_To J―――― B――――._
_Good Hope, (South-Carolina) July 2, 1740._
_My dear Brother B――――_,
IS it true, that one night whilst you was expounding, you told your hearers, from your own experience, that “they could not go on without throwing aside the means of grace?” or words to that purpose? If so, I pity you; for you are not only misled yourself, but are also misguiding others. But this is no more than I expected. I think you begun to teach too soon, and before you had a commission given you from above. Brother _J――――_ was of the same opinion, before I left _England_. For that reason, I would not take you to _Georgia_. Blessed be GOD, I have no such over-forward spirits there. My dear _B――――_, I write in love. For CHRIST’s sake try your spirit: I fear you was never yet truly humbled. I know you have had joy; but I always thought it was joy floating on the surface of an unmortified heart. From such a joy, good LORD deliver us! O that you had been in the wilderness a little longer! then you might have been an experienced teacher; but I fear you are now only a novice. May the LORD keep you from falling into the condemnation of the devil. I write not this to damp, but to regulate your spirit; if you are humble, you will take it kind. GOD knows, I wish all the LORD’s servants were prophets; but I would not have my Master’s work suffer by a too heady way of proceeding. Why should you dishonour him by acting above your sphere; whereas you might honour him by acting in it. Every one is not fit to be a public expounder. To build up awakened sinners in private, is what is more wanted at present than young unexperienced preachers. But I have done; I fear I have offended my brother: forgive me this wrong. As GOD was pleased first to work upon you by my ministry, you must always expect to be watched over by
Your affectionate friend, brother and servant,