Joseph Johnson, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1767 December 29
Date29 December, 1767
ms number767679.2
abstractJohnson writes of his spiritual concerns, the progress of the school, and his differences with Kirkland.
handwritingHandwriting is small, yet mostly clear and legible. Letter case is frequently difficult to discern, especially with regard to the letter S.
paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in good condition, with light staining, creasing and wear.
inkBlack-brown ink is faded in spots.
Persistent Identifier
Onoida.
December 29..th AD. 1767.
Revd
& ever hond
Doct.r
I would once more attempt to write to you my Hond Benefactor; Notwithſtanding I find my mind so Diſcompoſ'd, it is as if their was no Solidneſs in my mind, sometimes Encouraged, & at other time Diſhearted; So yt
I cant be Reſolute in what I do. at preſent things look dark— They all wear a garment of Diſcouragement, but I hope that Before long Some will change their preſent garment, & Look Encouraging to your poor Labourers in the Wilderneſs. I Fear that God is about to give up theſe poor Ignorant heathen to walk after their own hearts, and cut them of
Intirely from his Earth; I think at preſent
their is Some concern amongſt
theſe Indians I would hope a Real concern, I hope that God is about to carry
on his own work amongſt us, and bring out Some of our Souls from this darkneſs into his Marvelous Light. I am yet in the Gall of Bitterneſ and in the bond of Iniquity. I hope that God will yet Enable me to See the
pride of my heart, & the great Sin of Unbelief and the Neceſsity I Stand in of X
Jeſus, I believe that unleſs God be
pleaſed to open my Eyes that I may See the wickedneſs of my h^e^art I greatly fear I shall never Obtain
the One thing needfull. I deſire the continuance of your prayers dayly that God would make and keep me humble minded and willing to Submit to
his will and pleaſure
& to diſpoſe of me as Seems good to him and moſt for his own Glory and the furtherence of the Glorious Redeemers Kingdom Here in this Deſert. It seems as if I was in Some meaſure willing to devote my at to yt
End. I have no Strange news to Enform you of at preſent I steadily attend the School, Such Times Excepted as when mr kirtland wants my aſsiſtantce the illegibleScholars ar 5 in number at preſent they larn
very faſt, I have Some hopes of having my School Enlargd
in Number, but if not, I hope that it may Increaſe in— Knowledge. I will do all that Lays in my power to teach them in all thing I am capable of. I Live very
comfortable upon the Indian fair, I Lack nothing but thank full
Heart. (as I wrote before.) I have had my health as Uſual By the Goodneſs of God, and I hope Revd Sir, that by the Same Gododneſs that you have had your Valuable health
aſ
Uſual
Likewiſe. I would once more aſk the continuance of your prayers, that god keep me from pride,
from— Ingratitude, from diſhonouring his Great Name— from all the Temptations of the Divil, and from all the Temptations of my fellow Youth. that he would keep me
from the Luſts of the Eye, and the Luſts of the fleſh. and in Short from Everything that is Diſpleaſing to him.
I muſt own and I think it my duty to confeſs now that that I was wrong in my thoughts about that Queſtion which Mr kirtland
aſked me "do you think there is So "great a Differrence Between me and Mr Wheelock, I Miſunderſtood him he Said that "do you think there is a "greater Difference between you
and me, then there is between "Mr Wheelock and me. it was Laſt winter when I Shewed
my Reluctance in aſsiting him for his fire wood." He Said I "would willingly take care of Mr Wheelock if he was up "here.—I said So would I. Then his Queſtion came. I have no more to write at this Time, Only Revd Sir; I Deſire Still to be under your kind Direction in all things thal I undertake. Revd Sir. I should be glad of a favour of a illegibleLitter from you as I always have a deſire to hear from my kind &
hond Benefactor.
So hond Sir I deſire to Subſcribe
myſelf your Humble & Obedient— —Pupil.
Joſeph
Johnſon.
PS. my humble Duty to madam,
&
Reſpects to all your worthy Family. I have been in great Hurry in this Letter
I dont know as you can Read it.
To The Revd
Doctr Wheeloc^k^
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