Jail, Charlestown, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 1859.
The Rev. Mcfarland.
Dear Friend, —
Although you write to me as a stranger, the spirit you show towards me and the
cause for which I am in bonds makes me feel towards you as a dear friend. I
would be glad to have you or any of my liberty-loving ministerial friends here,
to talk and pray with me. I am not a stranger to the way of salvation by Christ.
From my youth I have studied much on that subject, and at one time hoped to be
a minister myself; but God had another work for me to do. To me it is given, in
behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.
But while I trust that I have some experimental and saving knowledge of
religion, it would be a great pleasure to me to have some one better qualified
than myself to lead my mind in prayer and meditation, now that my time is so
near a close. You may wonder, are there no ministers of the gospel here? I
answer, no. There are no ministers of Christ here. These ministers who profess
to be Christian, and hold slaves or advocate slavery, I cannot abide them. My
knees will not bend in prayer with them, while their hands are stained with the
blood of souls. The subject you mention as having been preaching on the day
before you wrote to me is one which I have often thought of since my
imprisonment. I think I feel as happy as Paul did when he lay in prison. He
knew if they killed him, it would greatly advance the cause of Christ; that was
the reason he rejoiced so. On that same ground “I do rejoice, yea, and will
rejoice.” Let them hang me; I forgive
them, and may God forgive them, for they know not what they do. I have no
regret for the transaction for which I am condemned. I went against the laws of
men, it is true, but “whether it be right to obey God or men, judge ye.” Christ
told me to remember them that were in bonds as bound with them, to do towards
them as I would wish them to do towards me in similar circumstances. My
conscience bade me do that. I tried to do it, but failed. Therefore I have no
regret on that score. I have no sorrow either as to the result, only for my
poor wife and children. They have suffered much, and it is hard to leave them
uncared for. But God will be a husband to the widow and a father to the
fatherless.
I have frequently been in Wooster, and if any of my old
friends from about Akron are there, you can show them this letter. I have but a
few more days, and I feel anxious to be away “where the wicked cease from
troubling, and the weary are at rest.” Farewell.
Your friend, and the
friend of all friends of liberty,
John Brown.
SOURCES: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters
of John Brown, p. 598-9
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