Manchester June 24^th 1797
M^r Bateman
Dear Sir
Wou’d to God the part I bear in your
affliction, cou’d so much lighten it, or as in most other cases, by
dividing the burden make ours so much less.
The time of offering consolation is critical, for whilst the fountain of
sorrow overflows, Time may be as necessary as advice, and council too
long delayed, may be again the means of opening the sprints of
sorrow afresh; however mistimed, I’m perswaded the intention
hereof will be accepted: and hope I shall not be deemed as assuming
to enter upon a merely speculative subject, having had some experience
of such an affliction, with the advantage of being more apprized of
its approach, yet those daily apprehensions keeps increasing the
measure of affliction till full, when ultimately the Events of one half
of self being separated from the other, are the very same.
Every wise man knows the uncertainty of all creative enjoy=
=ments, and may with an Apostle say “In the midst of Life we
are in death” and every wise Christian knows that death is so
linked with nature, so common in event, and so beneficial in the
issue that he has neither cause for fear or grief for the consequences
When in general we compare our situations or circumstances
with those of others, we choose only or partially, such subjects as
serve to indulge or petulance, so that when we look around and see
others happy pains, united in the bonds of harmonious friendship,
& continue together to gray hairs, we fancy we have cause to murmur
[new page]
or indulge the dishonorable Idea that the almighty has fetched us a
stroke in Anger: we forget to look at others, in no less happier circum=
=stances divided by death in a Year, or probably within a few Months,
Have we not reason to be thankful that our mercies & enjoyments
Have continued so long, rather than to murmur that they are so short.
One cause (probably the principal one) of our excessive grief and
sorrow is our mistake in the nature of our possessions, supposing
them to be Freehold, whereas they are only Tenement, or we take that
for a Gift, which was only designed as a loan, the Gift of God is
eternal life, “I give unto them eternal life and they shall never
finish, neither shall any (Husbands, Parents or Children) pluck
them out of my hand”. No none shall be able to separate them
either from the Love or from the enjoyment of God, neither length
nor breadth, height nor depth or any other Creature. How
strangely we forget ourselves, to prefer ourselves in the enjoyment
of our friends, do we wish the happiness of those we love, how do
we then wish their stay here, We know they cannot be completely
happy and not die. Had it pleased the Lord that the excruciating
pain which M^rs B suffered previous to her exit had continued,
your sympathetic feelings cou’d no more have endured to see her
thus miserable, than you can now make yourself happy in her
departure, therefore let not an excess of grief proclaim that you
loved yourself too much in her: forget yourself whilst you trace
her to the mansions of blessedness and there with reverence
humbly acknowledge with submission the righteousness of that
God who ever has, who ever did, and who ever will do all things well,
How
[new page]
How oft my dear friend when walking in your own Garden, has
the beautiful flowers invited you to gather them. Does not the
Lord of nature, and the God of grace claim the right of walking in
his Garden (and for what purpose) to water the plants which his
own right hand planted and (read Song Solⁿ 6 & 2) to gather
Lillies, surely he knows the time [deleted] and season for gathering
his nosegay, and will you grudge this fair flower, ripened
for his hand, ripened for eternal glory.
We have lost a much honor’d Church member, I have for
years been looking that you wou’d advance by taking upon you
a publick profession of the name of Christ. The calls of your
family will have a claim upon you in this respect, the Church
wou’d rejoice in it, and I hope and trust that the Lord will by
his word, and by his Spirit, convince you that his Yoke is
easy, and his burden is light, May he convince you that you [damaged]
your concerns (as well as every individual for whom Christ died) are
as much the objects of his peculiar regard, and engages as much
of his attention as a Kingdom or an Empire, for with him a day is
as a thousand years and a thousand years but as one day, & before
whom the nations are but as the drop of a Bucket or as the small
dust of the Balance, and yet the Mountains shall depart & the
Hills shall be removed before the loving kindness of the Lord shall depart
From any individual of his own people, to whom he has said
“I will never never leave thee, no no I will never forsake thee”
It is with pleasure I have observed the attention of y^r Brother
[damaged] Ordinances, Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his every
[new page]
Way, but by takeing heed thereto according to Gods word.
That you and our offspring may be enriched with the
Choicest blessings that Heaven can bestow, viz an Interest in
The everlasting convenant, and a good hope through grace, is
The ardent desire of my heart.
