University of Virginia Library

We have been much distressed to hear of your continued
indisposition & sufferings. Caroline said in her letter to Fanny
that you had been very much afflicted with your stomach and otherwise.
Mr. Wheelwright (whom we heard preach a very good dermon today
at the Methodist Church in Charlottesville) said that when he left
you were better; and I pray God that he may comfort and relieve
you more and more. If you had only bodily afflictions, it w.d cause
us grief to think of your pain and constant suffering: but that you
should be at the same time bowed down with so sad bereavement, and
called upon to sustain so great a burden of mental distress, fills
us with sadness. Really, my dear Mother, it would be more than we
could well bear, if we had not some confidence in our Heavenly
Father. Remembering his word & promises, knowing his goodness and
tender compassion, and that He doth not willingly afflict us, nor
without a gracious design towards us, we endeavor to be patient in
tribulation also, and readily to submit ourselves to all his dispensations
to us. I trust that you too are hourly and every moment
simply and heartily relying upon the precious promises of God's holy
word. How comforting to know that it is God that directs our way.
That we may safely and joyfully commit all our ways into his hand,
knowing that He will order all for the best. De we lack strength or
any grace to do His holy will—we have only to ask in the name of
Jesus, (our Advocate with the Father, our merciful High Priest, who
is touched with the feeling of our infirmity) and we shall receive.
Only let us ask without doubting, surely believing that he hears
and answers our prayer. How suitable to your (and our) case was Mr.
Wheelwright's text today (Romans Vlll. 32) "If God spared not his
own Son, but freely delivered him up for us, how shall he not with
him freely give us all things!" Having this greatest proof of God's
love and mercy to us, can we for a moment doubt that he will bestow
upon us all the blessings we need, whether they be temporal or spiritual?
Let us be of good cheer, and all unworthy as we are, trust implicitly
in our blessed Savior both as our Atonement and our Advocate.
Let us bear patiently and even joyfully the afflictions and
sorrows of life which He sees fit to allot to us, seeing that it
is best just as He orders it. And, then, it cannot be long at the
most until we shall enter into our rest. Our Divine Master has set
us an example of entire submission to his Father's will, which we
ought not to forget. We may, if we will, imitate this example. And
why should we not? Our sojourn on Earth is but a preparation for an
eternity near, very near at hand. He has been pleased to offer us
a life of blessedness if we only are willing to take Him as our portion,
and has graciously sent his Holy Spirit to help our weakness
& to enable us to do his will. Oh let us not faint through any distrust
of His grace, but as we feel our weakness more, the more cast
ourselves on Him. He will strengthen us, and give us great comfort
and joy in believing in his promises.

In trying to comfort and encourage you, I am trying to
comfort myself. We have passed through a great trial & sore affliction,
in addition to our common loss, in the death of our dear Frank.

But God has been good and merciful to us. Dear Rush had hope in
his death, and we believe is safely housed in Heaven. And our
lovely babe has joined the neavenly Choir above. This is comfort
oh how divine comfort! We cannot doubt that this is a clear
voice from God's Providence calling us to set our affections on
heavenly things. And if Christ died for our loved ones, and has
taken them to himself, has he not also died for us, and will he
not, if we be faithful to the grace given, bring us to join them
in the world of joy to which they have gone before? Surely we may
believe this, and believing it, pass our time in humble trust in
God, and joyful submission to his gracious will.

Both Rosalie and Bob are somewhat indisposed, the former
especially is very delicate and much reduced: but we hope she may
be benefitted by some medicine she has taken. She seems much better
today.

Mr. Wheelwright promised to call tomorrow, and I may send
this letter by him. I am so pressed by my [OMITTED]I could not
expect to write a line unless I wrote tonight.

With love to the girls,