Thomas Ustick, Philadelphia, to John Sutcliff, Olney, undated (late summer 1788). 

Dear Bror

   I received your Letter of ye 7th Sept last some time in the close of the winter or commencement of the Spring for which and the Pa^m^phlets which accompanied it I beg you to accept my sincere acknowledgments. Beddome’s Catechism is in my opinion, extremely well executed: ^Mr Fuller appears to be a man of great argumentative Abilities and the Idea which he espouses has by far the Preference to Antinomianism; but whether he does in all Respects preserve the medium I am not able to determine. Or whether his Arguments withstand the test of a full examination. – There appears to me to be a Mystery in Revelation which the finite capacities of mortals can never unfold. Mr Fuller has certainly managed the Subject with the greatest fairness – his Language is intelligible – and his requirements seem reasonable that all men ought to honour the Son even as they honour the Father. And why because he is God equal with the Father – And as this Revelation is clear, I think that all Men are under moral obligation to regard the Authority of Jesus Christ in the Gospel, wherever it comes, and so punishable for every Contempt or neglect and yet to me it seems difficult to conceive. How or Why spiritual, saving and divine Faith should be required of them for whom the Blessing was never designed, to whom a Capacity never was given I am rather inclined to think that Saving Faith is not required by virtue of the moral Law; But is to be considered as a New-Covenant Priviledge and the Cause a sine qua non, of our Salvation I must however candidly own that I have not so subtly examined the arguments on both sides, as to allow myself to be very decisive in my declarations – One thing I know and that experimentally that be my duty what it may, and let me know it ever so well I find I cannot perform it without Supernatural aid. And tho I perceive many deficiencies in the exercise of grace I find that I am a poor, helpless creature and cannot remedy those defects of my self. The Law justly condemns me for my sins; but grace abounds to Sinners the chief and vilest – As a Sinner I attempt to perform [my] duty to avoid aggravating my Condemnation – but as a believer I perform it as a matter of choice because the duty required appears agreeable – tis the command of God. – Of that glorious God and Saviour who deserves all we have and all we are. –

   And for myself I judge it most expedient to regard the duties His word enjoins, tho I may not enjoy the comfortable manifestations of God – I conceive a person may have great knowledge of Gods Law and no proper love for its precepts Here lies his condemnation according to the word. He may likewise (for what I know) credit [the] New Testament in the facts and doctrines it relates, and not receive the evidence of his own Interest, in the Promises of God, which I conceive must aggravate his condemnation unless the work of grace has had its operation on his soul – For the Devils believe and tremble too. – I acknowledge it is my duty to believe all that God reveals in his word and to practice agreeable to my Knowledge – But I can not as yet see that it is my duty to say this Saviour is mine. He will certainly save me. Unless by the light of Gods word & inward power of his Spirit I find the work of Salvation, is already begun in my Soul. – How can we know that God will finish our Salvation, unless we do surely know that he has begun it by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. – Perhaps my Pen is licentious and I muddy headed. If so my friend I will not be backward in reproving. Let ten meteors smite me, it will be as the excellent Oil on my head. – I thank you sincerely for the work of Mr Fuller and beg you to send me whatever he publishes on any Subject – I observe that his last piece comes from himself. I wish you to make my acknowledgments acceptable to Bror Fuller – and request that you will both indulge me in one query – May not a person from his Soul, that is his rational powers of Understanding, not affection, fully and absolutely believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is a fit object of trust, ie that he is holy, just, true & Faithfull and yet be so far from trusting in him or depending on him for his own Salvation as to despair of Gods Mercy? I refer to page 27th of Mr Fuller’s 1st Publication – I hope this freedom will not be offensive, I feel sure it will not and confident that you will rather endeavour to satisfy my doubts, should you judge them worthy [of] attention. – I am sure Mr F— will not be offended at any of my expressions which may appear opposite to his opinion but I am not certain but he will be in a measure angry with me for not attending sufficiently to the subject – which might be accounted for perhaps in some measure in such a way as to excuse me from the charge of wilful Neglect – I have a taste for Controversy, tho I do not always find myself ready to engage – hope therefore you will favour me with whatever may be published on this Subject. –

   The Baptists* in the Country are divided – some follow the opinion of Mr Edwards, Bellamy, Hopkins, &c and others are entirely confined to Dr Gills mode of thinking and others think independently – In general the Baptists in this Country are united in essentials – Nor do I hear of any warm Controversies on ye Subject: and should be very sorry to learn that different  [modes] of expression or even of sentiments not absolutely essential should occasion any breaches of Charity among the dear baptized children of God, in Old England or any part of the World – Your Letter of the 29th of June 86 I have received with the Articles that accompanied it, for which I beg you to accept my thanks –

   I remember that I directed a Pamphlet or two for you without any Letter accompanying – but whether I wrote you or not I cannot certainly say – I am persuaded however that I have sent you one of our Asn Letters for Octr 1786. – But as you do not mention it, shall send you with this small parcel a few for ye year 1786 and if I can procure also for the last year, but as they were printed in New York, I never had it in my power to procure them for my Correspondents.

