"THOMAS BRISTOL."

_1March 21, 1768._

2"To the Right Reverend Father in God THOMAS Lord Bishop of Bristol, Rector of the Three United Parishes of St. Mary-le-Bow, St. Pancras, and Allhallows, Honey-lane.

3"My Lord,

4"The first sentence in your Address to our united Parishes gave us inexpressible concern, as we found ourselves charged with some behaviour which had been the occasion _of great pain and grief to your Lordship_; but we were happily relieved from this distress, as soon as your Lordship condescended to mention the nature of the crime with which we are charged; _viz._ 'That we had suffered the subscription for the daily prayers to be diminished, and reduced almost to nothing.'

5"When we reflect for twenty-four years past you have laboured amongst us in the Lord, we can have no doubt but this endearing connection which has so long subsisted between us will occasion your Lordship to receive with _paternal candour_ every plea we have to offer in our defence.

6"Permit us then to remind your Lordship, that, though the attendance on the morning prayers has been generally omitted, and the subscription to them reduced, yet we have hitherto endeavoured to promote the honour and reputation of St. Mary-le-Bow, all that we could. We acknowledge with your Lordship, 'that it is one of the first and most conspicuous Churches in the City,' and we often view its lofty spire both with pride and pleasure; we are happy in 'its being the principal of the Archbishop of Canterbury's _peculiars_, the chief Court of Arches, where so many Bishops are confirmed, and so much public business is transacted;' and we have always endeavoured, at a great expence, to keep every part of the Church in such good order, as that it might both decently and conveniently accommodate the good company which frequently resort there on the above solemn occasions.--Surely, my Lord, this part of our conduct must convince the world, and your Lordship, that those motives which you have suggested to us _have already produced_ every effect which ought to be expected from them.

7"But to enter more particularly into our defence.--Our not attending these _subscription prayers_ is not generally owing either _to the want of time_, or to _the desire of saving the expence_, but proceeds from a very different motive--a motive which we cannot urge, till we have again bespoke your Lordship's affectionate candour. It is this: That we are not convinced of 'the reasonableness, the propriety, the expediency, and necessity of having the daily prayers' at those hours, and under those circumstances, for which your Lordship so warmly recommends a subscription; and there are two reasons on which our doubts are founded.

8"The first is, that as your Lordship has undertaken the care of our souls, and in consequence of this trust, receives at least three hundred pounds _per annum_, we think ourselves fully authorised to believe, that this _extraordinary duty_, as your Lordship properly calls it, cannot be essentially necessary to our salvation; for, if it was so, it would, and must have been, a part of your _Lordship's own duty_, and consequently have rendered any extraordinary allowance unnecessary: And we think ourselves assured, that the other high offices which your Lordship sustains in the Christian Church could by no means divert you from duly executing the prior engagements made with us,--even though you had been obliged to employ a Deputy to share with you the honour of attempting our salvation.

9"Nor, secondly, is it possible that these services referred to should be omitted, if they were really so absolutely necessary to prevent 'the eternal reproach and infamy in this world, and the next,' of _us_ who are committed to your care. Your Lordship, receiving 300_l. per annum_ for watching over this flock, could never permit it to be involved in _eternal infamy_, when so small a boon (as your Lordship acknowledges) as 25_l. per annum_ would prevent it. Far from us be such imaginary fears as these!

10The great _Apostles_, to whom your Lordship succeeds in an uninterrupted line, were inspired with such divine zeal to promote the salvation of men, that so far from their hesitating to part with twenty-five pounds out of three hundred pounds _per annum_, which is but 8_l._ 6_s._ 8_d. per cent._ deduction, they calmly received 'bonds and afflictions, neither counted they their lives dear unto themselves, so that they might finish their course with joy, and the ministry which they had received.' (Acts xx. 24, &c.) 'They gloried in having coveted no man's silver or gold' (neither for themselves nor their Curates); and were enabled to make this honourable appeal to their flock,--'Ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto our necessities, and to those who were with us.'

11"For our part, therefore, we shall rest assured, that as 'the line of the Apostolic Succession is uninterrupted,' so also is the 'Apostolic Zeal;' and that, 'as the labourer is worthy of his hire,' so also is 'the hire worthy of a labourer;' and therefore we hope your Lordship will permit us to conclude, that when a wise, a learned, and pious Minister of Christ receives _the hire_, he will conscientiously perform _the labour_, or cause it to be performed.

12"Our dependance, therefore, on your Lordship's exact and devout views of this _awful_ and _responsible connection_ must necessarily calm every fear on our part concerning our _own_ 'eternal infamy and reproach on this account;' for we are legally committed to your care, for the established outward _means of grace_;--and such means as are absolutely necessary for rendering your Lordship a good Shepherd, or us a well-fed flock, we are very confident we shall never want, whilst we have the pleasure of being under your spiritual guidance and instruction.

13"We are, my Lord, your Lordship's

14"Most respectful, affectionate,

15"and obliged humble servants,