Highbury Place
Feb^y 11 1793
My Dear M^rs Bateman
Often when the postman has passed the
door I have wished a letter to you, that in a few more posts
I might have the pleasure of an answer: but, Alas! Wishing
Is an idle unprofitable servant, & only upbraids me for
neglecting that which has been due so long – Accept my
thanks for the trouble you had about the tune, & for adding
to it so many others – I do not look at them without think=
ing of you, & when I am at the Organ, cannot help wishing
again that you were here to sing – but I will be content
in this separation if I may join you in the heavenly
choir to praise God without ceasing – When I can at all
realize that state; all else is vanity & I am surprised that
my thoughts are so seldom there, & that I know so little of
{^heavenly} employment on earth – It is high time to awake out of sleep:
I have thought much lately of what a good man says,
“I used to walk through life; but now I gallop - I have seen
an end of all perfection; my lot has been made up of earthly
blessings, but they have all been insufficient to produce
real happiness; and as I expect little, every day seems to fly
to me with increasing swiftness – May we be prepared for
the last day! – Have you seen M. De La Flechere’s letter
[new page]
(M^r Fletcher of Madeley) If you can borrow them of some
of M^r Wesley’s people, I think you will be pleased, as I was;
though no book ever made me more displeased with myself –
My Sister was so kind as to enclose for me the extract
of from Fleming: perhaps you had seen it, but I could not
tell – Is it not very extraordinary? I think there was more
of real communion with God in that day than now: I know
the religion of the Bible is the same now that ever it was,
but what a difference in the profession of it! We forget that “the
kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, & that the violent take it by force”
O for grace to do the work of every day in its day, that being clothed
in the righteousness of Christ, we may be accounted worthy to
stand before the Son of Man! – I hope the Church at Manchester
{^is in a better state} than it is in London; Here politics have run away with religion,
& we can {^have} no prayer meetings about public affairs lest it should
be made a theatre of opposition.
We suppose that Rebekah is about her teeth; she
has not been quite well lately, but yet is not much amiss;
I hear some talk of her visiting you, & whoever does not love her,
I’ll be very angry with them.
I was sorry {^to hear} of Miss Spear’s indisposition; hope she is
quite recovered & will accept my love – My kind respects to
M^r & M^rs Clegg. M^r Bateman &c &c – Do not forget that you
have a friend here who values highly a little visible converse
when she cannot enjoy it in person, & who is happy to subscribe
herself, Yours most sincerely & affectionately
Mary Wilson
[new page]

Highbury Place
Feb^y 11 1793
My Dear M^rs Bateman
Often when the postman has passed the
door I have wished a letter to you, that in a few more posts
I might have the pleasure of an answer: but, Alas! Wishing
Is an idle unprofitable servant, & only upbraids me for
neglecting that which has been due so long – Accept my
thanks for the trouble you had about the tune, & for adding
to it so many others – I do not look at them without think=
ing of you, & when I am at the Organ, cannot help wishing
again that you were here to sing – but I will be content
in this separation if I may join you in the heavenly
choir to praise God without ceasing – When I can at all
realize that state; all else is vanity & I am surprised that
my thoughts are so seldom there, & that I know so little of
{^heavenly} employment on earth – It is high time to awake out of sleep:
I have thought much lately of what a good man says,
“I used to walk through life; but now I gallop - I have seen
an end of all perfection; my lot has been made up of earthly
blessings, but they have all been insufficient to produce
real happiness; and as I expect little, every day seems to fly
to me with increasing swiftness – May we be prepared for
the last day! – Have you seen M. De La Flechere’s letter
[new page]
(M^r Fletcher of Madeley) If you can borrow them of some
of M^r Wesley’s people, I think you will be pleased, as I was;
though no book ever made me more displeased with myself –
My Sister was so kind as to enclose for me the extract
of from Fleming: perhaps you had seen it, but I could not
tell – Is it not very extraordinary? I think there was more
of real communion with God in that day than now: I know
the religion of the Bible is the same now that ever it was,
but what a difference in the profession of it! We forget that “the
kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, & that the violent take it by force”
O for grace to do the work of every day in its day, that being clothed
in the righteousness of Christ, we may be accounted worthy to
stand before the Son of Man! – I hope the Church at Manchester
{^is in a better state} than it is in London; Here politics have run away with religion,
& we can {^have} no prayer meetings about public affairs lest it should
be made a theatre of opposition.
We suppose that Rebekah is about her teeth; she
has not been quite well lately, but yet is not much amiss;
I hear some talk of her visiting you, & whoever does not love her,
I’ll be very angry with them.
I was sorry {^to hear} of Miss Spear’s indisposition; hope she is
quite recovered & will accept my love – My kind respects to
M^r & M^rs Clegg. M^r Bateman &c &c – Do not forget that you
have a friend here who values highly a little visible converse
when she cannot enjoy it in person, & who is happy to subscribe
herself, Yours most sincerely & affectionately
Mary Wilson
[new page]