His Residence at Bath

My dear Children, — You have seen me inducted into my new, and which has proved my permanent, and is likely to prove my final, ecclesiastical connexion. Though the charm of novelty soon wore ofi, the congregation still increased. The place has three times been enlarged, yet in its present extent it is too small to meet applications for pews and sittings. During the lengthened period of my pastoral relation how many have I admitted into the church who have adorned their profession! How many have I also attended to the house appointed for all living! How much precious dust is reposing in my burying-ground! The fathers, where are they? and our brethren too? yea, and the sons, “as plants grown up in their youth and the daughters, “as corner-stones polished after the similitude of a palace? where are all these? I, too, can” go to the grave to weep there — I also —

‘’ My soul desireth the first ripe fruit;” yet we have no reason to despond, but much cause to be thankful. Instead of the fathers are the children. As many in the ranks have fallen, others have been baptized for the dead. The house is filled with inhabitants. The table is famished with guests. Peace is within the walls, and prosperity within the palace.

It is worthy of grateful acknowledgment, especially considering the restless and disorganizing times in which we have lived, and the discords and divisions in so many churches, that the harmony of this religious interest has never been broken. Yet there have been considerable differences of judgment with regard to some measures, and of opinion with regard to some subjects; and we have not only had mixed communion, but have extended full membership, and even office-bearing to our Baptist friends. Yet there has been no jar. ‘^ The dipped and the sprinkled have dwelt in peace.^^ Bigotry on either side is not to be conquered by bigotry on the other, but by an opposite disposition. This continued state of things is very honourable to the members and deacons of the church, and shows that their religion has reached the temper as well as the understanding, and inspired them with the meekness of wisdom to pursue” things by which one may edify another.^’ Should it, in any degree, serve to commend the pastor, it may perhaps, under God, be ascribed to his preferring influence to authority, and resolving to take no share in any party difference whatever.

You know I always loved peace as well as truth, and liberality, and order. I hardly think I could have taken the charge of any church that indispensably required a candidate for communion to deliver before them an oral account of his conversion and experience, or to send in a written one. This mode of admission keeps back many who ought to be encouraged to come forward. Such are many females; such are the weak and timid in spirit; and such also are those whose religion has been so gradual as to yield none of those striking circumstances which a narrative loves and seeks after. And how often is this the case! so that the convert can hardly describe anything but the result; like a man with a plant, who sees indeed the growth, while the growing escapes him. With us, the minister, or one of the officers, or one of the members, converses alone with the individual, and reports the nature and ground of his satisfaction at the church-meeting, when the matter is left for a month,

during which inquiries are made after his moral character and deportment; at the end of which, if no objection is advanced, he is admitted. We are not qualified to judge the heart. We are to be influenced by favourable appearances, and should always lean to the side of charity rather than of suspicion. Some may think this rather dangerous, and affect to be alarmed for the purity of the church; but we have had from the beginning few, very few instances of excommunication or suspension, compared with the exactors of more rigid church-discipline. The truth is, their requisition never keeps back any improper person who wishes and is resolved to enter. The condition is a cheap passport which he can easily procure, so many accounts of conversions and experiences being published and sold.*

A little before my ordination an event took place the most interesting to my happiness, character, and usefulness. I was united to one of the best of women. This was Anne, the eldest daughter of the Rev. Edward Davies, a pious and evangelical clergyman of the Establishment, first rector of Bengeworth, Worcestershire, and afterwards of Coy Church. My acquaintance with her commenced on my first visit to London. Mr. Winter being acquainted with her excellent father, and knowing that he then resided near Surrey Chapel, wrote a letter to introduce me to him, and to Jaeg that he would kindly notice me, and give me any hints of improvement he might deem necessary. I soon called and delivered it. It was then for the first time I saw Miss Davies. During the eight weeks I was preaching at Surrey Chapel, I was often invited to the house, and you will not wonder if sometimes I contrived to call without an invitation, for I felt a pleasing and powerful attraction. Yet I was able to act under the impression with some prudence. I concealed

* This subject is noticed again in Letter XIX., where we have added an explanatory note. my affection as much as possible, till I had more fully observed, and found that observation justified and increased attachment. Yet I returned into the country, and paid another visit to Surrey Chapel before I ventured to make any direct advances. I had some reason to hope that my regard would not be contemned by the young lady herself. But there were parental difficulties to be overcome, which I can much more easily appreciate and excuse now than I could then. I had no patrimony: as yet I had nothing like an official provision, or even proper settlement. I was indeed much followed as a preacher, but it was justly said that popularity was very dangerous and corrupting; that many had fallen by it; that I was .very young, and my character unformed, and as yet untried. Waiting, of course, was, therefore, recommended; and, as an absolute refusal was not given, the counsel was more easily followed.

My intended must have deemed me rather an awkward lover, and not a very satisfactory correspondent, for I always disliked letter-writing, and I had little leisure for courting by post. A part of what some of her sex would have deemed wanting with me, was, I can truly say, the effect of design and principle. I always felt for women who are flattered to adoration before marriage, and obliged to put up with at least comparative neglect and indifference afterwards; and I resolved to raise no expectations which I could not hope to realize, and not to suffer the husband to belie and disgrace the suitor.

I am, &c.