_To the Rev. Mr. ――――._
_Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1739._
_Rev. and dear Sir_,
THE many favours I have received at your hands, are still deeply
impressed upon my heart; as I have often said, so I say again, I hope
they will never be forgotten by me so long as I live. But, reverend
Sir, I have observed some particulars in your principles and conduct,
which I must confess have given me much concern, and of which, from
love and gratitude, I think myself obliged to inform you. ―――― I
believe, dear Sir, you have often been inwardly offended at me,
because you suspected, I thought you to be no true christian. Your
suspicions were not groundless. I cannot yet think, that a thorough
work of conversion was ever wrought upon your soul. I fear you deny,
that “JESUS CHRIST is truly and properly GOD.” I infer this, from
your not reading the _Nicene Creed_, and your palliating that text I
once urged to prove it. “I and my Father are one.” I doubt also, your
owning “Original Sin.” This I gather from your wondering I should
touch on such a point, when I preached my sermon on justification by
JESUS CHRIST. Besides, the sad definition you once gave of religion
in a letter to your brother ――――; the stranger also which you seemed
to be to the “devil’s temptations,” when I conversed with you; and
your supposing, that conversion was to be wrought in the soul by
moral persuasion; all these put together, dear Sir, convince me, that
you were never yet truly and effectually born again of GOD. Besides,
_Reverend Sir_, does your going weekly to a club, where the company
play at cards, and sit up late at night, does this, dear Sir, agree
with your holy vocation, either as a christian or a minister? Be not
offended, Rev. Sir, at this plainness of speech. I have forborne a
long while; love and gratitude would not suffer me to forbear any
longer. I wish I had no occasion to write in this manner. I believe
you so ingenuous as not to be angry with me. I pray GOD to quell all
resentment in your heart, and send you his holy spirit to guide you
into all truth. Your brother’s eyes are now in some measure opened:
he is convinced of the perfect righteousness wrought out for him by
JESUS CHRIST, and ere now I hope hath received faith to apply it to
his heart. This is the doctrine of the church of _England_. Unless
you hold this and other evangelical principles, how, dear Sir, is it
consistent with sincerity to eat her bread? With humility, respect,
and love, do I offer these things to your consideration――Be pleased to
weigh them in a proper balance, and reflect from what principle they
are wrote, and I am persuaded you will not be offended at, reverend
and dear Sir,
♦Your most obliged friend and servant,
_G. W._
♦ ‘You’ replaced with ‘Your’