J. C. Ryland, Northampton, to John Robinson, stationer, in Horsley-down, Southwark, 4 March 1770.

Dear Sir

   You have herewith a Testimonial that M.r Benjamin Hartley and M.r John Sandys are Members of our Church – they might have been received in a year ago – but we were not willing to put a slight upon that Church to which they belonged – and indeed the young Men were not willing to remove their Communion till we had made full Trial of their Gifts and could testify their Satisfaction of their Call to the Ministry – and this might have been done likewise sooner if we had not wanted to see what the London Ministers and Gentlemen would do in the Education of promising young Men for the Ministry – I wanted to resign them to their Direction. –

   [next paragraph has been completed marked through by Ryland, presumably.]

 I am whilst you are a zealous Friend to Christs true Interest

                     Dear Sir

                                 Yours at Command

                                             John Ryland

We also testify that they are both Members in full Communion with us as a Church of Christ having declared their Experience before the Church and been received by us by the unanimous Consent of the Members thereof signed by us at the Church meeting in Behalf of the whole Lords Day March 4. 1770.

[The last paragraph is written on the back of the above letter and is signed by Ryland, William Cooper, Jonathan Luck, William Ager, Thomas Vaughan, Jonathan Copeland, William Grandborough, Thomas Wood, Samuel Davies, James Rencher, Joseph Dent, Thomas Perry, and one illegible name.]

Text: MS. II.c.5.(4.), Congregational Library, London.