A Letter To Mr Grace – March 30th, 1864
My dear Friend, Mr. Grace,
The friends, I am sure, will be very glad to hear you as they have had so little preaching lately. It is trying to be so much in the furnace, and to be so often laid aside from the work of the ministry; but I hope it may be sanctified to my soul’s good. But no chastisement we read for the present is joyous, but rather grievous, nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto those who are in exercise thereby.
I have been reading, during my illness, Bourne’s Letters and Vinall’s Sermons, and have found much in both agreeable to my own experience of the things of God which has been both confirming and encouraging. It is in the furnace that we learn our need of realities, our own helplessness and inability, and yet find there is a movement of divine life Godward—a reaching forth after the Lord Jesus, His person and work, His blood and righteousness, and dying love. It also brings to our mind the shortness of life, how vain all things are here below, and what a solid reality there is in the things of God as embraced by a living faith.
I have felt much union with the poor afflicted family of God, and seen the blessedness of true humility of mind, brokenness of heart, contrition of spirit, godly sorrow for sin, separation from the world, and living to the glory of God. These are things which will abide when head knowledge, pride, and presumption, will be driven like the chaff before the wind.
Yours very affectionately,
J. C. P.
Jesus is LORD! 
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