Newburyport, April 23, 1842.
Sat. morn.My dear Brother,
I was exceedingly glad of your letter of the 10th, which I received at noon on the 20th. Your statement of the change in Maria's symptoms was just what I wanted to know. How rapidly this dear child is hastening to the world of spirits. May she not die, before she has by faith seen the Savior, & so believed in him, as to have the comfort of hope; & a consciousness of love to him, which shall preclude all distressing fear.
I am very anxious to hear from you again; & I hope in your next letter, you will, as before, give me all the particulars you can, respecting the state of her disease, & the state of her mind. Every item is valuable to me.
How does Mrs. Pettibone & you get along with your increased care & solicitude? Who is with you now? & who has been since I left?
I hope you both have the sustaining, the sanctifying, & the comforting influences of the Holy Spirit. I suppose our Savior's promise, Ask & ye shall receive, seek & ye shall find, knock & it shall be opened, had specific & exclusive reference to the gift of the Holy Spirit. That this is the blessing promised seems apparent from the connexion [sic] of Luke 11:13 with the four preceeding verses. What our Savior denominated good things in Mat 7:11, seems to be more definitely expressed by the term, Holy Spirit, in Luke 11:13.
This greatest of blessings to a redeemed sinner, is doubtless the only one that would be promised on this condition; for all this, the sinner might abuse to his own injury. But this new creates, sanctifies, & makes meet for heaven.
Shall we not seek to obtain this blessing on the terms on which it is promised?
Is dear Maria still able to hear you read? If so, will you read to her these few verses. Give her my best love, & tell her I highly value the opportunity I have enjoyed, in spending so much time with her, since she has been sick.
My tender sympathies are with her. I look to our great High Priest to grant her mercy, & give her grace in this time of need.
On my return, I spent Wednesday & Thursday night in Hartford, & Friday night in Westboro. On reaching home Saturday evening, I found our family well, & happy to see me.
My love to Mrs. Pettibone, & to my other friends in Norfolk. Do not fail to write me early next week at any rate; & whenever there shall be a great change, give me the earliest possible notice.
With deep sympathy, & sisterly affection, yours,
[Different handwriting]
Mr. Pettibone,
[...] By permission of my wife I occupy this page to express to you my tender regards, & my sincere & lively sympathy in the severe trials our heavenly Father has subjected you to, in witnessing your dear, only daughter sinking gradually, yet rapidly to the silent grave. The very partial acquaintance I was permitted to form with Maria enlisted my feelings strongly in her favor. I made one wish I hope that the acquaintance might be cultivated & become more intimate by some future visits & residence with us, here, at Newburyport. My feelings, therefore, in this melancholy disappointment, are something more than sympathy; I feel a personal loss: which is yet almost forgotten, in the consideration of yours. But, you, happily, know the source of con[...]ion & support; & I assure you that I constantly, & earnestly, bear you, & your wife, & your daughter, in my heart, to that only sufficient fountain for pardon & peace to her departing spirit, & for submission, [...], & healing, to your wounded spirits.
Believe me, with such esteem, respect, & sympathy,
Yr. friend & obt. servt [obedient servant]
W.B.Banister
With kindest love to Maria, & tell her she is affectionately, & [...]ly remembered by [...]
And please give my respect to Mrs. P-.
[Zilpah P.G. Banister writes this letter to Pettibone to inquire about the health of her niece Maria Nancy Pettibone (1814-1842). Maria Pettibone died the day before this letter was written - on 22 April 1842.]