opened his heart, and by whom his doubts were solved. Each week, at the class-meeting, his mind was kept to one important point,-ɑ knowledge of forgiveness, attested by the Holy Spirit. Invited at once to the Lord's table, he was greatly encouraged while the Rev. Richard Elliott, presenting to him the cup, solemnly said, "The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life."

cry.

At length deliverance came. Whit-Sunday, A.D. 1804, was the bright day; and the domestic altar was the place. When his father ceased praying, Benjamin began, as he had been oft importuned to do. "God be merciful to me!" was his The father then resumed. "Such wrestling prayer and faith," says the son, "I never heard. In a short time the clouds dispersed; the light of heaven shone on my mind; the way of faith was opened to me; and I was enabled to cast my soul on the atoning Lamb. My burden fell off, and my soul was filled with peace and joy. I was now so happy that I could not sleep; and, when I went out the next morning, I thought the whole creation smiled." Shortly after this, he yielded to doubt, under a searching discourse upon the law; but, when he had walked in darkness for some weeks, he was enabled to recover "the beginning of his confidence," which he held "steadfast unto the end."

Of his father's instructions in the things of God he made the most; and well for him it was that he did so. For, ere the loving son saw his twentieth birthday, the excellent father fell asleep in Jesus. "As a classleader," says Mr. Cocker, “I never yet heard his equal. All bis life he had been an early riser, accustomed to spend the prime of day in reading his Bible and in prayer. One morning, being too ill to kneel at family-worship, he turned to me, and said, with a look I shall never forget, I can no longer perform this duty: thou must take my place." The day before his death he sent for me from my work, and said, 'Benjamin, I feel a deep impression that God will employ thee in some way for the benefit of the church and the world. I have discovered the germ of native talent, which, if improved, will fit thee for usefulness. Do not quench the Spirit. Work for God where thou canst. Engage heartily in prayer-meetings; and try occasionally to give a word of exhortation. Never allow self to dictate, nor aim at imitating others; but use thy own language, in thy own easy and natural way.'" This dying charge was faithfully kept.

The guardianship of an impoverished and now bereaved family of eight, including the sick mother, devolved upon this Christian of a year old. Early and late he wrought, beyond his strength, to provide for them; returning oft to his loom from a week-evening sermon or class-meeting, and taking his frugal meals in the least possible time; yet "oft so filled with the love of God," to use his own words, "that tears of real joy fell plentifully upon the cloth" he "was weaving." After several years of widowhood and suffering, the mother died in great peace. A native of Birstal, she was converted to God in early life, and attended the band-meetings conducted by Miss Bosanquet, afterwards Mrs. Fletcher. "As the lamp of life was sinking down," her

dutiful son writes, "the holy flame, lit up at Cross-Hall, blazed out in all its brilliancy."

Benjamin was now a class-leader, and could not dismiss the conviction that he ought to preach. "But," he writes, "I felt myself quite unfit to teach others, never having had five shillings' schooling in my life." In February, 1811, he consented, yet very reluctantly, to supply the place of an afflicted preacher, by giving an exhortation at Lepton. He was importuned to preach there in the afternoon of the same day; an old disciple remarking, that "this young man bad a sling and a stone." It was not, however, until the 25th of the following May,exactly fifty years and a day before his death, that he ventured to take a text. Of his next effort his own record is as follows:-" The softening power of God came down: we had a blessed time. From that day I felt it was the will of God that I should preach; and, notwithstanding many discouragements, I have continued to the present." On the Plan of the Huddersfield Circuit, including Holmfirth, &c., &c., a Local preacher's work at that time averaged four and twenty Sabbaths in every twenty-six. But, while health permitted, Mr. Cocker cheerfully took his full share. By the Rev. John Braithwaite he was urged to offer himself as a candidate for the ministry; but he deemed his want of education an insuperable objection; although he acknowledged, in subsequent years, that, had the Theological Institution been then in existence, he might have consented. Two of his early advisers were indiscreet enough to counsel him to make no preparation for the pulpit, but to expect what he should say to be Divinely suggested at the time; alleging that they themselves oft knew not what was to be their text, even while singing the second hymn! These enthusiastic persons might have done him lasting injury, but for the guidance of the Rev. John Kershaw and Jonathan Brown. Henceforward it was his study to show himself "approved unto God, a workman needing not to be ashamed;" and several remarkable conversions were the fruit of his labours.

