Your pencillingsEditorial Note: This letter is not extant. came to hand Sat. Eve and To-dayCorrected:Today I reply. I would gladly give you an explanation if I could conscientiously, but I cannot. If you had understood me better, you would have known me incapable of treachery, or a dishonest business transaction.

When I proposed, as you said, to have you learn this, it was after you had said to me – "I know of no one but myself for a student here; I repliied you cannot practice, you answered, "yes, I can, and certaimly Corrected: certainly shall if you teach me" &cExpanded:et cetera No [?] Unclear or illegible w I do not doubt your sincerity,–& if you do mine I shall not place it to your account, for it is because you have not reached me, therefore "you know not what you do"Luke 23:33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Luke 23:34 ¶Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. when you write me as you do. When I arranged with you to study with Richard on the terms named, I felt that it were best for you both and dared not, when you desired bread, "give you a stone"–Matt 7:9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? or turn you away empty; therefore I arranged as I did, because I could not be there to teach you unless you procured a class.

Also, I thought and knew it would advance [?] Unclear or illegible R. more than doctoring, to teach you, for I had been teaching you all summer and you were well started &cExpanded:et cetera you had told others "you understood the principle" therefore I arranged as I did consulting the good of you both, and arranged it with a view that as [?] Unclear or illegible Dickey had assured [?] Unclear or illegible me he he should not remain to practice in AmesburyEditorial Note: Amesbury, Massachusetts, you in his absence could better preserve your own health and also heal the sick if you c [?] Unclear or illegible ould bear it or do for others as ye would that they should do by you"Matt 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Luke 6:31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

Now if you will consult R— and take my arrangemetnt out of the question — and you both desire to carry out my arrangement of your own inclinations then I bi [?] Unclear or illegible d you a God speedCorrected:Godspeed, and hope as you learn wisdom you will also learn me, and I know our friendship will then be secure.

When you enter the principle of wisdom, all envy, all rivalry, all that is not of Wisdom passes into the distance and is gone forever. Nothing could so rejoice my soul as to see any oneCorrected:anyone gaining in advance of me– this precious treasure; my trial is that my faith is too strong in belief, and not that it is not sufficient; you " ask "if I have no faith in any individual"? I [?] Unclear or illegible answer, I have very little reason to have faith in any thingCorrected:anything but wisdom ; , and my faith in them is just according to their wisdom, or to the science they understand, & not according to what they think, or believe of themselves. Often a learner becomes very learned at first, [?] Unclear or illegible  but as they know mo [?] Unclear or illegible re, learn how little they knew then. R. is making good progress; and may the blessing of wisdom be with you all