Author
Chamberlain, Theophilus
Date26 April, 1766
ms number766276
abstractChamberlin writes of his religious epiphany.
handwritingHandwriting is relatively clear, yet letter case
(especially with regard to S and D) is often difficult to decipher. There
are also
many deletions and additions.
paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in good-to-fair
condition, with moderate creasing, staining and wear.
inkBrown-black.
signatureSignature is abbreviated.
noteworthyThe book that Chamberlain mentions on one recto is: Theron and Aspasio: or, A Series of Dialogues and Letters upon the
Most Important and Interesting Subjects, in three volumes by James Hervey,
London, 1755.
Modernized Version
Deletions removed; additions added in;
modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.
Lebanon
April 26— 1766
Rev.
and Dear
Sir
I take this Method to lay before you what I was lately mentioning of my Experiences since I left you last fall. I shall
use all possible Brevity, and the
utmost
openess, in expressing
the Real Sentiments of my mind, in the Time of these Experiences.
about two years ago I had an opportunity to read , the Letters on Theron and
Aspasio
which
served me no other purpose
than to give me an inveterate Prejudice
against
the Author of them. when I was down last fall I began to read him again with the
disadvantage of the Same Prejudice I had before imbibed. I
had Time to read but a small part of his first Volume before I began my Journey in prosecution of my mission
among the Natives, to the
westward.
however I had read So far as to Set me a thinking
on his definition of Faith. before I reached
Albany
it
once, and that for the
first Time, came into my mind that
the faith there
described, might be the faith of Gods Elect.
I See that in case it was so, a Train of consequences
would
follow
which were extremely
disagreeable to me, yet in
some measure
apprehending
the Importance of my Knowing
the Truth, with regard to the Nature of faith, I determined
as Soon as my businesses would permit to Examine
the Scripture thoroughly on that head. when I got as far
as
Canajoharie I was obliged to wait about three Weeks for
a Road and Company to
Oneida. Most of the
leisure I
had here, I Spent in Reading the Scripture with an
Intent to find
out what
the faith so much
insisted on In Scrip
ture and by Divines, truly contains. When I come to
read the
Gospel of John, and other Parts of the New Testament,
and to look Back to the faith of the
ancients
quoted from
the Old Testament, I became fully convinced
that the Word
Believe, so frequently used in Scripture, is there
used in its
most plain and common
sense; and that
the faith
used as a Synonimy with Believe; and So frequently connected with
eternal Life, is a Plain,
every-day-Belief, of Truths Record in the Word of God. Having Got thus far, I began to be greatly exercised about what, would be my final Exit, and eternal State in the World of Spirits.
My whole Query was, how shall I find the Truths which give Life, to every one who believes them. My first thought was that
the
necessary Truths must undoubtedly be revealed in
the Word of God in plain and intelligible Terms; but then it
turned in my mind that
the Bible itself might be a fiction
I then Examined the Evidences which had often Supported me in belief of divine Revelation, and found them
sufficient to Support me Still in believing, that
the Bible is in truth and reality the Word of God. I now read the
Gospel of Luke; I read it with Attention
and eagerness, hoping to light on Some Truth which
would Set me free, from that Concern
and Anxiety respecting my future existence
which was Such an exercise to my mind. I attended to the coming of the son of God into
the World, his conduct in the World, the doctrines he preached, the
opposition of the World to him on account of his conduct, and Doctrines,
and his finally Suffering even unto Death. my next concern was to determine
certainly and precisely, what it was he suffered for. I read the Book of Isaiah; the Law given at Mount Sinai; took particular Notice of the
curses pronounced against every offence, and turned
then to every passage I could find in the New Testament which gave any account of what
Christ died for. at length, I came to this conclusion
that
Christ
suffered
the whole length and Breadth of that Suffering which
the Law threatened, for every offence
that will finally be forgiven. This conclusion immediately presented to my view a Character of God
which was at once amiable and awful. amiable in
this, that he is so infinitely kind and
compassionate
to his creatures, that he entertains thoughts of Pardon and happiness for them
when
deserving to the
last degree the tokens of his eternal Anger and Indignation; and never punishes
them for want of Benevolence. and awful in that he never will forgive an Offence against his own Law 'til
the
sentence of the Law against
that offence is inflicted to the full; and that though his own son is accountable for offences, he must for every offence bear
the full punishment
I
now saw that
the Law of God has in every sense its own measures and never a Single Creature more
is made miserable, than
what
the Law absolutely Required in order that God the giver of it might remain
a God of truth, and So Support his moral government in the
universe. I got now effectually
convinced
that nothing could be more absurd
than for me to use
the
least
endeavour[illegible][guess: s] to procure the favour of god, or to gain Acceptance to Salvation. I
now really
believed or I knew that if God should punish me with eternal
misery for every offence, to his Law, I ever had committed,
it would proceed from no
disposition
contrary to that
he commands in the Law, viz, thou shalt Love they Neighbour as thyself. In this crisis, I found no other reason to hope for Salvation, than
barely this that God designed to save some Creatures of my own Character. nor did this foundation,
appear small or inconsiderable, for I knew, that nothing but gods sovereignty had laid this foundation, and that
neither I nor any of my Character had the
least
desert in us of even this foundation of hope. Here I hoped, and Still hope with
trembling, and it is my glory and Joy that a door of hope is here Let open to me which no man can shut.
sir I have So little claim to your attention
that I have crowded
these things, So much together, that some confusion is created. If you read it and can understand my meaning my End is answered.