Richard Ashworth to a Mr. Jatron[?], undated and without location (c. 1740s).

My friend,

   In compasion [sic] to the many vacant meetings especially about you, & in consideration yt Harry gives me very acceptable asistance, and often preaches to the good likeing of divers of our people, but thro’ age & Infirmity is not able often to go out, we think it proper to excuse you at present from any stated day of service, except occasionally or by way of Exchange when some particular matter or occasion may fall out.  Every one’s talents & capacity is both the Reason & rule of their service, and none should hide their Lord’s Mony.  Nor be found Solo at his Coming.  I am longing to hear how Armystid goes on wh Romaine’s prayers [illegible word] Love & [illegible word]  and am Yours

                                                   Rd Ashworth

Text: Eng. MS. 369, fol. 6, John Rylands University Library of Manchester. Richard Ashworth was the Baptist minister at Rossendale, 1715 to 1751. Given his dates, the letter is most likely from the 1740s. William Romaine (1714-1795) was the evangelical Calvinistic vicar at St. Anne’s, Blackfriars, London, 1766-1795. The work referred to above is probably his Duty of Praying for Others:  Enforced by Some Arguments taken from the Success of Those Prayers, which the Church made for St. Peter’s Deliverance from Prison (1757).