Andrew Bryan, Savannah, to Isaac Backus, Middleborough, MA, 14 March 1798.

Savannah 14th March 1798 –

Worthy & beloved Bror in the Dear Emmanuel –

         Your truly Christian and the most friendly letter of the 26th July last was thro indulgent Providence put into my hand last Evening by that Blessed Servant of the Lord Bro.r Brame. I feel myself deeply indebted to Gods grace that you are mindful of us, who can say so little of or for ourselves, only that thro’ divine mercy whereas we were blind, we now see. God has enlarged the hearts of the Proprietors of Slaves in this & the neighbouring vicinity, so that we now have liberty to worship without fear, &c (blessed be his name) thro’ my unworthy labours many has been, and yet are added to the Church: I preached last Lords day at White bluff about 12 miles from hence with much freedom – the word was clothed with power, & I hope ere long to hear of some Enquiring what they must do to be saved, with respect to the Genl state of Religion, I refer you to Bror Brame who is the bearer hereof, we thank you for your Exposition concerning Slavery, yet blessed be God, thro’ his restraining grace that state is become more tolerable, insomuch as we meet no Opposition in worship, we believe it to be our duty to submit to our Masters according to the flesh, & wait with Patience till we attain to the happy station of freedom in the world to come. [T]he greatest evil we discover in Slavery, is when Owners Exercise under Authority over the Consciences of their servants, but blessed be God, this Evil has subsided, & a happy prospect lies before us of an uninterrupted tranquillity; we are exceedingly happy to hear of the great & glorious Revivals in your Vicinity, & places more distant we bless the Lord for every instance of his goodness & mercy to the Children of men, we Earnestly request your prayers to God for us, that he wou’d lead us in light thro’ this dark howling wilderness, & preserve us in Safety to his Heav’nly kingdom. May his Grace & goodness ever attend you, & reward you for your affectionate remembrance of us, but particularly of me the least among this Servts, & tho’ we may never behold each other in the flesh, yet I humbly hope that we shall join together to shout his praises when time shall be no more, believe me to be

                     Dr & Hond Bror

                                 Yr most Affte, tho’ unworthy

                                             Bror in Gospel Bonds,

                                                         Andrew Bryan

Address: Elder Isaac Backus | Pastor of a Church | at Middleborough

       Andrew Bryan, Mar. 14. 1798, Recd Mar. 10. 1799. I. B.  Answered July 11. 1799.            [in Backus's hand]

Postmark: none

Text: Isaac Backus Papers, Collected Papers, Box 15 (1798), Letter 2, Yale Divinity School, New Haven, CT.