John Rippon, London, to Thomas Ustick, Philadelphia, 18 August 1786.

Sheet 1st

[written in another hand: Aug. 18, 1786.]

My Revd & dear Brother

         I have taken the very first Opportunity that offered of sending you a large Deal Case by [blank space] containing a great part of your order, with a few Pamphlets directed to several of our Brethren, of which I beg their kind acceptance. I wish you may receive ye whole safely before ye Association.

         I have long wished by some means or other to bring ye Brethren in America and England better acquainted with each other, and finding that it was likely to be agreeable to you, I have at length proposed to several of ye senior & most active Ministers in our Associations, the interchange of the Association Letters between us & you. The proposal has met universal approbation here, and you will find in the Package a few Letters from each of our three principal Associations, which the Brethren are particularly happy in sending, as they are not without hope this step may be followed with such an acquaintance as may terminate in ye mutual advantage of the Churches on each side ye Atlantic. Should we live till next year, you will receive a greater number, on an intimation that such a communication is perfectly agreeable. I should be glad to receive, at least 50 Letters from each of your Associations early in ye spring, if not before that there might be sufficient time on hand to send them, free of expense if possible to our Associations which generally meet in the Whitsun week.

         Your account of the Success of the dear Brethren Gano, Wilson & others, is Good News from a far Country, & has been like cold water to a Thirsty Soul. I am very much mistaken if you will not be not pleased with ye acct of some of our Churches. There have been greater additions in the Western Churches than ever were known before. O may ye Kingdom of Christ come all over the Globe & his will be done on Earth as it is done in Heaven.

         I have been at some of our Associations in England which have reminded us of ye day of Pentecost. Ministers and People seem to have light [lit] their Torches at ye Son of Righteousness, & they have returned home like Giants refreshed with new wine. What pleasure would it afford me to be at an American Association, when a Spirit of Prayer and Praise reigned, & when ye shout of a King, not Lewis of France, nor George of England, but Jesus of Nazareth was among you. How often have I longed to see Mr Stillman, Dr Manning, Gano, S Jones, P Wilson &c &c &c I think this would be one of ye greatest gratifications I could have on this side glory, but – this high felicity [I] am never likely to enjoy – Yet – “We shall all meet” not at Boston nor New York, not at Providence nor at Philadelphia, but on Mount Zion – Manning, Stillman, Jones, Morgan, Gano, Wilson, Hart, Ust Rogers, Ustick, with ye other dear Brethren, there shall all meet “And is this Heaven & am I there” I there, ye chief of Sinners there – I less than ye least of all Saints – there is Manning, there is Stillman, Welcome to glory, Brother, Welcome to glory Brethren Rather JESUS is there. Yes we shall all meet, not as you will at Philadelphia, but we shall meet & never never never part – O what an Association will that be, an Association of universal Harmony & of everlasting Happiness – don’t you long for it my dear Mr Ustick, I feel a pleasure this moment in the Anticipation of it, not to be described by a pen even if it were dipped in ye Ocean of celestial happiness which flows from the throne of God & ye Lamb. Methinks I am now upon Mount Zion, not one of ye chosen family wanting, the Top Stone is put into ye building – Hark! the celestial band strike up “The Joy ye Shout ye Harmony Flies o’er the everlasting Hills” – Christ is ye Alpha & ye Omega of the Song – the brilliant Myriads of Intelligencies lead ye Choir “Worthy ye Lamb that dy’d they cry to be exalted thus,” the noble Army of Martyrs complete ye Triumph “Worthy the Lamb our lips reply, for he was slain FOR US.[”] – But I must come down from the Mount of Songs above to describe ye songs which I have lately been preparing for the church below.