Having been employed for nine or ten years as a weaver of woollens, by a firm at Dalton, he one day took in three pieces of cloth; when the senior partner, after measuring and examining them, was pleased to compliment him upon his integrity and accuracy. Nor was this all. A responsible situation in the establishment soon becoming vacant, he applied for it, was at once accepted, and continued to discharge its duties for twenty-nine years, to the entire satisfaction of the principals; assisting in all departments of the concern, and witnessing its enlargement and prosperity. "I now found myself in full employment," he states; "having the care of two classes, together with a great deal of preaching. And, the more I did for God, the happier I was in my own soul."

Hitherto the Methodists of Almondbury had attended the Huddersfield chapel, at a distance of two miles. But in 1815 they fitted up a room, that their neighbours also might hear the good word of God. And, although the members were but twenty-five in number, and of the labouring class, they began seriously to contemplate the erection

of a chapel. Great were the difficulties they had to surmount. The scheme was denounced as " a wild chimera;" and the Superintendent, the late Rev. George Sargent, failed not to remind them, that "if they built by faith, they must pay the debt by works." After much prayer, Mr. Cocker, and another of the worthy band, ventured to wait upon a landed proprietor, and obtained the promise of an eligible site. Invaluable aid was afforded them by the late Mr. Thornton, of the neighbouring town, who laid the foundation-stone in July, 1816. The original dimensions, being deemed too limited, were extended by fifteen feet, involving an additional outlay of £300. “We were too dilatory," writes Mr. Cocker, "in getting in our subscriptions. A serious change took place in trade, and many were unable to pay what they had promised; so that we lost nearly £150.”

The first service held in this new sanctuary was a prayer-meeting at six in the morning of Christmas-day, when nearly three hundred persons were present,—several of whom were then awakened. Not until the following April were the pews completed; and at once they were all let. On Whit-Sunday, 1817, dedicatory sermons were preached by the Rev. David M'Nicoll and William M'Kitrick, when the small sum of £20 was collected. But a glorious work of conversion ensued, during which Mr. Cocker's class increased from twenty-five to seventy members. He urged the Superintendent of the Circuit to divide it; but was answered, "Things have prospered very well under your administration ; and I do not think of taking them out of your hands." Mr. Cocker adds: "I struggled on a little longer; then, for the first time in my life, I was compelled to do what I knew was not Methodistical: -I selected four persons whom I thought most qualified." At his next visit, however, the Superintendent fully concurred in this preliminary arrangement, and duly appointed the four brethren to office. Within one year a hundred members were added. In order to furnish these babes with mental and spiritual aliment, Mr. Cocker obtained contributions for the purchase of suitable books, which were exchanged weekly, and well read. Shortly afterwards a large room in a warehouse was rented, and fitted up as a Sabbath-school.

"All this," says he, "threw more and more upon my hands. I then had to leave home for business at half-past five every morning; often with difficulty returning in time for class or other meetings, which occupied nearly all my evenings. After a hard Saturday's work, I sat up till one, two, or three o'clock, to prepare for the Sabbath....... When I had no appointment, and was seated with all my family in our pew, I thought myself the happiest man in the world.-For years things went on well at Almondbury; but afterwards came a sifting time, and we had a falling off both in the Society and the congregation. This I attribute to the misconduct of a member, which rendered the Christian profession odious to the world." Owing to these and other adverse circumstances, the debt upon the chapel increased, until, in 1830, it amounted to £860; while the income had diminished from £79 to £31. 'You will soon have to make your chapel into a woolwarehouse," was the taunt of some who wished not well to the cause.

But, under the able superintendency of the Rev. Dr. Hannah, this debt was reduced to less than half its amount,-a relief which inspired the Society with new life and energy, and was followed, the next year, by a gracious revival.

1833, the subject of this "He knelt and began to

During a painful and alarming illness, in record was one day visited by his brother. pray. He wrestled till he felt confident that I should recover; as, from that very time, I did. After about half a year I was enabled, though with great difficulty, to reach the Cowms chapel. Here my sufferings and mercies passed so vividly before me, that I could not rest in the pew, but ascended the pulpit, and requested the preacher to allow me to address the congregation; which I did, for twenty-five minutes, on Isaiah xxxviii. 20: The Lord was ready to save me therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the Lord.' Hardly ever have I seen a congregation so deeply affected; and even the children wept."*

In later life years of chastening were appointed to this excellent man. In 1845 he was bereaved of a daughter, who for sixteen years had been numbered with the Lord's people, and had long languished under a spinal disease. On the day of her departure she said, “ Father, I am going. Hallelujah! I shall soon be in heaven. What a glorious deliverance for poor Tabitha!"

