_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._