_Philadelphia, Nov. 28, 1739._
_Reverend Sir_,
I AM not willing to go on shore till I have performed my promise,
and sent you a line. I heartily wish I could write something which
might advance the glory of GOD and the good of his church. As we both
profess ourselves ministers of the gospel, these two things ought
to be our chief and only concern, and more especially at this time,
when men seek their own and not the things of the LORD JESUS. Oh,
_dear Sir_, the care of souls I find to be a matter of the greatest
importance. You have a great number committed to your charge. What
a dreadful thing will it be for any of them to perish through your
neglect? And yet I fear, Sir, you do not walk worthy of the holy
vocation wherewith you are called. It is no good report that I hear
of you in common life. Your practice contradicts your doctrine, and
what good can you do, if every one of your parishioners, whilst you
are preaching, may reply, “Physician heal thyself?” Besides, Sir,
how can you preach CHRIST to others, when you are a stranger to his
power yourself? It is next to impossible. I make no apology for this
plainness of speech. Simplicity becomes embassadors of CHRIST. I am,
reverend Sir,
Your obliged friend and servant,
_G. W._