Stapleton, Coromandel Novr. 29, 1859 My ever Dear friend It was with great sorrow that we lately heard of your very severe illness but I trust that long before this you may have been restored to your wonted health and strength I should have written to you before but I did not know your address I will forward this to the office and they will put your address on. I trust that during your illness you have been near to some Christain friends as that would greatly cheer and comfort you in seasons of affliction but should it not have been the case there is a source of comfort always near the promises of God are always to be relied on He hath told us that he will ''never leave nor forsake those that in him'' and when He sees fit to chastise us it always done in kindness See Job 5--17 Psalms 94--12 and 119--75 Proverbs 3.11.12 Hebrews 12.5.12 I have found great comfort from the perusal of the above passages when I have been labouring under severe affliction I can adopt the language of St. Paul Romans 8--28 we must be contented to receive evil as well as good at the hand of our kind and merciful father Job 2--10 Romans 12--12 James 5--10 11 How different does the Christian view afflictions to what the worldly and the careless view the former looks at it, as sent to prepare him for another world the latter views as an evil, may we ever be ready to say ''it is the Lord let him do what seems good unto him'' not my will o God but thine be done and should our Heavenly Father see fit to prolong our lives may we live more to His Glory and praise that whether we live or die we may be the Lord's. We have all received many benefits from him may we always feel as the pious Psalmist Pa 103--1--2 104--1--146--1 our life and health are amongst the benefits that we receive at the hands of a kind and gracious God and when Joined to all His other gifts we have constantly much to give him thanks for I sincerely trust that your health may be permanently restored so that you may be enabled to continue in your present position as I do not think that there is not another person in the Colony so well calculated for it as yourself I consider that the the country at large has been greatly benefited by your services it would be a public calamity should your health oblige you to retire at least for some time yet. May the Lord bless and restore you and that shortly I trust that we shall shortly hear that you have regained your strength and are able to persue your duties as usual It is now about eight months since I saw you last how quickly time flies may we use it well and be prepared for the summons whenever it may arrive for us, our time is but short we-shall soon be numbered with the generation that has passed, in the midst of life we are in death our dear friends who are gone before will soon have to welcom us and our dear friends who remain will soon have to mourn for us, but I trust thatwe may have to rejoice, may we be able to say with the Apostle 2 Timothy 4--7--8 ''I have fought the good fight of faith I have finished my course'' and may we hear the Lord say unto us ''come ye blessed of my Father receive the kingdom prepared for you before the foundation of the world'' and again ''enter thee into the joy of thy Lord'' May we join that blessed company collected out of every Nation Language and Tongue there to celebrate the praises of God for ever. Praying that the Lord may bless and prosper you both in body and Soul and trusting that I shall soon hear that you are quite recovered Mrs. Preece and family joins me in kind regards beleive me to remain yours very truly in Christ James Preece To D. McLean Esqr. Wellington or Nelson