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.