A Letter To The Church At Oakham – October 11th, 1864
To The kind Friends who have contributed to the Testimonial presented to me by the Church and Congregation meeting at Providence Chapel, Oakham.
My dear Friends,
I accept with much thankfulness and sincere gratitude the liberal, I may indeed say noble, testimonial which you have given me of your esteem and affection. It is much beyond both my wishes and expectations; but I have long known your liberal minds, and that to your ability, and beyond your ability, you have for many years shown me similar proofs of your love. I deeply regret that I am compelled by my failing health to sever the tie which has so long bound us together. But so far as we are united by the more enduring and endearing bond of the Spirit, knitting our hearts together in mutual love and affection, distance and absence will not separate us in spirit, if they separate us in body. We shall still desire and pray for each other’s spiritual good, and meet at the throne of grace. The blessed Spirit may also sometimes bring to your mind and memory portions of the Word of God’s grace which I have for so many years preached among you; and this will remind you, not only of me, but of those days when we were accustomed together, in the house of prayer, to find the presence and power of the Lord in our midst.
Great and many have been my infirmities and deficiencies, both as a minister and as a pastor, some perhaps arising out of my weak state of health, and others from a body of sin and death. But my desire and aim have been to preach to you faithfully and experimentally the Gospel of the grace of God.
And now, friends and brethren, farewell. Accept my love in the Lord, and as we have so often met below in the earthly courts of His grace, so may we meet above in the courts of His heavenly glory.
I am, my dear Friends and Brethren, your late attached Minister and Pastor, and still your affectionate Friend and Brother,
J. C. P.
Jesus is LORD! 
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