(seq. 14)

[fol. 1r]

No. 7.

Leicester, May 27^th. 1795.

Brother William,

I, last evening, recognized with infinite sat-
isfaction a beloved friend in your No. 7. Tho it afforded me a rich fund
of pleasure, I could not but regret its tardy conveyance, as it was credited
at Haverhill Post-Office May 5th. That I incur not the imputation of
unfriendly neglect, I can assure you, I have sent to Worcester P.O. al-
most every day, this month. I must conclude, therefore, it was retard-
ed by the inattention or forgetfulness of some Post-master. Not hear-
ing from you sooner, I had concluded, that your approaching ordination
so engrossed your thoughts, as to suspend, for a while, the offices of friend-
ship. In consideration of this, I had determined on an early opportunity to
make another draught on your patience, to see, if I could not tease you
from a too inordinate anxiety. But why should I attempt this? You are about to
be consecrated to an important, a sacred office. Well may you "pray that,
"he, whose yoke it is, may render it easy and light" to you. I am highly
pleased with your determinations respecting your mode of preaching,
and the employment of your time. Too may, I fear, there are, who
make a trade, even an easy trade of preaching the Gospel; who think
one Afternoon, with what time they can get on the Sabbath, sufficient to
prepare for religious performance on the Lord's day. Hence I apprehend
arises, in a great measure, the growing neglect of religion in many places.
The people, observing the indifference of their teachers, think they may
easily dispense with what appears so unimportant to them. I have
more evidence on this head, than I could wish, or dare to commu-
nicate. I think, I have before informed you, that many of the principal
characters in this vicinity are strangely inclined to -- at least a
neglect of religion. On the other hand, I could give you some instan-
ces, where the ministers, by a close attention to duty, are blessed with a
well-disposed, well-informed, and religious people.

You begin your letter with manifesting a curiosity to know
the name*, "at least the initials," of the Dulcina, who has claims
on my heart. I thank you for taking so much notice of what so

* The name of the wife of Nabal, the Carmelite; the translation of the Greek word,
ἀγάπη with the last letter in your Christian-name doubled, will give you her name in full.