I Hope you and your little society go on and prosper. I hear there are divisions among you. Avoid them if possible. The doctrines of election, and of final perseverance, I hold as well as you.—But then, they are not to be contended for with heat and passion. Such a proceeding will only prejudice the cause you would defend. Pray shew this to your other friends.—Exhort them to avoid all clamour, and evil speaking, and with meekness receive the ingrafted word which is able to save your soul. God has begun a great work here, and in other parts of America; but yet, I believe, I shall shortly have a call to England. O pray it may be the divine will, that I may have a prosperous journey; and that you may see me grown in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.—With tenderest love to all, I am
Your affectionate brother and servant,
G. W.
LETTER CCXVI.
To the Right Reverend Father in God, Edmund Lord Bishop of London.
On board the Savannah, bound from Charles-Town to Boston, September —, 1740.
My Lord,
ALTHOUGH your Lordship has been pleased to caution the people against running into those extremes, to which your Lordship apprehended my doctrine would lead men; yet I am persuaded that will not any way influence your Lordship, as to the contents of this letter. The one single point which it contains, is this query, “Whether the commissary of South-Carolina has power given him from your Lordship, to exercise any judicial authority against me, or any other clergyman, who doth not belong to his province?” The reason of my putting this question, I suppose your Lordship will be apprized of, before this reaches your Lordship’s hands. I have been lately cited to appear in an ecclesiastical court, erected by the Reverend Mr. G——, for not reading the common prayer in the meeting-house, which I was obliged to preach in at Charles-Town, (unless I would be silent) because the commissary would not let me have the use of his church. I appeared, and have appealed, according to law, to four of his majesty’s commissioners for reviewing appeals, to know, whether the commissary ought not to have accepted a Recusatio judicis, which I lodged in court. This, I suppose, they will determine. I only desire your Lordship’s explicit opinion and determination, whether Mr. G——, (supposing he hath power over his own clergy,) has authority to erect such a court to arraign me, who belong to the province of Georgia. The bearer hereof will give me your Lordship’s answer. In favouring me with which, your Lordship will oblige, my Lord,
Your Lordship’s obedient son and servant,