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na gw any that ma ave im. The Lord has Her sarei ne sing se that I have he meal, a some sual igre, a zárn your mind of the big of a God, the end of your mature, the IVERSIT I & Sarvar se. But I may soon, very soon, be nám away fem you, and under the refection at this time. I wate as though I were sure I was taking my last farewell here below of my dearest girl; O my dear Mary, my prayer for you that we may meet in heaven; but should your he be spared, many are the vicissitudes you will have to pass through ere that time arrives; and if it please the Lord to take me from you, you may like a little of my advice and counsel to think of; therefore, I hope you will take in love what I would now offer, and receive it as the best legacy I can leave you. First then, I beg of you to keep in mind what I

have said respecting the blessed Jesus, and the things which make for your everlasting welfare; never neglect your Bible, love it above all books, and pray to the Lord to open your understanding, that you may understand the Scriptures. Never close your eyes at night without praying to God to pardon your sins for Jesus' sake, nor rise in the morning without begging for his grace and direction; pray earnestly; beg for the teaching of the Holy Spirit, who is to take of the things of Jesus, and reveal them to poor sinners, who are made sensible of their lost estate and condition; and especially keep holy the Sabbath day; never neglect nor forsake the house of God; 'tis there we may hope to meet him and find his blessing; for he says, "where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them;" and O how much better is it to be with God's people than the people of the world, for his people are the excellent of the earth, the favourites of heaven. Consider my dear girl, could I know it, or were I alive to witness it, how it would grieve my heart to know that you forsake the house of prayer. O shun gay and vain company, they will lead you aside from true happiness and God. I hope it will please the blessed Lord to spare your dear father's life, to bring you up in the fear, nurture, and admonition of the Lord. Regard your father's commands, study his happiness and interest, and then you will be studying your own. I trust he will be concerned to place you in a religious school, where your eternal interest will be attended to more than your natural endowments; endeavour then to benefit by such means and helps to your soul's welfare, and prefer the society and strict friendship of those who

are piously disposed. Be truly kind and affectionate to poor dear Samuel, whom I love with a parental tenderness; and should I leave a helpless infant, be kind to it, and as it grows in years endeavour to teach it hymns as I taught you, and what you know by your sixth year may that know at the same age. And should you live up to womanhood, endeavour to please your father in such connection as you may form, as I trust, his desire will be that you may never marry any one that is not seriously inclined; and remember, my dear, this is my dying request, that you never change your condition to unite with one that has no reverence for God and holy things; shun the society of such as are hollow professors, who talk but do not; our Lord says, "by their fruits ye shall know them;" to this dear blessed Lord I commit you, begging that he may guide you by his counsel, and afterwards receive you to glory, that so we may meet to part no more. One thing more I would say, consider death may call you away in your early bloom; then "seek the Lord while he may be found, and call upon him while he is near." And now my dear girl, adieu; weep not as without hope; be resigned to my departure; remember the Lord has a right to do as he pleases; value the dear friends you have left you, and may their prayers be heard and answered for you. This is the prayer of your affectionate mother,

SOPHIA COOKE.

P.S. Be sure never frequent plays, balls, and card parties; they belong to the prince of darkness, not to the Lord of light.

During Mrs. Cooke's withdrawment from her usual place in the family, her husband for the first time conducted family worship. This was a great pleasure to her, and she thus refers to it :

"I have long prayed that he might, and begged he would. How happy I felt at it I cannot describe."

After this period Mrs. Cooke and her husband shared the duty between them.

On October 25th, Mr. Wilks, of Norwich, came to Ingham to collect for the mission, in consequence of the fire which destroyed the printing office at Serampore. The amount collected was upwards of £19, towards which Mr. and Mrs. Cooke contributed liberally.

In 1813 the chapel at Ingham was enlarged. In this work, under the meek and zealous promptings of his wife, Mr. Cooke was very diligent and hearty. The following entry in the journal displays his liberality and zeal; and may be further useful, in leading his descendants to look for their encouragement in the service of God, to his approval, rather than to the smiles of their fellow men.

"Sunday, July 18th, 1813. I heard tolerably well, through mercy. Of late I have been uneasy about the people not being satisfied and thankful. Though so much has been done, and many have devoted so much of their time and property, yet a discontented, meddling spirit seems to have crept in; but I hope the Lord will purge it out. I have had the pleasure to see Mr. Cooke leave his own concerns with cheerfulness, and often, very often, come home to a cold dinner; he has gone to market to buy deals, and other things that were wanted, -has exerted himself to get the bricks carted,—has

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given many thousand bricks and a large sum of money,— yet has got no thanks, nor even given satisfaction. Well, it is the Lord who permits it, and I hope it will keep us humble at his feet."

For the greater part of this year her mind was much exercised on account of the serious illness of her brother James. On April 10th she writes:

"I felt very low about dear brother James, he is very poorly, and has been for advice, and the doctors say he has a liver complaint. O my dear James, may the Lord in mercy spare you, and raise you up again.

"23rd. Dear brother James came down to mother's, and I chatted with him some time; I asked him if he enjoyed religion; he wept much; he could not say that he did; he knew there was no way of salvation but through Christ, and begged I would pray that his affliction might be sanctified."

We may be fully assured that this request was complied with.

May 8th she saw him again at her own house. She says:

"Dear James is a little better, through mercy; I hope the Lord will sanctify the affliction, and spare his life. I had but little conversation with him; but the duty I owe my Lord, and the love I bear his soul, constrained me to say, 'my brother has asked me to pray for him, and if he likes I will do it now.' This was assented to, and through the goodness of the Lord I was helped through, and it seemed a weeping season both to him and his wife; O that it may be for their souls' good and God's glory."

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