-pray humbly, affectionately, believingly, secretly, and frequently. Pray incessantly, in talking, eating, walking, working, and let the shop, the field, the parlour, the bed-room, &c., be a Peniel (Gen. xxxii. 30) to you. Direct to me, at Mr. Hill's, Great Chapel Street, Westminster. My sincere respects to Mr. Rimell; I hope he will improve this fortnight, as if he and I were to meet at the tribunal of God in the last hour of it. If you think proper, my love to each inquirer. Mr. and Mrs. Hill's respects. Mr. Banfield is ill, but much better. I am astonished at my strengh of body: but is any thing too hard for the Lord? No! not to pardon, sauctify, and glorify you, your husband, your offspring, your servant, and your unworthy and affectionate pastor and friend,

JOHN COOKE.

My Dear Friend,

LETTER III.-To MR. RIMELL.

Bristol, last day of the old year, 1792.

I RECEIVED your letter, and am sorry to hear of what has befallen John; but sin is a fruitful evil, if not especially repented of. The old year finishes in a trying way to some, and the new one will begin as pleasantly to others. The old will conclude as sweetly to one, and the new begin as bitterly to another. But" our times are in thy hands!" not in the hands of our enemies-they would ruin us; ner in the hands of our friends-for they would keep us out of Heaven too long; nor in our own hands-for our ignorance of what is best would involve us in nothing but miseries; but "in thy hands, O God of my life!" His sovereignty controls all times; for "the times and seasons the Father hath put in his own power," Acts i. 7. His powerful agency and unerring wisdom reign in every event. He is "the God of judgment," and all causes, occasions, and effects, are regulated by him; and his "grace reigns" in every promise, and in every providence, towards those who love and wait for him. But what times are in his hands?—our happiest times. If we draw near to God, and "our prayer is unto him in an acceptable time,” it is because he blesses the season. Our times of sickness and death, weakness and strength, success and disappointment, temptation and

quietness, conflict and victory, are under his management. Our seasons of activity and repose, of public and private devotion, of friendly intercourse and necessary separation in life and death, are with him. Whatever occurs to our persons, families, and connections; all, all will happen when, and as he pleases. This great truth should be used as a plea in prayer, Ps. xxxi. 14, 15; and if we really believe this comfortable truth, we shall plead it, with God and ourselves, in the prospect of life, and in each event as it rises. Thus hope and resignation will be promoted, and the recollection of the Lord's "knowing our souls in adversity," Ps. xxxi. 7, and hearing the voice of our supplication when we cried to him, Ps. xxxi. 22, teach us to" yield ourselves unto God," Rom. vi. 13.

It is a very rousing thought also: for if our lives are in his hands, he can take them away whenever he please. He can con fine us or remove us. He has taken away the old year! but he grants a new one. Chance is no part of the Christian's creed, by profession; but, too often, alas! it is so in his experience. If we read God's word more, and believed what we read, our hopes would not fluctuate at the approach of trials, nor our apprehensions exceed the reality of the case, as they too often do. Our peace and joy, desire and prayer, hope and prospects, fidelity and diligence, will always keep pace with our faith; but never can go before it. "All these things are possible (and many more) to him that BELIEVETH." Whatever we suffer, on whatever account, we should be concerned " to suffer according to the will of God." Under every cross, it is well to remember, that God sends it; and happy for us if, on the one hand, we avoid making a cross for ourselves; and on the other, if we never refuse taking up the cross when it lies in our way. God sends but few crosses; but we make many. What God sends, he sanctifies and succours us under. Let us give over the trade of cross-making, in dependance on the Holy Spirit. If so, we must avoid indulging the source of this proceeding, which is self-will. If we are reconciled to God, in his nature, perfections, plans, works, and providences; if we learn to think that all God does is not only good, but best ; do that as best, at all events, which he commands, and bear that as best which he lays upon us, we shall find ourselves in "Wisdom's ways of pleasantness, and in her paths of peace." But if we " pervert our ways through foolishness, and our hearts fret against the Lord," let us blame ourselves, and beg restoring grace to subdue self-will, and forgive it; and

teach us to "commit the keeping of our souls unto him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator." What a title! a Creator! and, therefore, able to support, console, and secure a soul; a faithful Creator and his promises may be depended on by an unworthy, fickle believer, 1 Pet. iv. 19.

