shall not suffer hereafter, they are hardened indeed! God doth not say, as many as I chasten I love; but, "as many as I love I chasten." The fruit must prove the relation of sons.

Sometimes a child of God may think he is so afflicted, he cannot be beloved. This is judging by sense, and not by faith. If by faith in the mercy of God, through the atonement of Christ, we enjoy forgiveness of sin, this makes afflictions light: for as "Sin is the STING OF DEATH," and without which death is a shadow; so sin is the sting of pain, of disease, of poverty, and of every trial. We must rest in the decision of God's word; that prosperity is no sign. of his favour; for "his sun shines on the evil.” Nor is a freedom from sickness, nor deliverance from trouble, a proof of divine regard. The Psalmist does not say, "Blessed is the man whom God delivers from trouble," but "whom he chastens and teaches."

"The fire of a fever may be extinguished, and the fire of hell prepared for a sinner," said an author.

On the other hand, the men of the world "judge after the sight of their eyes;" and to them, the afflicted appear the miserable. If affliction be sanctified, it sanctifies us. Then " we are chastened of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world." Never then, my dear sir, seek relief of mind, by hoping to be better: yet, if the Lord will, he can bless thee with speedy recovery, possible to none but himself,-2 Cor. iv. 16--18. Faint not; look to eternal things, and this formidable dropsy shall work for you--a weight of glory. Not by merit; but by meetness.-Col. i. 12.

Adiction is “ common to men," even to good men ; and by being common, it excites a sympathy, a fellow feeling, of man for man. The days of affliction in age, are, by Solomon, called "EVIL days." -Eccles. xii. 1. This, however, I am sure of, that they are not evil days to those who "seek God in the day of their distress." No! no! they are days of GRACE! days of SALVATION! O ! what a fund of mercy ! what a bank of grace ! to a distressed mind, in a diseased body,-" Behold! now is the ACCEPTED time: behold ! now- -is the day of SALVATION! Value every hour; it is a space to repent!"

With the tenderest sympathy for you and Mrs. E.,

I am, unfeignedly, your's,
JOHN COOKE.

LETTER XLII.-To CAPTAIN WILSON, OF THE MISSIONARY SHIP, DUFF.

Dear Sir,

My friends at Maidenhead, are quite disappointed in not having your company amongst them, and hope you will soon pay us a visit. Yet I cannot refrain from acknowledging your kind, and unreserved communication relative to Otaheite, for which I feel myself much obliged. I thought before I saw you, that the appearances of GOD on your behalf; and the numerous attentions of men on your return, might so absorb your mind for a time, as with caresses from the creature, to occasion great "leanness of soul." No doubt Satan would "exalt you above measure." But I believe, God who is jealous of his honour, and tender of your peace and usefulness, has given" Grace sufficient for you."

I am sure you must be glad to retire from the world, even from the religious world, to a certain degree, to enjoy converse with God and yourself. I admire the providential care of God over you, and your charge; and especially in "keeping you in the hour of tempta tion." A soul in union with Christ, receives from him “the st of might," in measure proportioned to his dangers, wants and i ties. You have felt what the grace of Christ can do. This shoud encourage you, against future seasons of temptations. Will you forgive me if I say, "Watch and pray; that you enter not into temptation." From a little knowledge of Satan's devices, I should not wonder if he should attempt to lull you into carnal security, and self-confidence; and then follow you with temptations to the very sin from which you have been so mercifully preserved. Eve said, "The Serpent beguiled, or elated me." And he may insinuate that you have proved your strength, and if you could stand at Otaheite, there can be no fear of your falling in England. And whilst he attempts to remove your fear of falling, and to inspire you with selfconfidence, he may be watching for an opportuity of finding you within the reach of the forbidden fruit, with which he designs to tempt you. "Grace be with you;" for perhaps you may be in greater danger in England, under all your advantages, than at Otaheite, where your suspicion, watchfulness and care, were always excited.

Believe me, I do not write thus from any thing I saw in you;

but from my own experience, and observation of Satan's devices. No, I am persuaded, that after all the sacrifices you have offered to God-the anxiety you have suffered the care you have exercised— the success you have witnessed, and the congratulations poured upon you the whole of your deportment which I have seen or heard, represents you so sensible of the obligations to the grace of God, the sacrifice of Christ, a special providence, and the spirit of wisdom, as practically and habitually saying, "I am an unprofitable servant." May the influences of the Holy Spirit mingle with all your meditations and reflections, and sanctify the retrospect of past occur

rences.

Your's, &c.

J. COOKE.

LETTER XLIII.-To A YOUNG FRIEND WHO HAD RECENTLY LOST HER MOTHER.

