Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-02-11

FRANKLIN's RELIGIOUS RELIEF. -
Benjamin Franklin has been called a,
atheist and disbeliever in Immortality
thai he was not such is shown, by the fol
lowing letter addressed to Miss Hub
bard
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. ~, 1856.
Dear Child: l condole with you. We
have lost most dear and valuable re.
latlon. but it is the will of God and ma.
ture that these mortal bodies be laid
aside when the soul is to enter into rea-
life. Existing here on earth is scarcely
to be called life. IT'S rather an embryo
state--a preparation to living, and man
Is not completely born until he is dead.
Why, then should we grieve that new
child is born among the immortals-a
new member added to their society !?
We are spirits. That bodies should be
lent to US while they can afford us pleas
ure, assist us in acquiring knowledge. or
IN doing good to our fellow creatures is
a KIND and benevolent act of God
When they become unfit for their pur-
poses, and afford us pain instead of pleas
ure, instead of an aid become an incum-
Drance, and answer none of the inten.
tons for which they were given, it is
equally kind and benevolent that a way
Is provided by which we may get rid of
them. That way is death. We our.
selves prudently, in some cases, choose a
partial death. A mangled, painful limb
which cannot be restored, we willingly
cut of. He that plucks out tooth parts
with 1t freely, since the pain goes with it;
and ne that quits the whole body parts
with all pains and possibility of pains
and diseases it was liable to or capable
OF making him suffer. Our friend and
we are invited abroad on party of pleas
ure that is to last forever. His chair
lsedan chairs were then commonl wa.
hrst ready, and he has gone before us.
we could not conveniently all start to.
gether, and why should you and I be
grleved at this, since We are soon to fol-
low, and we know where to find him?
Adieu my dear good child, and believe
that l shall be, in every state your affsc-
'ionate papa. BENZ. FRANKLIN.
Franklin also expressed himself clear.
~ on the subjectin letter to Ezra STYLES
dated 9th March, 1890. See Sparks's
Franklin, vol. 10, page 422.
You desire to know something of nv
religion. 1t is the first time l have been |
questioned upon it." Al
" Here is my creed. l believe in one
God, the creator of the Universe. That
de governs it by His providence. That
lie ought to be worshipped. That the
most acceptable service we render Him
Is doing good to His other children
That the soul Of man is immortal and
VIII oe treated with justice in another
life respecting its conduct in this. $
As to Jesus of Nazareth. NV on;n-
ION OF whom you particularly desire
think his system of morals and his r.l;r.
ION, as he left them. to us, the best the
world ever saw, or is like to see but
apprehend it has received various cor.
rupting changes. and / have. with most
Of the Dissenters in England. some doubt
IS to his divinity though it is a CUES.
ION do not dogmatize upon, having
seser studied 1t, and think it needless 70
susy myself with it now, when exnsc,
% soon an opportunity of KNOWING Tho
ruth with less trouble. see no ba,u
however. in its being believed, if that be- |
lief has the good consequence, as prob
aoiy 1t has. at making his doctrines more
respected and more observed"
IL