Abraham Booth, London, to John Ryland, Bristol, 26 July 1798.

Dear Sir,

         I was much disappointed in not seeing you a second time, before you left the Town, as I hoped to have done; inasmuch as I intended to have had a little conversation wth you about Dr. Hopkin’s MS: with a sight of which, by your favour, as I understand, I was indulged, & for which I thank you.

         Respecting that Author, & his MS., I shall now content myself with observing; That a perusal of the MS. has convinced me of an inadvertency or two, in Glad Tidings, respecting that Author; which must be corrected, if another Edition should appear – That, in various places, he has greatly misunderstood & misrepresented me; particularly, when animadverting on Glad Tidings, (p. 165, 166.) he dresses up a man of straw, & then, like a redoubtable champion, he stoutly combats his own fiction. (See Gal 2.21, as containing the principle of my reasoning which he grossly misunderstands, misrepresents, & opposes.) – That he seems to think the genuine doctrine of justification must be learned from transatlantic publications on the subject; of which, the author of Glad Tidings is considered by him as extremely ignorant – That, with regard ^to^ selfimportance, & contempt for an opponent, he is pretty nearly akin to Peter Edwards – That I never expected such Authors as Bellamy & Hopkins would approve of Glad Tidings; nor do I wish to obtain the approbation of the latter, with reference to the doctrine of justification, while he is hardy enough to defend the whole of what I have animadverted upon in his Sermons: for I am fully persuaded of his having corrupted that capital doctrine. While, therefore, I sincerely & daily pray, that the Spirit of wisdom would guide me into all the truth, as it is in Jesus; I cannot forbear to pray, with earnestness, that the present metaphysical theology of American Authors, may not issue in doctrinal Arminianism, & practical Antinomianism.

         Though totally averse from an epistolary discussion of the points to which I advert, either with yourself or any other person; yet I considered friendship ^for you^ as demanding some notice of the MS. which, through your kindness was put into my hand. Ardently praying for your happiness & usefulness, in every relation you stand, & under every character you sustain, I conclude & remain,

                     dear Sir,      

                                 your Friend & Brother,

                                             A. Booth.

London, July 26, 1798.

Address: Mr. John Ryland, | Bristol

Postmark: none

Text: Isaac Mann Collection, Beinecke Library, Yale University, OSB MSS 46, Box 1, folder 6.