The seven churches to whom the Apostle John wrote, had each “a star" shining on them; each an angel, messenger, or minister of Christ. The church of England has its archbishops. Wesley was, during his life, the sole archbishop over his numerous societies and ministers. As a protestant, independent minister, I acknowledge Jesus Christ, and HIM ONLY, as the arch or “ chief Bishop." No other bishop is my master in religion. "ONE is your master in Christ; and all ye are brethren." This was spoken to the followers and apostles of Christ. There was no arch apostle.

I have preached for six weeks together, to Mr. Whitfield's congregations. They treated me with the greatest kindness; but what did I know of them, or they of me? Persons have applied to me for tickets of admission to the Lord's table. I proposed a time to converse with them, mention them to the church, inquire into their characters. They were offended. A strange minister has asked me, why I did not admit such persons to the table, who had applauded his sermons. He was sure they were "elect vessels." It may be so, I answered; but at present, they are very filthy vessels, living in public sins. I know a minister who boasts of a thousand communicants, but when any of them have joined us, they have acknowledged, that the minister never once spoke to them on the state of their souls, but " one of the committee gave them a ticket." His congregation is supplied by a succession of able ministers, who fill his place; but were he the minister for one year, I would not answer for the congregation keeping awake, or even keeping their seats. Your's faithfully,

JOHN COOKE.

LETTER LXXX.-TO A MEDICAL PRACTITIONER.

Dear Sir,

IT has been asserted, "that half of the

diseases to which we are prone, originate in the influence of the passions on the human body." Thus love and anger, grief and hope, envy and jealousy, hope and fear, agitate, elevate or depress, kill or cure.

"We are momentarily influenced by impressions of mind. The

human passions mix in every station, action, trial and enjoyment. They excite or depress the vigour of life."

How important, then, is the anatomy of mind! How much more important, is the wise government of it! It soothes affliction, diminishes pain, aids and adds to, the force of medicine.

The joy inspired by a prize in the lottery, or an unexpected legacy, has destroyed the life; and the fear of danger and of death, has given mortal energy to a fever. Grief has exhausted life, and despair and anger have inflamed the brain, distracted reason, and dissolved the union of soul and body. Who then can calculate the importance of this subject to the medical man, the minister of the gospel, the attendants on sick bodies and distressed minds! "A cheerful heart doth good like a medicine; but a broken spirit, drieth the bones."

"HOPE is a stimulating passion, but of the milder kind. Its effects are, to excite moderately the strength and powers, both of body and mind, and direct them to their proper objects. No ill effects are apprehended from it. Of all the passions, hope, both as a gentle stimulant and composing sedative, seems, in general, to answer the best purposes, and tends to ensure the compliance of a patient with the rules prescribed."-Dr. Falconer.

Hope is the balm of life, most salutary in its effects on the healthy and the sick. Your sister is very ill, the doctor visits her; and after his departure, she is quite another woman-her spirits revive. She assures you the doctor described her case exactly, has cured several patients under the same disorder, in a short time. Your sister is really better before she has taken any medicine. Hope has given fresh vigour to her heart, new impulse to her languid circulation.

If such be the power of hope, to assist the influence of medicine, and if fear and despair almost destroy its beneficial tendency, then, all hail my BIBLE, "that word on which God has caused me to hope."

Let the SAVIOUR, "the hope set before me," in the doctrines, invitations and promises of the gospel, be received in his ability and willingness to save, "to save to the uttermost," and his grace and salvation will calm my fears, and inspire my "expectation of things hoped for."

Let the medical man present the GOSPEL, that system of TRUTH and MERCY," and WISDOM, which God, "the God of Hope,"

himself reveals to fallen man, instead of a system of lies, which may ruin a soul and embarrass a family. Say not your patient is better when he is worse, or that there is no danger, when you fear the worst; but direct him to God through a Mediator, who is "the refuge and strength, and very present help in trouble," to "all who call upon him in truth."

