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44 to hannah fayerweather tolman winthrop Plymouth May 24th 1779 What a poor creature and, to take up my pen with a view of giving consolation to my afflicted friend, when I have so little fortitude, that I cannot suppress the rising tear, when the Partner of my cares has just left me with the hope of returning in a few days. Peace every restless thought, and hush in silence the involuntary sigh!1 Thankfully adore the hand that spares and trembles lest he deprive thee also of a blessing like to that which thy friend [??], and in the anguish of her soul almost refuses to be comforted! If we could consider things more abstractedly, and rejoice in the felicity of those we love and wait for a participation of their happiness,—how quietly should we rest assured that the several designations of heaven, ever just, good, and perfect. Yet social Beings, secluded from the converse of friendly minds, is an idea painful indeed and when in that friend we lose not only the pleasure of society, but the benefit of instruction and the lessons that lead to higher enjoyments, how tasteless is life, how dreary the world! Yet this may be the circumstance necessary to lead us off, and without this temporary separation , we might not be well prepared for more durable happiness. I am so far from cultivating that system of Stoicism in which some glory. There is a tribute of tears due to the worthy, if we have the example of a compassionate Saviour weeping over the Manes of a Friend; and as through this Saviour we have assurance of the resurrection of the dead, Oh! That we could learn with him to say (however embittered) “the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink!”2 If it was possible my dear Friend, I do not wish you to forget your loss, but moderate your grief. Let us consider the memorable and great name of our excellent Friend, as past beyond the short date of human life into the annals and veneration of Posterity. I cannot but look up to him now as a good and wise being, far above us, who casts an eye of pity on mortals, who as seeing only one part of their existence are ready to sink under calamities while the little part we survey bears a less proportion to the whole than an atom to a world. You have a little more to do perhaps a little more to suffer e’er your kindred mind will be wafted to those airy regions which your philosophic and pious partner so often explored before he took possession. It is no wonder to hannah tolman winthrop, may 1779  113 that a soul should calmly quit its clay tenement, that had so frequently been in heaven, and surveyed the starry firmament, as but one of the astonishing works of its Creator. I could say a thousand things of Dr Winthrop, yet the encomiums would be short of his character;—with pleasure I might long dwell on his virtues;—yet to one painful circumstances I must advert, which every one who esteemed him does not feel, that in him I have lost a Friend: “A Friend in purchase for a world is gain.”—How many very valuable ones have we deposited in the darksome tomb!—Yet we cling to the world, and are sometimes ready to grasp it as an adequate portion for a rational Soul. May you, may I my dear Madam, make a proper estimate of life through all its varieties. As we have risen superior to many others in the felicity of a happy connexion, and lived in a style of enjoyment to which the multitude are strangers, so must the reversive[?] scene be attended with proportionate poignancy, unless we can learn in season, “Till time appears a moment as it is— “And thus Eternity’s full orb at once, “Turn on the Soul and strike it into Heaven”3 More[?] may we meet and meet those who beckoned us thither when they closed their eyes on mortality. You will not forget my tender love to Lucretia and all due regard to the Sons of my venerated Friend. When Mr Warren returns again to Boston, if well, I shall inform[?] him, after which I shall insist on a visit to your unalterable & affect Friend M Warren mwp1 1. Hannah’s husband, John Winthrop, died on May 3, 1779...

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