Daviot Free Manse, 23rd February, 1853.
My Dear Sir, — I long much to hear from you — I hope I have not offended you — and also to hear how your sister is, whether she is getting better. We here are in our ordinary state, attending on our different callings. The command is, “Occupy till I come.” He says this to all — all have some different calling in which they may do good or evil. There is fear put in the gracious soul of his being found a barren branch, also a sense of coming behind in all things he does. He often thinks, if a spiritually minded person were in my place how much good he might do. This keeps the gracious soul about the door of mercy. He has nothing to plead but “Be merciful to me a sinner.” This keeps him low in his own eyes, keeps the people of God highly esteemed, as to have something of the spirit that washes their feet, that covereth their infirmities, that would relieve their wants, that chooses to suffer with them, and to enjoy their company through eternity. I have been going through the people in the way of catechising, from the beginning of November till last week, and have about eight weeks work yet. At times I feel it heavy as to body and mind. At other times I feel it very sweet and refreshing even to my body. Indeed, I do not believe I would live long if I were idle. Was ten times last week more tired than when engaged the whole week. Yet, after all, I see myself doing nothing; so little fruit seen after my labours that I often consider myself a barren tree, a cumberer of the ground; and were it not that the Saviour is able to save to the uttermost, and there are the free call and offers of the gospel, I would have no hope, but He is able to save, and has a fellow feeling with sinners. “He having suffered, being tempted, is able to succour them who are tempted.” “He has the tongue of the learned that He should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary.” “When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Jacob will not forsake them.” They will be made to find the faithfulness of these words. His love depends not on their feelings, and they will be made to confess it. The church said, “The Lord has forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me;” but, “Can a woman forget her sucking child
that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, but I will not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee on the palms of my hands.” This is very unlike the experience of the church at that time, thinking her Lord had forsaken and forgotten her, yet, “I have graven thee on the palms of my hands.” What could be nearer and more visible to Him than that? Those of the saints who went home to their eternal rest were made to go through a weary wilderness, wrestling with unbelief, hardness, barrenness, vain and sinful thoughts, unthankfulness, disobedience, a corrupt nature which cleaved to created objects, so that they considered themselves the chief of sinners. Yet they found the Saviour always unchanged, faithful to His promise, full of fellow-feeling, condescension, and love, as to be at times as the dew in their retired corners, nearer to them than they expected, a present help in times of need, worthy of the name of a Saviour, a hiding-place, the shadow of a great rock in a weary land; His word always new, refreshing, supporting, healing, raising Himself up in their heart and affections. And they must at last confess that He is the same, and worthy of being trusted with their souls. Grace be with you. — Yours sincerely,
Archd. Cook.