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long as the spring flowed, I turned to my old book, and looking over the texts in the Psalms, which I had laid up, with previous meditations on them, I found this text among them, which I had studied ten years before, at an inn on my way to London. Adding the last reflections to the former, I formed a sermon, and preached it. Before this plan was suggested to me, I was frequently at a loss, and pushed hard on the Saturday for suitable subjects for the Sabbath. I found that passages occurred on a Monday, and I postponed the consideration of them till Thursday or Friday: but when I sat down to study them, they were sealed up; the lively savour, the deep impressions were gone, and I could not revive them. This taught me, that if I would not accept them in God's time, he would not impart them in my time. From this period I always began to work my mill and grind, when the wind arose; or, like the mariner on the rising of a fair wind, I spread my sails, knowing that I could not grind or sail when the wind ceased to blow.

A second important rule was suggested by experience-always to preach on that subject which was laid on my mind with the greatest power. For the first year of my ministry, I often felt a text laid on my heart with powerful influence; and saying to myself, this wil. suit such a particular occasion, I laid it up; but it proved like the manna, which by keeping lost its pleasant and nourishing qualines. This distrust punished itself, by painful disappointment. And observing that my hearers generally feel the subject in proportion as I feel it, I have endeavoured to preach from my heart to their heart. Often have I heard sermons well arranged and well expressed, but one thing was wanting-the preacher did not put his heart into the sermon, and therefore did not put the sermon into my heart. The sermon was "like a frosty night, cold and clear." If, therefore, as ministers, we would live in the spirit, walk in the spirit,"-study, preach, and pray in the spirit,-- we must not "quench the spirit" in his gifts and graces, but cherish and follow his operations, “* in season and out of season;" for "it is the spirit that quickeneth.”

Yours, &c.

JOHN COOKE.

Dear Sir,

LETTER XXII.--TO A STUDENT.

In your anxious desire to be qualified for preaching the word of.. God, your first study must be to "let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom." Read the pure word, without any comment. Give the most interesting parts of it, a place in your memory. In taking an evening walk alone, with a small Bible in my hand, I have engaged my soul to receive and retain, for instance, the fortieth chapter of Isaiah; and not only found the task delightful, but easily accomplished it, and have never forgotten it. The memory thus enriched, will save you the trouble of turning down the leaves of your Bible and reading a passage; it will assist you in writing your sermons, as the chapter and verse marked down, will revive, by one glance, an impression of the verse and its connexion. You will also quote the word more correctly, with ease and confidence. I very early put the book of Proverbs in my memory; and ever after found it illustrated and confirmed, by all I saw, and heard, and felt.

In a journey to Essex by the stage, I was painfully annoyed by the nonsense of my fellow travellers, who perceiving my disapprobation by my looks and silence, asked me what I thought of them. I answered, you are confirming my faith in the sacred Scriptures. Will you be offended if I answer your inquiry more explicitly? No! they exclaimed with a laugh. Then I replied, I never understood Solomon's remark before," the mouth of fools, POURETH out foolishness." This turned the current of the conversation, and gave me the lead to the end of the journey. The advantages of a well furnished memory are too numerous to mention. You are prepared for all companies-every event recals a suitable text--the majesty of revealed truth puts to silence gainsayers-seasonable counsel flows from "the well-spring of wisdom." It will convict, restrain, console, stimulate to read the Scriptures, prevent much sin-increase the weight of character-occasion grateful recollection-strengthen faith, and render you "the light of the worldthe salt of the earth"-as far as "your conversation is becoming the Gospel." Your heart will become "a good treasury; and out of its abundance your mouth will speak."

The soul is thus qualified for extempore prayer, on various occasions, and happily expresses the mind of God, and speaks "a word in season," to those who unite in social prayer. In "the hour of temptation, divine truth will be "your shield and buckler." You know who said, "thy word have I hid in my heart, that I may not sin against thee." Your spirit will also be prepared for profitable meditation, in society and solitude; and the Holy Spirit will often unite his influences with a sentence, to render a verse "a lamp to your feet, and a lanthorn to your path." And whilst you close your eyes on your pillow, musing on some word of grace, it will sanctify your very dreams-and "when thou wakest it shall talk with thee."

I need not quote to you the example of him who made his hearers "wonder at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth!" He could have silenced his adversaries by reasoning; but he exposed their sophisty, silenced their cavils, defeated their malice, frustrated their plans, mortified their pride, and deepened their convictions, by a constant reference to "Moses, the Prophets, and the Pslams." And in his conflict with the great adversary, he used " the sword of the Spirit, the word of God!"

