Sophia Williams Diary: June-August 1812

Bratton, [Tuesday] June 9^th 1812.

Waited on M^r Edminson [1] for the purpose of having some conversation with him on religious subjects previous to my becoming a member of the Church here, under his care. But O how little could I say to him my heart was warm with love to my Saviour but my lips seemed to be glued together. Why am I so backward to talk on religious subjects, it almost leads me to fear that it arises from a want of love to religion but still it is not so. I can appeal to God and say, “Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee,” and it is a grief to me that my timidity is so great. O my God strengthen thou me, may I never be ashamed to confess my Saviour before Men, but he should be ashamed of me when he comes to make up his Jewels. I wished to tell M^r Edminson that I felt myself to be a great sinner by nature and practice, every thing that I do is mixed with sin, it pollutes my holiest duties, when I look to myself I see nothing naturally but depravity, enmity to God, hardness of heart and obstinacy of will, but blessed be God I feel Christ to be a great Saviour, an able and a willing Saviour, and my feeling this, leads me to hope that God has begun his work of Grace in my Soul. Surely the relish I now feel for divine things, my delight in public worship, the pleasure I find in prayer, and in reading the word of God, must be the work of the Spirit of God.[2]

I cannot tell when this work was begun, when this change was first wrought, but I trust I can say that “where I was once blind now I see.” Christ has drawn me to himself with the cords of love, I love him because he first loved me. I am now looking for purification by faith in him, the forgiveness of all my numerous transgressions, according to the riches of his grace and the redemption of my Soul by his precious blood. I grieve that I do not love him more that I do not serve him better that my thoughts and my affections so frequently wander from him. But he knows my frame he remembers that I am but dust, he will not despise the day of small things.

I have long wished to unite with the dear people of God in Church fellowship, and I have now a prospect of doing it: it is a very solemn thing. O that my mind may be suitably impressed with the importance of attending to it with proper motives. I have long considered the ordinance of Baptism by immersion the plain command of the Lord Jesus Christ, and a duty incumbent on all true believers in him, he has said “if ye love me keep my commandments.” Now I do love my Saviour, and “thus it becometh us” is constraining language, I want to testify my love to Christ by following him in all his appointed ways. I do not consider that my attending to this ordinance will be any procuring cause of my salvation, or at all recommend me to the divine favor; no, the precious blood of Christ is alone sufficient for the former, and his perfect righteousness imputed to me and received by faith, is all my hope of the latter, God accepts us through or in his beloved Son. If I shall be permitted to profess Christ publickly before the World, I hope it will be my daily prayer that I may be enabled to adorn the doctrines of God my Saviour in all things, to act as becometh the professors of religion, to manifest to all around me that my faith is an operative principle, that it influences my daily practice to fill up the duties devolving on me in civil and religious life with propriety, to carry my religion with me into the World, that others seeing my good works may glorify my heavenly father. I am resolved to be very frequent and regular at a throne of grace, that I may ask the daily influence of the Holy Spirit, to enlighten my understanding, to dispel my ignorance, and quicken me in the divine life. – To search the Scriptures daily to make them the man of my counsel, and my directory in all things. – To embrace every opportunity of attending to Public worship. – To promote the Cause of Christ in the earth by every means in my power. – To be very charitable in my opinions of others, particularly of my fellow members, to exercise a forgiving disposition, to do good to all, particularly to those who are of the household of Faith. – To keep in view my mortality and learn to die dayly, this will have a tendency to lesson my anxiety about temporal things, to loosen my affections to the Creature, and to hold all my earthly comforts with a loose hand. – To keep constantly in view the awful day of Judgment when I must give an account of all my thoughts words or misimprovement of all the religious priviledges I have been indulged with, and the motives and principles that have actuated all my conduct. Oh my Soul what a solemn scrutiny must thou then undergo. What manner of person ought I now to be in all holy conversation and Godliness, how solicitous to have God for my reconciled friend, and the Lord Jesus Christ for my justifier before assembled worlds.

