Eleazar Wheelock, letter, to Samuel Johnson, 1766 December 4

Author Wheelock, Eleazar

Date4 December, 1766

Call 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.

Persistent Identifier
Rev.d & Hond Sir.
Yours of 10th of Octr Ult. came to Hand ye week before laſt Laſt week
with 3. pamphlitts & a Generous collection made (as
you inform me) by a Small Number of your Ch-h, 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 Condeſention
and Friendſhip, & that truly catholic & chriſtian Spirit
you [illegible][guess: breath forth] expreſs [illegible] towards me & the Cauſe I have been
endeavouring to promote — — — I think intirely with
you as to the neceſsity of con[illegible]ſealing from the Pagans,
all differing Sentiments in matters of Religion Among
ourſelves; and that the contrary would likely be a
moſt fatal Stumbling Block [illegible] in the way of
those poor blind Creatures. and accordingly never any
of my School, have yet heard me Speak a word of any
[left]any differentces Sentiments afmong [illegible][guess: any denominations of]
chriſtians, excepting, Papiſts. — — When I have Spoken
to any of the 6. Nation (as I have Sometimes had occaſi
[illegible][guess: to do)] of the Labours of D.r Berkeley & M.r OGlevie,
I have atlways spoken of them (and that too without any
Diſsimulation) with the greateſt Approbation & Eſteem
— — when they have mentioned to me Some Differences as to
forms & modes, I have told them we were all agreed
they [illegible]are not eſsential — — that those Gentlemen were
my Bretheren, faithful miniſters of Chriſt, and taught
them the Same way of Life truly as we [illegible]are teaching them.
[illegible][guess: And] [illegible] [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 # I have often taken one &
another out of the School to Labour for me when their Health required it & have ge-
nerally had for Several years had one and Another w.o deſignd for Trades when they one who has been a number of the School im-
ployed as a Labourer. And have every year more or leſs
should have accompliſhed the Learning neceſsary for them in the School to Labour for
taken one & another, as their Health required me — All I could provide Suitable Places for them
& Benefit
required, out of the School for a Time, and put them
to good Farmers to be inſructed in Huſbandry, and
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 accots.
And as to all my perſonal Labours and continual
care in this Affair from the firſt I have never yet chargd
one penny,
I have peruſed your Catechiſm and it gives me pleaſure
to find that in the Eſsentials we are so nearly [illegible][guess: agreed] agreed But [illegible][guess: modeſty]
if there were nothing else, might forbid my attempting
the Taſk [illegible][guess: you asſign me] [illegible] and your deſire Sufficically
warrents my proposeing whether there there may not be [illegible] those who earneſtly
pray for Gods Help, & Strive to repent, & return to their
Duty, who are not intituled to the promiſe of [illegible] Gods Holy Benefit.
or whether the doing of this is not common to many
only from a conſicouſneſs of Guilt, and a fear of deſerved
puniſhment, [illegible] while their Hearts are [illegible][guess: yet] not withſtanding in a State of [illegible][guess: Enmity] w[illegible]th G.
or to put my [illegible]meaning in othr words, whether anything [illegible] [illegible] their
beleiving in Chriſt, and receiving the Benefit only as a free Gift,
(which neceſsly inferrs their Repent[illegible][guess: ng] & [illegible]atoning to y.r Duty &c) be not y.e only
condn on their part. This I think to be ye Truth, and So y.e Benefit
granted cant in y.e nature of things be cheiper, more of Grace,
or upon Power, & more [illegible][guess: condeſending] Terms than those which y.e Gospel
proposes. and this I think by comparing several of your Anſwers [illegible]
to the
to the 18.th & 2 [illegible] [guess: 5] th Qns to be your opinion also. I would then humbly
propose whether your [illegible] [guess: re] Anſwer to your 20th Queſtion would not
be more intelligible and leſs liable to be miſimproved to
incourage convinced Sinrs to reſt in Duty, and Short of
Faith and confidence in Chriſt alone, for Salvation, if it
Should be expreſsed in y.[illegible][guess: t] manner viz. "Chriſt having
purchaſed [illegible] for us, by his Death, has aſsured us that if
we beleive 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, & enable & [illegible][guess: enable] us to will & to do what
he requires of us, and to withſtand all Temptations."
you are Sir, not in-Senſible as well as I of y.e univerſal & strong propenſity [illegible][guess: there]
is univerſally in convinced sinrs to [illegible] y.r fears and
[illegible][guess: Quiet y.mſelves with Duty that] performance of Duty lull
themſelves [illegible]into a state of Security by a Reformation of
Life, & external perform.[illegible][guess: e] of Duty, while they are far from
a new Heart, & a New Spirit.
I am indeed much pleaſd with your Grammar & prhaps
the more so, becauſe it is So ſimilar to well agrees with the [illegible][guess: Compandium]
used in my School, collected from the britiſh & [illegible][guess: othr] [illegible]
I was confind by Illneſs when I rec.d yours & have
yet had no opportunity to com̅uincate your proposal
to any of my Bretheren. I have taken Notice a Copy of ye Emen­
­dations you have made, and purpose when our Board
of Com̅iſsissrs
shall have occaſion to be together again
to propose it to them. pleaſe Sir, in the mean Time to
favour me with your Tho'ts of such an Alteration of
your anſwer to S.d 20th Queſtion, as I have proposed.
and if such an agreemt as you Deſire may be had, I
will do my [illegible][guess: End.r] to promote the Reprinting of the whole
for the Benefit of children & prticularly in our Indian
Schools. And that God may yet mercifully lengthen out your Life
to promote the Kingdom of the Redeemer in y.e world
is with much Duty & Eſteem the sincere Deſire, and earneſt Prayer of him who
is with much Duty & Eſteem, much Hon.d sir,
your obedient & very humble Serv.t
E Wheelock
#. I have generally had one and another who were
Deſignd for Trades, when they Should have acquird
the Learning that Neceſsary for them in the school
to labour for me, 'till I could provide suitable Places
for Them. and I have Every year taken one & another
as their health & Benefit required
[bottom]Letter to Rev.d S. Johnſon DD.
Dec.r 4. 1766.


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