David Avery, letter, to Eleazar Wheelock, 1771 June 6

Author Avery, David

Date6 June, 1771

Call Number771356

abstractAvery writes about his upcoming ordination and possible mission. He relates news of Occom and David Fowler, with brief excerpts of a letter from Fowler.

handwritingHandwriting is formal, clear and legible.

paperFour large sheets of paper have each been folded in half to make four pages. The address is on a separate, single sheet. The paper is in good condition, with mostly light creasing, staining and wear.

inkDark-brown.

Persistent Identifier

Rev,d & hon,d Sir,
About three weeks past I received
Doctor Wheelock's letter, dated 22 of april; for
which I return a gratful tribute of Thanks. —
This was very timely, and gave me to
understand a little, tho' not fully, the Doctr[illegible][guess: [inline]e]'rs's
mind & pleasure respecting my Des‐
tiny. His other Letter, refered to in this
which I have, is yet on the way. —
It gave me the most sensible sorrow
to hear that all of my letters to Dartm.o
have fell short. — What is the mean‐
‐ing
‐ing of Providence in this I can't tell. — Have
wrote again and again, representing the State
of affairs in these parts, giving an account
of God's work in a particular Parish, and expreſsing
the earnest desire of that poor, needy, desti‐
‐tute People that I tarry longer with them a
little while longer, that I may know what
my Rev,d Patron would advise and direct to. —
I have been, and am still, exceeding loath to
do any the least thing contrary to his Pleasure
to whom am under the most inviolable
obligations, next to Almighty God. —
The Rev,d M,r Buell being in New England
I could not consult him 'till this week. Now
I have laid before him my affairs and
taken his Advice in this case, which is,
That I tarry about two months on the
Island and then return to N..w Hampshire.
This advice I have concluded to follow.
M.r Buell informs me he saw Rev,d M,r
Patten and M,r Woodward, whom he
discourſed on the point, and they were
of opinion that it would not, likely, be
displeasing to the Rev,d Doctor if I
should tarry for such reasons as he
gave them — (viz) My not being in a con‐
firmed state of health sufficient to go
upon an Indian Miſsion in the
heat of summer. — And the late happy
revival of Religion in Ketehebonack, which
appears to be a particular Call to labor
with them a little longer. —
(Bleſsed be God the Work still goes on
and there is a prospect of ingathering of souls.)
If I should go to Dartmouth now, by what I can
learn, my ordination could not conveni‐
‐ently be attended before Commencement,
and without that I should not be prevailed
upon to take a miſsion.— Perhaps it may
be thought best this ordinance should be so‐
lemnized at that time when the Corporati
‐on
shall be together; which I most earnestly
request
1
1
request may be done; for I am much ex‐
‐ercised about preaching barely by virtue
of a Licence.
With respect to my going under
Boston Board, I know not what to say—
I should, by all means, chuse to con‐
‐sult the Corporation on the head.—
As it is a very delicate point, so I shall
indeavour to manage it.— That Letter
not having come to hand in which
the Proposal was made, Rev,d M.r Buell
did not know what advice to give.
If by going under that Board I must in the
least break connexions with him, whom
it is my honor to call my Rev,d & Worthy Patron
I could not indure the thought of it— but if
it shall be thought best, on the whole, to an‐
swer the general Design in view — it is likely
I shall be willing to comply with the propo‐
‐ſal.— It has given me much of the Heart‐
‐ach that somethings are as they are,— but
God's Government is over all, according to In
‐finite Wisdom — the iſsue therefore must,
and can't but, be for his Glory; yea, for a
greater Display of Divine Glory than other
‐wise there would be if it were not for some
dark Scenes.. This consideration bears my
Spirits up, or it seems, I could not, at times, sub‐
‐sist — Let Zion and her Sons, rejoice in their
King/ — The Rev,d Doctor mentioned a pro‐
‐posal
‐posal lately made to him of my taking
a tour to S.t John's River this summer,—
and asked me what I think of it? —
If I knew what prospects there are [inline]ofor
doing good there were, — the situation
of the Indians — the air — accomoda‐
‐tions, &c I should be better able to form
a judgment.— But as my health is
but tlow, being attended with a constant
Fever, much exposed to take Cold,
and unable to undergo much hard ser‐
‐vice by reason of a weakening Disorder
which has long afficted me— And
also as I have no companion to go as
a preacher with me, as I know of, or
could likely be obtained this season, it does
not appear Duty for me to undertake the
journey at present.— My heart says 'Lord,
what wilt thou have me to do'?— Wherever
Providence gives the Lead, I am willing to
follow — but, alas! I know so little, or no‐
thing, how to read divine Providences or get
an answer to prayer that am afraid, many
times, I am not in the way of Duty —
It appears to me I should be the happiest
of many mortals if I only knew what God's Plea‐
‐sure is respecting my situation & Destiny
in the world.— At present He is laying out
a great variety of work for me, the least of all