The people of the World will now in a particular manner watch for my halting and would no doubt rejoice were I to disgrace the profession of religion I am about to make. Hold thou me up O Lord that my footsteps slide not. I must watch and pray daily that I enter not into temptation. – I think now that it would break my heart to do anything that would dishonour my Saviour, or wound his cause, – that I would rather die for him than deny him. But I feel that I have a very deceitful heart, and therefore I would beware of trusting to my own strength. May I be ever kept very humble at the feet of Jesus, and find his grace sufficient for me as well to enable me to withstand temptation, as to perform every duty aright he requires of me. I am now looking forward with great solicitude to the approaching Sabbath day when I am to appear before the Church,[3] my feelings respecting it are very painful, but why should I so much dread my fellow creatures, I am sure it is very wrong, but I cannot ever over come it, I hope God will be better to me than my fears, and that he will strengthen, encourage, and support me to go through it, with propriety. Perhaps the backwardness I feel to tell my friends what I hope the Lord has done for me, may be the means of keeping me humble; if I could talk about religion so fluently as many do, I should I fear think too highly of myself and grow spiritually proud, whereas now I am filled with self-abasement to think I can say no more about it. As my knowledge increases I trust my fortitude and boldness will also. I pray God that he would mercifully grant me the enlightening, the quickening and the sanctifying influences of his holy Spirit, that I may be making advances in the divine life, till at length I arrive at a perfect Man in Christ Jesus. A real Christian cannot be satisfied with present attainments – he is always pressing forward towards the prize set before him. May I also be pressing on and at last be admitted to that happy place, where I shall not have to mourn over my sinfulness my shyness or my unworthiness, neither the weakness of my faith nor the coldness of my love,

Where faith will be lost in sight,

And hope in Joy.

[Monday] June 22 1812

Yesterday being the Sabbath, I appeared before the Church previous to my becoming a Member amongst them, and so what I so much dreaded is now past. I went through to be sure very badly and my excessive timidity rendered me very unhappy. I was a little comforted during the day in meditating on the 27 Psalm particularly the last verse, “Wait on the Lord be of good courage and he will strengthen thy heart.” I do not know what the Church thought of me, I fear they supposed me very lukewarm and cold in the good cause, but why should I be so anxious about the good opinion of my fellow creatures, it is the Lord only that knows the thoughts and intents of the heart, yes Sophia, he knows thy heart, thy motives and thy desires, he knows that it is my sincere desire to love and serve him, for his service is perfect freedom. M^r Edminson read a letter I wrote to him, and which I was not aware any eye would see but his, but as it continued some of the genuine sentiments and feelings of my mind I do not see why I should be sorry for others to know its contents.

The Apostle speaks of little children and babes, as well as of young Men & Fathers in Christ, and how ought my heart to glow with gratitude if I am but a Babe in the family of Christ. I shall ever ascribe it to the riches of this sovereign grace, and shall such an unworthy creature as I am be admitted to the priviledges of his Church, yes, I have a prospect of it for the people have accepted me, even such a sinful wretch as I am. I could say but very little before the Church not enough I should think to satisfy them, but they heard from my letter what were the sentiments and feelings of my mind, and I should hope they will not judge so hard as to suppose I was assisted to write it: the Omniscient God knows that I was not. It is a new thing here for a persons experience of the Lord’s goodness to them, to be communicated in writing, and I should have been glad if mine had not been the first, but M^r E. thought fit that it should, and I pray for Grace that I may be enabled to walk consistently and never give any one reason to wish that I had not been admitted amongst them.[4] May I never prove a root of bitterness amongst them whereby many shall be defiled, or ever be so left of God as to deny my Master, but may I go on humbly relying on that almighty Saviour who will carry on the good work where he has begun it. A union with the Church of Christ in this place is what I have long wished for, and long prayed for, and I have now another testimony to numerous others that the Lord is a God hearing and answering Prayer – And Oh, may my union with the Church below be only a sweet prelude of my one day joining the Church triumphant above, and mingling my voice with all the redeemed in ascribing all the praise of my Salvation to the worthy Lamb who was slain.[xiii] I shall not there have any cause to mourn over lukewarmness of zeal or coldness of love, of roving thoughts or unsanctified affections, no, – of remaining corruptions, but there Sin can never enter, can never disturb the peace or interrupt the happiness of the blissful inhabitants.

[Monday] June 29 [1812]

M^r Ward of Lavington[5] preached to us, his Text in the afternoon was from the 130 Psalm, “There is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be feared” he spoke a good deal on the nature and extent of the forgiving love of God – what a pleasing subject it is, I want my heart to be more affected with it. Oh that there were some little narrow entrances to the house of my God, through which I could just creep in & leave the World, altogether without, but alas it enters with me, and my thoughts wander from him whom my Soul loveth.

