Anne Hutton

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The Philander Chase letters were written in the 18th and 19th century and therefore may contain language that we understand today as harmful or offensive. You may encounter paternalist descriptions of Native Americans, racial slurs, or sexism. For more information, see our policy page.

Description

Long letter in which Anne Hutton expresses her appreciation for Chase and her continued prayers for his well-being and success.

Date

10-6-1827

Keywords

Dr. Ward, Lord Kenyon, Mrs. Vany, Mr. Vany, Mr. Marsh, Colchester

Transcript

Colchester

Oct’r 6 - 1827

Rev’d and very dear Bishop Chase,

Your valuable epistle received in Jan’y would not have remained so long unanswered had I been able to send you a letter of thanks free of [expense] — At the present time Dr. Ward has kindly offered to send them to Lord Kenyon to be franked; & I sincerely rejoice in an opportunity of rendering you my very grateful thanks for thus remembering unworthy me. Your letter gave me great joy & I doubt it is not among the least of his mercies, & may [?]grant that the acquaintances & communication with one of his most faithful & diligent & self denying ministers, may [bend] to his glory, & my present & eternal welfare. In your dear letter, you chide me a little for entertaining so high an opinion of you, & for expressing that opinion so warmly, but do remember our dear Bishop, that when I this think & speak, I am instantly led to wonder & adore the [reaches] of his grace who [thus] maketh you to differ; I know it is only the free grace of our Covenant God — & I am led to see what Divine grace can effect, & to pray that a larger measure may be poured onto us [on] me. I cannot think too highly of you dear Bishop Chase, when I think of you, I am led to love God in Christ more — I love those not only for what He has done, & I trust will do for me the chief of sinners, but I love Him for what He does for fellow sinners. And what great things has He done for Ohio, & its venerable & dear Bishop Chase. Do not chide me anymore for thinking too highly of you — Grace [clarified] your heart — Grace led you to see that you were poor, & miserable, & blind & naked — Grace led you to the blood of [?]. Grace led you to see the duty of denying self & I may add the felicity of it — and to rich & [sovereign] grace of our Heavenly Father, I attribute all the zeal, thro humility & the love you possess — He has filled you with his spirit, & He enables you to bring forth such rich fruits — I may then think highly of you, because you are the workmanship of our Heavenly builder — I may thus express my opinion, because all your “holy desires, all your good counsels, & all your just works proceed from the Grace of every good & perfect gift — & for ever will I bless Him for advising you up — & forever will I bless Him for the privilege of your acquaintance. Only do pray dear Bishop that if He has begun the good work on my [?] heart, he will compleat [sic] it — I desire to sit at the foot of the Cross, and living & dying my prayer shall be, “God be merciful to me a sinner” — Jesus make me whole, make me clean in the all purifying blood — Your letters have dear Bishop been I hope blessed to the good of my Soul — they have led to be more humble on account of my sins, & they have taught me to feel concern for the Souls of others — pray continue to write when opportunity occurs — do not mind about a frank, I will pay any thing for them, I must love you, I do pray for you — yea I pray that our Covenant God may richly supply all your wants & spiritual & temporal — give you good success in all your labours on earth, & an abundant entrance into his Heavenly Kingdom. Oh what joy to meet round the throne of the Lamb, & praise Him for Redeeming love, & for Regenerating & Sanctifying grace — I hope I shall arrive there, but I sometimes fear. I have for the last two months been seriously ill with a bilious fever, which prevents my being able to five you much information respecting Col’r friends; but very dear Bishop, I must tell how thankful I am for my illness — for I hope it has led me nearer to God, & taught me that all here is vanity & vexation of spirit; I suffered much for a time, but it has been good for me that I have been afflicted — yes, & I could say when lying on my sick bed that all the paths of Jehovah are mercy & [health] — yes, the path of sickness as well as health — that of adversity as well as prosperity — His chastisements are in love, therefore my prayer is that I may never despise them, nor faint under them. “I will praise Him for all that is past,” “I will trust Him for all that’s to come.” I have no wish to take myself out of his hands — may He always direct my steps — may He order all my goings — may He & He alone be my [portion] while a Pilgrim here, & may I ‘ere long be in that Land where sin & sorrow are unknown. It is only “In his presence that there is fulness of joy — it is only at his right hand that there are pleasures forevermore.” find that my Sister has given you a full account of every number of our family, with the exception of dear Mrs [Vany] — we have just received delightful tidings of her, her Husband, & their two sweet boys — my dear Sister is in excellent health; she does not suffer in the least from climate. Mr. Vany is a faithful and diligent Labourer in his Master’s vineyard, & he says God has in mercy blessed his work & labour of love. They still sigh for Old England, & their daily prayer is that in the Lord’s time they may have a pittance in their native Land — but they are content at present to leave all they loved here, & to do & suffer his will in a strange country. My dear Sister desires her love to you, she says she will write the first opportunity, she never forgets you at a [Throne] of Grace. My dear Mamma also desires her love to you, & many thanks for your letter — she says she does not like to trouble you with one, or she would write now. You will be sorry to hear that dear Mr Marsh has been very ill — he has hurt his Lungs with preaching, & for the last three months he has not once addressed his flock; indeed he cannot even converse [quickly] without suffering — he hopes in a few Sabbaths more to be able to preach once a day. I think in Him patience has its perfect work. He knows there is one can give him strength for his labours, & that he will when the affliction has answered the end for which it is sent. To him it is a great trial, as his delight was in preaching the Gospel. We must never inquire “what does [?], but be still, remembering He is God. And now my dear & good Bishop Chase, I must bid you farewell, I am not yet quite well, and am not allowed to write much. To the care of your Heavenly Shepherd, I [commend] you, your Wife, & children — may his blessing rest upon you all in time & in eternity

Yr very grateful & affec’te young friend

Anne Hutton

Letter to Philander Chase

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