Smyrna times., 1859-04-14
CORRESP ONDEN CE.
Written for The Smyrna Times.
LETTER FROM DOVER,

MR.. EpIToR:--As the season Tor speculation
has passed, in relation to the doings of the An.
nual &c inference Of the NJ. Z. Church, and as
most, if not all of the preachers have by this
time entered upon the duties of their respective
fields Of labor, ! have bethought me that il
might not be inappropriate or uninteresting to
give you and your readers u short sketch of the
man who has been sent TO "minister to us in
holy things" And, without giving detailed
account of his physique, | will endeavor to
speak OF him in connection with his first DAYS
minlstratlons among us-yesirrday. will
say, however, that DR.. Cook is about five feet.
six INCHES 10 height, and rather slightly bnit
Ills head is"grey with the frosts of many win.
ters;" his eye is calm and serene, and his car.
rage and department impress the beholder with
the idea of a man full Of the love of God. and
u deep, yearnIDg anxiety for the spiritual inter.
ests OF the human famy. But his voice-tLe
most winning charm OF the outward tnan-is of
that soft, tenor tone which. Ike the descepdino
dew, wins lis way into The very DEPTHS of The
heart, melting it into tenderness aud sympathy.
and klndng within the brsom a blessed feel.
ing, soothing in ts Influences aud glorious in
It's results. His remarks yesterday were of the
most practical charactcF-lnlended as introduc-
tory to his lie as minister amongstus In the
morning he preached from the words. " For I
determined not to know anything among you
save Jesus Christ, and him crucIfed." In con.
sldering the subject, he dwelt upon what the
Apostle to the GentiIes determined moi to know.
10 contradlstInctIon with what he determined
to know; and in considering those things which
be determined not to know, he spoke of the
mixed religions, and the various teachings and !
doctrines OF the philosophers and teachers of
the days OF the Apostle. In relation to that |
which he determined to know, he dwelt upon
the Importance of the subject which the Apos-
tie evidently desired to place as the great, pre.
eminent basis, upon which was built all irue
knowledge and wisdom. lie then made very
Impressive and practical application of the sub
Ject referring to himself IN the most touching
manner-that as he was nothing more than
mortal, and therefore liable to err, vet desirinp
to know nothing among US but Jesus Christ
and hun cruched, and desiring TO know no man
atter the flesh. In the evening, his text was,
l. Finally, brethren, lray for u, that the word
Of the Lord may have free course and be elori-
he'd" In treating of this subject, he spoke of {
some of those things which serve to obsruct 8
The free course vi the word, and remarked thai
The obstruction might be in the minister, name.
y: IN lack Of love for God or for the souls of d
men, his mlnnerSm, lack Of true vital reIl.
5lon, or IN failing to make proper preparation, =
~ prayer, study, &c; or 1t might be- and too .
'iten was the case, that the free course of the
word was Obstructed by those who were intend. :
"a TO be The Legitimate recipients Of the bless. =
ngs OF the preached word; aud in this connlc- =
ION, alluded most faithfully to those who Leard
ne word IN order TO crltlcise the propriety or
mproprlety of the composition, style pronun- "
latlon, gestures, &c; one remarked that it was =
90 metal aphysclal, anOlher too homespu1 this u
ne suggested that 1t was too ornate thut that q
was too arguneutative, &c, &C. IucODsis u
ent professors were great obstruction though >
ne minister might preach with the slartlinp n
over OF Pdul or with The burning elOQuence y
seraph, yet the word would necessarily he "
Ostructed when coming in contact W ,th the y
'ltherIng Ice-bergs Of Inconsistent professors 7,
nose lives gave the lie to their professions. -"
regular attendance upon the preaching Of the 'e
ord and neglect OF all the means Of grace p
ere lnsurmOunIable distractions, and in their 'u
lrn were probed to tbs very quick by the III
'arcblng knife OF this good man. :.
Though greatly pressed for time, will give u
nother obstruction, which ought 10 be trea. "
lred up by all professors Of Christianity. -
ameiy, the tendency Of thoughjless parents 81 81
disparaglngly upoa the sermon VI
iywhere, Dut particularly IN the presence of ."
elr children, and gave as The fruits, that the
'Ject OF preaching was to conver, children ms -,
ell as the aged that our children might he AZ
vorably impressed, aud be led to think serl. Ai
Isly OF the salvation of their souls. That WI
ry sermon, might be u1favoEably comment.d -"
ION by the parents, and the Children led to M su
eId thelr childlike Judgment TO the superior ~ :"
lo"ledge OF their parents, and thereby he in. W "
ced To GeItere that 1t was really poor ser. It ="
neutrallzlng the good effect q"
ready wrought upon their tender hearts. He
en oeautliuIly applied his subject by suggest Or
how the word might have free course and er
ally be gOrifed. "Bring We all YOUR titbes raj
70 the storehouse, that there may be meat in bu
7 house, and prove me now herewith. ga tb Ito de,
rd OF hosts, If | will not open you the VIM the
ws OF heaven, and pour you out a blessing,
~ there Shall not be room enough to contain niy
And then concluded by saying, that if tie SIC
Eat, the learned, the wise, the saInted Paul for
'uld ieel the need of the prayers of the Thrs the
onlans, how much more should he, poor fer
rm OF the dust, conscious of mis- many weak
'ses, have need 10 exclaim in all sincerity I
'Inally, brethren, pray for US that The word A!g
The Lord may have free course and be glori- OF
l." | regret exceedingly that time and hns
20 f,rI,,d mo rxtsnd,ng NV rorn.rko onr this
her, in relation 10 this devOut this holy we
!. His discourscs awakened an interest in yel
entire audience; so much so, indeed, that n
~ shed tears copously, aud the hearty sa /,
ms that arose gave uudeniable evidence that oni,
Lord was in his holy temple Truly, it was tlsI
d to be there. b. in
' Der
Written for The Smyrna Tunes hibl
Where Lies the Fault Properly. s