Lord take my heart and let it be,

Forever closed to all but thee.

[Sunday] July 5^th [1812]

The Lord has brought me in mercy to the beginning of another Week. I have been priviledged with another Sabbath-day, I hope it was not altogether an unprofitable one, four people appeared before the Church and related the Lords goodness to their Souls, they all spoke very well and apparently with little timidity, all have more courage than I, well I believe it will be the means of keeping me humble, and humility is a very desirable and a very becoming grace, less than the least, its the real opinion I now entertain of myself. But I shall never be contented till I am less timid and it is my daily prayer that the Lord would strengthen me and grant me courage to say a word for him, that he may give me to feel more of the influence of religion on my heart, that out of the abundance of the heart my mouth may speak, O God open thou my life and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. – I am now looking forward to the next Sabbath, when with thirteen others I am to be publickly Baptized and admitted to the Table of the Lord to commemorate the dying love of my dear redeemer. With what humility, what gratitude, what fervent love, what abstractedness from every thing earthly do I wish to attend unto it; ever remembering that awful passage of Scripture, he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself! O that I may be enabled to examine myself impartially, and part with every darling lust that may be concealed within; I feel that my heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. O Lord search me and try me, root out every evil way there is in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

[Saturday] July 11 [1812]

Blessed be God I have been brought through another week and the Sabbath is now nigh at hand: my mind has been on the whole pretty comfortable; whilst during it I see every thing in myself to discourage me from making a public profession of religion, I see every thing in the Saviour of sinners to encourage me, I am most happy when I think most of Christ, when I am relying simply and entirely on his merits, for he can save to the very uttermost. Tomorrow I shall attend to extraordinary duties, and earnestly pray the Lord to grant me a peculiar degree of grace, and of his Spirits influences, without whose aid I cannot attend to any duty aright. O that my dear redeemer, that precious Saviour into whose death I shall so soon be baptized, may manifest himself to me as he does not unto the World, and may it be the best of days to my Soul. May I seem elevated above the World, and have my heart and affections in heaven. But should the Lord withhold from me the enjoyment of his peculiar presence, should I be left to go mourning before him on account of my manifold sins and great unworthyness, still may I trust in the Lord and stay myself upon my God. May I be looking to the fountain which is open for sin and uncleanness, and to that Blood which cleanses from all sins. I do not at present feel at all timid about attending to the ordinance I am ready to say with one of old I will go in the Strength of the Lord God, I will trust and not be afraid. Lord fulfil thy word unto thy Servant, on which thou hast caused me to hope.

[Sunday] July 12, 1812.

This will ever be a very memorable day to me, with 14 others I made a profession of my faith in, and attachment to the Lord Jesus Christ, before many witnesses, by attending to the ordinance of Baptism, and truly a very delightful ordinance it is, I hope I did enjoy the presence of the great head of the Church, and that it is my sincere desire to die indeed unto sin and rise with my Redeemer to newness of life.[xix] It is a very solemn consideration that God the Judge of all, that Angels, that Devils, and the World, were witnesses of the transactions of the past day, and the solemn things I then attended to, will either be the means of bringing Glory to God, and good to my own Soul, or they will only enhance my condemnation. O that my mind may be always duly impressed with the vast importance of this. My conduct will now be very narrowly watched, I shall have need to act with great circumspection and caution, for the faults of Professors are greatly magnified. The hopes and expectations of the People of God, and of my much esteemed Pastor, are now raised concerning me, O that I may never disappoint these hopes, may I never blast these expectations, but may I be jealous over myself with a godly jealousy, and cry daily to the Lord to uphold my goings in his good way that my footsteps slide not. The advice M^r Edminson gave us when he received us into the Church was more excellent, he particularly recommended to me the study of the Sacred Word of God, to keep up a constant, intimate communion with God by secret prayer, and to be very regular in our attendance on the means of Grace; which important duties I now resolve to make conscience of attending to, and if I neglect them this paper will witness against me: and now O Lord I desire to be joined to thee in an everlasting covenant well ordered in all things and sure, I desire to make an entire dedication of myself and all I have to thee, and I desire formally to renounce the World with all its vanities and follies, and set out in good earnest in the road to Heaven, ever remembering that the way to the Crown is by the Cross, and that it is through much tribulation we must enter the Kingdom. I am well aware of my own insufficiency, to perform all this, but I would rely on the promised aids of the holy Spirit, for strength, for wisdom, and for every thing that I need to enable me to run the Christian race with diligence and speed.

