_Thus my honoured friend, I heartily pray God to hasten the time, for his being clearly enlightened into all the doctrines of divine revelation, that we may thus be closely united in principle and judgment, as well as heart and affection. And then if the Lord should call us to it, I care not if I go with him to prison, or to death. For like |Paul| and |Silas|, I hope we shall sing praises to God, and count it our highest honour to suffer for Christ’s sake, and to lay down our lives for the brethren_.
_Bethesda_ in _Georgia_, _December 24, 1740_.
_Reverend and very dear Brother_,
GOD only knows, what unspeakable sorrow of heart I have felt on your account, since I left _England_ last. Whether it be my infirmity or not, I frankly confess, that _Jonah_ could not go with more reluctance against _Nineveh_, than I now take pen in hand to write against you. Was nature to speak, I had rather die than do it; and yet if I am faithful to GOD, and to my own and other’s souls, I must not stand neuter any longer. I am very apprehensive, that our common adversaries will rejoice to see us differing among ourselves. But what can I say? The children of GOD are in danger of falling into error. Nay, numbers have been misled, whom GOD has been pleased to work upon by my ministry, and a greater number are still calling aloud upon me, to shew also my opinion; I must then shew, that I know no man after the flesh, and that I have no respect to persons, any further than is consistent with my duty to my Lord and Master, JESUS CHRIST.
This letter, no doubt, will lose me many friends: and for this cause, perhaps GOD has laid this difficult task upon me, even to see whether I am willing to forsake all for him, or not. From such considerations as these, I think it my duty to bear an humble testimony, and earnestly to plead for the truths, which I am convinced, are clearly revealed in the word of GOD. In the defence whereof I must use great plainness of speech, and treat my dearest friends upon earth with the greatest simplicity, faithfulness and freedom, leaving the consequences of all to GOD.
For some time before, and especially since my last departure from _England_, both in public and private, by preaching and printing, you have been propagating the doctrine of _universal redemption_. And when I remember, how _Paul_ reproved _Peter_ for his dissimulation, I fear I have been sinfully silent too long. O then be not angry with me, dear and honoured Sir, if now I deliver my soul, by telling you, that I think in this you greatly err.
’Tis not my design to enter into a long debate on GOD’s decrees. I refer you to Dr. _Edwards_ his _Veritas Redux_, which, I think, is unanswerable, except in a certain point, concerning a _middle sort_ between elect and reprobate, which he himself in effect afterwards condemns.