_To Mr. N._
_Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._
_Honoured Sir_,
BE not displeased at the contents of this; if I was not persuaded
that love to your soul, and my duty towards GOD, moved me to write,
I should be silent. When last at _Gloucester_, I heard you was
highly offended at my meetings in the fields, and at the same time
countenanced and encouraged the acting of plays in the _Boothall_.
This I thought highly unbecoming the character of a christian
magistrate, whose peculiar business it is to be a terror to evil doers,
and a praise to them that do well. This made me to speak against those
proceedings in my sermons. This is the occasion of my troubling you
with a letter. I cannot think I have delivered my soul, unless, with
all meekness and humility, I exhort you henceforward not to promote
or so much as any way countenance the stage-players. In our common
law they are stiled _sturdy beggars_. As a minister of the king, upon
that account it is your duty to put a stop to them: As a disciple
and minister of JESUS CHRIST, the king of kings, you are obliged,
_honoured Sir_, to exert your authority in suppressing them. It is
notorious that such meetings are the nurseries of debauchery; they
are the pest of our nation, and the bane of true christianity: To
be present at, or in the least to contribute towards their support,
is therefore a great sin; but to countenance them by our authority,
and let them act by our permission, what is this but becoming public
patrons for vice and immorality? It is not only sinning ourselves,
but it is taking pleasure in the sins of others. This the apostle
accounted the highest pitch of heathenish wickedness. Honoured Sir,
pray be not offended: These are not the words of a madman; no, they
are the words of truth and soberness, and words which our LORD will
approve of, when I stand with you before him in judgment. However men
may now put wrong names to things, and call that an innocent amusement,
which has no other tendency but to corrupt and debauch the heart, yet
then, Sir, we shall see all things clearly; then shall you know that
it was my duty to write as I have done, and will confess before men
and angels that you had an humble and affectionate warning given you,
by, honoured Sir,
Your very humble servant,
_G. W._