_To Mr. C――――._
_London, October 24, 1767._
_My dear Sir_,
SUPPOSING you made this addition to the motto of your coat of arms,
_Nemo me impune lacessit_? He that toucheth GOD’s people, toucheth the
apple of GOD’s eye. That is a very tender part. I am glad your diocesan
is expected soon. I have no suspicion of his beating a retreat. “To
arms, to arms,” must be the watch word now. It was the constancy of
the three children, (the three heroes) that confounded their enemies.
The company of the Son of man is never so sweet, as when he walks with
us in the fiery furnace, never so glorious, as when he is seen keeping
his honest _Daniels_ company in a den of lions. You have therefore your
answers ready, “We are not careful about this matter; we will not bow
down to the golden image which _Nebuchadnezzar_ hath set up; the GOD
whom we serve is able to deliver us.” If you do not like these examples,
take _Peter_ and _John_. Suppose dear ―――― to be _John_, and ―――― to
be _Peter_. You know how the high-priests addressed them, you know
their answer. By their answer, by their boldness, they took notice that
they had been with JESUS. Nothing, nothing can stand before an honest
truly _Israelitish_ heart. But this is enough for a sick-bed lecture. I
would only add, that those who endeavour to entangle CHRIST’s followers
in their talk, will in the end be entangled themselves. Good-morning
to you all. Remember the watch word. Stand out your full time in
guard-hours, send word at about what distance the enemy keeps, or how
near he approaches, or what further feint attacks he makes, and, GOD
willing, you shall hear again from,
Yours, &c. &c. &c. in our LORD, GOD almighty,
_G. W._