1833 EDWARD IRVING. A Very Rare Pastoral Letter Written Shortly before Death.

All things "Irving" are rather rare and desirable as he played a formative role in two significant movements that continue to play a defining role in modern evangelicalism, i.e. historical premillennial eschatology and continuationism [i.e. charismatic or pentecostal theology]. 

The present document was written after he was excommunicated by the Presbytery of London, but still in good standing with the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. He and his followers had been driven from The Scotch National Church at Regent's Park in 1832 on account of the prophesying, tongues, and prayers for divine healing, etc., Just one month after the present letter, he would also deposed by the Church of Scotland. And just over a year later, he would die; brokenhearted, burned out, and all but alone. 

In that context, the present letter is particularly moving, both beautiful and painful to read. Now no longer pastor of one of the most influential churches in London, but a small exile population of proto-pentecostal believers, he no longer has the financial means to help the poor of his church. In the present, he is asking for funds to help a widow and her children because the church is without means and he has spent a significant amount of his own financial resource already to assist them. Just three years earlier, he could have filled the largest churches in England and taken an offering that would set the widow and her family right for life. 

In full:

14 Heune St. 1st Febr. 1833

My Dear Sir,

I know not what to do for the bearer, Mrs. Wood, who is a member of the flock, a widow & the mother of three children. She was taken ill in the beginning of autumn, and having no resources but her own industry, her rent has run on till she is indebted to her landlord 8.10 which must be paid on Monday or else her goodwill be detained. I have it not to give her nor to lend her. In truth, almost one half of my ***** has gone for similar ends during the last half year. I am ashamed to ask you, but if you could help her in any way, she is truly worthy. It is much to ask, and I know not whether it is not too much; but please forgive me for the sake of Christ who befriended the poor. 

Yours affectionately.
Edwd Irving

PS. I have got 5 of it made up.
E.I."

The letter is addressed to David Chapman Esq of Regents Park, probably a former or present parishioner.

1.5pp on bifolium in good + to very good state with folds as usual; some minor handling. A desirable and rather rare autograph.