Digital Paxton: Digital Collection, Critical Edition, and Teaching Platform

Letter from Matthaus Hehl to the Church Leadership, December 29, 1763 - 4

you will be in a position not only to flee such a sudden attack more quickly but also in any case as our dear Savior directs to be armored in prayer and other necessary protection. The people from Paxtown are angry enough at Bethlehem, if the Lord did not hold them on the leash. Because the suspicion and rumor of selling powder to the Indians has been dreamed up and gone out from them over the whole country.

May our dear Lord and Savior rule over us all in Grace and grant also our dear Congregations in Bethlehem and Nazareth a blessed end to the old year and much peace and blessing greeting into the new [year].  We all greet you all most heartily. Your unworthy Brother Matthäus.

P.S. After I had written this letter and read aloud and the noontime liturgy had been held, Br. Horn now relates that in the meantime an Irishman had been at his home and said that when the Irish mob will have done their bit in Philadelphia—he spoke of 400 persons—then they want to go to Bethlehem and destroy the Indian Town. There would probably be nothing for our Brethren and Sisters who live there but to retreat in good time.

[Translated by Roy Ledbetter]

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