Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Samson Occom, 1771 January 22
Date22 January, 1771
Call Number771122
abstractWheelock expresses sorrow at Occom’s repeated and aggravated falls from virtue. He writes that if Occom and his brother-in-law David will go on a mission, Wheelock will give David as much as any schoolmaster sent by the Boston Commissioners.
handwritingWriting is small, even and uniform, though letter case is frequently difficult to decipher.
paperSmall page is in fair-to-poor condition, with moderate-to-heavy creasing, staining and wear, which results in some loss of text.
inkBlack-brown.
noteworthyContents are identical to those of 771122.1, which is a copy of this document.
Modernized Version Deletions removed; additions added in; modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.
Heart I have had on hearing of your repeated and aggravated
fall, but I am comforted a little with the Hope that God has
given You Repentance, but I conclude, unless the manifestation
of your Repentance has been very public, clear, Strong and evident
to everybody, your usefulness is near at an End where you are.
and it may be one design of God in leaving you thus to fall has
been to reprove your Staying at home, and in a Sort compel
you to go abroad among remote Tribes, or else quit your
ministry, which I conclude you will never be easy in doing
while the Nations are lying in wickedness and perishing for
lack of vision. You may remember I early mentioned to
you, your going among the Onondagas, or some other Nation
there in that quarter, and Said Something about your taking
your Brother David and Settling your Families in that Country,
and I felt Some concern that you declined it as I thought
and have always feared that you was not so usefully employed
as you might be among remote tribes. Mr. Woodward informs
me of your having understood me otherwise, which must certain
-ly have been through Some mistake. — I also always believed
your Brother David did wrong in leaving that cause in the
wilderness where he was So acceptable, and had So wide a Door
opened to him for usefulness.
I now propose to You and him that if you will remove and
Settle in any of the Tribes where you may find the best
prospect of usefulness, I will allow him as much as any
of the schoolmasters have who are employed among any of
the Tribes on the Sea Shore, by the Boston commissioners;
and will do for you what Shall be reasonable, and will
provide a good Interpreter to go with you in the Spring.
please to let me See you or hear from you as Soon as
possible.
It is an astonishing [gap: tear] of God's Grace and the outpouring
of his Spirit upon this Seminary, here you may See the begin-
-ing and budding of the [gap: tear][guess: New] Jerusalem. the first appearance
of it was upon our getting into a Settled and quiet State
about a month ago. the affairs of this Seminary never looked
with so joyful and encouraging an aspect, before, as they now do
I hope in a little Time you will have opportunity to See scores
of your tawny Brethren, nourished by the breasts of this
Alma Mater. —
I cant tell you What lo[gap: tear][guess: a]ds of Sorrow I have been bowed
down under, on account of the falls and miscarriages of So many
on whom I had dependance under God as instruments to
help forward the great design before me. God has been
my Helper or I Should have Sunk indeed under the weight
— My dear friend, I have had, and born loads on your account
I long to know whether God has truly opened your Eyes to
See the wound you have given the blessed Redeemer? and
whether you have and do look upon him whom you have
pierced, and mourn for what you have done as for an only
Son? and what Revenge you are exercising upon and towards your
Self in a way of Self denial and cross bearing? my dear Friend
dont now add to the offence by Setting down discouraged and
Say there is no hope of your Future usefulness. no my Friend
resolve on Revenge on your lusts, and especially your Pride, and
upon the father and Author of them. My Heart aches for you
enough to besmear this Paper with my Hearts Blood if that were
a proper way to express my Sorrow, and a way that would
do you any good — but I conclude with Love to you and
your wife. and am, for Christs Sake
Friend and Servant
Eleazar Wheelock