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.