Let the medical man study the word of God, and "learn to speak a word in season to him that is weary," from the burden of sin, the presence of affliction, the force of temptation, the influence of nervous affections, and the fear of death. Let him not attempt to “calm the surges of the soul," by philosophy, by mere moral persuasion, by nourishing self-conceit for comparative goodness. Rather let him direct the confidence of the sufferer to the promises of pardon, peace, and eternal life. These received in faith will relieve the conscience, cheer the heart, reconcile the mind to the dispensation f God, and prevent, but never produce, the delirium which is often falsely ascribed to religion, when it only proves the existence of a false religion, or the absence of the religion of Christ.

Your's faithfully,

JOHN COOKE.

LETTER LXXXI.—TO A MINISTER UNKNOWN.

My dear Brother,

(On Satan's Vigilance.)

You say if you knew what hour the tempter would come, you would watch. Watch, because you know not the hour. This is our Lord's counsel.

The tempter comes when the suitable opportunity presents-when Eve is near the forbidden fruit, alone! In the absence of Adam! When business urges to omit duty; or company invites to commit sin. When disappointment discomposes the mind, and a sinful relief can be suddenly proposed. When relatives plead for indulgence, or offer objections to present duty. If unduly elated by the pleasing occurrence, or depressed by a painful event, Satan is near.

Let Providence be obscure, or the temper ruffled, and behold "the evil one;" if exempt from trials, like David on the house top; or self-confident, like Peter; if halting between duty and sin, or fallen and concerned to return; when high in spiritual enjoyment, or indulging self-complacency after it, then "the tempter comes!" Under conviction of sin, he tempts to despair or delay; under affliction, to impatience, and when delivered, to presumption. Are you persecuted like Elijah ?-Or Nehemiah ?-He bids you flee. Are you offended? Resent it in passion; and you "give place to the devil!"

In a new relation, Satan tempts you to expect too much, and yield too little. In a new station or office, to overrate your talents, and underrate the abilities of others. If friends flatter, he swells you with vanity; if enemies detract from your character, he inflames with resentment. When excited to liberality, he calls it extravagance; when extravagant, he names it generosity. When you reprove in pride, he says it is faithfulness; when you are reproved, it is pride or unkindness in the reprover. If your minister is faithful, he is personal; if cheerful, he is trifling; if serious, he is dull; if practical, he is legal; if he preaches grace, he is an enemy to good works. If he be social, he is worldly; if very studious, he is unsocial. If he is forgiving when misrepresented, he is guilty, or he would resent it; if he should speak, he is resentful. If he pleads for his rights, he is covetous; if he is passive, he is weak. If he is courteous, he is afraid of man; if courageous, he is rude. If his language be piercing, he is coarse; if plain, he is illiterate; if elevated, he is too high in his style. These are some of ❝ the devices of Satan;" the crooked windings of "the serpent."

If you preach a few fashionable truths, you are prudent; if " the whole counsel of God," you are injudicious. Preach duty, and Satan recommends Christ. Preach Christ, and he commends duty. Here he is "transformed into an angel of light!" If you are careful to believe, he bids you perform good works; and if solicitous to do your duty, he bids you only believe.

Whenever you find a suggestion which opposes privilege and duty to each other, it is not of God, it is Satan "perverting the real gospel," and substituting " another Gospel."

Your's faithfully,

J. COOKE.

Lately published,

RY

THE REV. GEORGE REDFORD,

THE PASTOR'S SKETCH BOOK;

OR

NARRATIVES FROM REAL LIFE.

Second Edition, price: "6.

Price 1s. 6d.

CELESTIAL GLORY,

Dawning on the young Christian at the Gate of Heaven.
A MEMORIAL

OF THE LATE

Mrs. MARY WESTBROOK,

DAUGHTER OF THE REV. J. COCKE.

By the Rev. JOHN COOKE, Maidenhead, Berks.

Just Published, Third Edition, price 2s.

REASON PAYING HOMAGE TO REVELATION,

IN THE

CONFESSIONS OF A DEIST,

At the Gates of Death; with Reflections.

His THOUGHTS troubled him."-Daniel.

By the REV. JOHN COOKE, MAIDENHEAD.