Letter from Daniel Muir [Father] to [John Muir], 1878 Apr 9.

My address:Corner of Queen and Robinson streets,Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.April 9th, 1878.My beloved son in Jesus I hope:I would have written to you sooner had I known your address. I am glad to say I am enjoying the best of health, for which I am very thankful to God and hope by the grace of God I shall spend it all to the glory of him who gave it. The Lord has removed out of the way everything in this life that was a hindrance to my perfect union with himself, either while in this life or in that which is to come. Though of myself I be nothing but sinful dust and ashes, I am everything good in Jesus Christ, my ever blessed saviour who lived and died for me. Throughout the last eight months of my life he hath done great things for me, and by me for others. He hath poured out upon me his holy spirit and hath made me very happy.Dear John, what a blessing it is to have the whole God-head living in us as a burning fire of deepest loving charity, begetting in us the warmest love and to our neighbour as ourselves that charity which beareth all things, hopeth all things, and which never faileth -- yea everlasting life. Think, dear John, of the shortness of time and the length of Eternity - what would you not do today for the promotion of God\u27s glory through Grace if you knew that it was to be the last day of your life in this world. You are God\u27s property, soul and body and substance -- give those powers up to their owner. Take all your ideas of right and wrong from the Holy word of God. Let God be true and every man a liar. Look upon your own body of flesh and the world also as your two greatest enemies next to the serpent himself, and if you are not dead to all of them and alive to God only, thou shalt die. You have nothing to fear from those enemies, for Christ Jesus hath conquered them for ever. Only believe in the Lord Jesus Christ,and thou shalt be saved and follow the Holy Spirit which he will give you, and his spirit of grace shall lead you into all truth and righteousness through life and into glory after.I should like better to be in my happy home in heaven than be here were it not that should like to be here on the battlefield with Jesus my leader for a little time, though it is to suffer with him from a lying, deceitful enemy who are all laying traps to catch weak sheep and lambs of the flock of Jesus. The Lord has given me about 60 patients in the Hospital here. I visit them twice a week. They number about 60 in number, and at the Boys, Home there are 86 in number. I visit them once a week. We have also a large market 3 times a week, and I converse with and give tracts to as many as have time to converse with me. The Spirit of God doth all his work in supplying me with matter which none can gainsay or resist, and I could get plenty of work more if I had time and strength to do it. The harvest is plenteous, but the spiritually minded labourers are few. I want to give God all the glory, for without the Spirit of God I nothing good can do.My dear son, seeing our nothingness and depending Upon God for the power of his grace, it requires us to pray without ceasing and in everything give thanks to God the Father, son, and Holy Ghost. My dear John, I may never see you nor speak to you again, but believe me ever yours in Jesus Christ,Very truly and lovingly,Daniel MuirPlease write me soon, for I want to hear about your spiritual state. I have written to all your brothers and sisters. I believe in non-sectarianism. I believe Christ to be the Head and Believers the Body of His Church. D.M.Without the spirit of Christ we are none of his. Faith that worketh by love. I believe all believers are Christ\u27s body who are sealed with his spirit