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September 10, 1790 letter from John Fawcett to James Smith Esq.

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Title	September 10, 1790 letter from John Fawcett to James Smith Esq.
Post Date	September 10, 1790
Author	Fawcett, John (1740-1817)
Recipient	Smith, James, Esq.
Date	1790-09-10
Physical Description	4 pp. total; 3 pp. text; 1 p. address
Dimensions	35.5 x 21.4 cm
Location (Box, Folder)	Box 1, File 33
Address To	Islington, near London
Country To	England
Address From	Brearly Hall, Halifax
Country From	England
Transcriber	Gareth Lloyd
Plain Text Transcription	John Fawcett at Brearly Hall, Halifax, Yorkshire, to James Smith at Islington, London. He is sorry that [John] Foster did not explain himself better in his letter. His meaning was that he did not at present think that he was qualified to take on himself the work of ‘stated and constant preaching.’ Foster is very young and Fawcett is of the opinion that over-confidence and self-sufficiency is dangerous in one so inexperienced. Fawcett is happy that his young friend is rather struck by the importance of the work. He does exercise his talents often but in more private gatherings although he has preached several times in public. His sermons are ‘judicious’ and meet with approval from his audience. Foster’s judgment is sound and his conceptions are clear. For his part, Fawcett has heard him with astonishment and will be surprised if he does not make over time a great name for himself. ‘If he had less knowledge, perhaps he might have more assurance, boldness and confidence. But his discernment is deep and his taste correct. With talents like these, I dare not say that he bids fair for being remarkably peculiar…’ The final outcome rests with God. Ministerial abilities are not dependent entirely on breadth of learning but come from above and all that man can do is cultivate and improve the talents that are given. Fawcett hopes that Foster can be supported in his studies for he has never encountered any youth who was more deserving. He had his tuition free for several years before he applied to the fund and as his parents are very poor, Fawcett would continue to regard it as a duty to assist him with books etc. He has been happy with most of the young men entrusted to his care over the last twenty years. One has conformed to the established church and for many years has been a vicar of a parish not far from here, but he preaches the gospel and has been rendered useful. Fawcett’s own concern is entirely the promotion of Christ and he is very indebted to the managers of the fund for their approbation and encouragement. He would be grateful if Smith could pass on these sentiments to the gentlemen concerned. ‘Mr Horsfall will take his place immediately.’ Fawcett hopes that Smith will recall that he has not applied for help from the fund for the last ‘two half years’. He will wait until Smith expresses himself satisfied with this, as he is sure that he will be upon due examination. If Fawcett has made a mistake in this matter, he will not find it easy to forgive himself. He wishes to add many things in support of the application but will forbear. His son presents his respects. The church that is under Fawcett’s care is at peace and they have a little revival taking place among the young people. Mr Smith will be settled at Barnoldswick in Lancashire and Mr Parker is appointed to Wainsgate in Yorkshire – Fawcett is happy to have such worthy neighbors. Mr Ashworth of Elland in Yorkshire, brother to the minister of that name, has built a Baptist meeting house in that village. Mr Cartledge has done the same at Blackley in Lancashire, entirely at his own expense. They are very near one another but are well attended. Fawcett has been very concerned for poor Mr Robinson – he longs to see Robinson’s book but is afraid that the price is too high. Fawcett’s regards should be passed to Dr [Samuel] Stennett together with his gratitude for the valuable book. (1 sheet, 4p.) 10 September 1790 John Fawcett (1740-1817) was born at Bradford in Yorkshire. He was converted as a teenager by a sermon preached by George Whitefield and became a Methodist before joining the Baptists in his home- town. Fawcett was ordained in 1764 and led a congregation that moved to Hebden Bridge in 1777. He declined several offers of more prestigious appointments including the presidency of the Bristol Academy. Fawcett was entirely self-educated and was always keen to promote learning in the Baptist ministry. He played a key role in the founding of Horton Academy and kept a private academy where the essayist John Foster was one of his students. Fawcett was a strong supporter of the Baptist Missionary Society and the Bible Society. He also wrote a number of hymns and published a variety of other works, including a popular bible commentary. John Foster (1770-1843) was born at Halifax in Yorkshire, the son of a devout Baptist farmer. Foster studied under the minister John Fawcett before attending Bristol Baptist College between 1791 and 1792. As a minister Foster occupied short-lived appointments in Newcastle and Dublin but he proved a failure. He then worked as a schoolmaster in Ireland and tried his hand at business but again with conspicuous lack of success. He returned to England in 1796 and took pastorates in Chichester, Battersea in London and Bristol. In 1804 Foster took charge of a congregation in Frome, Somerset, but resigned through ill health two years later. Foster moved to Bourton-on-the-Water in Gloucestershire but continued to dabble in the ministry in the Bristol area after his health improved in 1817. While living in Frome, Foster published a collection of essays and became a major contributor to the magazine Eclectic Review. Foster’s published work had a wide appeal and reveals him to be one of the most intellectually able evangelicals of his generation. Samuel Stennett (1728-1795) was born into a well-known Baptist family in Exeter, Devon. He trained at the Mile End Academy in London and entered the ministry as his father’s assistant in 1748. Stennett quickly rose to prominence and often represented Baptist views in discussions with the government. In 1763 he was awarded a DD. by Aberdeen University.
Digitization Date	Digitized: 2012
Digitization Process	Digitization process: Derivatives resized at 4030 pixels in height or width
Digital Publisher	Bridwell Library, Special Collections; Perkins School of Theology; Southern Methodist University
Rights	Permission to publish materials must be obtained from the Head of Special Collections of the Bridwell Library
Decade	1790-1799