Bristol.
Nov. 29, 1786.
I NOW prophesy upon the thick boughs indeed. I may begin to preach half an hour before the stated time, if I please, for it is generally full by that time, or an hour before. I believe some scores will have reason to bless God for sending me hither. Several people of rank were so prejudiced that they stormed again, but God levelled it by the first discourse, and they have since begged my pardon, and owned it. I told them, that if they were partakers of grace, they could not hate my doctrine; and if they were graceless, I would rather have their ill will, than their good word. They have nothing from me but right down hard strokes, or plain truth in plain English. God does separate them under me.
Old John will have a deal of labour after I am gone. One young lady, belonging to the legal tribe, has lost her shackles, and has assumed the wings of a dove, covered with yellow gold. There is a rendezvous opened for me, at a person's house, where the others meet me-all of the popish tribe; but they stick close b my ministry, and God owns the doctrine. I shall occasion a deal of schism here, but I trust it is only of that sort which the word of God causes to be made. I do not mention the name, arminian, in the pulpit, but free-will, self-righteousness, and falling from grace, these are the feathers that I pluck at; and when I am on the doctrine of election, God gives me such happiness that many begin to think it is not a horrible decree, by the comfort that I enjoy in it. Thus you see I have got a little of the serpent's wisdom, to the injuring the serpent's cause. Class leaders, and all, come to hear me; in some things they say I am too severe, but yet they continue to come notwithstanding my severity. The manager wishes that my bent was fixed here for good and all, and so do hundreds more, and declare that the greatest part of my doctrine is entirely new; in short, I never saw so universal a power, and such an attention, in my life.
And as for my smutty congregation at Kingswood, I mean gentlemen of the coal trade, they are alive, and very fond of their brother trade in the pulpit. One gentleman, who never was known to part with a shilling for God, has slipped a guinea into my hand, and offered to fetch me in his carriage to dine with him; but I chose to walk, lest I should commit another unpardonable offence by comparing the carriage to Balaam's ass, as the Chelsea, he goes current here. You must cast these scraps into the common treasury, and lay it before the committee of the board at Monkwell-street, and at Providence, that they may make their observations, before it passes the privy seal. Farewell, worshipful gentlemen; I have no more to add but love, prayers, and wishes,
From your faithful servitor,
W. HUNTINGTON.
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