John Ryland, Jr., Reading, to Christopher Kitching, Baptist minister, Kingston, Jamaica, 6 January 1819.

Reading  Jan. 6. 1819

My dear Bror

         I had begun a Letter to you before I left Bristol, but in my hurry, I left it behind; I can only write a few lines, we rejoice that God has preserved you on your voyage and continued your health. We trust he will direct you in all respects, and make your way plain before you—

         Assure those who complain of the irregularities of the Negro Br, that we earnestly wish to correct them, and were anxious to send out well instructed Missionaries, that they might be instructed more perfectly in the doctrines of Christianity. Tell them that we have given you a very earnest charge never to intermeddle with any political concerns; and always to inculcate on the slaves who profess to embrace Christianity, that they should pay the utmost regard to the Duties inculcated on servants by the apostles; and to adorn the Doctrine of God their Savior by their sobriety, honesty, diligence and fidelity. Bror Dyer is writing to Joseph Burns Esqr who was very friendly to Bror Coultart.

         We hope that by this time you have obtained a licence, and therefore we think it wd be better for you to remain at Kingstown till Mr Coultart can return, and to let Godden go to Spanish Town; our chief reason for this is, that we fear it wd be likely to make a bad impression on the mind of the Kingston Magistrates, to give a licence to one, and then soon after that to have to licence another for the same place— We trust the Lord will find you a suitable station, and shall be sure to take Care of you, if the Lord keeps you faithful to him. Only let us hear from you as fully and particularly as you can, respecting your own attempts to do good, and what you find of real piety in any of the Negroes. You will doubtless need much patience, and prudence, and will find the example of the Apostle as recorded in I Thess. ii. 7, 8. and in Acts xx.24-28. worthy to be kept in mind continually.           

         You know who has said “If any one lack wisdom let him ask of God, who giveth liberally unto all men and it shall be given him.” We trust that Integrity and Uprightness will preserve you, and when a man’s ways please the Lord he will make his Enemies to be at peace with him. Trust in him at all times, pour out your heart before him, he will be a refuge for you. My Son was at Bristol last week who left Dr Steadman very well—

         If you have occasion to draw on me, you may be assured your Bills will be punctually paid; but you must draw at the usual term of ninety days

                                                      I am

                                                               Yours cordially

                                                                                 John Ryland

Jan. 6. 1819

We unite in kind Respects to Mrs Kitchen

Text: Timothy Whelan, Baptist Autographs in the John Rylands University Library of Manchester, 1741-1845 (Macon: Mercer University Press, 2009), pp. 188-89 (annotated version); also  MAM. PLP. 93.40.1, John Rylands University Library of Manchester. Christopher Kitching (Ryland spells it variously “Kitchen” “Kitchin” and “Kitching”) was a BMS missionary to Jamaica, 1818-19. John Dyer (1783-1841) served as secretary of the BMS, 1818-41. James Coultart (d. 1836) was also a BMS missionary to Jamaica, 1817-36, as was Thomas Godden, 1818-23. Jonathan Edwards Ryland (1796-1866) was th son of John Ryland, Jr., and a popular writer and editor.