1841 WILLIAM JAY. Lambastes American Revivalists for Showboating and being Soft on Slavery.

A significant 3pp ALS entirely in the hand of one of the most significant 19th century evangelicals, William Jay [1769-1853] of Bath. Long-time friends with Rowland Hill, his Morning and Evening Exercises remains a devotional classic and has been in print almost without break since its first appearance. It was, indeed, according to Spurgeon himself, the book that inspired Spurgeon's own devotional. He considered it the best devotional of the 19th century. Of note, this letter written shortly after the significant World Anti-Slavery Convention was held in London.  An unusually robust letter content-wise.  Bath. April 27th, 1841 My dear sir, I was not returned from a journey to Chester &c when your letter arrived. I now seize, under indisposition & * interruption, my first opportunity of replying. I will leave the little work tomorrow at Binns & Goodman's. As far as I have had time to dig into it, I like it much; but I have for some years refused all applications to give an opinion for publications of a work in manuscript; or to recommend books already published. I certainly do not like all that has been republished & recommended from America, especially with regard to the bellows blowing, trumpeting, and mechanical means to get up revival. The Kingdom of God cometh not with observation; the Kingdom of God is nigh you; the Kingdom of God is with in you. Besides, though some of the revivalists are noble enemies to the accursed business of slavery; the far greater number of the pastors & churches who are concerned in them, are slave-holders, buyers, sellers, & ***** communion to all such!  If any of their dark brethren were present at these meetings, * the Spirit of God was to fall upon them, how would they be treated? How are they treated? "Father forgive them" (I hardly know whether we can add) for they know not what they do."  It must afford you real pleasure, as it does you so much honor, that as "friends" you have so insistently, so invariably, so zealously opposed this infernal system. In haste, I am very dear Sir, Yours respectfully, Wm Jay Addressed to Wright & Albright, Publishers of Bristol. Quakers and abolitionists. Accompanied by a fine 1819 original engraving of William Jay after the painting of W. Etty, engraved by J. Thomson for the European Magazine of the same year.