A Letter To Thomas Godwin – November 19th, 1868
My dear Friend, Thomas Godwin,
I have often thought what a mercy it is that the people of God are not dependent upon one another for the supplies of grace whereby they live unto God. The ministry is useful, the conversation of friends is useful, correspondence by letter on the precious things of God is often useful, and from each and all of these we have derived or communicated profit. But how soon these cisterns may become dry, and indeed, unless supplied immediately from the Lord Himself, all the water contained in them is soon dried up and gone.
What a mercy then it is for our souls that there is a most gracious Lord, in whom it has pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell, that we might receive of His fullness, and grace for grace! How blessedly suitable He is to every want and woe, and how the poor soul is ever looking unto, longing after, hanging upon, and cleaving to Him as all its salvation and all its desire. Friends live apart, those whom we have known and loved are taken home, there are few opportunities for union and communion among Christian friends; but the Lord is ever near, ready of access by night and by day, full of pity and compassion to poor sin-sick souls, and able to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by Him. He never disappoints any who trust in Him, is more willing to hear than we to pray, and more willing to give than we to ask. The great, the only real grief of the soul is, that it should sin against Him, be denied His presence, not get a word from His lips, a smile from His face, or a touch from His hand.
We, my dear friend, are fast traveling down the valley of life; our lease will soon be run out, and after that, every year is beyond Scriptural limit of the appointed life of man. My desire is that my last days may be my best days, and I much dread sinking down into carnality and death. I have many things to try my mind; indeed some things, I may say many things, which try me most I have never named, and probably shall never name to any living soul. Every heart knows its own bitterness, and the wormwood and the gall which lie at the bottom of the heart do not always or often come to light; and yet it is felt that nothing but a word from the Lord can purge them out or sweeten them.
But I have proved this, that trials and exercises of body and mind keep the soul alive unto God, and thus I hope I have reason to bless Him, among other mercies, that He is pleased to keep my soul more or less alive unto Himself, and that chiefly through circumstances which in themselves are painful and distressing. Among the wonderful mysteries of the kingdom of God, this is not the least the way in which He makes even those very sins which cause shame and sorrow to work together for our spiritual good. It is a wonderful thing to be a Christian, and the longer I live, the more I see how few there are, and what little real grace the very best Christians possess or manifest. In this life it is as it were the bud; the full fruit is reserved for a state of glory.
Yours very affectionately in the truth,
J. C. P.
Jesus is LORD! 
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