M^r E. preached in the Morning from the 5 verse of the 4 Chapt of the Epistle to the Ephesians, “One Baptism.” He spoke very clearly on the Subject and according to my views of it very justly and truly, the congregation was very large. In the afternoon he preached from 2^d Peter, 1^st & 13^th Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance. In the evening M^r E prayed, and my Father read the Circular letter,[6] and thus ended the Public Service of the happiest Sabbath I ever spent. May I carry much of the relish of it into many days to come, and may the Prayers and praises in which I united in addressing to God, may the humble vows I then made of serving him with my whole heart through the whole of my life, be accepted through the merits of the great Intercessor Amen & Amen

Sophia Williams

[Monday] July 27 [1812]

Since writing last I have been indulged with two more Sabbath days, and I hope I can say that I esteem Sabbaths as the best periods of a short life. There is something very delightful in waiting upon God in his earthly Tabernacles; they are truly very amiable, what then will the worship of Heaven be, there will be no Sin there to interrupt our devotions, or call off our attention from the great Object of our Worship.

On the past day I have particularly to lament very wandering thoughts and great deadness and stupidity of Soul. My Head was very painful, and how wonderfully the Body and the Mind act on each other. I never find my mind in a vigorous frame when my body is exercised with pain, at least my head. May the Lord sanctify unto me every pain that I feel, may I see his hand in all; and may his gentle Chastisements be made very useful to me; But Lord however thou mayest see fit to afflict my body, I beseech thee to grant me a healthy Soul, may that be fat and flourishing, that I may bring honor to thy Holy Name and glorify thee, I shall then answer the great end of my being. I hate vain thoughts, Lord deliver me from them, they pollute all my duties. I see the need I have of a better righteousness than my own to justify me in the Sight of God, even the righteousness of his dear Son. My holiest duties need to be washed in his cleansing Blood, my most fervent prayers need to be perfumed with the much incense of his intercession. Rejoice O my Soul in Jesus thy great high Priest, who feels for his tempted, tried people and ever lives to make intercession from them.

“He shall have all the Praise for He hath loved and liv’d and died for me.”

[Sunday] August 2^d [1812]

Goodness and mercy have followed my through another week. Blessed be the name of the Lord, under how many obligations am I laid to devote myself to him. O that I could glorify him more & live more to his praise. I want to feel my heart burning with more intense love, with more ardent affection to my Redeemer. I shall never be satisfied till I awake with his likeness.

God has been calling to me in his Providence during the past week, or rather this week. I have been a Member of the Church here but three weeks, and one of our members (Betty Newman) has been called to her long home. She was in the prime of life being 46 and was very deservedly respected and beloved, she died happy in the faith of the Gospel and added her dying testimony to her living one that there is a reality in the religion of Jesus, and that it can support and comfort the mind when every thing else fails. Blessed be God he never deserts his humble followers, he is with them to the end, and affords them his presence even when they are passing through the dark Valley, he enables them to combat with the last enemy, and many of them come off more than Conquerors. May I be enabled to learn wisdom from the Deaths of others, and so number my days, that I may apply my heart unto wisdom. O that I may have a realizing sense of an interest in Him who conquered Death, then I shall not be afraid to meet his summons. Lord remember me when thou comest in thy Kingdom.

Wednesday evening 5^th of August [1812]

All that was mortal of Betty Newman was lodged in the cold, silent Grave, there to remain till the resurrection Morn, when it will be reunited to its immortal Partner, having had all its corruption and evil passions forever done away, for their corruptible must put on incorruption, this mortal, immortality.

But, O the Soul that never dies!

At once it leaves the clay!

My thoughts pursue it where it flies,

And track its wondrous way.

I believe I may add on Scriptural grounds,

Up to the courts where Angels dwell

Hers mounts triumphant there.

[Monday] August 10^th [1812]

Arose yesterday morning with such a sore throat and painful head, that I feared I must have passed the Sabbath at home, but I cried unto the Lord that I might be permitted to appear once more in his Sanctuary, and he graciously granted me the desire of my heart. O for gratitude equal to his goodness. I again partook of the memorials of the Saviours dying love, by eating bread and drinking Wine in remembrance of him, and I do indeed desire to cleave by faith more unto him, to hate sin as that which was the cause of all his heavy sufferings, to be crucified to the world by his Cross. I did not feel that ardent love to him and such a lively faith in him on the past day as I could wish, my heart was if not cold, at best but lukewarm. I am almost ready to fear at times that I shall be found a Hypocrite at last. Lord appear in mercy for me, to whom can I go but unto thee. O take away my heart of Stone & give me a heart of flesh.

