LETTER LXI.-TO THE SAME.

My dear suffering Brother,

"THE stain and defiling effect of sin feeds your despondency." I am glad you perceive and feel it.

Is this singular? Did not David suffer the same? If not, what mean his prayers, "wash me, cleanse me, wash me thoroughlycleanse thou me from secret faults?"

Did it destroy his hope? No! he prayed and hoped, through the blood of sprinkling, to be made "whiter than snow."

And does not the infinite efficacy of the blood of Christ, and the promises of God warrant such a hope? Yea, although your sins have left a scarlet and crimson dye? Isa. i. 18. Heb. ix. 14. 1Johni.7. Suppose the guilt and stain equalled those of all in "the whole world," that believe in Jesus? Dare you despair? 1 John i. 1, 2.

Look up to Heaven; see the number of spirits there, which have "washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb?"

They wept and suffered here for Christ; but neither tears nor tribulations had any share in washing them from their sins. Wat ever difference in age or degrees of sin, the sinner of five, or Eve hundred years, swells the same note,-" Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his OWN BLOOD, be glory!" To "the blood of sprinkling, and the sanctification of the Spirit," all ascribe their pardon and purity. Remember, "the fountain" of a Saviour's merit, and the fullness of the Spirit's grace, are still "open-open for sin and uncleanness." Try it: apply to Jesus, "Lord if thou wilt, thou canst make ME clean!" Wait on himpray to him-trust in him.

Probatum est,

By Your's, &c.

J. COOKE.

LETTER LXII.-TO A PERSON IN A STATE OF DESPONDENCY.

My dear Sir,

"THE heavy bar" you complain of, which "shuts you up in despair, is not fixed by God; but by Satan and yourself. That bar is," Rev. xxii. 11. "He that is filthy, let him be filthy still." If this were a declaration, which respected the present time, then, not one soul more could be converted! But it is a prophecy; and cannot refer to your present state. Read and understand. The Lord Jesus, in the eleventh verse, saith, "the time is AT HAND!" It is not come:-he waits, and yet affords time for repentance. Bless his name. Although the time of your death is near," is at hand," it is not come. "The lamp holds out to burn;" the lamp of life and the lamp of salvation. The guilty may yet be pardoned,-the filthy may yet be cleansed: and I do not despair of you. The door of mercy is yet open,-the day of grace still continues. "To day if you will hear his voice," come, and he will "forgive all your sins, and cleanse you from all unrighteousness." Then, should he come, he that is made righteous, shall be righteous still; and he that is sanctified, shall be holy still!" Do not linger. "Make haste and delay not ;" for "behold! he comes quickly." In the mean time, "WHOSOEVER WILL, let him come;" and Jesus will in no wise, on no consideration, cast him out." You think it too late; but you mistook the hour. The day is far spent, but not ended. The voice of mercy cries after you, "RETURN." May the voice of persevering prayer echo, "turn thou me, and I shall be turned." I trust "Grace will reign" in your pardon, purity, and peace, in answer to the prayer of

Your's, &c.

J. COOKE.

LETTER LXIII.-TO A MINISTER UNKNOWN.

My dear Brother,

(On Preparing Sermons.)

YOUR plan of writing in a folio volume the heads and substance of printed sermons, that you may be always ready for the pulpit, is followed by many evil consequences.

It destroys the habit of thinking, and produces a servile confinement to other men's trains of thought. A clergyman once observed, that "the Dissenters possessed an advantage over the clergy, who had their doctrines, discipline and prayers, made for them by acts of parliament."

Thousands of the clergy do not think, but transcribe and read what is already published, whereas the Dissenters stand or fall by their characters and talents. They must read and think, because their hearers do." And he allowed at the same time, that "thes occaoned them to preach at one time what they contradicted at another, by taking for granted that those clergymen had pulisted the sentiments of the Church of England."

Hence you hear the remark, that Mr. W. sometimes reads an evangelical sermon, though the general strain of his preaching is mere morality without the doctrines of grace.

