_To the Bishop of Sarum._
_Nov. 30, 1742._
_My Lord_,
I Beg your Lordship’s pardon for troubling you with this. I believe
your Lordship will not be offended, when you know the cause. There
is one Mr. _C――――_, a true lover of JESUS CHRIST, who has been much
honoured in bringing many poor sinners in _Wiltshire_ to the knowledge
of themselves and of GOD. He is a member of the Church of _England_,
but sadly opposed by the clergy in _Wiltshire_, as well as by many
that will come to hear him preach. In a letter, dated _November 16th_,
from _Toxham_, he writes thus: “The enemy seems to be more awakened in
the villages round about us, than before. The ministers of _Bramble_,
_Segery_, _Langley_, and many others, have strictly forbidden the
church-wardens and overseers to let any of the _C――――_’s have any
thing out of the parish; and they obey them, and tell the poor,
if they cannot stop them from following any other way, they will
famish them. Several of the poor, who have great families (to my own
knowledge) have already been denied any help, for this reason, because
they follow this way. Some of the people have, out of fear, denied
they ever came, and others have been made to promise they will come
no more; whilst the most part come at the loss of friends and all
they have. When the officers threatned some to take away their pay;
they answered, if you starve us, we will go, and rather than we will
forbear, we will live upon grass like the kine. Surely the cries of
the distressed people have already entered into the ears of the LORD
of _Sabaoth_.” In another letter I received from him last night, he
writes thus: “I should be glad if you could mention the cruelty of the
ministers of _Bramble_, and _Segery_, to the Bishop of _Sarum_; indeed,
their doings are inhuman. The cry of the people, because of their
oppression, is very great; several suffer amazingly.”――In compliance
with my dear friend’s request, I presume to lay the matter, as
he represents it, before your Lordship, being persuaded that your
Lordship will not favour persecuting practices, or approve of such
proceedings to keep people to the Church of _England_. Should this
young man leave the Church, hundreds would leave it with him. But I
know that at present he has no such design. If your Lordship pleases
to give me leave, I would wait upon your Lordship upon the least
notice. Or if your Lordship is pleased to send a line into _Wiltshire_,
to know the truth of the matter, and judge accordingly, it will
satisfy, my Lord,
Your Lordship’s most obedient son and servant,
_G. W._