which I am persuaded your Lordship will look upon as unjustifiable in the sight of God, and of every good man. However, as a subject to King George, and a minister of Jesus Christ, I know your Lordship will allow, I have a right to do myself justice, and therefore, I hope, if the disturbances be yet continued, your Lordship will not be offended, if I lay a plain and fair narration of the whole affair, together with what hath passed between your Lordship and myself, before the world. I beg your Lordship not to look upon this as a threatning, or as done with an intent to expose; I scorn any such mean procedure. But as providence seems to point out such a method, I hope your Lordship will have no just reason to censure me, if it be pursued by, my Lord,
Your Lordship’s most dutiful son and servant,
G. W.
LETTER MCXXIII.
To Mr. ——.
London, March 22, 1756.
Honoured Sir,
THE long and intimate acquaintance I formerly had with Mr. N—— and Lady Jane, would have induced me to send you the inclosed some weeks past, as a mark of unfeigned respect due to you for your personal worth and character; but I heard, that both Lord M—— and yourself were out of town: accept it therefore, honoured Sir, though late. I likewise want to consult you on account of a very indecent, and I think illegal disturbance, that hath been made for many weeks last past, whilst I have been preaching at Long-Acre chapel. Several have been sadly wounded, and I fear the same fate awaits more, unless those that have hitherto disturbed us, are some way or other restrained. Did I know when it would suit you, I would wait upon you in person, and acquaint you with particulars. In the mean while, praying that he, who is the wonderful Counsellor, and who hath so richly furnished you with talents for your country’s service, may more and more improve you for such noble purposes, I beg leave to subscribe myself, honoured Sir,
Your very humble servant,
G. W.
LETTER MCXXIV.
To the Bishop of B——.
London, March 25, 1756.
I HEARTILY thank your Lordship for your kind acceptance of my three small tracts, and my very long letter dated February 16th.—At the same time, I acknowledge myself concerned, that any thing I have written since, should prevent your Lordship’s pointing out to me any mistakes, which I may lie under in regard to the canons. God knows, if I do err, it is for want of better information; and therefore if your Lordship will vouchsafe to favour me with the letter prepared for that purpose, it shall be most thankfully received, most impartially examined, most explicitly replied to, but withal never exposed to the view of the world. Your Lordship needed not to inform me of the privilege of a Peer, to deter me from publishing your Lordship’s letters without first asking leave. I thank God, I have not so learned Christ. By his help, nothing shall be done in that way, which is the least inconsistent with the strictest honour, justice and simplicity. But I hope, if a public account of the repeated disturbances at Long-Acre chapel should be rendered necessary, your Lordship will not esteem it unreasonable in me, to inform the world, what previous steps were taken to prevent and stop them. Surely such a scene, at such a juncture, and under such a government, as has been transacted in your Lordship’s parish, in the house or yard of one Mr. Cope, who I hear is your Lordship’s overseer, ever since last Twelfth-Day, I believe is not to be met with in English history. Indeed, my Lord, it is more than noise. It deserves no milder a name than premeditated rioting. Drummers, soldiers, and many of the baser sort, have been hired by subscription.—A copper-furnace, bells, drums, clappers, marrow bones and cleavers, and such like instruments of reformation, have been provided for, and made use of, by them repeatedly, from the moment I have begun preaching, to the end of my sermon. By these horrid noises, many women have been almost frightened to death, and mobbers encouraged thereby to come and riot at the chapel door during the time of divine service, and then insult and abuse me and the congregation after it hath been over. Not content with this, the chapel windows, while I have been preaching, have repeatedly been broken by large stones of almost a pound weight (some now lying by me) which though levelled at, providentially missed me, but at the same time sadly wounded some of my hearers. Mr. C——, one of your Lordship’s relations, can acquaint your Lordship with many more particulars, and if your Lordship would be so good as only to ride to Mr. C——’s house, you would see such a scaffold (unless taken down) and such costly preparations for a noise upon it, that must make the ears of all that shall hear it to tingle. Indeed last Tuesday night all was hush’d,—and in order to throw off all popular odium, I gave it as my opinion, that it was owing to your Lordship’s kind interposition. One Mr. C—— and one Mr. M——, I am informed, are parties greatly concerned. I know them not, and I pray the Lord of all Lords never to lay this ill and unmerited treatment to their charge. If no more noise is made on their part, I assure your Lordship no further resentment shall be made on mine. But if they persist, I have the authority of the Apostle on a like occasion, to appeal unto Cæsar.—And thanks be to God, we have a Cæsar to appeal to, whose laws will not suffer any of his loyal subjects to be used in such an inhuman manner. I have only one favour to beg of your Lordship, that “you would send (as they are your Lordship’s parishioners) to the above gentlemen, and desire them henceforward to desist from such unchristian (and especially at this critical juncture) such riotous and dangerous proceedings.” Whether as a Chaplain to a most worthy Peeress, a Presbyter of the church of England, and a steady disinterested friend to our present happy constitution, I have not a right to ask such a favour, I leave to your Lordship’s mature deliberation. Henceforward, I hope no more to trouble your Lordship; but committing my cause to him, who judgeth righteously, I beg leave to subscribe myself, my Lord,
