Evangelical Magazine and Missionary Chronicle

and Spafields. In December, 1799, Alley, Mary's Abbey, Usher's Quay, or Dr. Haweis strongly expressed his de- Alderman Hutton's dining-rooms, until sire that he should accompany the the 3rd of July, when he left Dublin missionaries in February of the follow and set ont on his missionary tour ing year, as an inspector, visiting the through the south of Ireland. He Cape, Port Jackson, Otaheite, China, preached at each of the following places: and Bengal, and to return, bringing the -Bray, Enniskerry, Newtown Mount report of the brethren to England. It Kennedy, Wicklow, Arklow, Gorey, Enwas not the Lord's will, however, that niscorthy, Newtown Barry, Ross, Waterhe should go.

ford, Carrick-on-Suir, Cashel, Clonmel, In January, 1800, when in Bath, he Thurles, Cork, and Roscrea. In most received a letter from the Rev. J. of these places he was well received, Walker,* the minister of Bethesda Cha- although often meeting with great oppel (Episcopalian), Dublin, conveying position, not only from the Roman the request of the General Evangelical Catholic priests, but from nominal ProSociety of Dublin, that he should re- testants. His life was repeatedly in new his visit to Ireland, with a view to danger. Threatening notices were sent carrying on the great work he had to him; and the priests denounced him commenced. He did not immediately from the altar. None of these things reply; wbereupon the Rev. G. Hamil- alarmed or deterred him from pursuing ton, of Armagh, added his entreaties, his Master's work. In no instance did and authorized him to procure two or he change his plan or place of preaching three helpers in the same glorious work. because of the threatening appearances After some unavoidable delay, he deter- around him. Neither were the people mined to revisit the Emerald Isle. held back from hearing him. They Leaving Bath, he proceeded to Ebley came in thousands from their native in Gloucestershire, where he was en- hills and valleys in several instances abled to preach with great power. walking many miles—following himfrom Thence he went to Portsmouth, for the place to place, and often putting thempurpose of visiting his missionary bre- selves in posts of danger to defend him thren, and bidding them adieu. At from injury. Brighton he preached twice on his

way

He returned to Dublin, where he was to London, where he remained a fort- more popular than ever. Crowds flocked night, addressing crowded congrega- to hear him. He remained here until tions.

after the birth of his second son, Henry. Once more parting with his dear and In January, 1801, he went to Limerick; valued friends, he left England, accom- and while there received a letter from panied by his wife and son, and also by the Rev. J.Walker, giving him directions the Rev. William Gregory (who was from the committee to proceed in his captured in the ship Duff). They landed itinerancy. He forthwith complied, safely in Dublin on Friday, June 13th, preaching in Ennis, Gort, Newtown, 1800; and on the following Sabbath Clare, Tuam, Aughrim, Ballina, EyreMr. Cooper commenced, or rather re- court, Banagher, Beir, Tullamoro, Kilsumed, his labours, by preaching in beggan, Philipstown, Rathangan, ProsMary's Abbey in the morning, and in perous Celbridge, Maynooth, Leislip, Plunket-street Meeting-house in the and Lucan, arriving once

more in evening. He continued preaching every Dublin. Thus he continued from time day either in Plunket-street, Swift's to time with heart-cheering success. * Formerly a Fellow of Trinity College,

In July of this year, the Bishop of and editor of an edition of Lucian, and other Limerick offered him episcopal ordinaworks.

