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I have thought of sympathizing with them by letter; but I tremble at injudiciously striking strings already too much worn. Do you, friend Abbot, as you regard their happiness, exert your talents at condolence. Their gratitude will repay you. Your own feelings will more than compensate.
Eben. Wales, whose friendship I count almost inestimable, I heard of first by you, afterwards by cousin Howe only. His last favor to me bears date August 1793; since which time I have written him two neglected letters. Does his partiality to you forbid his even noticing me? I fear, he thinks me an intruder in his father's family.
Your sentiments on religion, in your 3d. favor, afforded me great pleasure. "Religion is," certainly "a practical thing." But how is it to be preached? What are its essentials? When may a person be said to be regenerated? How are we to reconcile Divine and human agency? There, and many such insolvable difficulties, now agitate the eccelsiastical world. We must undoubtedly allow many rigid Hopkinsians to be men of sincerity and erudition. But if their peculiar opinion be just, how difficult a thing is religion! how deplorable the conditions of the great body of mankind? Yet these are not the only difficulties. If we make peace with our opponents in religious sentiment, we have the more inflexi-
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ble enemies of Christianity to encounter. But, why should we regard those, who either predetermine religion a subject of sarcasm and invective, or reject it, because inconsistent with their beloved habits of vice? An immoral Christian, it must be granted, is a logical solecism. If, then we search for truth with unbiased minds, & practise accordingly shall we not be accepted by our Judge? Says the poet,
"For modes of faith let graceless zealots fight; "His can't be wrong, whose life is in the right."
Your letters from the Worcester Pos[ ]ice I receive punctually by the politeness of a [ ]
I wish much to hear of [ ] John. If at home, be so kind, as to present [ ]m my warmest respects.
I beg you to read this farrago with that candor, which you seem ever disposed to exercise toward your unworthy, though sincere, friend, Philos.
P.S. I have, this evening, heard of the death of a Mrs Brown of Brookfield, 12 miles W from this place, by a blow from her passionate husband. She survived the stroke 24 hours. The jury's verdict is not yet known.
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Mr Peason advises to settle upon the express condition of furnishing only one ser new sermon per week, after the ex ample of Dr Barnard, & others.
Things have risen The necessaries of life have risen 75 percent in his opinion -- The knowledge of hebrew very important- fotyfying & confirming The year '90 the best for calculation
No.5. Leicester, 27 Jan. 1795.
Buy a bible Pr of buckles Two small books for chld One for B. S[ ] Pr of black hose
To be left at the Post Office, Haverhill.
N 5 foud 12.h
Mr Abiel Abbott, AB. Haverhill
Indian Corn rather than rye, because less variable in its crop. Estimated in December wh grew the given year; '90 2/8 Do in '90 it was [ ] [ ] Beef in Novr. Flour or not Butter [ ] the common [ ]
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N5. Leicester, Jan. 27th. 1795.
Dear Friend,
Your obliging favor of Dec. 15th. I unfortunately did not receive, till the 24th. of the present month. I had frequently sent to the Post Office with flattering expectations; but when I accidentally heard, that you were preaching at H. and were about to be settled, I trembled for the fate of our correspondence; till you were so kind, as to relieve my too jealous fears. You have guessed at my surprize on hearing, that you had begun to preach. But you have, on the subject, put a language into my mouth, which is foreign from my sentiments. Were I to express my opinion on the occasion, I might offend that delicacy, which is the bond of friendship. You will therefore, excuse the flattering task. Pray, tell me, how you feel in your situation, what innocent liberties the superstition of people obliges you to retrench, what observations your experience has accumulated, in short, impart every assistance to a poor soul, who shudders at the gloomy prospects, before him, and who will feel grateful for every friendly attempt
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to raise him from the dirt.
Since my last we have had a quaker wedding in this town. Curiousity prompted me among a large number of spectators to attend. If you are not acquainted with their ceremonies, a relation of them may not be unacceptable. The bridegroom first took the bride by the hand and repeated these words. "Friends, "I, David Hoag, do take this my friend, Elisabeth Earle, "to be my wife; promising, by Divine assistance, to be "unto her a faithfull and loving husband, until it "please the Lord by death to separate us." The bride, then with alteration of the name, and of wife for husband, pronounced the same words. The chief quaker then read an attestation of the marriage and requested every person present to sign it. With this every one approached to subscribe his name, without reference to age, sex, or color. All the women and girls, who could write, signed. I was succeeded by a man, old enought to be my grandfather; and, to bring up the rear, a plump, fat negro approached, and very officiously put down his name. Not withstanding the studied simplicity of this sect, the bride added to the beauty of countenance and elegance of her shape by a brown silk gown, flesh colored silk cloak, a neat bonnet and a pair of beautiful, white silk gloves.
In a late visit to Brookfield I had the pleasure of being introduced to the highly celebrated ladies of this town. I was pleased with their good sense, sociability, and easy manners. One circumstance, however, was too singular to escape my censure. Although I found them at a neighbor's, where they expected no stranggers, their dress would have gained them credit at a
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Boston assembly. Their tight laced appearance reminded me of a custom, prevalent among some ladies of quality, of abstaining from food on visiting days, lest it should discompose the symmetry of a pretty shape. This observation might seem severe, were it not made in a confidential manner to a friend.
Dr Fiske, minister of the South parish in B. I esteem a man of modest worth. I was much entertained by his improving conversation. His son, my classmate, has relinquished Law, and untaken trade at Claremont, NH.
From Brookfield, I proceede to Western. Mr Baxter has an admiable situation. The town is wealthy for an inland town, and is united in religious sentiment. There is not a sectary in the place. Universal attendance is paid to Divine worship. How agreeable these circumstances! But what renders Mr B's condition most enviable is a wife, whom every body, that sees, must admire.
Since I am roving, I have almost a [...] inform you that, among the fine young ladies, [...] have attend my school, I have found a kindred soul. But I am afraid, you will laugh at me. "What," say you, "is that frozen heart capable of tender "emotions?" And "is this the way, you qualify yourself "for the ministry?" But as this is a matter in embryo, I dare not inform you any farther, at present. I would beg that this my be subrosa and request the same frankness from you to your, unalterably,
P.S. I am almost asleep. Philos
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No. 6 Leicester, April 24th. 1795.
Dear friend,
Your No. 6 I, with pleasure, received, as I was preparing for a visit to Dorchester. I intended to answer it, while at D. but I had so much visiting to atone for 9 months' absence, that I could not command a single moment. I cannot but lament the delay of writing, as it has probably deprived me of 2 or 3 agreeable letters. I am now left, like others, who are negligent, to repent misconduct and promise amendment. "Ah! you have visited D.? How did "you enjoy yourself?" Very well, I assure you. The better, perhaps, as I received the most agreeable impressions by the way. With that said "kindred soul," you may depend. Several of your queries are fresh in my mind, which I would willingly answer. But on such a delicate subject, you will not expect particulars in a letter. Suffice to say, that her religion, her sensibility, her amiable dispositions, and her taste for domestic life, with several other [...]reeable considerations, have given her the [...]rst place in my heart.