Year: 1859




November 30, 1859.


Ny Dearly Belcusd Wife, SOas and DaHeA-
ters, Every one: AS now begin what ia prob
ably the last letter ] shall ever write to any Of
you conclude TO write to ell at the same time. |
will mention some little matters particularly
applicable to little property concerns in another
place


recently received letter from my wife.
from near Phiadelphi, dated November 20
by which il would seem that she was about
giving up the idea of seeing me again. had
written her to come on if she felt equal to the
undertaking, but do not know that she will
get my letter in time. IL was on her own ac
count chiefly that asked her to stay back
AT first l had most strong desire to see her
again, but there appeared to be very serious oh.
jections; and Should we never meet in this ife,
trust that she will in the end be satisfied il
was for the best at least, il not most for her COM
fort. l enclosed in my last letter to her draft
of fifty dollars from John jay, made payable to
her order have now another to send her.
from my excellent old friend Edward Harris.
of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, for one hundred
dollars, which shall also make payable to her
order.


/ am waiting the hour of my public murder
with great composure OF mind and cheerfulness
/ feeling the strong assurance that in no other
possible way could l DO used to so much ad
vantage to the cause of God aud Of humanity
and that nothing that either or all my family
have sacrificed or suffered will be lost The re-.
flectionthat wise and meioiul as well as lust nd
Holy God rules not only the affairs Of thi, world
but of all words, is rock to set our feet upon
under all crcumstances-even those more SO
verely trying ones into which our own feelings
and Wrongs have placed u.s. l have now no
doubt but that our seeming disaster will ultis
mately result in the most glorious success; so
my dear shattered and broken family, be of good
cheer, and believe and trust in Col with oil youl
heart, and with all your SOUL for lie doeth all
things well. Do not feel ashamed on nv &C.
count, nor for one moment despair of the caus,
or grow weary of we'll doing l bless God
never felt stronger confidence in the certain aut
near approach of bright morning and glori
GUS day that have felt, and DO now feel, sine,
my confinement here. / am endeavVring to re
turn, like poor prodigal as am, to my Faith.
er, against whom have always sinned, in Ii,
hope that lie may kindly and forgivingly meet
me, though very great way of,


Oh! my dear wife and children, would tC
God you could know how have been trav, I'M
in birth for you all, that no one oe yoa my fai
of the grace OF God


Through Jesus Christ--that no one of yot
may be blind to the truth and glorious light o
his Word / beseech you, every one, TO make th
Bible your daily and nightly study, with child
like, honest, candid, teachable spirit of love am
respect for your husband and father


And beseech the God of my fathers to open al
your eyes to the discovery OF the truth Yo,
cannot imagine how much you may soon neet
the consultations OF the Christian religion. Oh
do not trust your eternal all upon the bolster
Gus ocean without even a helm OF compass [,
aid you in steering l do not ask any Of yol
TO throw away your reason; l only ask you 4
make candid, sober use your reason.


My dear younger children, will you listen t.
this iast poor admonition OF one who can onl
love you! Oh! be determined at once to Civ
your whole heart to God, and let nothing shak
or alter that resolution. You need have n
fears Of regretting it. Do not DO vain an
thoughtless but sober minded and let mo en-
treat you all to love the whole remnant of ou
once great family Try and build up aqai
your broken walls, and TO make the utmost O
every stone that is left. Nothing can so ten
to make life blessing as the consciousness
that your life and example bless and leave yo
the stronger. Still, IL Il ground Of the utmo,
comfort TO my mind TO know that 30 many q
you as have had the opportunity have river
some proof ( your great fidelity 10 the grsa
family of men. Be faithful unto death; fror
the exercise Of habitual love 10 man It canno,
be very hard to learn to love his Maker.


l must yet insert the reason for my firm belle
In the divine inspiration Of the Bible notvlth
standing am perhaps naturally skeptical Gel
tainly not cretu,ous. ] wish all TO consider
most thoroughly when you read that blesB,l
book, and see whether you cannot discover sue
evidence yourselves. II is the purity Of near
filling our minds as we'll as word and action
which is everywhere insisted on, tb at disti,
guithes it from all the other tear hnRs, thu
commends it to my conscience. Whether m
heart be willing and obedient or not, the In
ducement that Il holds out is Pnother reason O
my conviction ofits truth an genuiueness; bu
do not here omit this my last argument on th
Bible that eternal life IL what my souls pan
ing after this moment l mention this as
reason Tor endesvoring to leave valuable COP
Of the Bible to DO carefully preserved in +,
membranes Of me, 10 20 many Of my posterit,
instead Of some other book at equal cost.


beseech you all to live in habitual content
ment with moderate circumstances and pains {
worldly store, and earnestly to teach this {,
your children and children's children alter you
by example as well as precept BE determine
to know by experience, as soon az may os
whether Bible instruction is of divine or. Gin I
not. Be sure to owe no man any ythin q, but
love one another. John Rogers Nrote to b
children, "Abhor that arrant who're Of Rome
John Brown writes to his children TO abho
with undying hatred, also, chat sum OF all v,
lanies-slavsIy. Remember, he that is SLOW
anger is better than the mighty. and he th
Teleth his spirit than he that taketh city
Remember, also, that they, beiug wis',, sha
shine, and they that turn many to righteousne
as the stars for ever and ever.


And now, dearly beloved family, TO God an
the work Of His grace commend you all.