Robert Robinson, London, to John Robinson, Norwich, 1 October 1757.

Dear Sir,

  It is with a great deal of pleasure I am now about to fulfill your desire at our parting.  We had an exceeding pleasant journey to London, & found some of my intimate friends gone into eternity, while others are remaining to this day. Methinks on every such solemn occurrence, I see engraven, Be ye also ready, O Sir, to be ready to meet the bridegroom.  When Christ says, Behold I come, for our souls to answer, even so, come Lord Jesus, is doubtless a blessing preferable to anything the world can afford.  Perhaps you’ll say, what is that readiness.  I answer, A being worked in the Redeemers blood, cloathed in his righteousness, & quickened by his grace.  By being wash’d in his blood I mean, after having felt our own vileness, and convinced of our inability to help ourselves, a being taught, and enabled by Gods spirit, to see all our sins blotted out, and freely forgiven for the sake of Christs bloodshedding.  Cloathed in his righteousness is a comfortable persuasion, that all the good works Christ did by imputation become yours.  Being quickened by his Grace I mean, altho’ we were born in sin and lived so long without obeying God, now we experience a secret something inclining us to be found reading, praying, meditating, and in one word counting it our highest honour, to adorn the doctrine we profess to believe by a holy life; thus made ready we have nothing to fear, nothing to boast on.  I often think over that saying of Erasmus, cur metuat daemones, &c.  Why should that man, fear the Devil, who carrys in his heart him at whom, the Devils tremble—No Sir, interested in Christ, we have nothing to fear, and tho we are often crying out, these sons of Zeruiah these favourite sins of mine will be too hard for me, yet ask—is any thing too hard for ye Lord.  Dear Sir, if you will oblige me, read over, & pray over, that encouraging passage Hosea, 6.3. and give the friend of sinners no rest till he gives you to know Christ, whom to know is life eternal,—please to make my respects acceptable to your Mamma, & sister, & excuse me if I claim your promise, and look soon for a few lines from you.  Direct for me to be left at Mrs Peaselys Bookseller, Lower Moorfields London.  I remain yours

  Affectionately

  Robt. Robinson.

Text: Crabb Robinson Correspondence, Vol. 1 (725-99), no. 9, Dr. Williams's Library.