29 Oak Village, Kentish Town, 1865

My Dear Uncle

I received your letter dated Feb. 21/65 on March 13/65 and now I suppose I ought to say that I ought to have written before but the old adage remains true: better late than never. I have bought the seeds some 3 months since but have been delaying to the present time as I have been so busy through the summer so I must beg for forgiveness. My Dear Uncle any counsel or advice from you spiritually will be always welcomed by me and now allow me to say I believe with you it is our privilege to be cleansed from all sin. [end of page]

some I know properly Christians do not believe it, but I ask with St. Paul shall there unbeliefs make the promise of God of none effect. God forbid yea let God be true and every man a liar. I was walking with gentleman home one night after we had been to a cottage meeting to get together, well he said in reply to a question I put to him we war to press towards the prize but could not attain to fit, and yet we sing in poetry, those holy gates for ever bar pollution sin and shame I confess I am perfectly at a loss to know how anyone that believes the [end of page]

My wife’s oldest sister, Mary, is gone to ?[aastroluce] and her youngest Brother (Luther?) he’s doing very well, and so is (Thorp) and Cox but I am afraid Luther is becoming entirely absorbed in the way of this world there seems such a burning restless desire for this world so has to swallow up all ills if really seems to me dear Uncle has fast as some professing Christians _____ in reckless thy decrease in grace. The gentleman I am living with [H.B. Spalding] is a Christian and when I had been with him 7 years he made me a present of a handsome Bible [end of page]

for my faithful ?[surrises] and Christian character perhaps you will say little another mans mouth prayers and not there own well that his just what he wrote in the Bible, you did not say in your letter whether you ___ seed I sent you non with you received me and wife’s portrait and I have now sent you James and if all is well the or other shall come in my next letter generally speedy labour for poor men in England [end of page]

can doubt it. The Pastor of the Church with which I have been connected since I left Hendon and when I have been one of the Deacons believes we shall be holy in the next world, but not in this, then I ask is it death that is to cleanse ___ all sin, I say no the Blood of Christ Age thy say but not here while in the body then I say when the spirit has left the body will it not be to late, I believe in will for the Bible says as the tree falls so it lays, he that is just tenacious just still, he that is any not unjust still, holy, holy still, unholy, unholy still and hear I fix my foot on the word [end of page]

of God after our minister had finished his sermon I said a few words in my poor way but one poor woman cried and told the pastor she wished she could say what I could another old woman looked at me very earnestly and said she was afraid to believe it, I am convinced men are only living in doubting castles, and as some as we get beyond and speak of assurance they say we are on the mountain or beside ourselves for some time, I have been very happy, and could say, I no thing want ?beneath above, Happy, happy in thy love, but I must stop. I have sent my photographs and ?Cmaks and if you please the boys next time my Uncle Thomas promised to write but he has not, why I do not know [end of page]

will all be ?eve hear well my prayer his and I be an interest in yours which I have no doubt I have, that I may leave the life of the righteous and my last end be like his, well I am happy to hear you and my Dear Aunt are both quite well has I am happy to say we all are thank the Lord my oldest son James he’s married to a farmer’s daughter, George is away from home, he is a soldier his conduct did not suit me and I suppose I held the reins too tight but I believe it is all for the best the best for this and the world to come and that he’s everything it cut up his mother very much, Frederick I apprenticed last Feb’y I paid 20 guineas for him and he is getting on well in his trade While smith ?gap fitter and Bell by__ [end of page]

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