his servants, is it not Duty to perform it?
2
2
Thro' Divine Favor, my health is in some
measure recovered — am able to preach
every sabbath and several Lectures.—
The awakenings in Ketehebonack
still continue in several instances,
tho' perhaps not so great as some time
past.... As I presume the Doctor has
before this time received my Letters
I need give no farther account of God's
Work in these parts, save that there
is, of late, a very great revival in
Southold‐Town, under Rev,d M.r Storrs'
ministry.— I expect to go there next
week, God willing— I find it a very great
advantage to me to live here in this Day of
the Outpouring of God's bleſsed Spirit. —
When People's Ears are open it is easy
Preaching to them. — It has rejoiced
the hearts of many that God has revived
his work in the College last Winter— O,
what an happy omen for good! —
After I received the Doctor's Letter, I
sent a line to David Fowler with a Desire that
he would give me an honest, faithful acco.t
of the late State & Character of M.r Occom
and he wrote me the following —
—"I can't tell you any bad thing of him. —
He is, as it were, crying out to Sinners in a
private manner — he don't preach
as yet, but I hope he will. He seems
to injoy a newneſs of life again.—
He goes from one Place to another ex‐
‐horting the People, that is, among
the Indians. — He has entirely aban‐
‐doned spirituous liquors — he uſes
none, nor keeps any in the house.=
I shall likely give you a better Nar‐
‐rative of his Character at my return
from the main shore."
I know nothing, Sir, but what
this account is entirely just — But
nothing has been done to wash
away his Stain in these parts, or in any other
that we have hear'd of.— Rev,d M,r Buell
heard little if anything about him when
on the main. — Perhaps M:r Woodward is
able to give a more particular account of
M.r Occom than I can, and better able to
judge whether it will be for the Good and
honor of the Cause to improve him as a
miſsionary — it seems to be a very great
frown of heaven that his usefulneſs has
been prevented.—
David Fowler appears much as uſual—
with respect to his being deeply humbled &c I
am not able to say — he manifests a very
great regard for the Indian Cause — and has
some bitter reflexions on his rash conduct
in
3
3
in the Wilderneſs.— I have not said much
to him about his conduct, because am
very ignorant of what the Foundation
or pretentded foundation of it was. If
he was to see and converse the Re[illegible][guess: vr]'end
Doctor, am quite inclined to think he
would make gospel satisfaction.—
His natural Temper is well known to be
violent and sometimes his Paſsion
blinds his reason. — respecting him‐
self he writes me,
"If I can pay off my Creditors this
year I deſign to go off this Island next
year, either to Mohegan or the Wil‐
‐derneſs: I don't think of going any
where this year."
East-Hampton judge he is very un‐
steady and fickle, roving and wandering
But by converse with David, am of opinion his
unsteadyneſs was much owing to his too small
salary and the Indians living a good deal upon
him. — He does not keep the School at Montauk;
he thinks,"if he did, it would be to none effect —
The Indians seem to be curſt — they don't ad‐
‐mire any thing that would be beneficial
to them, either temporal or temporalspiritual."—
Imagine if he should visit the Doctor it might
answer some valuable Purpose — accordingly
shall recommend it to him.— I can't
but think he means to act honestly — He is
now somewhat involved in Debt; but he
follows Fishery & hopes to raise something
on the land to defray his charges this sea‐
‐son.— Thus, Sir, I have given the best account
respecting him am able to do.—
If it shall be judged best to ordain me at
Commencement, would not the Doctor
think proper to appoint some of the
Rev,d Corporation the ordination ser‐
‐mon? — Would it please him to
pitch upon the Rev,d M,r Pomroy?
But I mean not to dictate — shall be
perfectly well suited with Doctor Whee‐
lock
's appointments.— If this Plan
should be agreable to him, it would
lay me under farther obligations of
Gratitude, if by any means, I might
have intelligence of it — but am
afraid these Letters will suffer the same
misfortune as the other.—
It gives me unspeakable Joy to hear M.r Ripley
is hopefully religious! If this is the case,
What extensive service may the Man of his
rare abilities do for God, if God goes with him!
We hear the work of God is powerful in several
Places upon the Continent...
People are liberal and very kind to me in theſe
parts — O, how good is the Lord to the evil and
unthankful! — Oh! for an humble heart!
a meek and lowly spirit!— the Benevolence,
[inline]ye Love, [inline]ye Pity and Compaſsion of Jesus Christ to‐
‐wards dying men! — my Soul burns with
ardor to do something for my Maker and
Redeemer.—
The Reverend M,r Brown gives very kind
and affectionate Salutations to the Reverend
Doctor Wheelock — He is a Father to me —
Please, Sir, present Duty to Honored Madam,
and continue daily to pray for,
Rev,d & hon,d Sir,

Your very dutiful
and most obedient
humble servant

David Avery
Rev,d D,,r Wheelock
From M.r David Avery
June 6. 1771.
To The Revd Eleazer Wheelock D:D.
Preſident of Dartmouth Colledge
In
Hanover
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