我要向你深表哀悼。我们失去了一位非常可爱、可贵的亲人。这是上帝和自然的旨意，当灵魂进入天堂的时候，躯体就要被置入黄土。或者说它是胚胎的发育期，是新生命的准备阶段。

一个人在死的那一刻才算得到真正的诞生。既然不朽的天堂诞生了一个新婴儿，他们幸福的社会里又增加了一名新的成员，我们为什么还要悲伤呢？我们都是精灵。无比仁慈智慧的上帝行善施恩，赐予我们躯体，让我们享受快乐的生活；帮助我们获取知识，让我们造福于人类。当我们的躯体无法适应这些目的——不能提供给我们快乐，反而让我们痛苦；不能给我们帮助，反而成为我们的累赘——当它们无法完成上帝当初托付的使命时，依然恩惠仁慈的上帝准备了一个办法，让我们摆脱躯体。死亡就是上帝所准备的解脱办法。我们自己有时也会明智地选择一种局部的死亡。受伤疼痛的手脚，已经无法复原，我们会心甘情愿地把它切除。要拔牙的人，也会毅然跟它分手，因为拔掉之后痛苦就会随之消失。一个人如果完全脱离躯壳，就会立刻解脱掉一切痛苦以及引起痛苦和疾病的根源。

我们的朋友和我们自己早就受到邀请去参加一次欢乐的宴会，这是一场永远不散的宴会。他的坐席早已准备好了，所以他会先我们一步而去。我们不可能都很方便地一同前往；既然不久之后我们就要随他而去，并且知道到哪里可以找到他，那我们又为什么因此伤心呢？

再见

本·富兰克林

1756年2月23日于费城

Dear Child，

I condole with you， we have lost a most dear and valuable relation， but it is the will of God and Nature that these mortal bodies be laid aside， when the soul is to enter into real life; 'tis rather an embrio state， a preparation for living; a man in not completely born until he be dead: Why then should we grieve that a new child is born among the immortals? A new member added to their happy society? We are spirits。 　

Why then should we grieve that a new child is born among the immortals? A new member added to their happy society? We are spirits。 That bodies should be lent us， while they can afford us pleasure， assist us in acquiring knowledge， or doing good to our fellow creatures， is a kind and benevolent act of God。

That bodies should be lent us， while they can afford us pleasure， assist us in acquiring knowledge， or doing good to our fellow creatures， is a kind and benevolent act of God - when they become unfit for these purposes and afford us pain instead of pleasure-instead of an aid， become an incumbrance and answer none of the intentions for which they were given， it is equally kind and benevolent that a way is provided by which we may get rid of them。 Death is that way。 We ourselves prudently choose a partial death。 In some cases a mangled painful limb， which cannot be restored， we willingly cut off。 He who plucks out a tooth， parts with it freely since the pain goes with it， and he that quits the whole body， parts at once with all pains and possibilities of pains and diseases it was liable to， or capable of making him suffer。 　

Our friend and we are invited abroad on a party of pleasure- that is to last for ever。 His chair was first ready and he is gone before us。 We could not all conveniently start together， and why should you and I be grieved at this， since we are soon to follow， and we know where to find him。 Adieu。

B。 F。