shouldst go." We readily allow that affliction is beneficial to maxy persons; but God teaches one to say, "it is good-good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes." A think health and prosperity good, even when they become a snare: but God teaches a man, in many instances to say, " before I was afflicted I went astray; but now have I learned thy word." So true does experience prove, that "none teacheth like HIM! Psalm xciv. 12. The prophet Isaiah said, "the Lord spake usta me, and instructed me with a strong hand." Others teach us by the mouth only; but God teacheth with power. God helps the soul, as your nurse and doctor do the body, by assisting and s→ porting it. "I was brought low, and he helped me." "In the day when I cried, he answered and helped me; and strengthened me with strength in my soul. The believer speaks out, I wa love thee, O Lord, MY STRENGTH!" God teaches inwardly, powerfully, effectually. He "shine into the heart." Not all at once; but as the sun breaks on us gradually. "His going forth is prepared as the morning." day dawns, the sun riseth; and shineth more and more unto the PERFECT DAY.” The rising sun shows us many disagreeable and pleasant o'ts; and the light of truth and grace, discovers the evil of sin, the sin fulness of the heart, the redemption of Christ, the mercy of God, and the wisdom and kindness of Providence. It displays the patience, and long suffering, and goodness of God. It reveals past mercies and past sins; and leads to grateful acknowledgments. "Thou hast not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities, Psalm chì. Pray for divine teaching, and divine support. It is kind in a parent to send a child to school. Affliction is God's school. Mas children will not learn under the indulgence of home. "I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; and thou wouldst n hear!" But in the school of affliction, "he openeth the ear to discipline; and commandeth that we turn from iniquity." Then a soul exclaims," what I know not, TEACH thou me; and if I have done iniquity, I will (depending on divine grace) do it no more." God has laid your soul's interest on my heart; and I hope you will receive these proofs of it, with a feeling sense of your obliga tion, not to me; but to God! The family are all in bed, and I should be there too, if I could forget you. Read the 103d Psalm, until you feel the Spirit of it, with your affectionate friend, JOHN COOKE. P.S. Say not "to-morrow;" but with Augustine "why not to day Lord! Why not to day? This-this is, "the day of salvation!" The dying penitent on the cross, had but one day; it was his last day-but oh! amazing grace! That one day was the day of his salvation! In that day, the Spirit of Christ opened the eyes of his understanding. He felt himself a condemned sinner. He trusted the atonement and grace of the Redeemer. He prayed, "Lord! remember ME, when thou comest to thy kingdom." And what was the answer?" This day, shalt thou be with ME, IN PARADISE!" Grace! grace! make it your desire, your prayer, your trust, your joy! Dear Sir, LETTER LII.-To Mr. EDWARDS. London, July 18, 1824. THERE are many inquiries after you by your old passengers; and all are full of expressions of sympathy and good-will. Their concern generally ends in naming some physician; as if when God sends a disease, his only design were, that we should get well again. Few in affliction feel the impression of a divine band; and fewer still feel an abiding impression of GoD and his TRUTH. feelings are soon produced, and they soon vanish; like the letters the boys make on the sand on the sea shore, which the first wave destroys. Such are all teachings and impressions but divine. Without this, a man is delivered from a succession of afflictions, and forgets the "wormwood and the gall." Others without the grace of God in their affliction, forget all past mercies, as if they never had a good day and night: "I forget prosperity!" I have been sent to the "house of correction" many times, to learn the value of past and present mercies, as well as the evil of past and present sins. And truly I found as the Scriptures speak, that "no chastening for the present is joyous, but grievous" in itself; but afterwards it yielded the peaceable fruits of righteousness." Human parents often chasten from passion, but God for our PROFIT, that we may be partakers of his HOLINESS.-Heb, xii. Holiness, in God's estimation, is profit, gain, wealth. Hohness is" the riches of his glory," or "glorious riches," which a Christian carries with him into eternity! Now, my dear Sir, if this is God's end, how far below his aim, and even contrary to it, is a mere desire to be well. "How can two walk together except they are agreed?" And if our end in affliction is only HEALTH, and God's end is our purification-the health of the soul-is it not probable, that God will cross our aim, as we slight his design? God says, “turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die?" Our prayer should be an echo to this exhortation-" turn thou me and I shall be turned." To-morrow is the Sabbath; but you are confined to your house, while others go to God's house. Pray for the spirit of the day. The Apostle John was a prisoner in the Isle of Patmos; but God was not confined; he visited his servant, who said, “ I was in the Spirit on the Lord's-day." You have "the word of grace," and "the throne of grace;" may God pour upon you and Mrs. Edwards "the Spirit of grace !" And also on your's, With much sympathy, JOHN COOKE. LETTER LIII.