Your Lordship’s most dutiful son and servant,
G. W.
LETTER MCXXV.
To —— ——.
London, April 1, 1756.
Gentlemen,
YOUR obliging letter came to hand last night. As my influence I fear was but very small, it scarce called for such an acknowledgment. I trust, my views to serve my God and my King are disinterested; and therefore I shall always think it my duty to espouse their cause, who are firmly united in the bonds of friendship and social love, to defend the protestant interest, and the glorious privileges we enjoy under our dread and rightful sovereign King George. Such a union I take yours to be.—That you may therefore meet with success on earth, and by an infinitely superior union (I mean that of your souls with God) be prepared for a never-ceasing union with the spirits of just men made perfect in heaven, is and shall be the hearty prayer of, Gentlemen,
Your obliged humble servant,
G. W.
LETTER MCXXVI.
To the Reverend Mr. B——.
London, April 3, 1756.
My dear Friend,
NONE but he, whose name and nature is love, can tell what I felt at the receipt of your kind letter. O how did the welfare of dear never to be forgotten New England, lie upon my heart. How could I have wished for the wings of a dove to fly thither! The delightful interviews we have had together, when in the confidence of social prayer we have laid hold on God, came so fresh upon my mind, that I knew not what to do. O come, Lord Jesus, come quickly, that friendship begun on earth, may be consummated in the kingdom of heaven! He only knows, what awaits us here below, before we are called to live with him above. England is now equally threatened with America. Let this be our comfort, “the Lord reigneth.” Nothing can rob us of our Christ,—let us help each other by mutual prayer. Thousands here hold up their hands daily for you. I know you will gladly return the favour. You would be pleased to see how eagerly people attend the word. I think the awakening, and prospect of doing good in London, is as great as ever. Satan hath raged at a place called Long-Acre chapel, near the play-houses, but you know who hath promised to bruise him under our feet. Send me what good news you can from your side the water, and assure all the followers of the Lamb of God, that they are upon my poor heart night and day. How goes on your son Daniel? May he greatly be beloved! I could fill, yea more than fill a sheet, but with great difficulty I write this. Adieu, my dear friend, for the present. I shall never forget our last pleasant short journey. Surely our hearts burned within us, when we talked of Jesus in the way. I can no more.
Yours, &c.
G. W.
LETTER MCXXVII.
To the Honourable Hume C——.
Canterbury, April 9, 1756.
Honoured Sir,
YOUR kind behaviour when I had the pleasure of waiting upon you, emboldens me to trouble you with the inclosed. It is the copy of an anonymous letter, that was sent to my house on Tuesday last, just after I left town, and forwarded hither to me by my wife the day following. As I am satisfied that the Lord reigneth, and that a sparrow doth not fall to the ground without the knowledge of our heavenly Father, its contents in respect to myself, I thank God, do not much alarm me. But as others are concerned, and it is an affair that hath reference to the welfare of civil government, I would beg the favour of your advice. Next Tuesday I expect to return to London, and on Wednesday morning, purpose, God willing, to wait upon you in person. In the mean while, I beg leave to subscribe myself, honoured Sir,
Your most obliged humble servant,
G. W.
LETTER MCXXVIII.
To Lady H——n.
Canterbury, April 10, 1756.