“If I have not loved before

Help me to begin to day.”

[Monday] August 17^th [1812]

The death of Betty Newman, was improved by M^r Edminson yesterday afternoon. Text 2^d Corinthians 5^th & 10^th a passage of scripture she chose herself, and a very solemn one it is. O that her death may prove the spiritual life of many, may it be particularly sanctified to the other Members of the Church, that we may be all as Servants waiting for their Lord. There is great cause for thankfulness that while the Lord is taking one he is adding more. The cause of Christ appears to be greatly on the increase amongst us, the prayers which have been addressed to God for the prosperity of Zion here, for many years past, he has heard and is answering. Yes, his cause is the cause of truth and it must prevail, His Kingdom shall come and his will shall be done. What happy times do I live in, what exertions are now making for the dissemination of religious knowledge: many of the great men of the world, are aiding by their worldly property the glorious cause. And can I an English woman and one who has professed to be a Christian, forbear feeling interested in these things. I do indeed rejoice that my beloved Country is so highly priviledged and honored as to be the means of sending the glorious truths of the Gospel to the benighted heathen, that from England the holy scriptures will be sent to the different nations of the earth. I shall esteem it the highest honor that I can possibly attain, if I am instrumental in the least degree of forwarding the glorious work. I cannot contribute much worldly property, but I can teach poor children to read the Word of life, and I can offer up my fervent petitions to Heaven, that a blessing may attend all that is done.[7]

Two persons appeared before the Church yesterday and gave a satisfactory account of the Lord’s gracious dealings with them, what various ways the Lord takes to bring his people to him. I was most comforted by the Sermon last evening at Tinhead. M^r E observed that it was not of great importance to be able to determine the exact time of conversion, or to know what particular Sermon or Text or Providence led to it, the grand thing is to know if we are now converted, if we now feel love to the Saviour, and are anxious to follow him in attending to all his commands. I cannot tell when I first began to feel my need of Christ or when I first was led to seek his favor, but what a mercy it is for me if I feel it now, I will not address myself any more about the other.

Lord help me to declare today

If many things I cannot say;

One thing I know all praise to thee

Though blind I was yet now I see.

[Monday] August 24^th [1812]

M^r Butcher of Trowbridge supplied for us yesterday; I think him a very acceptable Preacher, and felt much pleasure in hearing his moving Sermon from 119^th Psalm 126 Verse. Our friends from Bradford Leigh came here unexpectedly, and I should have been much gratified with this company any other day, yet I cannot relish Sunday visiting, my thoughts are too prone to wander from the things of God even when external circumstances do not lead to it, and I find fixedness of thought, and company are irreconcilable things. – I have this day completed my 22^nd year, and would erect my Ebenezer of gratitude to my heavenly Father for all his benefits conferred upon me, hitherto the Lord hath helped me. I am now arrived at what is called years of discretion and it becomes me to put away childish things. When I look back on the events and occurrences of the past year I see much to excite my gratitude and much to excite humility.

How many mercies have I been the recipient of, how many dangers have I been delivered from, how many priviledges I have been indulged with. The past year has witnessed a very important transaction of my life. I have by a public Profession given up my self to the Lord, and have been united to his People. O what wond’rous grace is that, that has found a place for me, surely it calls for the most lively gratitude, for the most devoted service. I can never do enough for my dear Redeemer: “Eternity will be too short to utter all his praise.” – But when I reflect on the many secret declensions from him the past year has witnessed, the coldness and deadness I have too often felt in his service: the frequent languor of my affections, and the little acquiescence I have felt to some of his dispensations, when circumstances have been contrary to my wishes, I am constrained to lay low at his footstool and say, it is of the Lord’s mercies that I am not consumed. Spare O Lord thy rebellious child for all my hope is in thee, “Uphold me according to thy word that I may live; and let me not be ashamed of my hope.” Let the new period of my time that I have just entered upon, witness my activity in the divine life more than the past, may I be more watchful over my thoughts, more circumspect in my actions, may I feel a greater deadness to the world and be more alive to the things of God. May I at all times feel my entire dependence on God both for spiritual and temporal supplies and have an unshaken trust in him.

