_Savannah, Jan. 16, 1740._
_Reverend and dear Sir_,
WITH much pleasure (tho’ not till last week) I received your kind
affectionate letter. I thank you for it with all my soul, and pray GOD
to reward you for this, and all other your works of faith and labours
of love. You may depend on my not being prejudiced against you or
your brethren, by any evil report. They only endear you to me more
and more; and were your enemies to represent you as black as hell,
I should think you were the more glorious in the sight of heaven.
Your sweet criticisms and remarks upon my journal and sermons, were
exceeding acceptable, and very just. I assure you, dear Sir, I am
fully convinced of the doctrine of election, free justification, and
final perseverance. My observations on the Quakers, were only intended
for those particular persons with whom I then conversed. The tenets
of the quakers in general, about _justification_, I take to be false
and unscriptural. Your adversaries need take no advantage against you,
by any thing I have written; for I think it every minister’s duty to
declare against the corruptions of that church to which they belong,
and not to look upon those as true members of their communion, who
deny its publick constitutions. This is your case in _Scotland_,
and ours in _England_. I see no other way for us to act at present,
than to go on preaching the truth as it is in JESUS; and then if our
brethren cast us out, GOD will direct us to take that course which
is most conducive to his glory, and his people’s good. I think I have
but one objection against your proceedings; “Your insisting only on
_presbyterian government_, exclusive of all other ways of worshipping
GOD.” Will not this, _dear Sir_, necessarily lead you (whenever you
get the upper-hand) to oppose and persecute all that differ from you
in their church government, or outward way of worshipping GOD? Our
dear brother and fellow-labourer Mr. _G―――― T――――_ thinks this will
be the consequence, and said he would write to you about it. As for
my own part, (though I profess myself a minister of the church of
_England_) I am of a _catholic spirit_; and if I see a man who loves
the LORD JESUS in sincerity, I am not very solicitous to what outward
communion he belongs. The kingdom of GOD, I think, does not consist
in any such thing. These are my sentiments, dear Sir, and I write them
out of love――I am ashamed (because only a babe in CHRIST) to pretend
as it were to direct; but true friendship needs no apology. GOD
is doing great things in _America_. My journal, which I send over
with this, will shew you what he has done already. Your welfare is
much upon my heart, and as I am enabled, I make mention of you in my
prayers. Affairs of the Orphan-house go on well. Some few, even _here_,
love the LORD JESUS. Oh, dear Sir, pray for us, and especially for
Your weak unworthy brother and fellow-labourer in CHRIST,
_G. W._