With every sentiment of Affection, Respect & Obligation
I am Dear Sir
Yours most sincerely
John Hope
PS M^rs Hope unites
in Christian Respects
M^r Tho^s Bateman
Cheadle

Manchester June 24^th 1797
M^r Bateman
Dear Sir
Wou’d to God the part I bear in your
affliction, cou’d so much lighten it, or as in most other cases, by
dividing the burden make ours so much less.
The time of offering consolation is critical, for whilst the fountain of
sorrow overflows, Time may be as necessary as advice, and council too
long delayed, may be again the means of opening the sprints of
sorrow afresh; however mistimed, I’m perswaded the intention
hereof will be accepted: and hope I shall not be deemed as assuming
to enter upon a merely speculative subject, having had some experience
of such an affliction, with the advantage of being more apprized of
its approach, yet those daily apprehensions keeps increasing the
measure of affliction till full, when ultimately the Events of one half
of self being separated from the other, are the very same.
Every wise man knows the uncertainty of all creative enjoy=
=ments, and may with an Apostle say “In the midst of Life we
are in death” and every wise Christian knows that death is so
linked with nature, so common in event, and so beneficial in the
issue that he has neither cause for fear or grief for the consequences
When in general we compare our situations or circumstances
with those of others, we choose only or partially, such subjects as
serve to indulge or petulance, so that when we look around and see
others happy pains, united in the bonds of harmonious friendship,
& continue together to gray hairs, we fancy we have cause to murmur
[new page]
or indulge the dishonorable Idea that the almighty has fetched us a
stroke in Anger: we forget to look at others, in no less happier circum=
=stances divided by death in a Year, or probably within a few Months,
Have we not reason to be thankful that our mercies & enjoyments
Have continued so long, rather than to murmur that they are so short.
One cause (probably the principal one) of our excessive grief and
sorrow is our mistake in the nature of our possessions, supposing
them to be Freehold, whereas they are only Tenement, or we take that
for a Gift, which was only designed as a loan, the Gift of God is
eternal life, “I give unto them eternal life and they shall never
finish, neither shall any (Husbands, Parents or Children) pluck
them out of my hand”. No none shall be able to separate them
either from the Love or from the enjoyment of God, neither length
nor breadth, height nor depth or any other Creature. How
strangely we forget ourselves, to prefer ourselves in the enjoyment
of our friends, do we wish the happiness of those we love, how do
we then wish their stay here, We know they cannot be completely
happy and not die. Had it pleased the Lord that the excruciating
pain which M^rs B suffered previous to her exit had continued,
your sympathetic feelings cou’d no more have endured to see her
thus miserable, than you can now make yourself happy in her
departure, therefore let not an excess of grief proclaim that you
loved yourself too much in her: forget yourself whilst you trace
her to the mansions of blessedness and there with reverence
humbly acknowledge with submission the righteousness of that
God who ever has, who ever did, and who ever will do all things well,
How
[new page]
How oft my dear friend when walking in your own Garden, has
the beautiful flowers invited you to gather them. Does not the
Lord of nature, and the God of grace claim the right of walking in
his Garden (and for what purpose) to water the plants which his
own right hand planted and (read Song Solⁿ 6 & 2) to gather
Lillies, surely he knows the time [deleted] and season for gathering
his nosegay, and will you grudge this fair flower, ripened
for his hand, ripened for eternal glory.
We have lost a much honor’d Church member, I have for
years been looking that you wou’d advance by taking upon you
a publick profession of the name of Christ. The calls of your
family will have a claim upon you in this respect, the Church
wou’d rejoice in it, and I hope and trust that the Lord will by
his word, and by his Spirit, convince you that his Yoke is
easy, and his burden is light, May he convince you that you [damaged]
your concerns (as well as every individual for whom Christ died) are
as much the objects of his peculiar regard, and engages as much
of his attention as a Kingdom or an Empire, for with him a day is
as a thousand years and a thousand years but as one day, & before
whom the nations are but as the drop of a Bucket or as the small
dust of the Balance, and yet the Mountains shall depart & the
Hills shall be removed before the loving kindness of the Lord shall depart
From any individual of his own people, to whom he has said
“I will never never leave thee, no no I will never forsake thee”
It is with pleasure I have observed the attention of y^r Brother
[damaged] Ordinances, Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his every
[new page]
Way, but by takeing heed thereto according to Gods word.
That you and our offspring may be enriched with the
Choicest blessings that Heaven can bestow, viz an Interest in
The everlasting convenant, and a good hope through grace, is
The ardent desire of my heart.
With every sentiment of Affection, Respect & Obligation
I am Dear Sir
Yours most sincerely
John Hope
PS M^rs Hope unites
in Christian Respects
M^r Tho^s Bateman
Cheadle