To every new temptation, his answer was, "it is written-it i written again." Thus he drove the enemy from the field," resisting him steadfastly in the faith" of revealed truth. From that book which is "given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness," may you be "THOROUGHLY FURNISHED, for every good word and work."

I am, your's affectionately, for the truth's sake,

JOHN COOKE.

LETTER XXIII.-TO A STUDENT AT PAINSWICK, UNDER THE TUITION OF THE REV. CORNELIUS WINTER.

My Dear Brother,

You are now, I suppose, at Painswick, in the possession of many little conveniences, and exercising many innocent freedoms, which add to the happiness of your life, and render your situation a home. This is common to man. But your home has additional attractions. There the labours of the student are sweetened by the instructions

of the tutor; the pleasures of friendship, communion with God; and the prospect of usefulness. A situation which overwhelms me

with tears of joy on your behalf; and I doubt not but your soul feels a disposition to acknowledge to the God of your life, "Thou hast dealt well with thy servant." May you enjoy your present lot with an improving mind, and grateful affections: Affections resting in God as your" dwelling-place," through a life of obedience, of trials, and of comfort. Many learn the propriety of cherishing a grateful regard towards" the God of all comforts," when their ingratitude is punished with the loss of important blessings. These are sentiments familiar to your mind; the grateful workings of which I have witnessed, when reflecting on the manner in which God has distinguished you, and your words seemed to echo the feelings of my own heart. I think I see you stop in your way to Wooburn, and ask "Is it all reality? or is it a dream? am I deceived? I am astonished! I am perfectly lost! when I reflect on the divine goodness to me." And indeed, my brother, the operations of God's hand without us are marvellous, as well as the operations of his Spirit within us. And every day affords a gracious mind cccasion to exclaim, “Thou art the God that doest WONDERS!" And does he perform any thing but wonders? Why, then, is our admiration of his providential proceedings, so rarely excited? A criminal self-love too much governs our regards to his providence. What he does on my behalf, is truly surprizing! And is his conduct to others less so? A proper attention to the narrative of other believers, will repay us with instruction, confirmation, and joy. It will bring to our minds the former lovingkindness of the Lord, reprove and humble us for inattention and forgetfulness.

But in our little attention to providential appearances for others, there is nothing contrary to what might be expected, when many, if not most of them, relative to our own concerns, are lost to minds so dark and limited as ours. When some embarrassing circumstances alarm our minds, or our fear suggests some singular danger, weighty affliction, or mortifying trial,—some unconquerable temptation, or expences exceeding our present little fund and expectations, then our inquiry is, how can I escape the danger, endure the trial, avoid the disgrace, or obtain the necessary supply? Carnal reasoning, the child and cherisher of unbelief, soon raises a cloud of gloomy thoughts in the mind, which give us false views of God,

ourselves, and our condition. If a complaining word is prevented, yet a murmuring thought dare rise in secret; faith and unbelief, hope and fear, prayer and silence, alternately are experienced. In this season of anxious probation, if some unexpected incident connects a number of interesting circumstances, which leads to the accomplishment of our desire, and even to surpass our hopes, then we confess that God is "wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working."

But when our affairs run on, with an easy regularity, for a considerable length of time, we feel a propensity to live by sense, in contemplating the operations of second causes, till we almost lose sight of the first. Now, in this still moment, God's providence is equally marvellous in managing our affairs, as when our souls were cast down within us," and our fearful hearts said, "All these things are against me." The article of friendship, for instance, manifests the same disposition. We more admire the Divine interposition in giving us a friend, unknown until needed, and then kinder than we can believe, than in the continuation of former friends. A new friend forces out the grateful tear, and the lips speak forth God's praise. It should be so But, considering the variations in the interests, connexions, and tempers of men, the continuation is always worthy of our most grateful notice. Why, then, do our little partial minds swell in a sense of one new mercy, more than at the recollections of many old opes? There was moment, when those blessings we now enjoy, were the objects of our anxious attention, and fervent prayer; and I hope there is a moment to come, when the review of forgotten favours will occasion emotions, more suitable to our obligations. When we reflect on our mercies, we rather lament our ingratitude, than rejoice gratefully before the Lord. Yet the Lord is kind as wise, in every part of his plan relative to our conditions, in all this beautiful variety of cir

cumstances.

The whole of that plan we are unable to survey, and detached parts often wear an obscurity, which puzzles our reason, and staggers our faith. But when that plan, in the harmony and connexion of its parts, its vast compass, and noble designs, shall be laid open to our minds, (enlivening prospect!) our admiration and love will never know a period. Till then, let us try to remember" the ways in which the Lord our God hath led us," and review the disgraceful dilemmas into which our unsuspected folly had plunged us, if “ the

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