John Ryland, Jr., Northampton, to John Sutcliff, Birmingham, 26 January 1775.

Revd and honor’d Bro.r

          Indeed I began to be uneasy in not hearing from you, therefore rec.d your kind Letter with much pleasure—am sorry to hear of MrTurners Illness which I had but a very slight Intimation of before—I trust God will own you at Birmingham for much good—there’s people enough there for you and Mr Ryland and Mr Pomfield all of you to find Work plenty among them I think.—

          Poor Hervey is silenc’d by the Bishop and tempted much to sad conformity to get into favor—he is naturally of a weak capacity surrounded with Enemys—dares not see a godly person—all things considered he deserves much pity tho’ I can n’t say he deserves no censure—

           I am glad you have been to see friend Guy—God is with him I am persuaded.

          My Mama and Mr. Birley send their kind Resp. to you—

         She joins me also in saluting all friends—Perhaps I may see you ere very long—do preach up Generosity & Liberality mainly ere I come for we want help much as to our Enlargement of our place of Worship—

         I hope by this time you have preach’d away your Cough. Mr Ryland is in London—I have [been] preaching six times a week except sometimes our Deacon helps once in the Sabbath—I wish we cou’d see & hear you ag.n  Peace be with you—Pray for a poor carnal stupid Wretch but 

                                             Yours affectionately in our dear Lord,

                                                               John Ryland jun.

Respects in particular to Mr Turner Mr Mosley Mr Hill—Mr Rubins  Mr Berry  Mr Hayes  Mr Pomfield  if you know them and shd see them soon—

Text: Timothy Whelan, Baptist Autographs in the John Rylands University Library of Manchester, 1741-1845 (Macon: Mercer University Press, 2009), pp. 23-24 (annotated version); also Eng. MS. 371, fol. 107b, John Rylands University Library of Manchester. Sutcliff must have left Birmingham before he received this letter, for he has written on the back that the letter was not received until 1 March and answered that day. Sutcliff would begin his ministry at Olney about the time of this letter. The above letter was written on the back of a handbill titled “Useful Questions for Self-Examination,” apparently inspired by Psalms iv. 4. Questions include: “Have I been much in holy Ejaculations?” “Have I not inordinately minded earthly things?” “Have I been temperate and self-denying in the use of creatures?” “Have I been diligent and watchful?” “Have I been led to Gospel Duties by Gospel Motives? Have I ask’d every Blessing in the Name of CHRIST, and attempted every Duty in the strength of the SPIRIT.”  The author is unknown [possibly Ryland or Sutcliff]; however, the author affixed this interesting note at the bottom of the printed list of 15 questions: “Paste this within the cover of your Bible, or pin it against the back of your bed: for God’s sake, read it over every night or morning; and, as in his sight, answer yes or no to every Question, with a low voice--if you are a true Christian, and reap no benefit by this practice at one month’s end, you may light your pipe with it.” Just beneath this Ryland has written, “Price 4d pr doz. or 2s pr hundred.” Others mentioned in the letter include John Riland (1736?-1822), Anglican evangelical minister at St. Mary’s, Birmingham, and possibly the Rev. John Punfield of Exeter Row. Also references to Thomas Hervey, William Guy, John Collett Ryland, and some Birmingham individuals. The  “Mr Hayes” is most likely the John Hayes who attended J. C. Ryland's Academy in Northampton and was a member of John Ryland, Jr.'s, Secret Prayer Society. In Ryland's “Account” of the society, he writes that on 22 August 1769 he “Took in Mast.r Hayes of Birmingham called (we trust) by Grace two years ago by reading the Life of Mr Hallyburton & Hanserd Knollys.”  It is also possible that the Hayes in this above letter is a relation of the one who attended Ryland's Academy. See Timothy Whelan, “John Ryland at School:  Two Societies in Northampton Boarding Schools.” Baptist Quarterly 40 (2003), 102.