The Kenosha telegraph and tribune. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1859-1860, 1859-12-15
SOhal Browns Last Letter fo Hie
Family.
CHARLEsTowN PRIsoN.

| A~sSO4N C'Oh1H " a., Nov RI 1870
Ag Dearly Beloved Wife, Sons and Do"o,i,oS
E0eTy one AS l now begin what 10 1.s sl.ITS
tne last letter L shall ever write to apv of Uo,,
| conclude to write to all at the same fine 7 vi
mention some little matters particularly ann,ical
Oi0 10 h.tle property concerns in another place.
l am waiting the hour of my public murder
WIN great composuae of mind and cheerfuIness
leehng the strong assurance that in no other
possible way could | beSnsed to SO much advan-
tage TO the cause of good and of humanity and
that nothing that either l or all my family have
sacnhced or suffered will be lost The refec.
tlon mat wise and mercful, las well as lust and
noiy Goo rules not only the affairs of this would
but OF all worlds, is rock to set our faat ,,Ion
unoer all clrcumstances--even those more severe
| ly trying ones into which our own fnenos III
wrongs nave placed US. have now no doubt
but that our seeming disaster will ultimateIv ~.
suit IN the most glorious success. So. NV 2aor
shattered aud broken family, be of good cheer
and believe and trust in God with ali vour heart
anu with all your soul, for he doeth all tbinpS
well. DO not feel ashamed on nv account nor
for one moment despair of the cause or or nUr
weary OF we'll doing. l bless God / never felt
stronger confidence In the certain and near an
proach OF bright morning and glorions darv
than have felt, and do now feel, since NV con.
hnement here. l am endeavoring to return
like a poor prodigal as ] am, to my Father
"SoAAoD "hOli nav q always SlnQ0Q IN the hone
that ne may kindly and forgiyingly meet me.
though very great way off.
On my dear wife and children, would to God
you Ecould know, how l have been TRAVELLING
in birth for you all. That no one of YOU NAV
fail ofthe grace of God, through Jesus Christ
that no one of you may be blind to the truth
and glorious light Of his Word in which life and
Immortality re brought to light, bes eech you
every one, to make the bible your daily and
nightly study, with a chid-like, honest candid
trachabe spirit of love and respect for your hus,
band and father.
And L beseech the God of my fathers to open
all your eyes to the discovery of the truth You
cannot imagine how much lyou NAV soon need
the consultations OF the Christian religion Cir
cum stances like my own for more than month
past have convinced me beyond all doubt of orr
great need of some theories treasured up when
our preJudices are excited our vanity worked
up to the highest pitch. Oh do not trust vour
eternal all upon the boisterous ocean without
even helm or compass to aid you in steering
DO not ask of you to throw away your reason:
L only ask that you make candid, sober use of
your reason.
My dear young children, will you listen TO
this last poor admonition of one who can only
love you Oh be determined at once to give
your Whoie heart to God, and let nothing shake
or alter that resolution. You need have M fears
OF regrettng it. Do not be vain and thoupbt-
less but sober minded; and let me entreat You
al 10 love the whole remnant OF our once great
Iamly Try and build up again your broken
walls, and to make the utmost of every stone
that is left. Nothing can SO tend to make life .
bIessng as the consciousness that your life and
example bless and leave you the stronger. Still
1t Is ground of the utmost comfort to nv mind
to know that so many of you as have had the
opportunity have given some preof of your fidel
Ivy 10 the great family of men. Be faithful INTO
fhQ oroica oPl.
1t cannot be very hard to love his Maker.
must yet insert the reason for nv firm belief
IN the divine inspiration of the Bible, notwitb-
etandlhg am, perhaps, naturally skeptical GER
talnly not crednlous. | wish ali to considar II
most thoroughly when you read that blessed
Dook' aud see whether you cannot discover such
evidence yourselves It is the purity of heart
filling our minds as well as work and actions
which IS everywhere insisted on, that distin
CUISINES 1t from all the other teachings that COM
menos 1t to my conscience. Whether nv heart
De VIKING ana obedient or not the inducement
That 1t holds out is anothea reason of nv con-
eIctlons OF its truth and genuineness, but | do
not mere omit tins my last argument on the BIZ
bic that eternal life is what my soul is pantino
AFTER tnls moment. L mention this as a reason
lor endcavorng to leave a valuable copy of the
biDle TO be carefully preserved in remembrance
Vi me, IN see many OF my pOSterity instead of
some other book at equal cost.
beseech you all to live in habitual content
ment with moderate circumstances and gains of
worldly store. and earnestly to teach this to your
children and children S children after you, by
example as well as precept Be determined to
know by experience as soon as may be, whether
Bible instruction is Of divine origin or not Be
sure you owe no man anything, but to love one
another. John Rogers wrote to his children
"Abhor that arrant whore of Rome" John
Brown writes to his children to abhor, with un-
dying hatred also, that sum of all villanies-
Slavery, Remember, he that is slow to anger is
better than the mighty, and he that ruleth in
spirit than he that taketh a city. Remember, al
so, that they, being wise, shall shine, and they
that turn many to righteousness as the stars for
ever and ever.
And now, dearly beloved family, to iGod and
the work of His Grace l commend you all.
Your afectionate husband and father,
JOHN BROWN |