Author
Wheelock, Eleazar
Date4 December, 1766
ms 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.
Lebanon
December 4
1766
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,
#. 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.