S. J. Wild, Letter, , Adams Co., IL, to JS, , Hancock Co., IL, 30 Apr. 1843; handwriting of S. J. Wild; notations in handwriting of and ; docket in handwriting of ; three pages; JS Collection, CHL.
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April [blank] 1843
Dear Sir/
Knowing you to be a great Reformer & having observed that you have established in your society many excellent moral precepts— I have for a long time wished to see you to converese with you on a subject which has for several years exercised my mind & seems to be increasing in interest to me— to ask your opinion & advice thereon, as I do not see any chance of seeing you soon & talking personally with you in <I> have taken the liberty of Writing to you, & I hope you will not be offended thereat but will deign to write me a candid answer to my inquiries as the subject seems to me to be of vast importance & on which I believe the durability of republicanism depends. Jesus christ says Unless a man is born of Water & the Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven This is called regeneration— or a birth unto Righteousness— the means by Which men are to be fitted for Virtue & Glory— Which fitting is commenced as soon as the person is operated upon by the joint influences of the Water & the Spirit— or vice versa— & as Christ the great pattern for us— receved the Holy spirit through the medium of his Baptismal washing & prayer as a means the question is weather we do not need Continually to receive fresh supplies of the Holy spirit <by Physical energies of body> by repeatedly washing & praying by which means holy Inclinations & energy of Body is procured— a much better stimulant than spirits Coffee tobacco &c &c & by which means Temperance & the other virtues are all promoted It appears to me that the repetition of Baptismal washings in your society is leading to this practice of often purifying the Body by Water, & another question is is either men ought not to be taught to pray & [p. [1]]