_To the Same._
_Hampton, July 25, 1743._
_My dear Friend_,
ON _Thursday_ I came here, and expected to be attacked; because I
had heard, that the mob which had been so outragious towards you and
others for so long time, had now threatened, that if ever I came there
again, they would have a piece of my black gown to make aprons with. No
sooner had I entered the town, but I saw and heard the signals, such as
blowing of horns, and ringing of bells for gathering the mob. My soul
was kept quite easy. I preached in a large grass plat from these words,
“And seeing the grace of GOD, he exhorted them with full purpose of
heart to cleave unto the LORD;” and as it happened, I finished my
sermon and pronounced the blessing, just as the ring-leader of the mob
broke in upon us, which I soon perceived disappointed and grieved them
very much. One of them, as I was coming down from the table, called me
_coward_; but I told him, they should hear from me another way. I then
went into the house, and preached upon the stair case to a large number
of serious souls; but these real troublers of _Israel_ soon came in
to mock and mob us. But feeling what I never felt before, as you know
I have very little natural courage, strength and power being given us
from above, I leaped down stairs, and all ran away before me. However
they continued making a noise about the house till midnight, abusing
the poor people as they went home, and as we hear they broke one young
lady’s arm in two places. Brother _A――――_ they threw a second time into
the pool, in which operation he received a deep wound in his leg. _John
C――――_’s life, that second _Bunyan_, was much threatened.――Young _W――――
H――――_ they wheeled in a barrow to the pool’s side, lamed his brother,
and grievously hurt several others. Hearing that two or three clergymen
were in the town, one of whom was a justice of the peace, I went to
them; but alas! I seemed unto them as one that mocked, and instead of
redressing, they laid the cause of all the grievances at my door; but,
by the help of my GOD, I shall still persist in preaching myself, and
in encouraging those (as I know no law of GOD or man against it) who
I believe are truly moved by the Holy Ghost. As I came out from the
clergymen, two of the unhappy mobbers were particularly insolent, and
huzza’d us out of town. “Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad,” for
now I humbly hope, I begin to be a disciple of JESUS CHRIST; since to
suffer for, as well as to believe and preach his precious truths, and
own his despis’d people, is now given to,
Yours, &c.
_G. W._