1754 February 14 (Thursday). Lucy rode with Ebenezers Wife to See Mrs. Martyn[1] and Mrs. Molly her Daughter who, we hear, are not well yet. Lucy brings me at Evening a most bitter Letter from my Brother Martyn, full of Misrepresentations and hard Reflections. God grant him to See his Errors and retract them! But Darts foreseen may be better warded off. I confess I have been full of fears Time would come when our Peace would be broke up. I was early premonish’d what I might Expect from him; and have all along been watchfull and upon my Guard — and have been very far from Willingly giving the least Ground of Offence. Have always defended him when I have heard any Word to his Disparagement, and been ready always to give him a good Character; or oblige him in any Thing in the World that lay in my Power, or any of his: and would Still Serve him with my whole Heart. I therefore look upon this as a sore Frown of Heaven: and do beg of God to Sanctifie it to me; and Since it bodes exceeding ill with regard to the Interest of Religion among us, I would heartily mourn and grieve for it. May God avert the Omen! These Things came upon me a little the more heavily because I had in the Day preceeding receiv’d an undesirable Letter from Mr. Abraham Smith of Brookfield, in which he tells me he shall come down with his Family the beginning of next Week if he does not hear from me and it contains also some Threatenings. I went over presently to Ebenezer p.m. but he was gone to help Mr. Daniel Maynard drive to Marlborough the Cattle he had bought of my Son (the Oxen I gave him) for 75£ old Tenor — but Ebenezer Came over in the Evening. I visited old Mrs. Rogers who is sick.
[1]Wife of the Reverend John Martyn of Northborough.