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The Philander Chase letters were written in the 18th and 19th century and therefore may contain language that we understand today as harmful or offensive. You may encounter paternalist descriptions of Native Americans, racial slurs, or sexism. For more information, see our policy page.
Description
Chase instructs his granddaughter Mary on how to be a good child in Christ.
Date
5-12-1829
Keywords
Mary Oliva Chase, grandchild
Recommended Citation
Chase, Philander, "Letter to Mary Olivia Chase" (1829). Philander Chase Letters. 790.
https://digital.kenyon.edu/chase_letters/790
Rights Statement
Transcript
Wheeling 12 May 1829
My dear Grand Daughter Mary.
I have been writing [to] all my children; and why shou[ld] I not write to you? You are my child: the daughter of my [most] beloved Son now in Heaven. O how I wish that you could so live & believe in our Saviour as [he] did that when you die you [might] go dwell with God & good angels as he has done!
Now dear Mary: be a good child by obeying your Mother & Father & grand parents & by seeing our own faults and asking forgiveness of them. Be a good child by forgiving all who offend you; by being gentle & kind to all; and by learning your book at proper times; working at proper times and saying your prayers at proper times. And when you do say your prayers mind that you mean & feel what you say: If this be a difficult thing (as it always is to a person who has not as yet felt the powers of Religion) then beg God to give you a right frame of mind: beg him for Christ’s sake to “make you a clean heart and renew a right spirit within you.” Remember that sin is like the bite of a mad dog: it will not only bring you to death in the end if you are not cured of it by the Blood & spirit of Christ, but indisposes you to the means of your cure: It makes you hate both the physician and the medicine, which God hath appointed to make you well. The first thing, then, is to get a right mind -- a disposition; a will; a desire to love God & keep his command[ments] and then all will be safe. Pray, then, that God would change your heart and give you holy & good desires; and He will hear you; & grant your request; and then all will be well. You will have no [wishes] to be wicked & spend your time in vanity & sin. Give my love to your Mother
Your loving GFather P. Chase