Thames Ditton,
Jan. 20, 1780.
YOUR kind letter came to us the 18th instant, and was kindly received with joy; we embrace this opportunity of answering it. We are very sorry to hear of my father and mother's illness, may the God of Abraham restore them to health again. Old age, my dear father and mother, must have greatly impaired your strength our life is but a shadow, but, "The hoary head is a crown of glory, if found in the way of righteousness:" the Lord grant yours both may; Amen, says thy loving but unknown son.
I am glad to hear my brethren are well; may the Lord of all lords protect them, and we beg you will remember our kind love to them in your letters. I and thy sister are very glad to hear of thee, Benjamin, because thou art my youngest brother; and if thou wilt come into Egypt to see me, although I am Joseph, whom you know not, yet thy sister and myself would cook thee a mess five times bigger than the rest. I should be glad to see thee, my brother; your sister is in tolerable good health, and so am I, blessed he the Lord for it; and so are our little ones. The Lord hath sent us four children, two boys and two girls; we were like to lose our little boy some time ago, it went off in a fit; but God, our kind Father, heard our prayers, and restored it again to us, bless his most holy name for it.
His mercy has been wonderful in our behalf, both to our souls and bodies; and indeed I think God brought your sister to my hand at first, as much as he brought Rebecca to Isaac, and hath made her a comfortable companion for me, and a good wife, and I hope has given her the same blessing as he did to Sarah. I hope also that God's grace has made me a comfortable yokefellow to her. I have blessed and thanked God for leer with tears, and she has room to bless him for me; neither of us repent of our coming together, for I verily believe we shall live together in everlasting day, through Jesus Christ.
And now, my dear friends, I will tell you a little of the Lord's dealings wide us. About seven years ago I fell into great distress of mind, I was ready to cry out with David, "The snares of death compass me about, and the pains of hell gat hold on me;" and like him I prayed, O Lord, deliver my soul. I travailed in this distress about a year and a half, labouring under a wounded spirit, and the fear of death; but at length God has heard my prayers, and suddenly delivered me, and gave nee such joy, peace and comfort as I shall never be able to express. I found the truth of this scripture, "The blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin," I John i. 7; and do now know what the Bible means by being born again, John iii. 7. There must be a repentance, Luke xiii. 3; and a conversion, before we can say Jesus Christ is our friend, Matt. xviii. 3; Acts, iii. 19: and this repentance my blessed Saviour gave to me, Acts, v. 31.
For six years now I have had peace, and happiness in my soul with our blessed Saviour: and when the Lord delivered me he gave me great understanding in his word, which I never had before; so that I was astonished at myself, and could say with David, "I have more understanding than all my teachers; for thy testimonies are my meditation," Ps. cxix. 99; and with the prophet Isaiah "All thy children Shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy children." Oh, my dear father, mother, and brethren, may you find him to be such a friend to you as he is to us! He came into the world to save sinners, and is with all that truly seek him by prayer, until the end of the world, Matt. xxviii. 20; he is the same always, Heb. xiii.
After the blessed Saviour had given me such understanding in the scripture, many people at times discoursed with me about the things of God, and I told them what he had done for my soul. Soon after these same good people, seeing and hearing the understanding I had in the word of God, was desirous of leaving me ordained over them as a dissenting minister, which in time I consented to; and have a very large congregation in London, and a room to myself there. I go once a week, but I live at Ditton, because I dislike London. I have been a minister about four years, and have gained a settlement in Ditton, belonging to this parish; my salary is about sixty guineas a year. We live very plain, but want for nothing; we have sufficient to live upon, and contentment with grace is great gain. Our house we live in is small, rather too small, but I leave taken a larger one, with a garden to it, walled all round, to keep our children from the wicked in this place, and for conveniencies of brewing, as my wife likes a garden, and wants to brew her own beer, which will be cheaper to us by far than to buy it. The house is a very good one, with four chambers, two garrets, a kitchen, parlour, brewhouse, and pantry with cellar; I had the lease very cheap indeed.
Mary and I, both very much desire Benjamin to come and see us; here is no pressing. I have been here four years, and have not known a man pressed in the place. He might come up on the outside of the Blandford coach, as far as Hounslow, and I would meet him there: and if he has no other than sea-faring clothes, let him send me word soon, and I will send him down a suit of my old ones, second mourning; they are not bad ones, he might come very safely in them, and I will take care of him here. If he will come let him send me word what day the coach goes through Hounslow, and likewise where I shall send the clothes to. We have only had one letter besides this last, and I humbly confess my ingratitude, in not answering of it before now; but in studying, most things go out of my mind.
When we have weaned the child, if God permit, some time in the summer, Mary shall come down and see you. We shall go into our house in about a week or fortnight; so we conclude, wishing you all that mercy, and peace, and goodness the Lord hath bestowed upon us. Into his blessed hands we commit you all, hoping your dear souls will find him your health, strength, and portion for ever. Write soon, and I will answer it. We join in love to you all.
W. HUNTINGTON.
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