From Olney. He was grateful for Fletcher’s last letter and congratulates her on the conversion of Mrs Davis, as well as other instances of the gracious success which the Lord is pleased to give Fletcher and her fellow labourers. On the same score, Horne also has cause to be thankful. His little flock is growing in grace and numbers, and now total about thirty people, with some others who are under ‘serious conviction’.
In the six years he was at Madeley, he believes that his preaching was generally accepted and blessed, yet he does not think that he managed to achieve fifteen conversions. So there is reason to think that the Lord has brought him here. ‘Nevertheless what appears on the one hand to be the leadings of divine providence is so contradicted as I think by his word, that I am quite nonplussed’.
Mr Bean [the Rector of Olney?] has now positively declared his intention of giving Horne this living on Lady Day, but his [Horne’s] scruples are ‘so painful’ that he has requested Bean to give him a year, or at least until Midsummer before he gives him a definite answer, at which time he must take the living or relinquish this cure. He trusts that the Lord will graciously determine what he should do.
[Henry] Thornton has taken a very kind personal interest in Horne and would doubtless, do him a favour at the first opportunity [to provide him with the offer of another living] ‘But I put not my trust in princes…’. If he could act with full freedom of action at Olney, he would wish for no other parish, and he does not know how he would be able to leave the people here while conversions are going on. His leaving Madeley was an enormous mistake and brought with it some very painful results, so that he now mistrusts his own judgement and leaves himself to be guided more by circumstance than conscious decision.
The Missionary Society is prospering - £6,000 has been collected and this is increasing on a daily basis. Missionaries are also offering themselves freely. The pious ministers of the Church are to have a meeting in London to enquire into the expediency of their engaging in a mission, although what the result will be, he does not know.
Horne would be happy to see Fletcher and his other friends in Madeley, but has the problem of supplying a replacement here in his absence. Also, the distance of ninety miles means that he would not really have enough time between Monday morning and Saturday night. If he was able to pay [Samuel] Walters’s [the incumbent at Madeley] expenses, he would offer to swap with him for two Sundays, but this he must postpone until he is rich. Finally, he doubts the ‘propriety’ of coming to Madeley until any attachment between himself and people there is worn away by time. It is for this reason that he writes to none of his old friends. ‘I know so much of parishes where the Gospel has been long preached that I think with very few exceptions that new ground promises the best return for a minister’s labours. Antinomianism makes a dreadful spread in London, & I am now so well acquainted with the sad effects of high Calvinism that I dread those doctrines more than I can express. If I do leave Olney, by the grace of God I will never enter into any composition whatsover to withold one tittle of the truth…’
Horne’s dear wife, mother, Edward, Grace and Mary are all well and send their regards.