John Ryland, Northampton, to John Sutcliff, Shrewsbury, 26 August 1774.

Northampton 26, viii, 1774

Dear Brother

         I gladly received yours, and to prove this, I answer it very soon – I think Mr Sandys inform’d ^me^ of your going to Shrewsbury, but from what he intimated, I had form’d a very different Idea of the Place; is it on Lords days or on Thursdays only that you have not 70 hearers? If you meant the former I think it is a discouraging circumstance – yet who knows what God may do – have you no villages around that you might attack and by that means (with God’s blessing) increase your auditory? – your sense of your own weakness need be no discouragement, your strength is in your head. Paul said when I am weak then I am strong – I rather think the difference between a babe in Christ and a strong man, is not in one having a fuller pocket (if I may so speak) of his own, but the experienc’d christian has no more strength of his own than the least youngest convert, but he better knows where to go for it – the every christian owns his strength is the Lord, but many times we set about duty without looking to him for strength, are apt to form a wrong Idea of growth in grace, and expect to feel an encreased fullness in ourselves instead of a growing sense of our emptiness and Christian sufficiency –

         You complain of self and pride – I join in the complaint and often think if I cou’d get rid of these I need not mind other foes – belssed be God I hope I hate them –

         I most earnestly recommend to you Omicrons Letters just printed – you will assuredly like them there is one upon frames written to a friend of yours that it may be will in part suit yourself –

         The association last year was at Carleton in Bedfordshire – two notable sermons – small increase as some churches were vacant

         You ask if I have heard of a revival of Sheepshead – I have seen it – the instrument is Mr Guy who went from our house – the plainest roughhewed preacher you ever saw or heard – good Mr Martin was long hewing rocks with a razor, but this man tumbles ’em down with a pick axe – 3 sabbaths back 24 gave in their Exp there, the Church meeting lasted from 4 in the afternoon till 12 at night – the devil roars wofully there – Guy never spares him in the pulpit and he never spares Guy out of it – the poor man is often distressed almost to death about the greatness of the work, and generally goes up the pulpit stairs in chains, but God owns him abundantly – will you meet me at Sheepshead in a week or two or more?

         Mr Hervey is full of troubles – the Bishop has refus’d him priests orders and put [him] under the thumb of his uncle Knight – he is surrounded with temptations and God only can keep him from falling –

         Mr Soames Sermon may be had from Buckland in Paternoster Row – Mr Murray succeeded Mr Matthew Henry at Chester his Book is very scarce –

         Do enquire of your old folks who gather’d the baptist church at Shrewsbury – how long ago – first minister – his character – conversion – success – death – successor &c &c – if one cou’d get a good acct of this sort from each particular baptist Church ’twoud be very entertaining – I have begun trying for it –

         Mr Ryland’s terms are 1 Guinea entrance 14 Gs Board pr ann. 2 Gs Education pr ann

         We prosper here more than ever – 25 added this year – above two more under concern – dear Rowland Hill was bless’d abundantly among us last year 12 alarm’d whereof 8 stand well – he has just been hear again – thousands attended – I know but of 2 awaken’d yet – one of them had his skull fractur’d this week – but hope he’ll recover – ’tis the wisdom as well as the duty of the dissenters to be friendly with the orthodox Methodists – as to the Wesleytes both their Doctrine and Policy are inimical to the Dissenters and I think contrary to the Word of God –

         You’ll excuse my writing so freely and in return correct and reprove as freely as you please – do above all pray for a dead dog the poorest of all poor creatures tho’ I wd to God I felt my own poverty more – I think to preach tomorrow fm Ps. xc 17. – O for help – I wish you all that fullness of grace that a God incarnate can bestow – I am

                     Thro rich grace yours in Ours

                                             John Ryland junr

P.S. When are you to be ordain’d did you ever see Richard Alleine’s Vindiciae Pietatis? Tis a blessed Thing – My parents & Mr Birley send their Respects.

Address: Reverend Mr Sutcliffe | at Mr Harley’s |High Street | Shrewsbury | turn at Daventry | Single Sheet

Postmark Northampton

Endorsed (by Sutcliff): Recd Augt 29. 74. | Ansd Octr 27. 74.

Text: John Ryland Folder, RG no. 1126, American Baptist Historical Society Archives, Atlanta.