         No one can form an higher opinion of Dr Watts’s Hymns & Psalms than myself, nor do I ever expect to see them excelled, but at ye end of Sermon[s] & on other occasions I have often found a very great want of Subjects. How few Hymns has Dr Watts on ye Spirit, but about four or five – how few whole Hymns on ye various Characters of Christ – how few on ye Parables & on Scripture Baptism – these, & similar things have often been lamented by many of ye first ministers in our denomination, as well as by other Persons. And it has been tho’t ye more extraordinary that we should suffer ourselves to remain in our present disadvantagious circumstances as we have had so many sweet Singers in Israel since Dr Watts’s time, from whose Productions, many of which are as distinguishable for their fervent piety as for their splendid poetry, a great variety of very suitable & needful additions might be made to the ye long lov’d & justly respected compositions of ye Dr. – I have therefore collected together ye best Authors this Country affords, & for about 12 months past have been employing much of my time in preparing for the press a Book the Title of which I think will be as follows “A Selection of Hymns, from the best Authors, intended to be an Appendix to Dr Watts’s Hymns and Psalms, by J. R.”

         This work is almost ready for the press, it has cost me an incredible deal of time & pains, but ye burden has been lessened by ye Assistance of Dr Saml Stennett Revd Danl Turner M. A. of Abingdon Berkshire – Rev Mr Francis, Author of ye finished Poem the Conflagration, Rev B. Beddome M. A., Author of ye large Baptism Catechism Rev T Dunscombe, ye best Latin Poet, I think in our denomination. – These Gentlemen, who are ye most poetical we have among ye Baptists, have not only helped me in correcting the Hymns I have taken from above 50 printed books, but have communicated their own Originals some of which are every way worthy of their Authors, & I hope will appear to be not altogether undeserving ye attention of good men in our own & other connections. Dr Stennett has put into my hands more than 70 Hymns of his own composition. Mr Beddome above 500 which he has been making this 14 years, the other Gentlemen considerable Numbers, & each man is willing that such of his Hymns shall be taken for ye Selection as may be tho’t by his Brethren deserving of a place in it. Among the many Ministers & others, in London & in ye Country, who have been consulted on this subject, I have not met one person who has said a word to discourage me in this business. The design so far as I can learn meets wh general, I believe I may [say] universal approbation among our own denomination, tho’ I am not vain enough to expect, that the execution of this work will be such as to obtain it a place in all our Congregations. However a great Number of Books has been already ordered, some Churches have wished for a Dozn, others for a quarter of an Hund – others for 50, – an 100 – an 150 &c &c &c it will consist of about 450 Hymns, & as nearly as can be judged, price in sheep & on good paper 2s.6d, & in calf with a superfine paper 3s.6d, 13 books to a Dozn, to those who take them in quantities. It is proposed that a rigid order of subjects shall be observed all thro’ & that ye Title of each Hymn shall be put on ye Top of each page, thus, or somewt like it ye beging of ye book God page 1st – his Eternity p 2d his Infinity p 3d – Immortaly – Sovereignty – Omnipotence – Omniscience – Omnipresent – Greatness – Goodness – Mercy &c &c &c about the middle of ye book ye graces of ye Spirit will stand in order, an example of one, ye titles on ye top of ye page Faith, – its Nature – Author – Person – Effects – fainting – reviving – triumphing – connected with Salvation –

         Had I time you should have a larger Sketch – Oh that I could but have ye opinion & advice of some of ye Brethren in your Association on it – write me freely – have you as good original Hymns made by our Baptist Brethren to communicate if I could have a few by letter and of Novr perhaps it would not be too late for their insertion some where. We have Hymns in plenty, but a few American Hymns in our Book, would show that we yet are Brethren – will you do ye best that can be done in this Case?

         Shall I write out one or two not as Specimens of ye Originals, but such as may be not altogether improper for singing in an Association or Meeting of Ministers.

The Triumphs of the Cross.

1. No more, dear Saviour, will I boast

Of Beauty, Wealth, or loud Applause:

The World hath all its Glories lost,

Amidst ye Triumphs of thy Cross[.]

2. In every Feature of thy Face

Beauty her fairest Charms displays:

Truth, Wisdom, Majesty and Grace

Shine thence, in sweetly mingled rays.

