A Letter To A Friend – May 14th, 1864
Dear Friend,
You may perhaps have heard that it has pleased the Lord to lay upon me His afflicting hand, so that for the last three months I have been quite ill from an attack of bronchitis. I trust however, with the blessing of God, I am gradually recovering, and have come here by the advice of my medical attendant for change of air.
It has been a trial to me, and to my people also, to be laid aside from the work of the ministry, especially as I have found such great difficulty in procuring acceptable Supplies. We cannot choose our own crosses, and generally speaking they are laid upon us where and when we feel them most. But they are as indispensable as blessings, and indeed are closely connected; for it is the trial that makes the blessing sweet.
I am glad to find that you can sing just now in the heights of Zion. The time has been when you were in the valley, and when you thought there was no mercy for a wretch like you. But the Lord’s thoughts were not your thoughts, nor His ways your ways; for He has said—”As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:9).
We all have our trials; you have yours and I have mine, though in some respects they are similar, from weakness of body and trials of mind, both privately and ministerially. Nothing can reconcile us unto them but the power of God, and the persuasion that our trials and afflictions are working together for our own spiritual good. They have a voice, if we have but ears to hear; and they say—”Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth; for you are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:2, 3).
I am sorry to say that the health of Mr. Tiptaft does not improve so much as his numerous friends could desire, if it were the will of God; and yet I do not think that he is very much worse. But as regards his voice I see no improvement, nor any prospect of it, though we know that with the Lord all things are possible. For many months he has not been able to speak beyond a whisper. He does not suffer much pain, though sometimes inconvenience by a troublesome cough, especially at meals. He seems at times favoured in his soul with the presence of the Lord.
Please remember me very kindly to Mrs. D., and give my love to Mr. Vaughan and the friends.
Yours sincerely for the truth’s sake,
J. C. P.
Jesus is LORD! 
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