“What may be my future lot,

Well I know concerns me not

This should set my heart at rest

What thy will ordains is best!”

Now that that has brought me thus far, will still provide for me.

[Sunday] August 30^th [1812]

Three other persons appeared before the Church yesterday, and they appear to be those who have been created anew in Christ Jesus. Surely on a review of what has been done in this Village and neighbour[hood] by the preaching of the Gospel we may exclaim what has God wrought: – on all our glory Lord create a defence – the accession of numbers merely does not constitute the happiness or prosperity of a Church. This can only be enjoyed when the different members in the various spheres in which they move strive together for the faith of the Gospel – when Brotherly love increases and abounds when there is a growing conformity to the divine image – when the purity of the doctrines professed is manifested by the holy lives and tempers, and by the spirituality and heavenlymindedness of Professors: The existence of all this constitutes a prosperous Church we may then hope that our beloved Saviour will come into his Garden and eat his pleasant fruits. It is a mournful fact that there was a Cain in the family of Adam, and a Judas in the little family of Christ: – and unless I am upheld by sovereign grace I dont know what gross sins I may fall into: well it is a mercy that I feel my own weakness because it leads me to make daily application to the strong for strength. He has engaged to support and defend those who trust in him.[8]

“The weakest Saint shall win the day

Though death & hell obstruct the way.”

Notes

[1] Robert Edminson was pastor of the Baptist church at Bratton from 1810 to 1825; after his departure from Bratton, he eventually settled at Cambridge, living there at the same time that George Whitaker (see below) was in attendance at Cambridge and during the latter’s tenure as vicar at nearby Oakington. Edminson appears frequently in the diaries of Jane Attwater.

[2] Williams is listing what she believes to be credible ‘evidences’ of her election, from which one can gain ‘assurance’ of salvation, a commodity that often came dear to many Calvinists.

[3] Williams is preparing to give her ‘experience’ (an account of how she came to a knowledge of Christ and salvation) before the members of the church, who, if satisfied, will vote their approval, after which she will be baptised and admitted to the church.

[4] Mary Steele delayed membership in the Broughton church until 1795, when she was 42. Her fear of coming before the church had much to do with her non-Calvinist theological views, but it may also have been related to a dislike of speaking in front of the congregation, a fear not unlike that related here by Sophia Williams and previously by Jane Attwater in her diary. Steele broke with standard tradition and read her experience. Williams acknowledges the rarity of such an act, and accordingly did not read her experience, but Rev. Edminson did read a letter (without her prior knowledge) to the congregation expressing her position on various doctrinal matters and her own personal religious experience. Rev. Philips performed a similar function for Jane Attwater. Williams’s entry also reveals the high standard of membership in Particular Baptist churches at this time. For Steele’s experience, see Volume 3, pp. 196-200.

[5] This is Thomas Ward, Baptist minister at Melksham, 1794-1818; he may have preached at Lavington prior to his visit to Bratton, but he was not the minister at Lavington. A Baptist church was organized there in 1810, called Penknap Providence Baptist Church, aligning its faith and practice with the Particular Baptists. George Philips was the first pastor, having come from the Baptist church in Westbury Leigh, not far from Bratton; he would remain at the Providence church until 1833.

[6] The Western Association of Particular Baptist Churchs met at Frome that June, with the Circular Letter written by the Rev. Thomas Roberts of the Pithay Church, Bristol.

[7] Williams is listing the chief means whereby evangelical Baptists were spreading the Gospel around the world: the work of the Baptist Missionary Society (founded in 1792), at this time still operating exclusively in India and some other countries in South Asia, especially the biblical translations that were being done at Serampore by Carey, Marshman, and Ward; the British and Foreign Bible Society (founded in 1804), led by Joseph Hughes (1769-1833), former assistant pastor at Broadmead and at that time Baptist minister at Battersea; and the establishment of Sunday schools, under the auspices of the Sunday School Society (founded in 1786). As Jane Attater Blatch’s diary makes clear, a Sunday school was operating in Bratton in 1805, an earlier date that that given in A History of the Baptist Church Bratton Wilts. 1662-1962 (n.d., 1962), p. 26.

[8] A fitting description of John Ryland’s evangelical Calvinism, which sought to harmonise God’s sovereign grace (election) and man’s moral obligation, or ‘duty’, to obey the law of God.