tion. His friends in Dublin, especially

Messrs. Walker and Kelly,* were most In November, 1801, he received a anxious he should accept it, as a means very pressing call from the congreof extending his usefulness. Perplexed, gation assembling in Plunket - street he wrote to his faithful and revered Meeting-house.* The unwillingness friend, Dr. Haweis, in whose reply are of his friends in England, that he contained the following words: -"I should permanently settle in Ireland, certainly advise you to receive episcopal caused him to hesitate ; but another ordination under the circumstances you and more pressing invitation in April, mention, as a very great additional 1802, decided his acceptance of the means of opening doors of usefulness pastoral charge there, which he susfor you; and if my suffrage and attesta- tained for nearly twenty-six years. tion to your character will not injure, The zeal and energy of character, the instead of benefiting you, I shall send bold, undaunted, and enterprising spirit it in the fullest manner. With respect of the highly gifted servant of God, to the cure proposed, or rather sine- seemed to have marked him out as cure, I see no reason for your declining more peculiarly adapted for missionary it; and certainly shall wish you employed work ; but when, in the providence of where you can be most useful, whether God, his sphere of usefulness became in England or Ireland. . . . . I think more confined and centralized, as the the labourer, in your case especially, is chosen pastor of the congregation asworthy of his hire, and rather wonder sembling in Plunket-street, his great that the Society which has courted you and diversified powers drew wondering to Ireland, should not in the most libe- and admiring thousands.

His comral manner strengthen you for the work. manding appearance, the fascination

. . Consult Mr. Walker as my own of his manner, the clear and silvery self, and be guided by his advice. tones of his powerful voice, his intense Beware only of self-will and self-com- earnestness, and the force and eloquence plaisance. ... You have known popu- of his language, while holding forth to larity long enough to be tried, to be his attentive audience the words of tempted, and to groan, being burdened. eternal life, with a power which could Ah! my dear Cooper, all safety is to be have proceeded only from one who had found lying low at the cross, and in himself been taught of God, made him the growing discovery of the deceitful- the most popular preacher of his time. ness of sin, and how it is wound around Even in the present day, William every fibre of the fallen heart. I pray Cooper's preaching is well remembered, for you, my dear son, and leave you in and often spoken of with rapture. Althe best hands, [of Him] who is able to though enduring great opposition, and keep you from falling, and to present repeatedly threatened by the infuriated you faultless before His presence in Roman Catholics, whose errors and glory with exceeding great joy." Still abominations he lashed with unsparing having doubts on his mind, he visited severity during each season of Lent, he the north of Ireland, and afterwards continued his course of lectures, drawwent to Scotland, in order that he mighting crowds of these deluded people. examine and study the subject of churcb Many afterwards confessed to himself government. He returned fully satis- and to others, that they had attended fied of the Scriptural nature of his for the purpose of injuring him and former ordination by Dr. Haweis, and causing disturbance, but had remained consequently refused to accept any other.

* The history of this place of worship is

identified with that of evangelical godliness * Author of " A Plea for Primitive Chris- in Dublin from the times of the Commontianity," &c. 12mo. Dublin, 1815.

wealth.

quiet, struck with the force of his arguments drawn directly from the fountain of truth. Conviction reached the hearts of many, and chained them to the spot. It is due to the interests of truth, and to the purposes at which Christian biography should ever aim, that we should not omit to notice the infirmities which encompassed this highly gifted man and active labourer in Christ's vineyard. He was sorely tempted and tried of Satan. He knew and felt the inward corruptions of his own heart, and deeply deplored the firmly seated pride of his nature-the unbending spirit which could endure no control, and at times made him many enemies. He mourned and grieved over the irritability and impetuosity of temper he too often displayed, and which was never wholly subdued. In the moments of despondency which sometimes oppressed him, he trembled lest those faults and failings should prove a stumbling-block to his hearers, and hinder their reception of that gospel of which he had been so many years a minister; and in the words of Paul he would exclaim-What if, after having "preached to others, I myself should be a castaway"!

In March, 1828, a stroke of paralysis deprived him of the power of collected speech, thereby rendering him unfit for pulpit service. The remainder of his years on earth was passed in comparative seclusion; but notwithstanding the deep inroads which disease had made on his intellectual powers, those around him, in his own family circle, had the happi

ness of observing that, through all impediments, his full ripening for glory was manifest as he approached nearer to the grave. Though bowed down by the paralysis which put an end to his labours, he yet retained to the last his ministerial spirit. To a loved friend he one day said, when speaking of the subject of preaching so near his heart, "Should it please God to enable me to preach again, CHRIST would be my only subject."

He gently fell asleep on January 22, 1848. His remains were deposited in the small grave-yard behind Zion Chapel. At the interment, the Rev. Dr. Urwick delivered an impressive address. Revs. W. Foley and J. Stroyan, of Dublin, and W. Tarbotton, of Limerick, also took part in the services.

