, 1876-05-27

self AS confcrng tayors, but rs paying
debts. In my travels and since my set
Element, have received much kindncss
from men. to whom shall never have any
Opportunity Of making the least direct
return, und numbrrless mrrCirs from Ucd,
who is infinitely above being benefited
hy our services These kinhnrsscs llom
men can therefore only return on their
fellow men. and can only show my graf
,utlc for those mCrCics from God, by
readiness TO help his other children and
my brethren. For I don't think that
thanks and compliments, though repeat
cd weekly, can discharge our real obIlsa'
tion to each other, and much less those to
our Creator. You will see in this my
notion of good works, that | am tar from
expecting to merit heaven hy them. by
heaven we understand u state of happi'
ness infinite in degree and eternal in du'
ration; lean do nothing to merit such re
wards. lie that for giving n draught ol
water to thirsty person, should expect
to be paid with good plantation, would
he modest in his demands, compared
with those who think they deserve heaven
tor the little good they do on curth.
Even the mixed imperfect pleasures We
enjoy in this world, are rather from God
Goodness than our merit, how much more
such happiness of heaven for my part l
have not the vanity to think | deserve it,
the folly to expect it nor the ambition to
desire it, but content myself in SUBMIT
ing to the will and disposal of that God
who made me, who has Hitherto prcserv-
ed aud blessed me and in whose fathery
goodness may well confde, that he will
never make Inc miserable, and that even
the Affections may at any time suffer,
shall tend to my benefit.
The faith you mention has certainly its
use in the world. do not desire to see
it diminished, nor would l endcavor to
lessen it in any man. But l wish it were
more productive Of good works than
have generally seen it. Imcan real good
works, works of kindness, charity, mercy
and publ. spirit; nc, boly-days keeping,
sermon-hunting or hearing, performing
church ceremonies, making long prayers,
filed with batteries and compliments,
despised even by wiso men, and much
less capable of pleasing the Deity. The
worship of God is a duty. The hearing
and reading Of sermons may be useful;
but il men rest in hearing and praying,
as too many do, il is as ifa tree should
value itself ON being watercd and putting
forth leaves, though it never produces
fruit. Your great Master thought much
less of those outward appearances and
professions than many OF his modern dis
ciples. He preferred the doers Of the
word to the mere hearers the son that
seemingly refused to obey his fa'her, and
yet performed his commands, to him that
profcssed his readiness but neglected the
work; the heritical but charitable Samar-
itan to the unchar;table though orthodox
priest and sanctificd I.evite; and those
who gave food to the hungry. drink to
tile thirsty, raiment to the naked, enter
tainment to the stranger, and relief to
the sick, though they never heard ofhis
name he declares shall in the last day be
accepted, when those who cry Lord, Lord,
who value themselves upon their faith,
though great enough to perform miracles
but have neglected good works, shall be
rejected. He professed that he came not
10 call the righteous, but sinners, to re-
pentance, which implied his modest opln
ion that there were SOME III HIS ''uie
who thought themselves so good that
they did not hear even him for improve
ment but now u days we have scarce a
little parson that does not think 1t the
duty of every man within his reach to
sit under his petty min.strations, and
\.
whoever omits them offunds God ! wish
to such more humility, and to you health
and happiness, being your friend and
servant. B. FRANKLIN
PRAYER or DIR. FRANKLIN.
Mercirul God Wonderful Power! In
crease in me that wisdom which discoy'
ers my truest interest; strengthen my res
oIut;op IN nerform what that wisdom