London, July 5, 1796

DEAR SIR,

IT is probable that neither Mr. nor Mrs. B*** will tell you how highly we have been gratified by so much of their company as they could favour us with, and therefore I mention it myself. We should have been pleased to have had them with us every day, and from morning till night, if possible. You send me good remittances from Scotland.

Mr. E*** has written to me himself — please to present my love to him. I do not expect leisure to write an Essay for many months to come. I have thoughts of a journey to Southampton soon, and when I return I must, if possible, resume the Life of Mr. Grimshaw, of which I have written little more than a sheet, though I made a beginning in February. But if I live another month, I shall enter my 72d year, so that no dependence should be placed on me. I may expect to be laid aside, or called home, from day to day.

Mr. B***, my curate, suited me and my people exactly; but I am well satisfied that his path f duty leads to B***, and therefore I part with him without reluctance. What are my private feelings or convenience when put in competition

with what I really believe to be the call and will of the Lord! However, I expect another curate in a few days, a particular friend, whom I know to be gracious, humble, and able.

Some have wondered, of late, how I could stay with comfort in my present situation: I hope their wonder is over before now. But I will tell you, in the first place, that nothing is imposed upon me, as a clergyman, that at all hurts my conscience. Then farther, I find liberty in the service, my church is full and crowded, my auditory is peaceful and attentive, there are many eminent christians among them, a general seriousness is upon the face of the congregation; some, and as times go, many are successfully awakened, and we have particularly a fine shew of young people springing up, and increasing in numbers and graces, like willows by the water-courses. In a word, the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the hungry are fed, the burdened are set at liberty. With these tokens of the Lord’s presence amongst us, and his goodness afforded in my private walk and public work, I am well satisfied that I am where he would have me to be. If he accepts us, and visits us, it is a small matter if some of our brethren are displeased. If he is pleased to smile upon us, we can bear their censures. And besides, if I was to leave this church, to whom must I go? The Presbyterians, Independents, Baptists, Seceders, 8cc. all say with equal positiveness, “we are the people.” But I cannot join with them all. By the grace of God, I will love them and pray for them all; but I will join with none of them. I will stay where I am. And if I were to choose again, I would make the same choice to-morrow. I never did, I trust I never shall repent it. My reasons assigned in the Apologia are more and more confirmed to me, the longer I live.

My time and paper are finished. Farewell for the present. May the Lord be with you and bless you in all things. Phil. iii. 15, 16.

I am sincerely, dear Sir,

Your affectionate,
J. N.