3. Thy Wealth the Power of Thought transcends,

’Tis vast, immense, and all divine:

Thy Empire Lord o’er worlds extends,

The Sun, the Moon, the Stars are thine.

4. Yet, (O how marvellous the Sight!)

I see thee on a Cross expire,

Thy Godhead veil’d in sable Night;

And Angels from ye Scene retire.

5. But why from these sad Scenes retreat?

Why with your Wings your Faces hide?

He ne’er appear’d so good so great

As when he bow’d his Head & died.

6. The Indignation of a God

On him avenging Justice hurl’d:

Beneath ye Weight he firmly stood

And nobly sav’d a sinking world.

7. These Triumphs of stupendous Grace

Surprise, rejoice, and melt my Heart:

Lord, at thy Cross I stand and gaze,

Nor wou’d I ever thence depart.

                                 By Dr Saml Stennett.

For a Meeting of Ministers, or Ministers abounding in the Work of ye Lord.

                                                                     L. M.

1.     Before thy Throne eternal King,

Thy Ministers their Tribute bring,

Their Tribute of united Praise

For heavenly News and peaceful Days.

2.     We sing the Conquests of thy Sword,

And publish loud thy healing Word:

While Angels sound thy glorious Name,

Thy saving Grace our Lips proclaim.

3.     Thy various Service we esteem

Our sweet Employ, our Bliss supreme,

And, while we feel thy heavenly Love

We burn like Seraphim above.

4.     Nor Seraphs there can ever raise

With us an equal song of Praise:

They are the noblest Work of God,

But we – the Purchase of his Blood.

5.     Still in thy Work would we abound,

Still prune the Vine, or plow the Ground;

Thy Sheep with wholesome Pasture feed,

And watch them with unwearied Heed.

6.     Thou art our Lord, our Life, our Love,

Our Care below, and Crown above:

Thy Praise shall be our blest Employ,

Thy Presence our eternal Joy.

                           By Rev. B. Francis, Author of ye Conflagration, a Poem.

For a Church.  148th M.

1. In sweet exalted Strains

The King of Glory praise,

O’er Heaven and Earth he reigns

Through everlasting Days

         He with a Nod

         The World controls,

         Sustains or sinks

         The distant Poles.

2. To Earth he bends his Throne,

His Throne of Grace divine;

Wide is his Bounty known,

And wide his Glories shine:

         Fair Salem is

         His chosen rest,      

         Is with his Smiles

         And Presence blest.

3. Then King of Glory, come,

And with thy Favor crown

This Temple as thy Home,

This People as thy own:

         Beneath this Roof

         O deign to show,

         How God can dwell

         With men below.

4. Here may thine Ears attend

Our interceding Cries,

And showers of Grace descend

Abundant from the Skies:

         Here may thy Smiles

         The meek revive,

         And drooping Souls

         Divinely thrive.

5. Here may ye attentive Throng

Imbibe thy Truth and Love,

And Converts join the Song

Of ransom’d Souls above.

6. Here may our unborn Sons

And Daughters sound thy Praise,

And shine, like polish’d Stones       

         Through long suceeding Days.

                     Here Lord display

                     Thy Saving power

                     While Temples stand

                     And men adore.

N.B. This Hymn was first sung at the opening of a place of worship after it had been enlarged the 3d Time – God is answerg ye Prayers of it – O that he may grant all ye Benedictions in it to ye Church at Philadelphia. Amen, Amen.

         I am in so much hurry that have not time to read over these pages.

If Dr Manning is at ye Association communicate ye Contents of this to him – and thank him for ye Packet by Dr Gordon which is come safe. Am just going from Home, for a week, perhaps have forgotten somewt material – Pray for me – O that you may have a joyful Pentecost. Affecy very affecy Yours in our Dearest Redeemer

                                 J. Rippon

Augt 18. 1786.

Address: Revd Thos Ustick | Philadelphia

Postmark: none

Endorsed (most likely by Ustick): Augt 18. 1786 | J. Rippon

Text: John Rippon Folder, RG no. 1285, American Baptist Historical Society Archives, Atlanta.