The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-05-11

AMERICAN WaSnWOmen can WASH OH
more shirt-buttons than, any ten of the
high.born ladies across the sea. Now
for that other windy" I'll.
{ PHILOSOPHIC RELIGION. !
A Letter from BENJAMIN Franklin to George
- .s-~,'. =, Whiteaeld. ~ !.
To The Editor Of the New York Sun.
Sir-I send you for publication the
following letter of DR.. Franklin, ad-
dressed to- the great and eloquent
Methodist and revival preacher of the
last century, George Whiteield, who
addressed and electrified audiences
of from 10000 to 10000 people. This
letter seems to be applicable at the
present time Of revival preaching and
praying.
The Kindness alluded to in the let
ters as done by Franklin to Whitefiel7, j.,
referred to the fact that Franklin had
relieved Whitefield in a paralytic case
by the application of electricity.
The prayer of DR.. Franklin, which
I send, l find is hardly known at all,
and I think 4 republication of it might
be welcome to many:
FRANKL1N's LETTER.
Philadelphia, June 6, l753.-Sir: I
received your kind letter Of the I'd
inst, and am glad to hear that you in.
crease in strength. l hope you will
continue mending till you recover
your former strength and firmness.
Let me know whether you still use the
cold bath, and what effect it has. As
to the kindness you mention, wish it
could have been of greater service to
you. But if it had, the only thank I
should desire is, that you would always
he equally ready to serve any other
person that may need your assistance,
and so let good Offices go round, for
mankind are all of a family. For my
own part, when I am employed in
serving others, l do not look upon N.Y.
self as comforting favors, but as pay.
ing debts.
In my travels and since my settle
ment, have received much kindness
from men to whom l shall never have
any opportunity Of making the least
direct return, and numberless mercies
from God, who is infinitely above be-
ing benefited by our services. Those
kindnesses from men can, therefore,
only return on their fellow.men, and
can only show my gratitude for those
mercies from God by a readiness to
help his other children and my breth-
rem. For don't think that thanks
and compliments, though repeated
weekly, can discharge our real obliga.
tion to each other, and much less those
to our Creator You will see in this
my notice of good works, that l am
far from expecting to merit heaven by
them. By heaven we understand 4
state of happiness infinite in degree
and eternal in Duration; can do moth
ing to merit such rewards. He that,
for giving draught of water to a
thirsty person, should expect to be
paid with good plantation, would be
modest in his demands, compared with
those who think they deserve heaven
for tho little good they do on earth.
Even the mixed imperfect pleasures
we enjoy in this world, are rather from
God s goodness than our merit! How
much more such happiness of heaven !!
For my part, have not the vanity to
think deserve it, the folly to expect it,
nor the ambition to desire it, but con.
tent myself in submitting to the will
and disposal of that God who made me,
who has hitherto preserved and bless.
ed me, and in whose fatherly goodness
I may we'll confide, that he will never
make me miserable, and that even the
Affections l 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 en-
deavor to lessen it in any man. But I
wish it were more productive of good
works than I have generally seen it. I
mean real good works, works of kim
ness, charity, mercy, and public spirit:
no holy y-lay keeping, serm0n-hunting
or hearing, performing Church cere.
monies, making long prayers, filled
with batteries and compliments, des.
pissed even by wise men, and mucl,
less capable of pleasing the Deity. The
worship of God is duty. The hear.
ing and reading of sermons may be
useful; but it men rest in hearing and
praying, as too many do, it is as if a
tree should value it on being watered
and putting forth leaves, though ii
never produces fruit. Your great Mas.
ter thought much less of those out.
ward appearances and professions than
many of his modern disciples. He
preferred the doors Of the word to the
mere hearers the son that seemingly
refused to obey his father, and per.
formed his commands, to him that
professed his readiness but neglected
his work the heretical but charitable
Samaritan to the uncharitable though
orthodox priest and sanctifed Levite
and those who gave food to the hungry,
drink to the thirsty, raiment to the
naked, entertainment to the stranger,
and relief to the sick, though they
never heard Of his 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 re
jected.
i He professed he came not to call thu
righteous, but sinners, to repentance
which implied his modest opinion thai
there were some in his time wh<
} thought themselves so good that the,
did not hear even him for improve
ment; but nowadays we have scarce ;
little parson that does not think it tn,
duty of every man within his reach t,
sit under his petty ministrations, an,
II whoever omits them offcnds God!