-To MR. EDWARDS. My dear Sir, London, 21st July, 1824. AND if a man be blessed, “whom the Lord chasteneth and teacheth;" what are the lessons he teaches? First, our dependence: You are now, in your body, dependent on Mrs. Edwards. You cannot help yourself: and for the well-being of soul, you can trust none but God: and indeed for your gree of bodily relief. A second lesson, is sympathy, a fellow-feeling for other sufferers; and for those who suffer in anxiety, self-denial and labor, in attending on you. A third lesson is gratitude:-To GoD and Man for past mercies, present mercies and promised mercies, to those who seek God. A fourth lesson, is patience; impatience has pride for its root; patience renders our burden lighter, and fills our friends with patience towards us. But patience springs from humility; on a humble sense of our sins, our deserts, and our unworthiness. Humility says “ Thou hast not dealt with me after my sins." A humble mind feels its obligations to God, and to those who attend on it. A fifth lesson, is prayer. "Is any afflicted? let him pray." Jam. v. 13. "1," said David in affliction, "give myself unto prayer." "Call on me in the day of trouble." Ps. 50. Jesus, "being in an agony, prayed the more earnestly!" A sixth lesson, taught by sanctified affliction, is, the love of God's word. "This is my comfort, in my affliction; thy word hath quickened me." In reading a part of the 119th Psalm to Miss Westbrook, who died, she said, "stop, sir, I never said so much to you before-I never could : but now I can say, "The word of thy mouth, is dearer to me, than THOUSANDS of gold and silver." What can gold and silver do for me Now?" Another lesson is, the value of the grace, or favour of God! As to the world, grace weans us from it, by setting before us a better world. God, whose title is, "The God of all comfort," and the God that comforteth them that are cast down, answers to his character, by sending another comforter, the Holy Spirit, who is called, by eminence, in distinction from all others, "THE COMFORTER." us. God often passes a sentence of death on all means, before he relieves Hence David, "I looked on my right and left hand, and refuge failed me!" Then he cried, "My soul, wait thou only upon God: for he only is my rock, and my salvation!" And in 27th Psalm, "I had fainted, unless I had BELIEVED, to see the goodness of God, in the land of the living." Faith, in God's word, was his relief. Mrs. Edwards will excuse my not writing to her, as I am sure her principal concern is for your best interest. Nothing but your salvation will relieve her mind; and any signs of " the things which accompany salvation," in your soul, will render all her toil and suffering, light. The Lord opened the heart of Lydia; “ and then her mouth was opened." Pray, "Lord open thou my heart, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise." In this prayer, you are joined by your faithful friend, JOHN COOKE. LETTER LIV.-To MR. EDWARDS. My dear Friend, Loudon, July 15, 1816. I WRITE to fulfil my promise, and to comply with your desire. The weather has been wet, night and day, since I came, and must be very distressing to the farmers. If I make this remark to the Londoners, they exclaim, "surely!" and instantly complain of the dullness of trade. The town and country has its peculiar trials; both have the art of increasing them; whilst few, very few, think how well God has governed the world from its creation, how much more numerous our sins than our trials, and that if our trials themselves do not prove some of our greatest blessings, it is our own fault. I do not mean that we are able to bear or improve them, but "our sufficiency is of God," to whom we should apply. The divine conduct oft corresponds to our own. Many of us have been complaining that corn was too cheap: the destruction of the first crop of hay will raise the price of it. The farmers in general see God's works without gratitude for their increase; and if the crop fail, the weather unfavourable, they complain rather than pray. And many of them "curse God in their hearts;" as their murmurs and general conversation prove. After all, the Lord has provided in the old hay; he may provide a large second growth, and make the farmer gain more in his corn, by these rains, than he will lose in his hay! We profess to believe, that "the Son of Man will come in the clouds of Heaven," to judge the world; but do not see him sex in the clouds of heaven, governing the world in judgment and mercy! "The Lord reigneth," in nature, providence, grace, and glory. These remarks are applicable to us in every condition of life. We profess to believe that God is wise and good, just and faithful, |