Dorcas Hadwen letter to Thomas Rotch, 4 of 8 mo, 1788

              B-76-1
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Samuel Fothergill to John C. Letsome M D on his Marriage with N M

Dear Friend, I was duly favoured with thine by my Sister at Lea Hall, & should have wrote sooner, had ability & Leisure United, for there hath lived in my mind a salutation to thee, the Object of my tender Solicitude, & to thy Wife, thy Companion, in every tender sense the join Object of my affectionate well wishing.  I consider you as now entering the more arduous scenes of Life, & filling more important stations than in your single state, & most earnestly desire you may now on your first Entrance into the more Arduous path be wisely directed, for much depends on this import Crisis, with an heart replenished with the warmest affection. I recommend the Psalmists words, representing the wife in all Ages. “In the Name of our God we will set up our Banners.” This is a proper allusion to your state, who have associated together in the most Delicate & tender Bands of Union, to be each others helpmeets, to soften every Care, to Enhance every Comfort. To Divide every Burthen, Reciprocally & mutually to help Each in every temporal respect, & not only so but to go up-hand in hand to the House of God, & the Mountain of his Holiness – in order to obtain this permanent felicity, of the Conjugal State. In the Name of your God now set up your Banners- let nothing divest your minds from an Humble Attentive Care, to put yourselves under his Protection, implore his Guardianship & [illegible]- he alone can keep you in time of Probation,  defend you in the perilous hour, Guard you from the Dangers of Unsanctified, seaming Prosperity & place his Everlasting Arm Underneath in times of adversity – place here your confidence that you may not be moved. The World with a Variety of Blandishments will present its Schemes of happiness & make large promises of a good it hath not in its power to bestow. – but may you Carefully Remember that in the World & Under the prevalence of its spirit, you will find Disappointment & trouble. But in the Name & Under the Banners of God, Peace flows like a River, & all the Cross Events & Painful allotments are Sanctified & Sweetned – beware therefore my dear friends of Rushing into the World of Dissipation – which often attends a Circumstance Similar to yours – Beware of a Vain confidence in the Smiles & Caresser of Men & Women of this World Spirit, beseech the protection & Guidance of him who placeth the solitary in families, enter no into selfish deliberation & how to avoid plain Duty, Protract