Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-03-15
Original Letter Of DR.. Franklin.

777 III
THE following letter (says the Christian
Register was written by DIR. Franklin to
Alexander Giles Frobcsher, with whom he
corresponded for many years. 1t is believed
that it has never before been published, aud
il is certainly very Interesting as giving a
view of the spirit of benevolence and active
usefulness by which Dr.. Franklin was gov
erned, and also of the general tendency of
his religious opinions. We are greatly in
debtcd TO the friend who has allowed us to
publish i'll
IN, - PHrLADELPHIA, June 9th, 1753
.DEAR SiR:-I received your kind letter of
the I'd Instant, aud am glad to henr YOU in
crease IN Strength hope you will continue
mcndng till you recover your former health
and frlnness. Let me know whether you
use the cold bath, and what effect il has.
As to the Kindness you mention ] wish il
could have been of more service to YOU, but
if il had, the only thanks that should desire
is, that You would bc equally ready to serve
any other person thut may need your assist
unce, aud SO let good offices 20 round, for
nunkind are all of family.
For my own part when an employed in
serving others, do not look upon myself ms
comforting favors, but ms paying debts
In my travels, and since my settlement,
have received much Kindness from men to
whom shall never have an opportunity to
make the least direct return; unJ number
less uerces from God who is infinitely
above being benefited by our services. Those
kindnesses from men, ] eau only return on
their fellow men; aud eau only show my
gratitude for these mercies from God by
readiness to help his other children aud my
hrpflirtsn / Hn fl1i,,E tl,nf il,a,,l npI
compliments, though repeated weekly, can
discharge our real obligations to each other,
aud much less those To our Creator.
You will ia this see my notions of good
works and that | am far from expecting
Heaven by them. by Heaven we under
stand a state OF happiness, infinite in degree
and eierIIul in duration. can do nothing TO
deserve such rewards. lie that for giving
draught of water to n thirsty person should
expect TO bc paid with good plantation,
would he modest in his demands compared
with those who think they deserve Heaven
by the good they do on earth. Even tho
mixed, imperfect pleasures we eniny in this
world, nre rather from Gods goodness than
our merit, how much more so ilIeu the ielic-
ity of Heaven? For my own part have
not the vanity to think deserve il, the folly
10 expect, nor the ambition to desire it; but
content myself in submitting TO the will aud
disposal of Him that made ne, who has
hitherto preserved aud blessed me, aud in
whose pHternal goodness may well conlide
that he will never make NC miserable, and
that even the Affections mny at any time
suffer shall tend TO my benefit.
| The faith you mention has doubtless it's
use In the world. do not desire to see il
tliuinished nor would lessen il in any man
| Inn 4 will -
works, works of kindness, charity, mercy and
public spirit; not holiday keeping, sermon
reading,or having performed church ceremo
nics, or making long prayers filed with halie.
ries and compliments, despised even by wisC
men, aud much less capable OF pleasing tbs
Deity. The worship OF God is duty the hear
ing or reading OF sermons may be nseiiIl but i
n man rests in hearing or praying ns too
many do, II is ms IL n tree should value itsel
upon being watered and putting forth leaves
though II never produced any fruit.
Your great niaster thought much less o
these outward appearances aud professions
than many of his modern disciples he prefer
red the doers 10 the mere hearers; the son wht
seemingly refused to obey his father, and We
performed his commands, to him ilut pro
fessed his readiness aud yet neglected i
work; the beretcnl though charitable Sn
mnritan, to the uncharitnbe though sancti
fled priest, and those who gave food to tn
hungry, drink TO the thirsty, raiment to TN
| naked, entertainment to the stranger, and re
lief TO the sick, though they never heard q
, His nanle, lie declares shall he in the las
: day accepted, when those who cry LORD
, Lord, who value themselves on their faith
though great enough TO perform miracles
/ but inve neglected to perform the works G
! benevolence, shall he rejected.
! lie profcssed lie came not TO call the right
I eons but sinners TO repentance, which i'm
, piled his modest opinion, that there wer
. some in his Time so good that they neede
: not hear even him, but now-a-days we hay
!, scarce parson who does not think il III
q duty of every man within his reach to s
r under his wrotched ministraiions, and tia
). whoever omiis them, offends God. wis
To such more humanity, and to you, sir, NOR
y health and happiness, being &c.,
r. FRANKLIN