LETTER OF RICHARD SHAKLETON, TO HIS DAUGHTER MARY
Thirtieth of Seventh Month, 1776
Philadelphia: The Tract Association of Friends, Number 1.
This Document is on The Quaker Writings Home Page.
"Be thou careful my beloved Mary to centre deep in humility and abasement of self; it is the tree
which takes deep root downwards that is most likely to stand against the storm. This is the
springtime of thy life; may thy tender, innocent heart be open to receive the precious seed, which
I trust the great and good Husbandman will condescend, and has condescended, to sow therein;
may He also be pleased to water it with visitations of love, immediately and instrumentally; may
He gaurd and protect it from every noxious thing! Thou seest how thy elder sisters have made
choice of religion, as their principle treasure. Be thou also a wise child; and whatever natural
abilities it may please the great Creator to endow thee with, or whatever acquisitions or
improvements thou mayst make of those natural gifts, by contemplation, reading, or converse,
thou art only acceptable in the sight of Heaven, (however man may estimate thee,) as thou takest
heed to the grace in thy own heart, to be restrained by its restraints, to do nothing contrary to its
gentle remonstrances, and to obey, in humility and simplicity, its leadings and requirings. My dear
child, above all things, be humble, be humble. Humility goes before honor; it is the humble
whom the Lord teaches of his ways. We have in each of us a certain something, appertaining to
self, (it is of the flesh,) which proftiteth nothing in the work of religion. This fleshy part is
pleased and nourished, and swells with the praise and commendation of fools; for wise men
would not puff up, and we have need of frequent retirement to the gift, the grace in our minds,
that in the tranquil, cool hour of the day, not inflated by vain knowledge, or perturbed by passion,
we may, in the stillness of all flesh, hear what this Monitor, this good Spirit, this faithful Witness,
says to our states. Perhaps when figuratively speaking, all men speak well of us, this heavenly,
sure, unerring word of prophecy, which preaches to our own particular states, as individuals, will
condemn or reprove us. This is what we are to go by, and to judge and estimate ourselves by;
and not by the crude, superficial, hasty, partial judgment of capricious mortals whose favor veers
about like the wind. My mind is often exercised in behalf of my children. You are the children of
many prayers. You have hitherto been a great comfort to your dear mother and me, and we have
no greater joy than to seek your walk in the Truth. It is neither in our will, nor in our power, to
do great things as to this world for you. We are not like many others who have large possessions
and lucrative business. Providence, in the wise distribution of his favors, has allotted us a lower
rank in life; yet, with industry, care, and prudent economy, he has enabled us to procure a
sufficiency. And indeed a great redundance is not desirable; the lip of truth has pronounced how
hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom. A little sufficiency of the things of this life,
enjoyed in moderation, and under a renewed sense of the Divine blessing, is all that I think we
should wish for, and when obtained, should be cause of deep, and humble, and fervent gratitude
to our great Benefactor.
"Thy truly affectionate father,
"R.S."