The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-12-16
John Browns Last Letter to his
Family
CuARLEsrowN PnisoN,

Daughters cpery one
As now begin what is probably the last
lotter | shall over write to any OF you, | con
cludo to write to all at the same timo.
will mention some little matters particularly
applicable to little property coucerns in
another place.
recently received letter from my wife
near Philadelphia, dated Nov. %, from
which it would seem. that she was about
giving up the idea of seeing mo again ]
had written her to como on if she felt equal
10 the undertaking. but do not know that
shu will get my letter in time. 1t was on
her own account chiefly that asked her to
STAY back
At first had a mos! strong dosro to see
her again. but there appeared to DO very
serious objections and should we Eevor
meet in this life, | trust that in the end She
will bu satisfied that it was tor tha best at
least, if not for her comfort l enclosed in
my last letter a draft for fifty dollars from
John Jay made payable to her order. ]
have now another to send her from my ex.
cellent old friend Edward Harris, OF Woon-
socket. II | for Que hundred dollars, which
| shall also mako payable to nor order
am waiting the hour of my public mur-
der with great composuro of mind and
chcerfuness, feeling the strong assurance
that in no other possible way could !
bo used to so much advantage to the cause
of God and of humanity, aud that nothing
that c,hor or all my family have sacrificed
or Suffered will be lost, The reelection that
Il wise and mercful, us well as just and holy
God rules not only the affairs Of this world
but Of all worlds, is rock to sot our foot
upon under all circumstonces-crcn those
; most severely trying ones into which our
n, fnnliprs u bnyo blnppI
/ have no doubt hut that our seeming dis
astcr will ultimately result in tho most
glorious success 80. my dear shattered and
broken family, bG of good cheer, aud believe
and trust in God with all your soul for he
dOeth all things well. DO not feel ashrmcd
, on my account, nor for one moment do
spuir or grow weary of well doing. bless
God never felt stronger confidence In the
certain and near approach OF bright morn
ing and glorious day than havn felt, and
; now do feel. since my confinement here. ]
am cndoavorng to return, like u poor prod
iga as | am to my Father. against whom
hayo always sinncd, in the hopo that he may
kindly and forgivingIy meet me, though u
worry great way off.
Oh! my dear wife and children, would to
God you could know how l have becn trav-
aling in birth for you all. that mono OF you
may fail of tho grace Of God through Jesus
Christ. That 10 ono of you may be blind
to tho truth and and glorioas light of his
, Word. in which light and Immortality are
! brought to light, beseech you ovory one. to
make the Biblo your daily and nightly
! study, with childlike. honest candid teach
able spirit of love and respect for your hus
band and father.
, And besoech the God of my fathers TO
! open all your eyes to tho discovery of the
= truth. You cannot imagine how much you
may soon need tho consultations OF the
T. Christian religion. Circumstances like ny
" own fnr rnnra thnn n month past havo con
s vincCd mo boyond all doubt of our grea
- need Of some theories treasured mp In Ou
minds when our prcjudices arc excited, on
vanity worked up to tho highest pitch. Oh
10 do not trust your eternal all upon tho bos
2 terous ocean without even n helm or com
t. pass to aid you in steering. do not asl
n any of you to throw away your reason
only ask you to mpGC candid, sober use Q
" your reason.
My dear younger children, will you listo
to this last poor admonition OF ono who ca
only lovo yon !: Oh be determined at one
70 to give your whole heart to God, and le
as nothing shake or altcr that resolution. Yo
Ia neod have no fears of regrotting it. Do Nc
he be vain and thoughtless, but sober minded
u, and lot mo entroat you all to love tho whO'
n. remnant of our once grea: family. Try an
h. build up again your broken walls and
M make the utmost of every stono that is of
~ Nothing can so tcud to make life blessin
as tho consciousness that your Ito and O.
~ amplo bless and leave you stronger. Still
Ut it is ground of tho utmost comfort to m
n mind to know that SO many of you as haS
" had the opportunity have givon somo prot
or of your fidelity to tho grea: family of mel
Y. Be faithful unto death; from the exercise
no habitual love to man it cannot bo very bar
,o to learn to lovo his Maker.
y. must vet insert the reason for my firI
" belief in the divine inspiration OF tho Bbl
IN Notwithstanding | Gm perhaps natural
ID skeptical, certainly not credulous. wis
re all to consider il most thoroughly when 70
nd read that blessed book. aud see whoth,
.r ynu canno. discover such evidence you
bt selves. It is tho purity of heart filing OF
minds as we'll AS work and actons, which
, ovcrywhoro insistod on, that distirguisht
a" it from all the other teachings, that con
'o NERDS il to my conscience.
l. Whether nv heart be willing and ObedieI
IS or not. tho inducement it holds out
n another reason of my convictions OF its trui
- aud genuinenoss but Go not here ON
1T TINS my last aiEuiheht vi h'o D'p'c, th'
Il eternal life is what my soul is painting aft'
this moment. | mention this as reaso
'e for cndeavuring to ieavo q valuable copy
IS the Bible, to bo carefully. preserved in +
ly momhrance of mo. to so many of my po
lis tority, instead Of some other book. at equ
C. cost.
ci | bcsecch YOU all to 1.-Two in habitual col
IN. tcntmcnt with moderate circumstances nj
-, gains of worldly store, and earnestly tea
- this to your children and'Ghildrcn's childr
Ho after you, by example as we'll as prcccl
BE determined to know by experience
Art soon as may hc, whethor Biblo instructi
w, is of divine origin or not. Be sure to o.
he no man anything, but to loyo nnoth
I'm John Rogers wrote to his children, abb
inu that arrant whoro Of Rome" John Bro
,ho writes to his children TO nbhor, with unc
,nl ~ ing hatred also, that sum of all Vilainles
-" Slavery.
Remember, he that is slew to anger
bettcr than the mighty, and no that rule
ON his spirit, than he that taketh city. l
,cu- member, also, that they. being wiso, sh
in shine, aud thoy that :urn many to righteo
7tb ness as the stars forever and evor.
And row. dearly beloved family, to q
''"' and tho work of ilis graco commend J