The following is the inscription on the tablet referred to in a preceding note:To the memory of

THE REV. WILLIAM COOPER,
For twenty-five years Pastor of the Independ-
ent Church assembling in Plunket-street
Meeting House, in this city.
The attainment of his twentieth year (Aug.
28, 1796) was signalized
By his preaching to the Jews in London.
In 1799 he visited this country,
"And, for the space of three years,
Went through the towns preaching the Gospel."
His zeal was ardent and untiring,
His eloquence most powerfully impressive,
And his intrepid spirit feared no danger.
He may justly be named

THE EVANGELIST OF IRELAND,
Through whose labours

"A great number believed, and turned to
the Lord."

He died Jan. 22, 1848, aged 71 years.

Prepare to meet thy God.

BEGINNING THE YEAR WELL. A NEW YEAR'S ADDRESS.

Another year has flown away,-
Eternity has swallow'd all:-its scenes,
Its changes, sorrows, joys-all which sadden'd
Or enliven'd, are gone, and gone for ever;
How must this commence ?"

VOICE OF THE YEARS.

IN entering on a new era of our

existence, we commence a season o deep and peculiar solemnity, especially when we contemplate the duties which it may involve-the trials which may be realised during its continuance-and the bereavements which may be sus

tained; it, therefore, behoves us, as reflective and responsible beings, to approach it, and enter on it, under the influence of pensive and serious emotions, and not with the thoughtlessness, the flippancy, and the merriment of the fool.

strength, in dependence on our own unaided resources, but in simple, in unhesitating reliance on the omnipotence of that Spirit who, by his grace, will fit us for every scene, prepare us for every labour, uphold us under every trial, whatever its pungency.

The period, moreover, when we enter on another revolving year-and that year comprehending so much which is eventful to us in the present life, and bearing so closely, and, indeed, inseparably, on the future and eternal existence to which we are looking forward—is one associated with great and awful responsibility; and we cannot commence it aright without a sense of that responsibility being most powerfully felt, and prompting to the performance of every incumbent duty, as well as to bold and courageous grappling with every difficulty, temptation, and adversary. In the providence of God, we are spared to witness the flight of the past year, and to hail the arrival of the present, -and it is of the utmost moment, that we should form and express an individual and solemn determination ministers and people-parents and children-masters and servants-teach-culties of the year, marked, frequently,

Now, to begin the year well, we must commence it,

First, with Solemn Retrospection. We must look back. We must carefully re| view our past history. We must impartially scrutinise our past conduct. We must "remember the way in which the Lord our God has been leading us," however rugged, intricate, and trying that way might have been felt or deemed by us. We must attentively mark the dealings, the varied arrangements, of Divine Providence, and see how, with everything pleasing or painful, under every aspect, luminous or dark, all events have been necessary for us, and all designed for our good.

ers and learners, namely, that we will

Begin the Year Well.

This resolution is most proper and wise. Nothing can be more becoming, rational, and just.

This determination is most expedient and desirable-nothing can be more connected with our happiness, or conducive, in every sense, to our best interests.

This resolve is most important and necessary, that character may be exemplified-that conduct may be regulated and improved that excellence may be attained and increased. It is a resolution, however, which must spring from enlightened sentiments, which must be guided and moulded by the Word of God-and which must be expressed and maintained, not in our own

We must recur to the scenes of the past year, so chequered, and, frequently, so gloomy and lurid; we must dwell on the temptations of the year, often so powerful and seducing-on the diffi

by extreme breadth and intricacy; on the afflictions, the sicknesses of the year, not only numerous and painful, but sometimes, perhaps, almost overwhelming. We must review the mercies of the year, and observe how our tables have been supplied - how our lives have been preserved - how our families have been blest-how our fears have been removed - and how every desirable communication has been imparted.

We must consider how we have been aided, while discharging the duties of the past year - personal, domestic, relative engagements-whatever might have been their arduousness, complication, or importance.

We can never commence the year properly without this solemn retrospection, and, especially, without looking

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