The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-23
pHTLosoPHER,s RELIGION.
A Letter from Bonjnmin Franklin TO George
Whiteneld.

To TIE Enron OF THE SUN-Sr: i
send you for publication the following letter OF
DR.. franklin. addressed to the great and elo-
qucnt Methodist and revival preacher OF the last
century, George whiteneld. who addressed aud
electrified audiences Of from 10000 to GOOOO peo-
pie. This letter seems to be applicable at tho
present time Of revival preaching and urayi
The kindness alluded to in tho letter IA done
by Franklin to Whittneld, referred to the fact
Il at franklin had relieved whiteneld in a par
alytlc case by the application Of electricity
The prayer Of DR.. Franklin, which / send,
find is hardly known at all, and think repub-
llcation Of II might be welcome to many:
FRANKLIN's LETTER.
PHILADELPHIA, June 0, 1873.
sIR received your KIND letter OF the "a
inst, and am clad to hear that YOU increase In
strength. / hope you will continue mending
I'll YOU recover your former he alth and hrmuess:
bath, and what effect It has. As to the kindness
you mention, / wish 1t could have Teen OF
thanks / should desire IL, that YOU would 81
ways be equally ready to serve any other person
that NAV "eed your assistance and 80 let good
c.. res 60 round, for mankind are all OF FAMILY.
For my own part, wnen am emDloyed In serv-
ting others. do not look upon myself AS confer
ring favors. but as pay ing deots.
In my travels and since my settlement, have
received much kindness from men, TO whom |
shall never have any opportunity Of making the
East direct return, an: Us, c..e
fted nv our services. those h;chuesses from
men can therefore only return on their 40"
men, and can only show nv gratitude fyr
those mercies from cod, nv readiness to help
his other children and my brethren. For don
think that thanks ani compliments, tnoggn
repeated weekly, can dl charge our real obiiga-
ton To each other. and much loss thpse to our
Creator. You Will see IN this my notion OF good
works. that am from expecting to merit
heaven by them. liy heaven We understand
state Of happiness infinite In degree and eternal
In duration | can do nothing to merit sucn re
a
thlrsty person, should expect to be paid with
good plantation, would be modest in his de-
mands, compared with those VINO mink they
deserve heaven Tor the little good they do on
earth. Even the mixed imperfect pleasures
enjoy In tins world, are rather from Gods good
ness tuah our m'll, now uiuch more sucn
happiness OF heavenl for my par. have not
the vanity To think deserve 1t, the folly TO ex-
pect II, nor Tue ambition TO desire u, nut con
tent myself In submitting to the will and dis
pos i Of that God VINO made me, who mas hither-
to preserved ana blessed ne. and In whose
fatherly goodness ! may well cOn0de, that he
will never max. me miserable. ana thut even
the Affections / may at any time suffer, snail
tend to my benefit.
/ he faltn you mention has certainly It's use in
the world. do not ucs re to see II uimiuisued,
nor would endeavor to lessen 1t m any IN n.
But wish It were more productive Of good
works than | have gsneril seen II. ! mean
real good works. works 81 kindness, CHARITY,
mercy, and public - irit no hOly-days keeping,
sermon hunting or hearing, performing church
ceremonies. making long prayers, nlcd with
batteries and compliments. desplsed even Toy
wise men, and much less capable uf pleasing the
lJtltN. Inc worship OF bpu " a guy. ne
hearing and reading Of sermons may bs useful
but II men rest IN hearing and pray ing, Us too
many 90, IL Is 90 II tree should value
Itself on being wateied ana putting forth leaves,
though 1t never prOdu es fruit. Nour great VI s.
ter thought much ioss ~ those outward appear
ances and professions than many OF his modern
disciples. lie preferred the doors Of the word TO
the mere .rcrs the son that see tlneiy refused
to obey his father, nuu yet performed his COM
mands, to hlm that pruit ssed Ills readiness but
neglected the work the hefitica but en- ri aple
Samaritan to the uuCnuritable though orthodox
priest anu sanctlned LeNite aud those VINO
gave food to the hungry, drink tn The thirsty,
rAment to tue naked, Entertainment TO the
stronger, and relief to the lick. Though they
never heard Of his name, he dc ,lare- shan IN the
last day be accepted. when those WnO O.! Lord,
Lord, who value tnCMstiNes upon their Latin,
though great enough to perform miracles out
have neRiec ed good worhs, shall be rejected.
lie prOfessed that he caue not 10 cali the
righteous, but sinners, to repentance, which
Implied bis modest opinion tuat there were
some In us time who thought Themselves 80
good that they did not hear even him for I'M
urOyement; tut now a days We nave scarce a
little parson th-t does not tLink IL the duty Of
every ali WITHIN his reacn TO sit under MS petty
Goo ! Wish to such more humility, and to } gu
health ana happiness, being your friend and
servant, II. FHAAkLIN.
PRAYER OF DIR. FRANKLIN.
Mcrciful God wonderful Powerl Increase In me
! that Wisdom which uscOyets my tru,st interest
strengthen my resOlutli 10 perform what tnat wisdom
lures. tue only re.uin my power for IAJ innlIte
gOV4Aoss ~ NE