Anne Dutton's Request for Dismission from the Church at Wellingborough, 1732

After committing to the work at Great Gransden, Anne Dutton applied for her letter of dismission from the church at Wellingborough. William Grant’s letter for her dismission was entered into the Great Gransden church book. Below is the portion of Dutton's letter that she included in Part II of  A Brief Account:

It remains now, that I give you some Account of the Reason of my Desire to join with them. And I can assure you, that it is not in the least, from any Diminution of my Love to you: Nor had I any Thoughts of being remov’d, as to Relation, when I was remov’d, as to Place. But, on the Day above-mention’d, I went to seek the Lord with then, desiring Prosperity to the Builders, not in the least designing to be laid in the Building. And while they were wrestling with the Lord, to undertake the Work Himself, and strengthen their weak hands, that Word was brought to me with Power, Isa. xxxv. 3. Strengthen ye the weak Hands. Wherein the Lord spake very particularly to me, to engage in the Work. And tho’ I lov’d his Cause, as considering it to be but one in all Places, and the Interest of the same Lord; yet my Soul clave to you, so that I could not tell how to bear losing my relation to you. But the Power of God upon my Heart, I could not wholly resist; yet was for delaying, and making Excuses, as if my joining with them, [158] could not much strengthen them. But the Lord spake to me again, as to his Spouse, Song ii. 14. Let me see thy Face. And tho’ I felt an attracting Power in the Moments of drawing, yet still I found some Unwillingness remain. After this, that Word was brought, Mat. xii. 30. He that is not with me, is against me. From whence I was taught, that if it was the Mind of Christ, to build him an House, and to engage the Hearts of his Children here, in that Work; if I was not with him in it, yielding all the Assistance I could, I should really be found to be against him. This broke my Heart; for I could not bear to be against Christ; and my Spirit was laid under such Awe, that I could gainsay no longer. And further, from that Word, Acts ii.1. They were all with one Accord in one Place: I was taught, that since the Lord had cast my Lot in this Place, with his People who desire to carry on his Cause, it was my Duty to be of one Accord with ’em. I was also further encouraged by that Word, Mat. xxv. 40. In as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my Brethren, ye have done it unto me. From whence, the Lord told me, “That if the least of his Brethren wanted any Assistance, and I did help them, he would take it as done to himself.” And to shut it up in a Word, the Lord gave me to see such a Glory in his Cause, even when weakest, and under the greatest Disadvantages, like a little Leaven hid in the Meal, and a Grain of Mustard-Seed cast into the Earth, the smallest of all Seeds; that my Soul lov’d it exceedingly: In its Rags, as well as in its Robes; in its Beginnings and Buddings forth, as well as in its full-blown Glory! And tho’ the Instruments that carried it on might be weak, yet I saw that the Lord, strong and mighty, was in it. And I thought, [159] if I had a thousand Souls, I could give them all, to serve Christ and his Cause. Thus, tho’ Love to you, wrought strongly in my Heart, yet Love to Christ’s Cause here, in its weak Beginnings, out-wrought it.—

Text: A.  D. [Anne Dutton]. A Brief Account of the Gracious Dealings of God, with a poor, sinful, unworthy Creature, relating to some particular Experiences of the Lord’s goodness, in bringing out several little Tracts, to the Furtherance and Joy of Faith. With an Appendix, and a Letter prefix’d on the Lawfulnes of a Woman’s appearing in Print. Parts I, II, and III. London: Printed by J. Hart, in Popping’s Court, Fleet-street; and sold by J. Lewis, in Pater-noster-row, near Cheapside. 1750.  Part II, pp. 157-159.