October 19, 1804 letter from W. Hanbury, to Thomas Haweis
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Title |
October 19, 1804 letter from W. Hanbury, to Thomas Haweis |
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Post Date |
October 19, 1804 |
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Author |
Hanbury, W[illiam Bateman, First Baron Bateman of Shobdon] (1780-1845) |
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Recipient |
Haweis, Thomas (1734-1820) |
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Date |
1804-10-19 |
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Physical Description |
4 pp. total; 3 pp. text; 1 p address |
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Dimensions |
38 x 24 cm |
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Location (Box, Folder) |
Box 1, File 54 |
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Address To |
Aldwinckle, Thrapston, Northamptonshire |
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Country To |
England |
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Address From |
Christ Church, Oxon |
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Country From |
England |
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Transcriber |
Gareth Lloyd |
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Plain Text Transcription |
From [William] Hanbury at Christ’s College Oxford to T.H. at Aldwincle, Thrapston, in Northamptonshire. T.H. would probably have expected to have heard from Hanbury before now – he has been waiting for an opportunity to send T.H. the missionary journals, which he hopes to be able to send to Thrapston in a few days. Hanbury’s father and some others have been so against his following the word of the Lord, that he decided for the sake of peace not to come to Aldwincle again this year. Indeed the last month that he was at Langton (Church Langton in Leicestershire), he had a very uncomfortable time of it and left with great heaviness of spirit. However when he returned to Oxford and met the people ‘who are called to be saints here, I thanked God and took courage…’ His trials have already been greater than others can imagine, but they work for good and he has learned from them that he knew little of his heart before. ‘My mother has convinced me of the necessity of being put into the furnace of affliction, first into one and then into another..’ In this way, Hanbury hopes the Lord will teach him the hidden wisdom. Before, when sitting alone or conversing with friends, he used to think that he could bear the heaviest cross and follow the Lord whatever the cost, but now he is taught that he is in fact a ‘poor, blind and straying creature and that my own strength is very weakness…’ Spiritual matters are discussed in detail. When Hanbury read an account of the life and ministry of [George] Whitefield, it seemed to him that he did not think there was any such manifestation of God’s power now in existence and he is afraid that there is no such good work going on here. He is in fact sure that there is a conspiracy against truth and a terrible storm on its way which will sweep away all the Lord’s people. Another rigorous statute has been passed and among some of the great names in government, some of the ‘enmity of the old serpent seems to be manifesting itself in its most horrible forms. Immediately after Hanbury saw T.H., he wrote to his friend Birch informing him of T.H.’s advice about taking the Rowel curacy as well occasionally as Aldwincle. In his reply, Birch thought himself to be unequal to the task of taking two places, especially when they were at a distance apart from each other. As for Rowel, he asked for time to make his decision. After receiving his letter, Hanbury heard of one Mr Brotherhood who is spoken well of by many of the Lord’s people. He accordingly informed Brotherhood of the vacancy at Rowel and he accepted without hesitation. Hanbury then met him at Mr Bosworth’s in Brampton, Cambridgeshire,on the evening before he began his ministry there – this was about six weeks ago and he has not seen him since, but he hears that Brotherhood has large congregations and every reason to believe that the Lord is with him. Hanbury hopes to see T.H. in London or Oxford. If ever he can come this way and spread a word or two, several would be pleased to see him and he would be welcome to make use of Hanbury’s rooms. (1 sheet, 3p.) 19 October 1804 |
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Notes |
[MS note by Haweis' son, J.O.W. Haweis.] |
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Digitization Date |
Digitized: 2012 |
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Digitization Process |
Digitization process: Derivatives resized at 4030 pixels in height or width |
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Digital Publisher |
Bridwell Library, Special Collections; Perkins School of Theology; Southern Methodist University |
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Rights |
Permission to publish materials must be obtained from the Head of Special Collections of the Bridwell Library |
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Decade |
1800-1809 |
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