‘
[46]
which we have reason to fear are but the beginning of our sorrows, the loss of our civil and religious liberties, and we left to the will of arbitrary men, to those whose tender mercies are cruelty.’1
Another (No.
1328—June 14, 1772) conveys an impression that religion suffered neglect in the towns and parishes of New England at this period, for which the calamity of the time [the presence of British troops in their midst] was esteemed a judgment.
Another (No.
1336—Aug. 16, 1772) states, ‘We may well tremble under the apprehension of wicked and arbitrary power.’
In this year he preached a sermon on Eccles.
12: 14, to the youth— Sept. 13, 1772.
They were ‘professedly united for the worship of God on the evening of his day.’
Another evening sermon to the youth is dated Dec. 13, 1772, on Prov.
8: 17. In it Mr. Cooke alludes to the origin of this religious society thus:
‘It is, as I am informed, near fifty years since this society was founded.
Those who first thus united in this place to spend a part of the evening of the Lord's day in the worship of their arisen Redeemer, are probably all met in the grave, to which each-one of you with hasty steps are moving.’
The greater part of this discourse (No.
1351) was repeated as the funeral sermon of his cherished daughter, Rebecca Cooke, on Feb. 8, 1778, she having died Feb. 2, 1778, aged nineteen years.
In 1772 it was voted that the money received for sale of the old school-house, be used to help pay for fencing the burying-place.
1773
Mr. Cooke continues his exposition of Mark, and the same of
Luke.
In one of these numerous sermons he takes issue against ‘the idle ceremonies of the Church of Rome and other sectaries,’ as subversive of true religion, ‘by being substituted in the place of that holiness in heart and life which God requires.
What has the washing of cups and pots, or hands, or plunging the body in water to do with taking away the sin of the soul? * * * To make these vain inventions of men a necessary part of religion, and presumptuously break charity with all who are better instructed.’
In another, he says, ‘We have his gospel in our houses, the dispensation of his word and ordinances settled near our dwellings, so that we can come up with those that ’
