The Andrew Wylie Family Letters - Indiana University Bloomington

who have gone before us, with whom we shall enjoy thenceforth a blissful & eternal existence, in
our society, without a pain, sorrow, anxie ty, or any such thing.
But why should I thus attempt, as it were, to give a lesson to you on a subject which your
meditations for years have made familiar to your hearts. I do not, but for my own sake, and that
of my dear Carry who writes with me in it all we wish to have the consciousness that whilst your
eyes peruse these lines, the same sentiments thoughts & hopes, inspire us together.
Carry’s health is improving slowly, and we feel a strong confidence that after a time she
will have regained her former excellent health. Little Andrew within a few days has learned all
his letters. On Christmas his Aunty, as he calls Mrs. Lathrop, gave him a set of letters on blocks,
each one with an appropriate illustration. This made learning his alphabet an amusement, and he
had learned the whole before either his mother or I had any suspicion of his progress. He is very
quick and inquisitive, and we intend to put no tasks upon him, at any rate for a number of years
yet.
How is John, where is he, and what is he doing? I have heard nothing, in detail, with
reference to him in a long time now. I am anxious to learn whether he is yet settled down: and if
so, where, and what are his prospects. How glad should Carry & I be to see you all again, taking
our little Andrew along. But we cannot go till her health is restored. May we not hope to see you
here next spring or summer? That would not be to see you all, but it would be the next greatest
pleasure to that. Our love to all the family & Mary & Mr Dodds.
Your affectionate son
Andrew
Theodorus William John Wylie to Andrew Wylie, Bloomington
Philada. Jan. 13 th . 1851.
My very dear Dr. Wylie:
On last Saturday we received information of the painful bereavement you have lately
suffered in the removal of our cousin Samuel. We had heard from Theophilus of his severe
illness, but had cherished the hope that he would recover. This hope has been disappointed: he
has gone “the way whence he shall not return.”
We all sincerely sympathize with you, & Mrs. Wylie, & the rest of the family, in your
severe affliction, and father has desired me to write to you to assure you of our heartfelt sorrow, &
to express our affectionate condolence. We would regret indeed to open up again the fountains of
your grief, but we would desire to bear with you the heavy burden which divine Providence has
laid upon you.
There is something mysterious in the administrations of the Almighty’s government, when
we find one just entering upon a career of usefulness & honor, so suddenly cut down. In such
cases it often happens that human reason & feeling find it diffi cult to say, “He doeth all things
well.” Yet even human reason must perceive that “the Judge of all the earth will do right,” &
we feel that our Father in heaven cannot inflict pain upon us, without some kind, & holy, & wise
design: we know that “He doth not afflict willingly or grieve the children of men; it is not for his
pleasure, but for their profit, that they may be partaken of his holiness.” What we know not now,
we may know hereafter,” and the disclosures of eternity will doubtless show us that even the most
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painful events which have befallen us, have been for our benefit, that “all things do work together
for good, to those who love God, and who are the called according to his purpose.”
No doubt such afflictions are necessary for us. We need to learn more the divine
Sovereignty, which it is so easy to admit in Theory, while, alas, perhaps we are often so reluctant
to yield to it when it comes in collision with our own preferences. Yet God is God just so far as
He is Sovereign, and we are really denying God, in so far as we deny his Sovereignty. He has a
right to do, and he will, do what he pleases, while we rejoice that he never can do anything which
is not just & good.
Then, too, we need to be drawn off from the World. It is strange that we think of it so
much, & cling to it so strongly, & trust in it for happiness so constantly, when in any instant we
may be obliged to leave it, and when certainly the time must come sooner or later that it can do
nothing for us. It’s inadequacy to supply what is necessary for our happiness is shown by such
afflictions, and we are thus led to feel that “this is not our rest:” that our souls need something
more & better than all the world could give us, something that the world can never take away
from us.
And besides all this what a tendency such bereavements have to draw our hearts towards
heaven. In the consolatory belief that our departed friends or relatives have “gone to be with
Christ,” “We may sorrow not as those who have no hope, since those who sleep in Jesus God will
bring with Him at His coming.” Death is divested of much of its painfulness when we consider
that it will reunite us to those whom we have dearly loved. Heaven possesses increased attractions
when we regard it as the abode of those for whom we have had the strongest affection. We have
more treasure in heaven, & our hearts will be more there also. The other worlds will seem more
like home to us, than this does.
But dear Dr. Wylie, I almost feel as if I should not send a letter which merely expresses
thoughts which have been already much more clearly before your mind. Yet if any of us had been
present with you, while we were mingling our tears with yours, we would have been naturally led
to such reflections, and we know
that we are directed to “comfort one another with such words.” At least you will accept of them as
an expression of our sincere love & regard for you all.
Please present our kindest sympathies to Mrs. W. & all the family.
Hoping that He who is “the Father of mercies & the God of
all comfort, may comfort you in all of your tribulation,”
I am with great affection & esteem
Truly yours,
T. W. J. Wylie
Rev. Dr. Wylie.
Bloomington. Ind.
Andrew Wylie to John H. Wylie, Richmond, Indiana
Bloom.n 19 th Jan. 1851
Dear Son:
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