A year after this trial Mr. Cocker became affected with asthma. Under date of March 19th, 1847, he makes the following record :— "I was so ill that I could scarce pray; yet I continued on my knees as long as I could. And, glory be to His name! the Lord answered for Himself. O, what views I had of the loving Father, the redeeming Son, and the sanctifying Spirit! In deep humility, and in entire dependence upon the atonement, I was enabled to cast my whole soul upon Him; and I felt a melting, overwhelming manifestation of the Divine presence, such as I had never before known. I feel I am the Lord's. Here is no delusion: all is clear. The Lord has fully sanctified my soul. This glorious blessing I have enjoyed for some time; but now I feel the full evidence of it, sealed with the Holy Spirit. Never before did I so understand the words of the venerable Fletcher, Stay Thine hand, for Thy servant is but a clay vessel.'"

After a happy union of four and thirty years, he was suddenly bereaved of his wife, in 1849. Forty years she had been a member of the Methodist Society. "In every possible way," records the heart-stricken widower, "she studied my interests, and anticipated my A better mother never lived to bless a family. For a long time I had observed [in her] a greater spirituality of mind. My bleeding heart would say, Thy will be done.' O my God, how wonderfully

wants.

* Several particulars in these paragraphs will now be read with some surprise. Yet each may convey its moral; and, altogether, they throw a vivid illustration on a phase of our church's past history. Happy, if, with many improvements in order and discipline, the more highly favoured Methodists of this generation retain the godly simplicity and fervour of their venerable predecessors.-EDITORS.

didst Thou support me!"Before the close of that year of mourning it was Mr. Cocker's lot to follow to the grave his brother, aforementioned. Before his conversion William had been the most irreligious and obdurate member of the family; but he was subsequently a classleader twenty years, and a Local preacher fifteen. "Many years he lived in the enjoyment of purity of heart. His last words were, 'A precious Christ, and a clear prospect."

At the close of 1851 Mr. Cocker indulges the following retrospect:"In the last forty years I have preached between two and three thousand sermons; I have travelled some thousands of miles, in all sorts of weather; I have watched over a part of the flock of God, and laboured hard in prayer-meetings longer still. But I have no account against my Maker. I am a poor, unprofitable servant; and all my hope is in the mercy of God, through the atonement."

In the autumn of 1854 he settled at Mirfield, in the Dewsbury Circuit; and he was able to preach a few times before the winter. When a little over threescore years and ten, he called to see an old friend in Huddersfield, but found that he had triumphantly exchanged mortality for life some months before,-having been preceded by a son and two daughters, who had all been converted in early life, and had departed in the full assurance of faith, after a consistent church-membership of several years. "Thank God," writes Mr. Cocker, "another of the fruits of my poor labours is gathered safe to heaven. Nearly forty years ago he left his house one Sabbath evening, wandered without any object in view till he reached Queen-street chapel, entered it, and to his surprise found me, whom he well knew, in the pulpit. The word came to him with power. Deeply convinced of sin, he returned home, sought and found mercy, and joined the Society; in which he was a useful class-leader for thirty following years. I well remember pacing the room that evening, before service, in a state of mind bordering upon distraction; then falling upon my knees, and, after changing my text, going to the pulpit, where a Divine influence came upon me, and I was assisted to deliver my message."

On Whit-Monday, 1859, the following record was inserted in his journal :-"For three quarters of a year unable to get to chapel, till yesterday. I have always tried to make my Sabbaths as profitable as I could by reading and prayer. But none, except those who have spent Sabbath after Sabbath at home, can estimate the high advantage of being able to attend the public worship of God. For the last fiftyfive years Whit-Sunday has been a memorable day to me,-my spiritual birthday. Throughout the whole of this Sabbath I was in a blessed frame of mind."

ence.

On his last birthday he wrote thus:-"I cannot live upon past experi I want these glorious visitations every day; I know it is my privilege. But, when I am upon my knees, full of strong desires and earnest pleadings, feeble humanity fails in the struggle. O my God! Thou knowest the way that I take; and, when Thou hast tried me, Thou shalt bring me forth as gold."

In April, 1861, the second wife of this good man died in peace,