Providence, December 1st, 1862.
To the truly Honorable the Lady Vane, the Younger.
Madam,
Your favourable, and Christian respects to me (both of former and latter date) your Godly and Christian Letters to me, so many thousand miles distant in America: And your many gracious Demonstrations of an humble and Christian Spirit breathing in you; are a three fold Cord which have drawn these lines into your presence.
While I have sometimes mused how to express a Christian gratitude, I am at last perswaded to crave your Ladyships acceptance of these poore Experiments of each true Christians personall union, and communion with the Father of Spirits.
It is true, I have been sometimes prest to engage in controversies, but I can really and uprightly say, my Witnes is on high, how harsh and doleful the touch of those strings are, especially, against such Worthies both in old and new-England, in whom I joyfully before the world acknowledge (in many heavenly respects) a lively character and Image of the Son of God. This broken piece, is a breath of a still and gentle voice, none but the God of this world, and the men of this world, can I lightly (at this turne) expect my opposites.
At other times I have been drawne to consider of the little flock of Jesus, his Army, his body, his building, that for these many hundred years have been scattered, routed and laid wast and desolate: At present, I onely examine who are the personall and particular Sheep of Jesus Christ, his Souldiers, his living materials, though scattered, divided, and not compos'd and ordred at their souls desire.