Abraham Booth, London, to Orlando Buckley, 26 July 1785.

f. 26r.

London, 26 July, 1785.

My dear Friend,

         I recd your very obliging & affectionate letters by favour of Mr. Crompton. – The account you have given of your view & your hopes, as to spiritual things, I read with peculiar pleasure: &, though your profession of faith before the Church was accepted, yet, doubtless, had you been more at liberty in your mind at that time, it would have been the more satisfactory.

         In answer to your query, I observe; That I did not, in my Apology, consider the particular case your state. I will now, however, express my views of it, in a few words. I think there is a difference between a Baptist Church admitting a person to communion, & whom they consider as unbaptized; & a baptized person receiving the Lord’s supper, with others who are unbaptized. For an unbaptized person has no ^immediate^ right to communion at the Lord’s table in any church; whereas it is not so, with regard to a baptized believer: for he has a right, both by divine appointment, & on the ground of apostolic practice. In my opinion, therefore, there is a considerable difference between the two cases. Yet, were I in your situation, thought I might not, perhaps, think it absolutely [fol. 26v.] unlawful to sit down, occasionally, with a Paedobaptist church holding the doctines of the gospel; I should, nevertheless, have my difficulties on the ground, you mention: & perhaps, if I did at all sit down with then, I should think it my duty to inform the minister prior to my receiving the holy supper among them, That neither he, nor his people, must consider my having occasional communion with them, as an indication that I looked upon Infant Sprinkling to be Christian Baptism. Taking this previous step, I should not, at present, think it absolutely sinful: but yet, if I could have occasional communion with any ^Baptist^ church, holding the same faith with myself, by travelling 10, 15, or 20 miles, a few times in the year, I should think that my duty rather than the former. Such, Brother, are my free thoughts on the subject. – In order that you may be admitted to occasional communion with any Baptist Church, if you shall have opportunity & inclination for it, I will give you a recommendation on the next page of this letter. – We have had but few additions to the Church since you went into the country; but we have several proposed for communion; public worship on a Lord’s day is well attended; & we are at peace. – Shall be glad to see you in Town again, as soon as business will permit.—The Lord be with you! – My Wife unites in respects. – I am yours affectionately,

                                 A. Booth

[fol. 27r.] This is to certify any baptized Church of Christ whom it may concern, That the Bearer, Mr. Orlando Buckley, is a Member, in full communion, of the Church of Christ meeting in Little Prescot Street, London, under the pastoral care of

                                 Abraham Booth

London, 26 July, 1785.

Address: Mr. Orlando Buckley [fol.. 27v.]

Postmark: none

Text: fols. 26-27, NLW MS, 1207 D, Isaac Mann Collection, National Library of Wales, Abersytwyth.