Clinton Missi. Novr. 7th. I844
My Dear Sister Eliza & Bro. John
I received your kind letter of
17th Sept. a few days since at which I was much gratified. You inform
me Sister of the death of your Father_i Claw. Death under any
circumstances is an aweful thing, but" The good man never dies" It is
true our bodies must die through the transgression of the first Adam,
but he, ho through faith in the Second Adam, who is the Lord from
Heaven, overcomes the world shall live for ever, I am glad you sent
me the address of Br. & Sister Dickey & Sister Jane. You say Jane is in
Chiego in Illinois. I think Jane or yourself has misspelled the name,
there is a flourishing place in Illinois called Chicago situated on
Lake Michigan, which I take to be the place, it is what might be called
a new place recently sprung into existence, but it is an eligible point
& I have no doubt a place of considerable business. I sincerely trust
Sister Jane may find it a place to suit her. I intend writing to Br. &
Sister Dickey & her also. I know much less about the localities of
places in the Canadas, than in the U. States & as I do not find Blanchard
laid down in the maps that I have, I cannot tell much about it, only
those who have been through that Section of Canada speak highly of it.
I recvd. but a short time since Dr. Cordner's letter to the Post Master
of this place, but as I hopedmy letter to Br. Robt. would reach him in
time to satisfy you that I was still able to wrote I did not write
immediately, & now that I have recvd. yours I know from /that your
anxiety has been removed; My health has been & little improving during
the past summer tho
2.
I am still confined to Bed. I am however often able to walk through the
room & take a little exercise but my ability to do so is not great,
but my Dear Sister I cannot sufficiently express my thankfulness to
the Almighty for the present ease & quiet of body which I now feel
compared with the long & deep affliction which I have passed; tho'
bodily suffering is to be depreciated,yet in my own case I can say that
my spiritual enjoyment has been much greater when suffering under
severe bodily affliction, When my health is better I feel much of
coldness in devotion, & a disposition to lean on self, in place of
relying alone & continually on Christ, for it is he alone who can keep
us in the way even after we have started therein, indeed none can truly
follow Christ unless they have learned to deny themselves in little
things, as well as great things, & unless we keep on all the gospel
armor how can we expect to win the crown seeing we live continually
in the midst of an enemy's country, We must never forget "the life of
man is a warfare upon earth," Alas, Alas how many make a good start in
the narrow way1 ofiTife & fight nobly in the Cause of Christ, but by &
by
they fall off, The way gets too narrow for them, they lay down
their arms, join in with the world, and thus inflict a wound on their
Master in the house of his friends; & now my Sister what am I more than
others that I should consider myself safe, I trust you will heartily
join me in praying "Lord deliver us from all evil." My head is still
& good deal distressed by writing, it feels at present a good deal so.
I hope in scanning my letter you will make allowance for my lying
position as I write in bed as well as the condition of my head; in fact
I believe were it not that
