A Letter To A Brother In Christ – March 1st, 1869
My dear Friend,
I much fear lest, if I do not send you a few lines, you will think there is some reason why I have been so long silent, beyond being prevented by my usual work. But somehow or other, I have been more than usually occupied of late, and have only just now obtained a little release. You have sometimes said that my work is like a woman’s work, ever beginning and never ending — and so I still find it, until sometimes I feel quite weary, and would be glad to lay it down, could I conscientiously do so. Every now and then also I get a testimony that my labor is not in vain in the Lord. This encourages me still to go on while it is day — for the night comes when no man can work.
Many years have rolled over our heads since we first met; and as regards myself, having had at various times so much illness, I begin to feel infirmities of advancing life, and must expect to find them more and more. Still upon the whole, I have been brought through the winter thus far, without suffering any attack of my illness; yet have been a good deal confined to the house, which I find suits me better than going out of doors when the weather is cold.
You will perceive from the date that this was written yesterday, before I received your kind letter this morning. When I saw your handwriting, I made quite sure that your letter would be to scold me for my long silence; but with your accustomed kindness and affectionate feeling, you do not take the whip in hand, as I may say I deserve. Forgive me this wrong.
I am glad to hear, for various reasons, that you are going from home for a short time, and to preach at Hastings and Brighton. The change will, I hope, be made a blessing to you, in removing that low fever which, no doubt, springs from your present damp locality; and the seaside is just the place for you. I am glad also that you are going to Hastings among Mr. Fenner’s people. Though I never knew him or them, yet I have long felt much union of spirit with them, as a people who have so long contended for the power of vital godliness. I understand they hang together very comfortably. They much wished me to go down among them after Mr. F.’s death, not so much to preach to them, but as desirous to see and converse with me face to face, knowing me so well by my writings. I hope the Lord will be with you and bless you and them together.
Poor White’s illness is a great trial to the friends at Brighton. I felt convinced, when I saw him here, from his appearance, that he was consumptive, and I have little expectation of his eventual recovery. Like many others similarly afflicted, he may ebb and flow, be sometimes better and sometimes worse—but to my mind, he is not a man long for this world. I hear a good account of his ministry, which makes it all the more trying to the people. I was thinking this morning what a trial it would be to the people here, if our dear friend Covell were laid aside from the ministry; and since I have been a hearer, I can enter more into the privation which is felt by a church and people, who are deprived of the benefit and blessing of a feeling, experimental, godly ministry, by the death or removal of their esteemed and beloved minister. I find his ministry edifying and profitable; sometimes very searching, and sometimes very encouraging. He seemed all alive last Lord’s day morning, and I think I never heard him more earnest and fervent in prayer, though I have had more feeling under it.
I shall be glad to see you and your dear wife also on Friday, as we do not often meet now, and time is passing away quickly with us. We are all, through mercy, pretty well in health, and my two boys working hard.
We unite in love to yourself and your dear wife.
Yours very affectionately,
J. C. P.
Jesus is LORD! 
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