   I have made some attempts to procure those works of Mr Edwards for which you wrote, I have written to New England on the Subjects, but if I can ever obtain them I shall gladly embrace the first Conveyance to put them in your possession. – The chief Reason of my neglect in not answering your Letters sooner after I have received them has been indisposition both of Body & Mind – These are so nearly related to each other, that one is seldom disordered and the other insensible of the complaint. Without which important blessing, as you observe we can neither enjoy the comforts nor discharge the duties of Life. – I desire to bless God for his great goodness to us both. – I am now in such a state of health as to preach three times in a week to my Congregation – There have in some places at a distance I am told been considerable revivals in this and the neighbouring states – Nothing very new or important has occurred in favour of Religion in this City – You wish you say prosperity in ministerial Labours – I wish so too – But I do not find it so – I have for this year past been for anything that has yet appeared very useless – But I am determined, if Almighty grace assist me that I will hope even against hope and that I will not despair, unless every rational ground of hope should be removed – The immutability of God remains – “I am ye Lord, I change not therefore, ye sons of Jacob are not consumed” –

   The period of Uniformity in the agenda of Religion I hope is fast approaching, when views and practices shall be the same in all the churches and when the Error of Infant Baptism will find no longer Support – Mr Booth’s publication I have had the pleasure of perusing I can not say that I desire you should send a copy of it, as I conceive the Balance is already much against me, both as to quantity and quality. You will permit me however to say that I do sincerely thank you for the kindness of your offer. – But should you have to spare among your pamphlets his Apology for the Baptists or his piece stiled the Death of legal Hope I should be glad to have them in my little Library. And if health is continued do engage to send you in return what will be equal in bulk; but will not venture to say, nor indeed do I think it will be in my power to return you what may be justly esteemed equal in quality.

   In this package you will find a few pieces of Mr Edwards works, which were conceived in England forty-five or six years ago and now brought forth in America, I send them to you as curiosities and although I do not fully adopt the old Gentleman’s Ideas in every particular, I am however greatly delighted sometimes with the vein of Wit, which pervades his Works. –     

 You mention Dr Priestley’s abilities as astonishing. It is strange, very strange, that men of ye greatest literary abilities should be found engaged either in a course of Irreligion or the cause of Infidelity & that Jehovah Shaddai should content himse^l^f to comparatively mean parts and yet these sorry dwarfs, who in the Opinion of the Literat[e]’s, are scarcely worthy to be employed, in the meanest Services in their presence, should nevertheless be so supported as to stand their ground against all opposition and triumph over all the enemies of Truth & Revelation. It is evidently perceptible therefor[e] that Vice and infidelity have every change in their favour in this grand War of Truth & Error – Vice & Holiness and yet in the conclusion of the Contest – Oh pleasing thought! – “He who once delivered his own dear Person into the hands of his Enemies, – who often suffers his faithful Servants to be oppressed – and his own precious Truth & Gospel to be trodden down by the foot of Pride in the public streets, will by and by assume the Royal Throne and Seat of Judgment, not in Robes of [most?mock?] Majesty; but arrayed in light and in the glory of his Father and of the Angels of might – when he will determine who has told lies about him, the supposed interpolators of the New-Testament or the learned Dr Priestley – The Socinians &c. I conceive these would they speak the truth or could they speak it, would declare they believe the whole Bible to be a forgery. – I say so – Because were I only to think that the History of Christs miraculous Conception were a forgery, I profess, I should think the strength of all their remaining parts were effectually gone. – I could believe the part – if this fundamental part were by removed – Perhaps I am wrong in judging others by my-self – Wherefor[e] if they do credit any part in reality – I am only astonished to conjecture where they find their evidence. – Perhaps Sir, were I to see you, I should blush at my own Impertinence in indulging my Pen in such Liberties, but as a sufficiently long distance betwixt us is my protection and I am in arrears to you I expect this Intrusion on your patience will be over looked. –  You ^ask^ me to forward you some of the Histories that were proposed to be printed but I understand our Association have dropped the design for the want of materials which were once Collected, but have been lost & cannot now be procured, but should any thing of the like kind be revived, you may depend upon my paying a proper attention to your wishes without delay. –

   Tho I have ^not^ been able as yet to procure the pieces which you desire to see, I still entertain hopes that I shall have it in my power to gratify you in a little time, for not withstanding my demur I can assure you, I read both Edwards & Fuller with pleasure – Reserving my Liberty and Independance so as to cavil at any book but the Bible. – Nor am I sensible of any dissent in Iota’s or Non-Essentials. For tho we consider every part of truth as essential to the beauty and perfection of the Xtian System, yet not to Xtian Charity. – And tho in most things we may agree, yet tis difficult to find a similarity of Sentiments in every particular –

   The minds of people in general seem much engrossed with an attention to political matters in this City and not a little pleased with the good agreement of the States, Eleven of the Thirteen have concurred in adopting the new-plan of Government, Rhode-Island and North-Carolina are the only two that have not declared; their decision in the Affirmative will render the Coalition general and unanimous. – Should they thus decide I hope our affairs will assume a prosperous course as to trade & Commerce, but it is not likely yt we shall be a happy People without God is pleased to visit our Churches and bless his Ministers with the Sacred influences of his holy Spirit. May God grant that the Enemy of Mankind may find all his counsels disappointed which are calculated to ruin the Peace and Spiritual Prosperity of this western world. – That both Countries may in the end have reason to rejoice in the strange Revolution that has taken place. –

   And now Sir it is time that I should conclude my long and heterogenous Letter – Only by the desire of MS Ustick** I have to request your attention to a Copy of an advertisement from the London daily advertiser – we would wish to know what that advantageous Something, if our friend will be at the pains of making the necessary Inquiries and of informing the inquirers that Mrs Ustick is a child of the said John Whitear – perhaps you may have some Friend in or near Shepton-Mallet who may give you some account of the matter advertised if you will make some enquiry you will greatly oblige us. With Mrs Ustick’s Respects I beg you to accept the affectionate Address of Dear Sir Yours in I trust both endearing and enduring Bonds

                                                                                      Thomas Ustick.

Revd John Sutcliff

Olney – Bucks

*Babtists [Ustick’s spelling here and in other places in the letter.]   

** Hannah Whitear

Text: Thomas Ustick Papers, RG 1189, American Baptist Historical Society Archives, Atlanta. Letter taken from Ustick's letter copy-book, copied in his hand.