Letter To A Brother In Christ – September 5th, 1831
September 5th, 1831
My dear Brother,
I was delighted with your letter which I received last Saturday, as it gave me good reason to believe the Lord has begun a good work in another of our relatives. Time will make it manifest. I would be sorry to discourage it in the least, “but by their fruits you shall know them.”
Though it is not convenient for me to visit Rutland this autumn, nevertheless, as I am anxious to see you, I intend, God willing, to be with you next month. Bulteel is kind enough to say that he will serve my church; but he will not perform any of the ‘stated ceremonies’; and, as my parish is large, it is rather inconvenient. He slept at my house on Saturday night, and preached in Abingdon market-place on Sunday morning to two or three thousand people, and on next Sunday he will preach in my church, and after the sermon a collection will be made towards building a chapel for him at Oxford. He has bought a piece of ground at Oxford, and hopes to raise subscriptions sufficient to build a chapel. His hearers, of course, are chiefly poor; consequently, the chief part of the money must be raised elsewhere.
Since his dismissal from St. Ebbe’s, he has preached once a Lord’s day in his own garden to a very large congregation. I have not heard from my bishop directly or indirectly; so when I come to see you I shall not be particular about ‘Gothic arches’, for the people form the church, and not mud and stone. If the Lord is with me I must give offence, for many of the sleepy orthodox cannot cordially bid me God speed in breaking down their walls of bigotry and prejudice.
We have very pleasing accounts of the usefulness of our labors during our travels. Some, I trust, will prove seals to our ministry. They are living testimonies that we were not acting contrary to the will of God, however man might scoff at and condemn us. I go on here much as usual, but not so comfortable in my mind, as my objections against the Church of England grow stronger and stronger, so that if I am not turned out, I must resign. I believe it is pride and covetousness that keep me in.
My church is still crowded. Some professors fall away, and others rise up; and so in one respect I am discouraged, and in the other encouraged. But things go on here much as they do where there are other preachers of the gospel. As it was in the early days, so it is now. I feel assured that if you and Deborah are faithful, you must bear a heavy cross in such a place as Oakham. He is not a Christian who differs only in ‘sentiment’ from the world, but in ‘practice’. Faith without works is dead. You compare yourselves with others, therefore you are not wise. People in your rich circumstances will find it next to an impossibility to enter into heaven; and I feel more assured daily that God’s people are very scattered in the present day.
Many are deceived and deceiving others, but God is not deceived. I shall rejoice to find you in a very spiritual state, for I need rousing and stirring up, for I am very carnal and dead; my heart is too much cleaving to the dust. Make no engagements for me in a worldly way; for I trust, through the grace of God, I shall be more decided than I was when I was with you last time. I hope that Christ will be exalted, and we shall experience more of His Spirit in our hearts. Satan is an astonishing enemy, and is endeavoring to rob us of all comfort, if he cannot keep us under his dominion.
I shall hope to find you all rejoicing in Christ Jesus, fighting bravely in His name; and that the Lord may direct you to act to His glory and praise is the sincere prayer of
Yours most affectionately in Christ,
W. Tiptaft.
Jesus is LORD! 
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