Clinton Mississippi Feby. 19th. I842
My Dear Sister Eliza
I have so far recovered my health by the great mercy &
undeserved kindness of God, as to be able to move about, on two crutches;
however I have wrote two letters to our Br. Robt. & Bro. Cordner one on
the 7th & one on the 15th current in which I believe I have given an
account of my condition of health, but the truth is that my recollection
seems much impaired from the long bodily affliction I have undergone.
But my Dear Sister is it not a great thing to be able sincerely to
say, The Lord gave & the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of
the Lord. " How can I be sufficiently, humbly thankful to the God of
Israel, for all his mercies to me who am so unworthy & an unprofitable
servant. But I humbly trust that I can say, "it has been good for mo
to be afflicted," for before I was afflicted I went astray. May God
enable me to stand fast by Faith in the Son of his love for without
Christ I can do nothing, but with him we can receive all that The Great
I Am hath promised even the witness of That Spirit by which we are
enabled to cry Aba Father- My God who hath preserved me all my life
long, increase my faith. writing is in general very painful to me on
account of my head which is very easily disturbed & also from the
condition of my spine which is very weak but truly it is of the Lord's
mercies that I am so far spared yet I feel that my recovery is still
doubtful. I gain
my strength so very slowly that a little turn for the worse would set
me down low again. Think not from this, that I am desponding, far from
it, perhaps if you could see me now, you would think me fully as
contented & cheerful as most folks that have never known what sickness
was;even this hath God wrought, & not unto me any praise; but unto his
great name, alone be all the praiset Perhaps you might wonder how one
cut off, it were from the world passes his time, well I will endeavour
to tell you a little of the matter. For some weeks past I have been
able to keep out of bed but not quite to go to table to eat, I therefore
have my food carried to my room which consists of the very plainest
kind that I can procure in general, for my stomach cannot digest any
very strong food. When my head will permit I read a great deal
particularly the works of the Revd. John Westley for which next to the
Bible I believe I have the highest reverence. Burely his works will
follow him. But the Bible, that is the great Chart for the Christian
mariner; how true, that the World by its Wisdom knoweth not God but it
hath pleased God by the Word. to save those wigo will believe- There
we learn that the ornament of a meek & quiet spirit are of great price
in sight of our Maker(mark, not the ornaments that Gold or Silver
can purchase but the ornaments of Humility purchased by the blood of
the Redeemer- I also take up much of my time in endeavouring to teach
my younger nephew & Niece the latter five years old last August the
former turned of eleven years.- My little Niece appears to be a good
deal of the disposition of her Father as it regards kindness & good
temper, but she seems to learn with more facility than can well be
imagined. She has, much affection & kindness & propriety of conduct as
most children near twice her age- My nephew Jas. though quite
tractable is not near so interesting- Indeed I am seldom "less alone
