Transcription

[MS 54]

in you & by you! Perhaps you may be made more effectually useful if you are compelled to work with Heathen for your Bread, & to converse with them in the humble character of a private Xtian, than if you had worn the more splendid Title of an Apostle from the London Missionary Society. If he has Work for you to do, he will support you in it; tho' he may sometimes permit Appearances to be gloomy, in order that you may fair (fare) more exclusively dependent on him, & that his Hand may appear more evident in every favorable Interposition. I trust I shall not cease to pray for you; & could I otherwise assist you I should be exceedingly glad do it.

Many changes have taken place at Manchester since you left us. The Scotch have separated from Thorley Street, with a new Chapel & are just settled with an all faiths [Indecipherable] Gospel Mission[?]. The late Minister at Thorley Street, Mr South[?] has been obliged by indisposition to resign his Charge; & on Wednesday next I am engaged, with Mr Parsons[?] of Leeds to preach at the Settlement of their present pastor, Mr Bradley. The Ministers at New Windsor, formerly connected with us, are formed into a separate Church & appear to be increasing. All these changes seem to start out for the Furtherance of the Gospels. We have great Reason for Thankfulness at Cannon Street. We are very well attended. I trust there has been a Revival lately among us. At every Church meeting we have generally some addition to our Church. I mention these things I hope with Humility & Gratitude, because know the information will be pleasing to you. Your old Friends Mssrs Hanson[?], Lees, Hiam[?], David  [Indecipherable] etc are still in the Church militant; & [Indecipherable] I do not know whether I told you that Mr Lees is a very useful village Preacher. He & Hiam[?] have been lately chosen to the office of Deacon among us.

I cannot tell you all the Good that appears to be going on in Scotland. The two Messrs [Indecipherable] are indefatigable in the Service of Xt. Mr Baring[?], who has separated from the Kirk, is astonishing in abilities of Zeal. At the expense of Mr Maldone[?] he has now, I believe 

[MS 55]
not less than fifty students under his care. His former Course of students have already come out, & are laboring successfully in different parts of Scotland & Ireland. A Tabernacle is now opened, & conducted on the Independent Plan of Discipline, at Edinburgh, for the people who formerly [Indecipherable] Circus[?]; & another is now building at the other [Indecipherable] the town. - At Glasgow a Tabernacle is opened, crowded [Indecipherable] & the Execution of another is in prospect - At Forth, Dundee & [Indecipherable] ; similar places of Worship are built & crowded, & much Good I believe is done & doing at all of them. At several,other places large congregations are collected by the Itinerant Labors of Mr Maldone & those who supply for him; & they are anxiously desirous of clothed Ministers to come & settle among them. Two of our animated English Ministers have accepted an Invitation to settle in Scotland. One, a Mr Stevens, who was formerly on the Stage, is at Aberdeen. The other, a Mr [Indecipherable] late of ​​​​​​Manley is at Perth. - Very great Success appears to accompany the Labor of the Catechists in Scotland. They go from Place to Place to establish Schools for religious Instruction which they attend in Rotation - I think there is a Plan which you might adopt with perhaps the greatest probability of solid -[-fulness]. But circumstances only abound with Prayer to God for Direction, will suggest better Plans than I can form on mere speculation at a Distance.

It is hardly worth while to inform you that last May, I had the painful Honor[?] of presenting before the Missionary Society at their annual meeting. I was [Indecipherable] distracted in the prospect, especially during the preceding week [Indecipherable] God graciously relieved me above[about?] the these Investors[?] of an  [Indecipherable] the Service[?] commenced[?]. All my anxiety was removed; & I [Indecipherable] the Sermon with the great pressure; & got  through without being confronted. The Directors [Indecipherable] to me almost [Indecipherable]. That the Word of the Lord may have free course, & be glorified, even as it is with you," was my Text. O that you may use it rapidly [Indecipherable], & eminently glorified on that vast Continent where you now abide[?]. it would gladden my Heart exceedingly to hear that you were successfully employed in the service of your [Indecipherable]. It is a Mercy that you labor for one who knows & accepts the Lord[?]. Mrs Mason- Mrs Lees, & all of your old Friends write[?] with me in praying that Grace, Mercy & Peace from God our Father & from the Lord Jesus Xt, this the Righteousness of the [Indecipherable] may not [Indecipherable] you.
Yours most affectionately 
W. Roby[?]
 

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