Theophilus Lindsey, London, to Mary Scott, Milborne Port, [Tuesday] 2 July 1782.

London. July. 2. 1782

   I shall be very happy, my good Madam, if the inclosed remarks on the passages of Scripture which raised some scruples in your mind, be cleared up to your satisfaction, and shall be ready at any time to give you what assistance of the like kind may be in my power, though various incidents and circumstances may prevent my answering your letters so soon as I could wish.

   Any little civilities that it has been in my way to shew to your brother he is well intitled to from the seriousness of his disposition and that honest ingenuous mind and love of truth which appears to be and I trust will remain and grow in him. In the part however which he has taken, he will have difficulties to encounter with, which you also have experienced, and which every one must expect who is constrained to go contrary to the religious sentiments of others, especially on points which those others unfortunately and mistakenly think to be essential to salvation, whereas no opinions whatsoever are absolutely necessary to recommend us to the favour of God, but only sincerity in seeking his truth, and in following it in our lives when we have found it.

   I am in good hope that one most near and dear to you, may some time or other see in this light the sentiments which you and your brother have been led to embrace from searching the scriptures of truth for yourselves. But should it be otherwise, you will make all due allowances for long associations of ideas and narrow habits of thinking which many persons otherwise of great improved abilities and learning can never break through even when the strongest and most glaring evidence is placed before them. We are to love Christ more than father or mother: but then it is a part of our christian duty always to honour and repay that affection to parents which is due to them.

   I write now in expectation of your brother calling upon me, and am interrupted so that I can add no more but my hopes that his health may be confirmed in the country and that you may be a mutual comfort and support to each other.

   I remain, with sincere esteem, Madam, your friend and servant

                                                         T. Lindsey

Text: Scott Collection, London (private). Address: For / Miss Scott / Milborne Port / Somerset.  No postmark. See also Isabella Scott and Catherine Scott, ed. A Family Biography 1662 to 1908 (London: James Nesbet & Co., 1908),  pp. 78-79; and Timothy Whelan, ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 1720-1840, vol. 4, pp. 277-78.