Dear friend, look forward, expecting Heaven at the end of life, but not before; and succour in the way to Heaven, equal to God's promise and your need. Read the Bible much, believe it much, pray much, think of yourself much, think of Christ more, and of God, in Christ as "all in all!" Affectionate respects to your family, I include Phillis; and I sincerely wish that their sins of the past year may be forgiven, and the mercies of the new year exceed their sins, their thoughts, and hopes. May they have the enjoyment of the gospel of grace, the Spirit of power, the image of Christ, the favour of God, and the prospect of heaven. These are the springs of a happy new year!

I am, with sincere regard, yours,

JOHN COOKE.

LETTER IV.-To MRS. SHROPSHIRE, MRS. COOKE'S MOTHER.'

On Mr. Hervey's View of Faith.

Dear Madam,

THE last time I had the pleasure of conversing with you, Mr. Hervey's view of Faith was our subject; since that time I have read his letters on that precious grace with more than common attention, and must own, that I dislike his ideas of faith, as much as I admire him as a Christian and a minister. And even in these very letters, there are many striking displays of the freeness and richness of God's salvation, and of many portions of holy writ, where the nature of faith is described, though they by no means answer his purpose. Quite through these letters and dialogues, he entirely confounds faith with assurance; and I defy any Christian to take comfort from what Aspasio says about faith, unless he is possessed of Mr. Hervey's assurance and mistaken views of it. You know, dear madam, that I do not call in question his piety-no! God forbid.-

He certainly was a first-rate Christian; but he has not made a distinction, between an assurance of the truth of a promise, and an assurance of my interest in it. For instance, "Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners." This is the report of the gospel. I may have a full assurance of the truth of this report, and yet be full of doubts, whether he came into the world to save me. And why? Because my faith may be so weak and so obscured by temptations, as to leave me no assurance that I have any: and if I think I have not, where is my assurance, since none but believers enjoy this salvation? Mark xvi. 16. In a former letter, I have hinted at the simple and plain import of faith. Give me leave to supply those ideas, relative to one particular, which is as reasonable to me and mine, as to you and yours, I mean our respective habitations — Why am I situated at Maidenhead rather than at any other place? And why should your fixed abode be at Hendon, where you have rarely an opportunity of hearing the gospel? What saith the Scriptures? "He hath made of one blood, all nations of men, for to dwell all on the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation." Acts xvii. 26. Here are two cheering truths to every Christian; first, that God pre-appointed the time or age when we should be born, and secondly, where we should fix our abode in the world. Our habitations are obtained by prudential means,' yet God fixed those bounds.-Do we believe this? So far do we credit the report of God's word; so far we shall be easy in our situations, until Providence points out another place. You have not the advantages of many who reside in London; but then, God fixed you where you are; and therefore all things considered, he foresaw it good-yea, best for you to live where you have lived hitherto. He only can tell what consequences would have followed to you and yours, if you had dwelt, or did now dwell any where else. He only can foresee the effects of every cause. Believe this, dear madam, and thankfully acquiesce in the divine disposal. No place in itself is better or worse than another. All are, what God makes them to us. All means depend on the divine blessing for all their efficacy: but the Lord depends on none. Many are cursed with religious advantages. And many are blessed who share fewer, and more rare opportunities of obtaining spiritual favours in the usually appointed means. Believing the above testimony of truth, let us sing:

"Great God? where'er we pitch our tent,

Let us an altar raise;

And there with humble frame present,
Our sacrifice of praise."

I mean to send you more on this subject, if permitted. At the same time, I should be glad, if you would use the same freedom with my letters, which I have evinced towards Mr. Hervey's. And if any queries arise in your mind in reading on the subject, I will endeavour to solve them if you will send them to

Your's, with sincere respect and affection,

JOHN COOKE.

Dear Madam,

LETTER V.-To MRS. SHROPSHIRE.

(On the same subject.)

PERMIT me to offer a few hints upon Faith, as it relates to the state or condition in which we come into the world. What saith the Scripture? Behold! I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. See, what we are in the womb. What was our earliest infancy in the world? "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child." Mark the evidence of the heart's depravity. "As soon as we are born we go astray, and speak lies." Does not every child manifest this propensity? Is the creature better in youth? Childhood and youth are vanity; the imagination of man's heart, is evil from his youth. Does the creature grow better as it grows older?" Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may they who are accustomed to do evil, do good." But is there no exception to the general depravity of souls? They have all gone out of the way; there is none that doeth good (in that state), no, not one." "God (who could not be deceived or mistaken in the survey) looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand and seek after God:" what was the answer?" No; not one!" In this state, what saith the Word of God to him? "Cursed! (awful word!) cursed is (that is, at this present time) cursed is every one (not one is excepted by the Bible)-cursed is every one, that continueth not (to his latest breath !) in all things written in the Book of the Law, to