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Samuel Kirkland to Levi Hart
Title
Samuel Kirkland to Levi Hart
Names
Kirkland, Samuel, 1741-1808, Hart, Levi, 1738-1808
Date
1771-01-17
Type
Correspondence
Pages
6 image files
Text
Kirkland 14a Samuel Kirkland to Levi Hart 17 January 1771 Oneida 17 January A.D. 1771. Reverend and Honored Brother. Amidst company and confusion I set down a few moments to write you. In my tour to the eastward last fall I had pleased myself with the prospect of another interview - but disappointment was my lot - and in which, methinks, I share alone. May I not hear from you again? and have you not some news of the cordial kind to refresh me with - that the present gloomy cloud begins to withdr
Show moreKirkland 14a Samuel Kirkland to Levi Hart 17 January 1771 Oneida 17 January A.D. 1771. Reverend and Honored Brother. Amidst company and confusion I set down a few moments to write you. In my tour to the eastward last fall I had pleased myself with the prospect of another interview - but disappointment was my lot - and in which, methinks, I share alone. May I not hear from you again? and have you not some news of the cordial kind to refresh me with - that the present gloomy cloud begins to withdraw, and the light shines in the dark places, that the dying cause of the Redeemer begins to revive, and breathe among you? Blessed be the living God for present hopeful encouragements in the Wilderness. The cause of Christ seems to flourish amongst us here - the Lord has graciously added to his church of such (as in a judgment of charity) shall be saved. I hope there are some late Trophies of victorious Grace from among these rough, savage Tuscaroras. How distinguishing the power of sovereign Grace! how lovely the sight! how great the change! To see a savage wolf of the Desert transformed into a Lamb of Christ, and become a follower of the meek and lowly Jesus! Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and give thanks at the remembrance of this, his special goodness. Not unto me, not unto me, oh Lord, but unto thy sacred name Jehovah be all the glory. Even so, Amen! Indians from seven different villages attend now upon my ministry - and these of three distinct dialects - but in general understand the Oneida Language. Am sometimes obliged to make use of an interpreter for the Tuscaroras. Constantly crowded assemblies upon the Sabbath - communion day between three and four hundred. I doubt not it would afford you peculiar pleasure to see such a multitude of launy smooty souls flock to the waters, or fountain of life, seeking to be cleansed. Methinks I see the glowing of your tender Heart and the overflowing of your generous soul towards these perishing immortals. But alas! this imagination don't supply the place of Reality - and pray, why mayn't I join my feeble hands to these Indian Gentiles as wholly to neglect my brethren and kindred according to the flesh? If my poor labour should be deemed superfluous amongst those, let me turn to the many perishing immortals of the white baptized heathen - especially in the southern Colonies - and to be plain hearted, I long to take a preaching Tour there with you - if divine Providence should open the door - for which I can wait patiently. I suppose they are generally in New England so glutted with the Gospel, that some are seeking another Gospel which will go down more easy and not cloy. I must change my tone - when I turn my thoughts upon New England, the once favorite peculiar people of Heaven, such Ideas are suggested from her present state, as fill me with gloomy apprehensions and cause my very heart to ache. Have not her sons forgotten the God of their Fathers? Where are the faithful Watchmen, and where are God's Remembrancers who make mention of his Name - are they not silent? Where are those who prefer Jerusalem's prosperity to their highest joy? Have they not forgotten their first love? And here I ought to name one of her backsliding rebellious sons. I am conscious of one, who rather exists than lives. He sometimes resolves and reresolves to do better, but I fear he is still the same - such a snail like Christian can look back for months and almost years and scarcely perceive one step gained in the Road - and he who ought long ere now to have been a full grown Christian, is but a stunted dwarf, or babe in Christ. This, my dearest Brother, is not the language of real or affected Modesty, but the mournful Echo of stubborn Fact and bitter Experience. Oh how good the God we Serve! and the very God of our Father! How good, how kind the Master! But how bad, how dreadful, and lazy the Servants! Could pain now pierce the Heart of the enthroned Jesus, oh, how must it ache, to see so many barren Christians and fruitless Ministers! Aid me, aid me, my dearest Brother, by your Prayers - that I may show my Zeal for the Lord God of Hosts, that I may come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty, and that the golden Fruits of Holiness may cluster in that Soul, which hath too long been a barren Soil, and productive of weeds and trash. I can assure you, Reverend Sir, that from my inmost Soul I wish you a double portion of the Spirit, and after my poor sort pray daily for the same. And I should think myself happy, to sit a little while at your feet to learn Christ. I suppose some would be ready to stigmatize me for an Enthusiast for such language - let them in a great measure be deprived of Christian Society and dear friends - united in the dearer Bonds of the Gospel, and if such ever tasted the sweetness of the fellowship and communion of saints, then they will know the want of it, and how to prize it. Dear Mr. Dodge is with me, and comforts me much. He has a heart - but wants a tongue, in order to be a suitable auxiliary. Two or three specimens of Indian simplicity will be entertaining to your inquisitive Mind, and may evidence the power of Sovereign Grace as human Nature appears in its natural habit and walks at large undisguised by art and unrestrained by law. The following from a Tuscarora Indian, about 50 years of age - "Father, I must tell you, that three Sabbaths past, the holy word of Jesus made dreadful work in my heart, upon which I determined never to come near you any more, so as to see your face, or hear your voice - but I could not rest day nor night, there was such a sore in my heart, as I found nothing could heal, but the words of the same Jesus. therefore I came again the last Sabbath, when the word killed my old mind - and now Father I am determined to continue coming while I live. Father, this is all a new way." etc. etc. -- N.B. 