fully justify the unsolicited liberty I have taken of dedicating these Letters to you. I do this with entire satisfaction, from knowing you are perfectly acquainted with the subject of which they treat; because you have sympathized with the Society in all its trials, and have, in various ways, assisted it in all its difficulties. It has not been without feelings of most painful emotion, that I have written the history of this distressing controversy. I adopt in reference to it, the language applied to the condition of Israel: "And fire is gone out of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit: this is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation."* Most happy should I be, to see these contentions among brethren, brought to a final end; but it will be better not to have peace, unless it be accompanied with righteousness. "The wisdom which is from above, is first PURE, then peaceable, without partiality, and without HYPOCRISY." t As you possess in an eminent degree the rare, but not incompatible, union of the suaviter in modo with the fortiter in re, I conclude that you will not disapprove of the spirit of these Letters. The occasional severity which you will find, was, I thought, necessary in order for calling things by Ezek. xix. 14. + James, iii. 17. their proper names, and exhibiting persons in their true colours. I am not aware, however, that I have violated the scripture precept, "Be courteous." Unless I have deceived myself, I have acted upon the maxim of an inspired apostle: "And herein do I exercise myself always, to have a conscience void of offence toward God and toward men.' That you may be yet long spared to see the peace and more abundant prosperity of the Mission; and when you have fully "served your generation by the will of God, fall asleep, full of days, riches and honours," and "so have an entrance ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ," is the ardent prayer of, Dear Sir, Your respectful Friend, 51, Devonshire Street, Queen Square, March 14, 1831. * Acts, xiv. 16. JOSEPH IVIMEY. CONTENTS. Page LETTER III.-Events which happened from the death of Mr. Fuller, LETTER IV. From the Birmingham Meeting to the time of the Rev. W. Ward's departure from England, May 1821 29. LETTER V.-Events which occurred during the time that Mr. J. Č. LETTER VI.-Events which happened during the Rev. Dr. Marsh- 51 LETTER X.-Recommendation to Mr. Anderson that he should C.-Reply of the Committee to the Serampore Brethren, June 26, 136 |