Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-11-14

jamin Franklin to the Rev George Whtedeld
We do not remember to have ever seen it In
print before. We regard it as one Of the
best letters OF its distinguished author
PHILADELPHIA, Juns 6, l753.
Sir IL received your kind letter of the
second instant and am glad to hear fhat you
increase in strength ] hope You will con-
tnue mending, till you recover your former
health and frmness. Let me know whether
you still use the cold bath, and what effect it
has.
AS 10 the kindness you mention, wis it
could have been OF mere service to you. But
if it had the only thanks ] should desire is
that you would be always equally ready TO
serve any other person that may need your
assistance, and SO let good Offices go round !;
for mankind are all of family.
For my own part when ! am employed in
serving others, do not look npon myself as
conferring favors, but paying debts. have
received much kindness from men to whom
shall never have any opportunity of making
the least return, and numberless merits from
God, who is infinitely above being benefited
by our services These kindnesses from men,
can therefore only return on their fellow
! men, and | can only show my gratitude for
these merces from God by q readiness to
help His other children, and my brethren.
For do not think that thanks and compli-
ments, though repeated weekly, can discharge
car real obligations 10 each other, aud much
less those to our Creator You will see 10
this my notor OF good works, that | am far
from expecting to merit Heaven by them.
BY Heaven we understand state OF happi-
ness, infinite in degree, and eternal in Gura-
ton. l can do nothing 10 deserve such re-
wards. lie that for giving draught of wa
ter to thirsty person should expect to be
paid with good plantation, would he modest
iu demands compared with those who think
they deserve Heaven for the little good they
do on earth. Even the mixed imperfect plea
sures We enjoy in this world are rather from
Gods goodness than our merit how much
more such happiness as Ueaven!-For my
part. | have not the vanity to think deserve
1t, or the folly to expect il, nor the ambition
TO deserve it but content myself in submit.
ting to the will and disposal of that God who
made me, who has hitherto preserved and may
we'll confde, that he will never make me
miserable; and that even the Affections
may at any time suffer shall tend TO my benc
it
The faith you speak of has certainly its
use in the world. do not desire to see it
diminished, Dor would | endeavor TO lessen
ductive Of good works than have generally
seen it mean real gooG works-works Of
kindness charity, mercy and public spirit :
not holiday keeping, sermon repdlug or hear
ing. performing church ceremonies, or making
long prayers, filed with the batteries aud
compliments aosplssd ever by wlsS mcE, and
much less capable vi pleasing the deity.
The worship Of Good is duty; the hear
ing and reading OF sermons may be useful !;
but il men rest in hearing md praying, as too
many do, it is as If tree should vaIae Itself
on being watered, and putting forth leaves,
though 1t never produced any fruit
Your great master thou lit much less Of
these outward appearances and professions
than many Of his modern disciples. lie pre-
ferred the dOers OF the word, TO the mere
hearers; the sou that seemingly refused to
obey his father, and yet performed his com-
mands, TO him that protessod his readiness,
but neglected the work tho heretical but
charitable Samaritan, to the uncharltable
though orthodox priest, aud sancllhed Lee
vite and those who have food To the hungry
drink TO the thirsty, raiment to the nukcd
entertainment 20 the stranger. and relic!
the sick, though they never heard his nan
he declares shall in the last day be accepte
when those whose who cry, Lord Lord ! y
value themselves upon tneH faith, tho'
great enough to perform miracles, but Ii
neglected good works, shall be rejected.
protessed that he came not to call the RI
eous but sinners to repentance, which i'm
his modest opinion that there We're sou
| his time who thought themselves so goo
they need not hear even him for improve
but nowadays VIC have scarce i little
that does not think it the duty Of ever
within his reach it sit under his petty
trations; and thatwhoever omts them,
| God. ] wish to such more humility
you health and happiness: being,
b. FRAN