[358]
Letter to his son Jason.
Dear Children:
Your most welcome letters of the 16th inst. I have just received, and I bless God that he has enabled you to bear the heavy tidings of our disaster with so much seeming resignation and composure of mind.
That is exactly the thing I have wished you all to do for me — to be cheerful and perfectly resigned to the holy will of a wise and good God.
I bless his most holy name, that I am, (I trust,) in some good measure, able to do the same.
I am even “joyful in all my tribulations,” even since my confinement, and I humbly trust that “I know in whom I have trusted.”
A calm peace (perhaps) like that which your own dear mother felt, in view of her last change, seems to fill my mind by day and by night.
Of this, neither the powers of “earth or hell” can deprive me. Do not, dear children, any of you, grieve for a single moment on my account.
As I trust my life has not been thrown away, so I also humbly trust that my death shall not be in vain.
God can make it to be a thousand times more valuable to his own cause than all the miserable service (at best) that I have rendered it during my life.
When I was first taken, I was too feeble to write much; so I wrote what I could to North Elba, requesting Ruth and Anne to send you copies of all my letters to them.
I hope they have done so, and that you, Ellen, will do the same with what I may send to you, as it is still quite a labor for me to write all that I need to. I want your brothers to know what I write, if you know where to reach them.
I wrote Jeremiah, a few days since, to supply a trifling assistance, fifteen dollars, to such of you as might be most destitute.
I got his letter, but do not know as he got mine.
I hope to get another letter from him soon.
I also asked him to show you my letter.
I know of nothing you can any of you now do for me, unless it is to comfort your own hearts, and cheer and encourage each other to trust in God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent.
If you will keep his sayings, you shall certainly “know of his doctrine, whether it be of God or no.”
Nothing can be more grateful to me than your earnest sympathy, except it be to know that you are fully persuaded to be Christians.
And now, dear children, farewell for this time.
I hope to be able to write you again.
The God of my father take you for his children.
Your affectionate father, John Brown.
Note.--The remittance referred to was unquestionably intended for Owen Brown, who escaped from Harper's Ferry, but is supposed to be destitute even of a change of clothing. The significant allusion in the letter shows that the father was confident of Owen's safety.--Akron (Ohio.) Beacon.
