Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1851-04-09
ORIGINAL LETTER FROM DR.. FRANK

ORIGINAL LETTER FROM DR.. FRANK
LIN.
The following letter (says the Christini.
! Register,) was written by DR.. Franklin TO
to Alexander Giles Frobsher, with whom
he corresponded for many yeerS. !, is be-
/ lieved that it has never before been publish
ed, and it is certainly very Interesting as
giving view of the spirit of benevolence
and active usefulness by which Dr.. franklin
was governed, and also Of The general ten
dency Of his religious opinions. We are
greatly indebted TO the friend who has al
lowed us to publish il -
| PHILADELPHIA, June 9th, 1853.
! DEAR SIR - received your kind letter
Of the % inst, and am g ad TO hear You in
crease in slrengh-I hope you will con-
linue mendlng ill you recover your former
health and irmness. Let me know whether
you still use the cold bath, and what effect
/ it has.
! As 10 the kindness you mention, wish
/ it could have been of more service to you
bu, if il had, the only thanks that should
desire Is, lha. you would be equally ready
| TO serve any other person that may need
vour assistance. and so let good offices 90
round. for mankind are all Of family.
For my own par, when am employed
in serving others ! do not look upon my
self as comforting lavours, bu. as paying
debts. In my travels. and since my settle
mcn,, have received much kindness from
men to whom ! shall never have an oppor-
runily to make The leas, direct return; and
numberess mercies from God, who is inf
n,ely above being benefited by our services.
Those kindnesses from men, | can only
show my gratitude for these mercies from
God bv readiness 10 help his other child
rem and nv brethren; for ! do not think
that thanks and compliments; though re-
pealed meekly, can discharge our real obli-
cations TO each other, and much less those
to our Creator.
! You will in this see my notions Of good
works, and that ] am far from expecting
Heaven by them. By Heaven we under
stand state of happiness, infinite in degree
and eternal in duration. can do nothing
to deserve such rewards He that for Civ
ing draught Of water TO thirsty person
should expect To be rewarded with good
plantation, would be modest in his demands;
com pa ed with those who think they de-
serve Heaven by the good they do on earth.
Even the MKT, imperfect pleasures we en-
10y in this world, are rather from Gods
goodness than our merit; how much more
so then The felicity Of heaven: For my
own part have not The vanity to think ]
deserve it, the folly to expect, or the ambi-
lion to desire il, bu, conlen, myself in sub
-, mi Il al Of m
made me, who has hitherto preserved and
blessed me, whose palernal goodness NAV
well confile in. that lie will never make me
miserable, and lha, even the affections may
al any time suffer shall tend to my benefit.
The faith you mention has doubtless lis
use IN the world. | do not desire To see il
diminished. nor would lessen it in any
man but wish it was more productive Of
good works. works Of kindness, charity.
mercy and public spirit, not holiday-keeping,
sermon reading, or having performed church
ceremonies, or making long prayers filed
with hhleries and compliments, despised
by wise men. and much less capable Of
pleasing The Deity. The worship of God
! i, duty, The hearing or reading sermons
may be useful but if man rests in hearing
or praying, as too many do. i, is as if tree
should value i,sel! upon being walered and
putting forth leaves, though ii never prnduc-
ed any fruit.
Your great Master though, much less Of
these outward appearances and professions
an many of his modern disciples; he pre-
ferred, the doers to the mere hearers the
son who seemingly refused 10 obey bis ia
ther, and yet performed his commands, 10
him that prolessed his readiness and yet
neglected the work the heretical though
charitable Samaritan, to the uncharl,able
though sanc'Ifed priest; and those who
gave food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty,
rairueni to the ked, entertainment To the
stranger, and relief to the sick, though they
never heard of His name, lie declares shall
| be in the last day accepted, when those who
cry, Lord, Lord, who value themselves on
their faith, though great enough TO perform
miracles, but have neg lected TO perform the
work of benevolence. shall be rejected.
I He professed he came not to call the
! righteous but sinners To repentance, which
/ implied his modes! opinion, that there were
some in his time SO good that they needed
not hear even him; bu, now days we have
scarce person who does not think it the
duty Of every man within his reach to sit
under bis wreiched ministralions, and that
whoever omis them, ollends God. wish
to such more humility and to you, sir, more
health and happiness, being, etc.
b. FRANKLIN.
An Arab proverb says BY six qualities
NAV a fool be known anUer without cause: