A Letter To Two Sisters In Christ – November 22nd, 1869
My dear Friends in the Lord, Mrs. Peake and Miss Morris. . . I have not yet answered our friend S.’s letter. I am very doubtful whether he can ever reap much advantage from attempting to read the New Testament in the original. It is a most difficult language to acquire to be of any value, and must be learned in youth when the memory is active and strong. If he is fond of reading and wishes to study, I would much rather recommend him to read our great and godly Puritan writers, such as Owen, Sibbes, Charnock, etc. But study even of these writings is often more apt to make a man book-learned, than feed his soul and put life into his ministry. This must have been the result of the dealings of God with his soul, a knowledge of sin and salvation, a prayerful study of the Word of truth, and a living under the teaching and testimony of the blessed Spirit. I have been, and still in good measure am, a diligent student of the Word of truth in the original languages, and a reader of the writings of godly men; but all this I have found very insufficient in the day of trial and temptation, and of very little benefit as regards the ministry. Nothing but the work and witness of the blessed Spirit, through the Word of His grace, can bring any life or feeling, power or comfort to my heart, or enable me rightly to divide the Word of truth and speak or write effectually to the hearts of God’s people. My ‘learning’ therefore, such as it is, is but of little use in seasons of affliction and trouble, to speak peace to a burdened conscience, or assure my soul of its interest in atoning blood and dying love.
I am thankful to say I am pretty well in health, but much confined to the house. Indeed I rarely get out except on the Lord’s day to chapel, which I usually do when the weather is not too cold or wet. My sons are living in London together in lodgings, and thus the younger has the benefit of the older’s instruction, and the older the younger’s company, and as they are much united in brotherly affection it adds much to the comfort of each. They generally come down here every Saturday, returning on Monday.
I have not heard much how the obituary of poor Mrs. Prentice has been received, except the two letters which I forward; but I have no doubt from my own feelings that it has made a deep impression upon many hearts. What the people of God want is reality and truth, life and power, simplicity and godly sincerity—not confused, indistinct, laudatory, “cooked” accounts—but something which speaks for itself that God was in it. It was this feature which made the account of the Wilds so acceptable, and good old Mrs. Freeman, and the same is stamped, I think, more clearly still on the words and experience of Mrs. Prentice. It may be a fulfillment of the words which were spoken to her — “What you do, do to My glory.” This may now be done in the glory brought to God by her striking account of His work upon her soul, and the letters which I insert this month.
Yours most affectionately in the truth,
J. C. P.
Jesus is LORD! 
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