From William Seward in Bristol to his dear cousin [Based on internal evidence this is likely to have been a member of the Robinson family]. He was grateful for the kind letter and was sorry for the death of his cousin’s dear mother. He hopes that they will meet her in heaven, and that may be but a short time away for man cannot promise himself more than the present. It is therefore of the greatest importance that one searches immediately for salvation.
'I agree with you that every one is to do his duty in that state of life to which it shall please God to call him. Every one is not called to the same station that I am in, but every one is called to a holy life, to die to sin and to live unto righteousness...' Spiritual matters are further discussed in detail, with particular regard to the importance of the new birth and the apparent paradox that one must renounce the things of this life in order to profit.
William hopes that his brother Benjamin’s conversion will be a means of opening the eyes of their relations. 'Dear cousin we are all by nature the same, it is by God’s free grace alone I am what I am, to God then and not unto man be all the glory ...' Spiritual matters are discussed in further detail.
As for people leaving their business, William supposes that his cousin is referring to Mr Chapman, but William’s cousin should remember that he himself [his cousin] 'went into the country for your temporal pleasure, and why may not another go into the country for spiritual pleasure without censure; so one gentleman takes a tour abroad for his temporal pleasure and why may not I go to Georgia for my spiritual pleasure. The reason is plain, because natural worldly men place all their happiness in this world, and therefore they are amazed when they see others place their hopes only in the next world...' Spiritual matters are further discussed in detail.
William was once as eager for the things of this world as his cousin, but God 'snatched me as a firebrand out of the fire'.