A Letter To Mr Blake – January 23rd, 1865
Dear Friend in the Lord, Mr. Blake,
I was much pleased with your experimental letter, and would be glad at some future opportunity to put it into The Gospel Standard, if not in the body, which being limited is much taken up, on the wrapper. It is indeed many years since you passed through the things which you have mentioned, and yet living experience is always fresh; there is something ever new in it, and this makes it refreshing to the saints of God. It is a mercy when the Lord keeps reviving His own work upon the soul, and does not allow it to sink down into coldness, carnality, and deathliness. I have known those who many years ago seemed from their own account, to have had a true and gracious experience of the things of God in their own soul; and yet, as years advance and age creeps on, appear to lose all its sweet savour, and to differ little from the dead professors of the day. And I believe this will be always the case, unless they are well exercised with trials and afflictions, and corresponding mercies, so as to keep their souls alive and lively. It is a sad thing to be allowed to drop into a cold dead state; especially if a man stands up in the name of the Lord to preach to saints and sinners. If he be cold and lifeless in his own soul, how can he instrumentally communicate life and warmth to the souls of others? And again, how is our inward life to be maintained but by prayer, meditation, reading the Scriptures and the writings of good men, and all connected with inward exercise through affliction and temptation? But how good is it of the Lord, of His own free and sovereign grace, of His own pure mercy and eternal love, to revive His work upon the heart. It is this which gives us submission to His holy will, resignation to His afflictive dispensations, and a sensible feeling that there is nothing worth desiring, nothing worth living and dying for, but the enjoyment of His favour and love.
Wishing you every enjoyment of the Lord’s goodness and mercy, such as you have felt in times past, I am, dear Friend,
Yours affectionately in the truth,
J. C. P.
Jesus is LORD! 
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