_To Mrs. D――――._
_Bristol, July 14, 1743._
_My dear Madam_,
NOT doubting but you wait with impatience for dear Mr. _A――――_’s
promised second letter, after having just read it once over, I herein
inclose it; having only time to beg the continuance of your prayers,
and to desire you to send this with the former, as soon as possible, to
Yours, &c.,
_G. W._
_July 11, 1743._
_Honoured Sir_,
I Promised in my last to write to you again, and to let you know more
particularly of our persecutions, which are as follow. On _Saturday_
after I wrote to you, I met the society, and after we had sung an hymn,
came brother _I――――_, with my dear wife from _Bristol_. They came into
the society and sat down, while I exhorted them to stedfastness and
patience under the cross. They seemed much strengthened, and ready
for any suffering; for GOD was with us. After that, I desired brother
_I――――_ to pray, which he did. After that I prayed in faith, and was
enabled to plead CHRIST’s promises to his church; though we are but a
little branch. I had not prayed long, but many of us were persuaded,
he would never leave or forsake us. In every prayer we asked direction
how to act. I was persuaded, the only way to still the mob, was, not
to resist or fly from them, but to give myself up wholly to them, and
let them do all that the LORD should permit: for the more we had drawn
back, the more our adversaries rejoiced, and vowed they would and
should put an end to preaching in _Hampton_. The mob, which consisted
of near an hundred, were now about the house, making a terrible noise,
and swearing prodigiously. I went down to them and opened the door, and
asking them what they wanted. I told them, if they wanted my life, I
was willing to deliver it up for JESUS’s sake; but withal I desired to
know, why they either disturbed me or sought my life? For I did not
know I had given them any just cause for either. Some of them said,
I had, by bringing in false doctrine, and impoverishing the poor. I
told them, that they could prove neither, and that it was really false.
They seemed something at a stand; when about five of them begun to be
more exasperated, and took me, in order to throw me into a lime pit. I
told them, they need not force me, for I was willing to suffer, though
unjustly, for JESUS’s sake. But while they were pushing me along,
some neighbours took me in their arms and carried me into one of their
houses; so I was delivered out of their hands. On sabbath-day morning
about twenty of the society met again. We spent the morning in prayer.
In the evening I preached, and had uncommon strength and courage given
me from the LORD, so that death in its ugliest shapes did not at all
terrify me. About five in the afternoon we met in my house. I first
exhorted them to keep their minds close to the LORD, and if the mob
came, not at all to resist, but to make way for them to come to me,
and let them do what the LORD would permit. I then prayed and sung that
hymn, “_Our lives, our blood, &c._” When we had so done, in came the
mob, demanding me to come down. I asked, by what authority they did so?
They swore they would have me. Then said I, so you shall. So they took
me to the lime pit, and threw me in. But O what a power of GOD fell on
my soul! I thought, with _Stephen_, the heavens opened to my sight, and
the LORD JESUS was ready, if I had died, to receive me. I believe my
undaunted courage shook some. I told them, I should meet them at the
judgment, and then their faces would gather paleness. They let me out,
and I came home and kneeled down with the people that were there, and
prayed to, and praised GOD. After that, I exhorted from the three first
verses of the third chapter of the first epistle of _John_. And when
I was just concluding, in came the mob again, and took me to a brook
to throw me in there. One, who was a persecutor but a few days before,
endeavoured to hinder them; but they took me away, and led me all
up the town. I had a sweet walk, and talked and reasoned with the
persecutors all the way. My heart was full of love. Before I had gone
far, all but one agreed to let me go back again, but he insisted upon
my going. I told them, the law was open against them, nevertheless I
was willing to suffer any thing for CHRIST. Then they told me, if I
would forbear preaching but for a month, they would let me go; I told
them, I would make no such promise. So forward I went. One of them
threw me in, and I went to the bottom, but I came up again, with my
hands clasped together. I did not desire to come out, till they fetched
me. Accordingly, in jumped one or two of them and took me out; but then
one maliciously and cowardly pushed me in again, and much bruised and
cut one of my legs against a stone. Some of the others were going to
throw him in for so doing. I came home talking to them. Many seemed
to repent of what they had done, and promised to molest me no more. I
believe, GOD has smote some of their consciences. One who was the chief,
and would not agree that I should go back, I hear by several, he says
he will in no wise touch me again. Many advise us to prosecute them;
but if they are quiet, I am content, and can say from my heart, “Father,
forgive them.” I should be glad if you would be here next _Sunday_. In
the mean time pray for me, who am,
Your unworthy brother and servant,
_T. A._