Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Samuel Johnson, 1766 December 4

Author Wheelock, Eleazar

Date4 December, 1766

Call Number766654.2

abstractWheelock discusses keeping religious differences among denominations secret from Indian scholars. He also refutes accusations that have been made against him.

handwritingHandwriting is informal and frequently difficult to decipher. There are several deletions and additions.

paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in fair condition, with light-to-moderate creasing, staining and wear. Disintegration caused by the ink renders the paper somewhat fragile.

inkDark black ink appears to be iron gall, which is burning through the paper.

noteworthyIn light of the numerous deletions and additions, this document appears to be a draft.

signatureThe signature is abbreviated.

Modernized Version Deletions removed; additions added in; modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.

Persistent Identifier
Rev. and Honoured Sir.
Yours of 10th of October came to Hand the week before last
with 3. pamphlets and a Generous collection made (as
you inform me) by a Small Number of your church, of
£1..13..5. for the Use of my Indian Charity School
the Lord reward their Liberality and enable me to
apply it aright.
I am, sir, not unaffected with your condescension
and friendship, and that truly catholic and christian Spirit
you express towards me and the cause I have been
endeavouring to promote — — — I think entirely with
you as to the necessity of concealing from the Pagans,
all differing Sentiments in matters of Religion Among
ourselves; and that the contrary would likely be a
most fatal Stumbling Block in the way of
those poor blind Creatures. and accordingly never any
of my School, have yet heard me Speak a word of
any differences among
christians, excepting, Papists. — — When I have Spoken
to any of the 6. Nation (as I have Sometimes had occasion
of the Labours of Dr. Berkeley and Mr. Ogilvie,
I have always spoken of them (and that too without any
dissimulation) with the greatest Approbation and esteem
— — when they have mentioned Some Differences as to
forms and modes, I have told them we were all agreed
they are not essential — — that those Gentlemen were
my Bretheren, faithful ministers of Christ, and taught
them the Same way of Life truly as we are teaching them.
[illegible][guess: thus] far from true is the aspersion you mention.
As to my making gain to myself by their Labour
it

it is wholly groundless # and Benefit
required, out of the School for a Time, and put them
to good Farmers to be instructed in husbandry,
where they might be So separated from their Companions
as to be obliged to talk English (which I find they are
loath to do so long as they have Interpreters always
at hand). and when they are able to Earn their victuals
with me or with others the School has never been charged for them, and when
they have done more than that, The School has been
honestly credited for the Same. as any may be convinced
who will only take the pains to look into my accounts.
And as to all my personal Labours and continual
care in this Affair from the first I have never yet charged
one penny,
I have perused your catechism and it gives me pleasure
to find that in the essentials we are so nearly agreed

and your desire sufficiently
warrants my proposing whether there there may not be [illegible] those who earnestly
pray for God's Help, and Strive to repent, and return to their
Duty, who are not entitled to the promise of God's Holy Benefit.
or whether the doing of this is not common to many
only from a consciousness of Guilt, and a fear of deserved
punishment, while their Hearts are not withstanding in a State of [illegible][guess: Enmity] with God
or to put my meaning in other words, whether [illegible] their
believing in Christ, and receiving the Benefit only as a free Gift,
(which necessarily infers repenting and atoning to their Duty etc.) be not the only
condition on their part. This I think to be the Truth, and So the Benefit
granted cant in the nature of things be cheaper, more of Grace,
or upon Power, and more [illegible][guess: condescending] Terms than those which the Gospel
proposes. and this I think by comparing several of your answers [illegible]
to the
to the 18th and 2 [illegible] [guess: 5] th questions to be your opinion also. I would then humbly
propose whether your answer to your 20th question would not
be more intelligible and less liable to be misimproved to
encourage convinced sinners to rest in Duty, and Short of
Faith and confidence in Christ alone, for Salvation, if it
Should be expressed in that manner viz. "Christ having
purchased [illegible] for us, by his Death, has assured us that if
we believe in him, and ask (or Seek) for it with our
whole Hearts, sincerely repenting of all our sins, and
Returning to our Duty, he will give us his Holy Spirit
to renew, and enable us to will and to do what
he requires of us, and to withstand all Temptations."
you are Sir, not insensible of the universal and strong propensity
in convinced sinners to [illegible] their fears and
lull
themselves into a state of Security by a Reformation of
Life, and external performance of Duty, while they are far from
a new Heart, and a New Spirit.
I am indeed pleased with your Grammar and perhaps
the more so, because it is So similar to the [illegible][guess: compendium]
used in my School, collected from the British and [illegible][guess: other] [illegible]
I was confined by illness when I received yours and have
yet had no opportunity to communicate your proposal
to any of my Bretheren. I have taken Notice of the Emen­
­dations you have made, and purpose when our Board
of Commissioners
shall have occasion to be together again
to propose it to them. please Sir, in the meantime to
favour me with your thoughts of such an Alteration of
your answer to said 20th question, as I have proposed.
and if such an agreement as you desire may be had, I
will do my [illegible][guess: endeavour] to promote the Reprinting of the whole
for the Benefit of children particularly in our Indian
Schools. that God may yet mercifully lengthen out your Life
to promote the Kingdom of the Redeemer in the world
is with much Duty and esteem the sincere desire, and earnest Prayer of
much Honoured sir,
your obedient and very humble servant
Eleazar Wheelock
#. I have generally had one and another who were
designed for Trades, when they Should have acquired
the Learning necessary for them in the school
to labour for me, 'til I could provide suitable Places
for Them. and I have Every year taken one and another
as their health and Benefit required
Letter to Rev. Samuel Johnson DD.
December 4. 1766.

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