A Letter To William Brown – November 29th, 1861
My dear Friend, William Brown.
I think that your obituary of Mr. Crouch will be read with much pleasure and interest in the forthcoming Standard. When I was younger in years and more favoured in health, I used sometimes to preach for him at Pell Green, but we never had much conversation upon the things of God. I have indeed rarely met with a gracious man and minister who seemed more bound up in conversation. It was not from lack of divine matter in his heart, and probably arose either from natural shyness, or from being at the time much bound in spirit. Ministers are sometimes afraid of one another, as I have often felt myself; and where this feeling prevails, it shuts up that free communication in the things of God which is so sweet and refreshing. At the time, I took the fault more to myself than ascribed it to him; but I have since heard from our friend Mr. Grace that he was often bound up in spirit, or at least had not that door of utterance with which some are favoured. But he was a man deeply led into a knowledge of self, and when he took his pen was able to express himself with a freedom as well as an originality of thought and language which seemed to be denied him in conversation. My going down to Pell Green arose from my connection with one of his deacons, old Mr. Walter, who was in the habit of coming up to London to hear me on my annual visit to the metropolis. I do not think that I have often met in my life with a man so deeply and continually exercised about his state and standing as good old Mr. Walter. He has at various times much opened his mind to me, and I believe was blessed on one or two occasions under my ministry.
One of the most painful, and I might almost say alarming features of the present day, is the removal of the servants of God, and that so few are raised up in their place. On every side error seems to prevail, and were we to believe their own testimony, there is no lack of ministers of the Gospel. But where are those to be found who preach it with the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven? Where are those who can set forth the truth with the sweet savour, unction, and dew of the blessed Spirit attending it to the hearts of the hearers? I would be glad indeed to see the Lord raising up men after His own heart, pastors who can feed the church of God, and ministers who need not to be ashamed, as rightly dividing the word of truth. But I much fear that things will go on from worse to worse, and though the Lord will always have a seed to serve Him, and servants of His own equipping and sending forth, yet their number may be very scanty, and their gifts and graces very limited. What makes the matter to my mind more perplexing is that there is a spirit of hearing in the churches, if there were ministers raised up to feed the people with sound Gospel food. Our race will soon be run; may it be our earnest desire to spend the rest of our appointed days here below to the glory of God and the good of His people. This world has done little for us, and must every day do less and less. We owe it no thanks, and desire to live separate from it, and heed neither its smiles nor its favors. The Lord make us faithful unto death, that we may inherit a crown of life. I hope that, as long as the Lord gives me a tongue to speak or a pen to write, I may use both to His glory.
Yours affectionately in the Lord,
J. C. P.
Jesus is LORD! 
Leave a comment