Mourning Christian,

Your thoughts are deeply engaged on the dispensation of God towards your late affectionate mother and yourself. It was a mother, the only parent-that fell; so soon after your father, by a disorder so rapid in its progress, so fatal and unexpected in its termination. Is it a dream? Can it be a reality? Such questions passed my mind when an object very dear to my heart was torn from me. Ah! all was mournful reality, to be contemplated as in God's presence, lest the heart should yield to that "sorrow of the world which worketh death." You may, you must mourn; and tears of affection, if you can shed them, will rather relieve than injure you. But whilst you unbosom yourself to a friend, "pour out your soul," in all its sorrows, its sins, its weakness, its fears, and its desires, to Him in whom "the fatherless find mercy." Forget not that you are under one of the most interesting as well as painful dispensations, Be chiefly concerned to obtain "grace sufficient for you." This only can moderate and sanctify your sorrow; by blending with your painful feelings, humiliation and sorrow for sin, resignation of your dearest earthly object, to one, I hope, still dearer to

your heart. Exercise confidence in Him, as "the guide of your youth." That grace will render your grief useful, accompany it with grateful recollection of past mercies, and serious consideration of present ones. It will cherish your faith in the word of grace, and embolden your addresses to "the throne of grace." This grace can afford you such impressions of divine love and wisdom, and faithfulness in your present trial, as to enable you, with humble submission, to feel "as a child that is weaned from its mother,-yea even as a weaned child!" To be weaned the second time from a mother is the most painful of the two; but you must confine your thoughts of the mother to this world, and bless God for sparing her so long to lead you so far on the journey of life. Her sufferings were short-and I trust her departure was in peace.

Follow her, then, in your thoughts, to a world of disembodied spirits of just men and women made perfect. Think, indeed, of your departed parents, with anxious desire to follow them, so far as they followed Christ. Think of them, to draw your heart to heaven, to lead you to a life of faith on "the Son of God," and a lively expectation of " the glory to be revealed." God has not made any mistake in the object he has taken, the manner, nor in the seas of her departure. The Lord's voice is to be heard, and his and seen and acknowledged, in the distressing event. He speaks to you," BE STILL, and know that I am God!"

May your faith, your patience, your affection, and your grat tude, correspond to such a charge, and induce you to exciam, "Thou art my God, and I will praise thee; my parent's God, and I will exalt thee!" The yoke of affliction, especially that which you now feel, I am sure, is a heavy one; yet I doubt not but that you will soon learn" it is good" and profitable, though painful," to bear this yoke in your youth." If your trial renders you more familiar with the word of God, more spiritual in your devotion, more dependent on the Redeemer, for pardon and strength, purity and peace, more sensible of the unsubstantial nature of all earthly good, more experimentally alive to the reality, the glory, the efficacy, and the necessity of divine influences,-this " trial of your faith will be found more precious than gold that perisheth." The word of God before you, the providence of God without, and your own present feelings, here conspire to exhort you to " arise and depart," in hopes and affections, from a world which" is not your rest." There

remaineth a rest for the people of God. Your parents have entered it; it remains still for you and your's, with real sympathy,

J. COOKE.

LETTER XLIV.-TO A STUDENT AT CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY.

My dear Friend,

Maidenhead, August, 1812.

I REJOICE to hear of your progress in your studies, and the encouragement you receive to excite increasing diligence: may your profiting appear to all. "Go on, approving yourself unto God' and good men, for "what a man soweth, that shall he also reap." In singleness of aim, and simplicity of dependence, let the great Redeemer be "the first and the last" of all your studies: he claims it, deserves it, and will graciously reward it. Your qualification for the ministry, and your success in it, depend on his presence and blessing; your salvation and comfort are derived from his grace; "the residue of the spirit" is with him, to enlighten and enlarge, to sanctify and elevate your faculties. If. his influences be suspended, you live to yourself, and labour in the fire. "If he pour out his Spirit on you," pleasure and advantage will accompany your pursuits your reward will be with you, and your work before you." Literary pursuits, I am aware, divide your time; you have not a moment to waste: but beware, my dear Guyse, that the enemy of souls does not persuade you to think that time wasted, which is spent in reading "the God-breathed Book," in acts of secret devotion, in instrumentally "healing the broken in heart, and binding up their wounds." The anxious solicitude of awakened and inquiring sinners, the tears and sighs of poverty, the sight of those diseased in body, and distressed in spirit, will give a right direction to your studies, by showing you their subordinate end. And I am sure the advantages of secret devotion, in stimulating and invigorating your mind, will render the labours of the student eminently grateful to your spirit.

You will also "redeem the time," as a hearer of the gospel, whilst at Cambridge. Mr. Simeon is studying and preaching; he is "a burning and shining light." Walk in his light. Remember that your opportunities of hearing the gospel will soon end, by your