'tis now eleven months since this man with his Family first came to hear me. From another Tuscarora, after giving a long account of his first awakening and religious Exercises - said as follows: "And then Father, when my old mind was killed and died, and Jesus put a new Something into my heart, my whole Soul took fast hold on the Blood of Jesus Christ, for the pardon of my sins - and my mind saw that Jesus Christ had everything that my soul needed or desired. And ever since that time I have been looking towards God. I have set no mark, when to stop. My desire is to become as holy as God's holy Angels in Heaven, and then my Heart says - ?Come Lord Jesus, welcome me home.'". From an Oneida in this place, between 40 and 50 years old - "Father, I am come to talk with you again upon the concerns of my soul. I shall say but little at present, as you are crowded with company. Father, I hope you will not be oversurprised at what I may tell you, although I wonder much myself, and I pray you won't be offended at what I am about to petition for - even I, a poor miserable creature alone (meaning in herself considered, exclusive of the life of God). I have been for several months past, seeking peace and rest to my soul. I have made trial of everything my heart could desire, but was cut off and disappointed in all - this new Birth, Jesus Christ required of Nicodemus cut off all my hopes, and I thought I must be miserable forever, all right too, (i.e., on God's part) since which I could find no way which leads to, nor gate that enters into Heaven, but Jesus Christ and the New Birth. And now all my heart rejoices in that way - all my old mind is dead, and I seem to be alive in God - all my soul desires to sit at Jesus' Table, and feed there, till he in his great mercy shall bring me to Heaven - and now this is what I beg you will consider - whether I may sit with you at Jesus' holy Table!" From another called Witough - "Father, my mind for some time past has fed much on the holy and precious words of Jesus. I have sometimes such great Discoveries of divine things and the Glory of God, that my Bodily Strength is almost gone - indeed I am sometimes ready to think my Soul and body must separate one from the other - but my Mind grows stronger and stronger. I have a great desire to encourage and exhort my Brethren at their Conference Meetings - and sometimes I want to speak in the House of God, after you have finished your Message from Jesus - but my Mind sees too much for my Body to bear up under - and after I have rested a little while and recovered bodily Strength - then my Mind don't see so much - but now I begin to think, when Jesus shall call me to speak - he will give me strength of Body to declare what my Mind sees of spiritual things and his great Glory." N.B. I have transmitted the above accounts in the simplicity of their style, and as literally as the idioms of the different languages will admit. My sheet draws to a close sooner than I expected and will require a supplement. Yours etc. S. Kirkland To the Reverend Mr. Levi Hart Supplement to the enclosed January 17th AD 1771. Reverend and Dear Sir - I have wrote you a sheet - in hopes of a half one in return - with which I shall think myself well off - esteem it as an ample retaliation - I hope you will be as particular as your precious hours will admit, respecting the state of Religion in general - how matters stand in the Controversy in regard to the qualifications of Church Members etc., and I need not say that I always expect a word respecting the times from your prophetic Mind - Are not matters ripening open for persecution? Is it not a point of wisdom for everyone to be looking out and preparing for suffering? - when it must appear who is on the Lord's side - Pray, Sir, have you read Bangor on prayer? What do you think of getting it reprinted? I forbear enlarging - only add that through Divine Mercy my family are in usual health. Mrs. Kirkland and Mr. Dodge join me in cordial love and Respect to you and your dear Spouse. Pray for us, pray for us, is the last request of him who in great Truth and esteem subscribes himself, Reverend and Honored Sir, Your ever affectionate though unworthy Brother, in the Gospel of the ever living and altogether lovely Jesus S. Kirkland . N.B. I have been 6 times interrupted in writing this Letter. Some Indians from a distance, several under Soul Concern. - Pardon the inaccuracies my hurry and confusion might betray me into. To the Reverend Mr. Hart . To Reverend Mr. Hart January 17 1771 From Reverend Samuel Kirkland to Mr. Hart
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Subjects
Indians of North America -- New York (State), Missionaries -- New York (State)
Geography
Oneida (N.Y.), Oneida County (N.Y.), New York
Abstract
News of the mission. "Oneida Indians from seven different villages attend now upon my ministry", on "Communion day between three and four hundred". Hopes to take a preaching tour in the south, to administer to "heathen" whites. Also quote 3 successful Indian converts.
Note
Description: (with supplement) Includes a transcription.
Part of
Hamilton College Library Digital Collections, Samuel Kirkland Collection
Identifier
yhm-arc-kir-014a
Use/Rights
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/