When a clergyman lately preached a visitation sermon, he refused the requests of his friends to print it, until they were so offended by his apparent obstinacy, that he felt himself obliged to inform them, the sermon was already in print!

And if a dissenting brother should accustom himself to read the largest part of his sermon, and call it preaching by notes, he w fall into the same error. Mr. T., a dissenting minister, adopted you plan, and being stationed at B, his brethren heard him; and one of them said, "Brother T. I have heard you preach four times, and greatly admired the sermons. I should think you enjoyed a retentive memory; but I see you read much. I had read your four sermons before I heard you preach them, as they are in the volume of Mr. Mason, of America, which I can show you. I should very much like to hear one of your own sermons. To preach or read

other men's sermons under pretence of preaching from notes, must subject you to the reproach of idleness, of vanity, of hypocrisy, and of being a servile detailer. Some hearers who are also readers, exclaim, "alas! master, it was borrowed." By such hypocritical servility you "neglect the gift that is your own," depend on 66 an arm of flesh;" and " your heart departeth from the Lord." You seek a message from man, rather than from GOD; and have reason to exclaim," my leanness, my leanness!" And to my knowledge, the most experienced Christians among your hearers are uttering the same complaint. I knew a minister who followed your plan, until he read Mr. Matthew Henry's Comment in the Pulpit. As your best hearers have found you out, "be sure your sin will find you out," in a barren ministry and alienated hearers. You receive as you ask, the free thoughts of your affectionate brother,

JOHN COOKE.

Dear Brother,

LETTER LXIV.-TO THE SAME.

You say, "various and numerous engagements, occasion your preaching other men's sermons." So say your hearers. I know a preacher who has adopted your plan, although, through shame, he denies it. He is engaged all the week in business.

Your engagements in religious societies, anniversaries, and journies, occupy your time. The cause is good. The work is good. But is it all your proper work? Has vanity, popularity, the love of power, and influence, no share in your motives? Do you not neglect your own vineyard? And is not the extreme you indulge in, ministerial gadding and dissipation? Are not ministerial engagements at home, your first concern? The vows of God are upon you; and do not your hearers expect you to fulfil them? Are you not paid as their minister? Remember your ordination, your charge, your promise, your account! Adieu.

Your's, faithfully,

JOHN COOKE.

Dear Brother,

You say "you

LETTER LXV.-TO THE SAME.

often meet me on public occasions; and can that be wrong in you, which is right in me?"

I answer, first, Yes; you may be wrong in accepting invitations to work which others are ready to perform, who could perform it as well, or better. Especially if you invite yourself by offers, or taking offence if you are not requested to preach.

Secondly,-If you neglect your studies and your people, to sppear abroad; especially if you leave no time, until you have no heart, for serious and close study. This I can truly say, "by the grace of God," I never do. I regulate my acceptance of an invitation, by considering duties at home, necessity, probable usefulness; and, if obstacles present themselves, whether other ministers will not be present, who can answer the end.

Thirdly,-If I make a sacrifice, it is to my Master, at the call of duty; not to be seen and heard of men, but to serve, in the first instance, a poor brother minister, and the congregation of which Jesus says, "I know thy poverty, but thou art rich."

Fourthly,-If such calls of duty have encroached on my studies, as sometimes one visit breaks into three days, I return home hungry, make up the time from hours taken from my bed; and that not as a task, but as a pleasant duty.

My friend Z. has read and studied much, in past years, (which has not been your case), and now says his engagements from home have deprived him of much personal religion, with the increase of good living and animal spirits. But his sermons now are cold, heartless, unimpressive. His hearers at home and abroad complain he is not the same man." The salt has lost its savour," in a lamentable degree.

You say, look at — and —; I do; and admire their zeal, their prudence, their diligence, in discharging important duties to which they are called. Where are their flocks? Attended by others appointed in their stead; and when they are at home, they preach their own sermons. If you are called to "go and do likewise," let your hearers know it, that they also may provide one to