Ever-honoured Madam,
THE letter on the other side, was sent to me last Tuesday. By that, your Ladyship may see to what an height the opposition hath risen at Long-Acre; indeed the noise hath been infernal. For a night it was stopped, but I have reason to think there was a secret design for my life; some of my friends were sadly used; they applied for warrants, and that occasioned this letter. I have written to Mr. H—— C—— for advice. May the wonderful Counsellor direct me how to act! Here, all is peaceable. It is most delightful to see the soldiers flock to hear the word; officers likewise attend very orderly. On Monday I return, God willing, to London. Lord Jesus, do thou prepare me for whatever thou hast prepared for me! Baron Munchausen hath been very kind in Long-Acre affair; I would if possible hush all up, but I know no other way but holding my tongue. O this enmity of heart! This is my comfort,—“the Lord reigneth.” I hope to answer Mrs. G—— soon. At present, I have scarce time to beg the continuance of your Ladyship’s prayers, and to subscribe myself, ever-honoured Madam,
Your Ladyship’s most dutiful, obliged, and ready servant, for Christ’s sake,
G. W.
LETTER MCXXIX.
To Lady H——n.
London, April 18, 1756.
Ever-honoured Madam,
SINCE my last from Canterbury, I have received two more letters of a like kind with the former. Before they came to hand I was exceedingly comforted, from whence I inferred a further storm lay before me. My greatest distress is, how to act so as to avoid rashness on the one hand, and timidity on the other. I have been introduced to the Earl of H——ss, who received me very courteously, and seemed to make no objection against issuing out a reward for the discovery of the letter-writer. Whether I had best accept it, I know not. Sir H—— C—— says, it is not felony; and he advises me by all means to put all concerned into the court of King’s Bench. The facts are most flagrant. Lord Jesus direct me for thy mercy’s sake! A man came up to me in the pulpit at the tabernacle; God knows, what was his design: I see no other way for me to act, than either resolutely to persist in preaching and prosecuting, or entirely to desist from preaching, which I think would bring intolerable guilt upon my soul, and give the adversary cause to blaspheme. Blessed be God, I am clear, quite clear in the occasion of my suffering. It is for preaching Christ Jesus, and, for his great name’s sake, loyalty to King George, to whom under God I owe the liberty of preaching many years. Alas! alas! what a condition would this land be in, was the protestant interest not to prevail? Glad should I be to die by the hands of an assassin, if popery is to get footing here. I shall then be taken away from the evil to come. I hope that your Ladyship, and the good Ladies with you, will have hearts given you to pray for me, that, whether by life or by death, Jesus may be glorified. Thanks be to God, to me to live is Christ, and to die will be my gain. He knows, that with simplicity and godly sincerity, I have endeavoured to promote in my feeble way his honour and glory. I should be glad of a line of advice from your Ladyship; this is giving trouble I no way deserve, but as your Ladyship is pleased to honour me with your friendship, it will be adding to the innumerable obligations already conferred upon, honoured Madam,
Your Ladyship’s most dutiful, obliged, and ready Servant,
G. W.
LETTER MCXXX.
To Mrs. G——.
London, April 20, 1756.
Dear Madam,
IT hath given me concern, that I could not answer your kind letter till now; but making a short excursion abroad, and fighting with a kind of beasts at home, hath prevented me. I fancy that something we cannot see is behind the curtain. Satan seems to have overshot himself. O what a mercy is it, dear Madam, to be rescued from his slavery! Nothing less than an Almighty arm could bring about such a great salvation. Its depths, its lengths, its breadths, who can fathom? By being plunged into the first, we stretch and rise into the two last. Our Saviour’s death preceded his resurrection, and his resurrection that of his glorious ascension into heaven.—So must we die, and rise, in order to ascend hereafter where he is gone before. No matter if a sudden stroke opens the passage: God grant I may be always ready! I hope that you, dear Madam, and the other elect Ladies, have hearts given you to pray for me. Hitherto the Lord hath helped me. I thank Mr. S—— for his hint. If occasion requires, I shall improve it. O for a steady disinterested zeal for my God, my King, and my country! Welcome death, when brought upon me in defence of these. As I expect to be called away every moment, I can only add, after sending my most cordial and grateful acknowledgments to the whole Clifton court, that I am, dear Madam,
Your most obliged and ready servant for Christ’s sake,
G. W.