Letter from William Reid to John Muir, 1858 Jul

July 1868 My Dear Friend John I received your kind letter and was glad to see it on account of not getting the from you for sometime and also that you have so far recovered as to be able to write one, which gave me much pleasure in reading it, We are all well here at present which is a great blessing, and we may be thankful to giver of life and health that we are not on beds of sickness and languishing and while others are droping away around us we are yet the spared monuments of his glory, but we don\u27t know what a day or an hour may bring forth, death comes to men of this world in various ways, some will see him along way of coming riding along on his pale horse, slowly he comes on till he reaches the gate he then slowly dismounts from his horse and ties him to the post, opens the gate and goes through shuts the gate after him, slowly he bends his steps toward the house, opens the door, shuts it, [winds?] his way to sick Chamber, takes a seat sit down converses with his victim, and radically and by slow degrees takes him away at other times he comes [illegible] [illegible] rushes in at the back door [illegible] [illegible] his victim and takes him in an [instant without any?] warning we do not know when [illegible] shall be called away, for the son of man comes as a thief in the night, therefore it is our duty to be diligent in watching and prayer so that when he comes [illegible] 00235cock crowing, or in the morning, we can bid him enter as a welcome guest, and go with him and leave this world of affliction and our souls be carried to that world above where pleasure banish pain, what a blessed exchange from a world of troubles and trials to a world of happiness and peace, to dwell in those bright realms above with all the [illegible] of the Lord, and to sing hallelujahs to him that sits upon the throne, for evermore, Oh, that we may reach that happy land, where all rest in the bosom of Gods where all behold the Redeemer\u27s face, where all are singing that wondrous , new song which fills heaven with joy, and eternity with undying melody as it ascends in peaking notes from the mansions of Glory, unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood and hath made us kings and priests unto God, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. we have only a short time here on earth to live , therefore let us be patient in well doing, having our eyes fixed on the prize, leaning on that right arm that is able to uphold us and keep us from falling relying on the merits of a dying Saviour for we have nothing of our own to make us [illegible] heaven, we are sinful creatures, our hearts are prone to wander from the God that made us, and to go into by and [forbidden?] paths, it is our duty then to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead and guid us in the ways of all truth, to lead us in that narrow way that lead to everlasting life and to point us to Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world, dear John I hope this will find in good health, I must bid goodby for the present, from your friend write soon [Reid?] paths, it is our duty then to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead and guid us in the ways of all truth, to lead us in that narrow way that lead to everlasting life and to point us to Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world, dear John I hope this will find in good health, I must bid goodby for the present, from your friend write soon [Reid? Willia