I have recd. your Letter of the 24 Ult;1 and am pleased to find you are pursuing the course you mention. Cheerfulness promotes Health, and Health promotes Cheerfulness. We are so formed, that when one part suffers, the Rest, whether corporeal or mental, are in a Degree affected by it. Hence it is the more proper that we should attend to every Indisposition, and to whatever may aggravate or prolong it. By Indulgence both Cheerfulness and Dejection will become Habits, but of very different Characters— they who neglect to cultivate the one, and resist the other, are not wise. Our Religion, however serious from its Objects and their Importance, gives no Countenance to habitual Melancholy. The Faith, Trust, Gratitude, Love and Joy which it inculcates, cannot be associated with such an Inmate.— Our Religion not only permits, but directs us to rejoice; and altho’ it does not forbid occasional Sorrow or Grief, yet it marks the Limits beyond which they are not to be indulged— Beyond those Limits they are Temptations, and are to be treated accordingly. While prudential Truths and Principles remain un-active in speculation, they are as unproductive as Gold locked up in a Misers Chest— Until used and employed, neither of them do any good. I rejoice that you not only have sound Principles, but that you bring them into practice— Virtuous Exertions are never neglected by Providence; and I am persuaded that yours will be blessed, if you persevere.—

I regret Mr. Van Schaack’s Sollicitude about the payment in question— let it be postponed, until he find it convenient to make it. His afflictions are not light, and I sympathize with him. It is not pleasant to be in Affliction nor in the Rain; and yet they are both dispensed by the same benevolent Hand—the one to produce medicine for spiritual maladies, the other to produce Supplies for animal Life. Many have said, and many will say with David, who was no Stranger to Distress “in very Faithfulness hast thou afflicted me.”—2

Nancy is in very good Spirits, and has not suffered from the late severe weather. My own Health is much as it was a Year ago, and I have Reason to be thankful that I am as well as I am— All the Family desire to be affectionately remembered to you and Sally— I am, my dear Daughter Your very affte. Father