me not: but performed a mother’s part to me, a stranger
in a strange land, when many passed by, and noticed not
the sorrows that came on me, to qualify me to seek the
salvation of mankind in general.
Albany, New York State, 26th 8th mo. 1805.
MY ENDEARED FRIEND A. E.,LAST evening I returned from my visit to the Indians
of Oneida, South
Settlement, Stockbridge, and Brother-
town, and I was presented with two letters
from thee,
whom I am united to by the strongest ties of
Christian
friendship, that will no doubt end in the full felicity
of
our spirits, when they enter into the City of our God.
Here
our joys are mixed with pain; our love with anxious
desire, that
causes bitterness of spirit, through a separa-
tion: but in Heaven,
one Object will attract our notice,
even the Spiritual Bridegroom,
who is now the Head of
the Invisible Church, as well as the Visible
One, which
we are members of. Since we were parted, many
have
been the baptisms my soul hath endured for the children
of
men, while I have travelled five hundred miles, and
have had above
thirty appointments, which were held in
the Court-house,
Steeple-houses, School-rooms, Barns,
Fields, or Woods; yet there has
been sufficient time for
me to think of my precious A. E. although I assure thee, I
watch
with a godly jealousy over my natural affections,
lest I give to
thee, or any other sincere acquaintance,
more than is due to mutable
creatures. Thou must ac-
knowledge God, the Father of us each, is
entitled to our
ardency of soul, and continual thoughts; and I
believe, as
we are more weaned from terrestrial objects (in whom
we
should place no confidence) we shall have our minds
sub-
jected, and lay passively in His Hand, doing His Will,
and
suffering patiently for His sake, while employing the
whole
of our time, which I imagine though dost call
One
business. If I were to indulge myself in
expression at
this time, I should use strong tender words to thee:
but I