Works of the late Doctor Benjamin Franklin/On the Death of his Brother, Mr. John Franklin
ON THE DEATH OF HIS BROTHER.
Mr. JOHN FRANKLIN.
TO MISS HUBBARD.
I CONDOLE with you. We have loſt a moſt dear and valuable relation. But it is the will of God and nature, that theſe mortal bodies be laid aſide, when the ſoul is to enter into real life. This is rather an embryo ſtate, a preparation for living. A man is not completely born until he be dead. Why then ſhould we grieve that a new child is born among the immortals, a new member added to their happy ſociety? We are ſpirits. That bodies ſhould be lent us, while they can afford us pleaſure, aſſiſt us in acquiring knowledge, or doing good to our fellow-creatures, is a kind and benevolent act of God. When they become unfit for theſe purpoſes, and afford us pain inſtead of pleaſure, inſtead of an aid become an incumbrance, and anſwer none of the intentions for which they were given, it is equally kind and benevolent that a way is provided by which we may get rid of them. Death is that way. We ourſelves, in ſome caſes, prudently chooſe a partial death. A mangled painful limb, which cannot be reſtored, we willingly cut off. He who plucks out a, tooth, parts with it freely, ſince the pain goes with it: and he who quits the whole body, parts at once with all pains, and poſſibilities of pains and diſeaſes, it was liable to, or capable of making him ſuffer.
Our friend and we were invited abroad on a party of pleaſure, which is to laſt for ever. His chair was ready firſt; and he is gone before us. We could not all conveniently ſtart together: and why ſhould you and I be grieved at this, ſince we are ſoon to follow, and know where to find him?
Adieu,