A-12-2
Dear Friend. Tho it may be but as a drop in Oceans wave I write thee -And how thy health may be(if living). I know not, as I have not heard some time; but was going to say I hoped it better - But why should I? Our Earthly Tabernacles must be desolved - and why shouldest thou live? what is there to excite the wish? hast not thou seen length of days, had sufficient of travel, of disppointment, Widowhood, sickness, tribulation, and Death: thyself oft in deaths too: to make willing work in thee a desire of changing the Scene from mortal to immortal? yea, enough - and yet not enough: Great paradox! to live is Christ- and thou hast had much to live for! and that too by how much thine has been a widowd lot. for Oh! the lambs left in thy Maternal Arms, over which their heavenly Father daigned also to watch, but the medium of their Angel!(may he be theirs forever in praise, these have been thy precious, peculiar object of care-And Ah! a faithful Mothers care mete subject is for praise on Earth: fit Subject doubtless to be sung above: amid the alternate reverberations there - where Saints and Angels sing his praise - and he returns the sweet applause of well done! - And not only these hast thou had to live for: but thy dear friends, Brothers & Sisters, yea thy fellow being: And still hast much(if living) to live for, much that soothe an aged Widows heart, softens & aleviates a Mothers pain: for look around thee. and if not around thy Table, around they Sick bed. (for better place) and see thy Olive plants: behold thy friends: humanity, sympathy, these who can feel anothers Wo, await, attend, thee: Oh! blessed lot: these delegated, pour the Wine & Oil: But what of this! is it not nevertheless gain to die! yea, it is eternal gain:- therefore acknowledge these, cast on them a smile of complacency, bid them farewell- sleep- ascent, and wake to future joys. join thine, thy S- in White: mingle in joys no more to part: up unto which glorified state is the Eye & heart of thy friend turned, who desires to be enabled to make a Sacrifice of all below, for the Sake thereof. and concludes in love to thee & thing, etc. Elisha Thornton
Smithfield 26th of 7th mo 1795
