a crucified Redeemer. I hope the time will come that many of the priests also shall be obedient to the word, and that of the honourable women there will be not a few. I know you
will say Amen. For the present, my dear Sir, adieu. Remember me to the doctor, and Mr. H, when you write to or see them, and assure yourself of a constant remembrance in the poor but sincere petitions of, very dear Sir,
Yours most affectionately in the best bonds, G. W.
LETTER DCCXXVI. To Dr. S.
Very dear Sir, London, Jan. 17, 1749.
I Received your last kind letter, soon after I had been informing dear Mr. H that I did not chuse to bring my friends into trouble; but that if providence should give me a clear call, I might accept of his invitation. This perhaps may never happen. But if it should, wherefore should dear Mr. S be so much alarmed? What if his people are prejudiced against me? Might not a sermon, under God, lessen their prejudices, and perhaps awaken some souls to a sense of the divine life? Such things have been done, such a thing, through the divine blessing, may be repeated again. The way of duty is the way of safety. Our Lord requires of us to confess him in his gospel members and ministers. To be afraid of professing the one, or publicly to own, associate with, and strengthen the hands and hearts of the other, especially when they are set for the defence of the gospel, is, in my opinion, very offensive in the sight of our common Lord, and can only proceed from a want of more love to him and his dear people. I am quite of your mind, my dear friend, that our Lord recommends to us the wisdom of the serpent, but then it is always to be blended with the innocence of the dove. How this is done, in effect, by disowning the open and avowed proclaimers of his eternal truths, I cannot I must confess at present see into. You say, "we are most of us too warm already:" but I hope you do not think, that being ashamed of any of your Lord's ministers is an instance of it? Thanks be to God that Mr. H seems, as you express it, "to
