* * * * *
The above was also sent to his friend, the Rev. John Cooper, accompanied
by the following letter:—
Yardley, June 26, 1826.
My dear Friend,
I FEEL that I ought not any longer to keep you in ignorance of my recent
decision respecting Madeley, though from what my brother has told me as
to inquiries made for you in London, I have no expectation of the
situation being really desirable to you. Nor, indeed, if it were so,
would the time of your leaving your present charge admit of your
accepting it; for some one will, no doubt, be immediately engaged, and to
whom I would surrender as soon as might be required. Our own movements,
as I have expressed in the accompanying circular, are quite uncertain; my
wife, however, seems strongly to incline towards the neighbourhood of
Clifton, in which spot she wishes to be permanently established. It is
probable, therefore, that we shall bend our steps thither, and when
somewhat established I will try to obtain some light permanent duty in
the neighbourhood. “Que Dieu nous dirige,” is the frequent aspiration of
my too solicitous mind—_too_ solicitous; for if I knew all the gracious
intentions of a God of love concerning us, I should peacefully leave
everything to his all-wise disposal, without the least degree of
restlessness or fear.
With respect to dear Madeley, I need scarcely add, that should you know
any one who strikes you as being suitable, and to whom the situation
would be agreeable, I should feel obliged by your mentioning it to him,
and getting him to communicate with Mr. G— on the subject.
We beg our very kindest and Christian regards to yourself and Mrs. C,
and, with much affection,
Believe me, my dear Friend,
Yours very sincerely,
G. M.
* * * * *
After receiving the above with its enclosed circular, Mr. Cooper wrote to
his friend as follows:—
Wherwell, June 29, 1826.
My dear Friend,
I WAS not prepared for the intelligence contained in your very kind
letter of the 26th, having hoped, from the improvement of your health at
the date of your previous letter, that you would shortly return to your
important charge at Madeley, and that you might have continued there many
years, an instrument of blessing others, and being _increasingly_ blessed
yourself in your work. But, I doubt not, all is well and wisely ordered,
and will add my affectionate though feeble prayers that you may be
divinely directed in all things.
Your letter, the end of February last, left it doubtful, whether Mr. A.
B— might not have finally determined to become your assistant in the
parish; and, prior to your last favour, I was looking to hear from you
next month, to know how this matter had terminated, in order that I might
judge whether the expectation of being associated with you, which I had
not entirely relinquished, might not be realized. I now beg to state,
that, owing to the inquiries of a beloved clerical brother, two curacies
have been offered to me within the present month, both of which I have
declined. And now, my dear friend, I put it to you, whether you think
Madeley is such a post as would suit one with such slender ministerial
qualifications as I deeply feel that I possess; and whether you think
your parishioners would be disposed to receive me favourably? If you do,
I leave myself in God’s hand and yours, desiring that _He_ may do with me
as seemeth good in His sight; and requesting _you_ to take such steps as
you may judge proper. The difficulty as to the time of resigning my
present cure may probably be got over soon after Michaelmas; my vicar
having said, when last I saw him, that he would release me on reasonable
notice, if anything eligible should be offered to me: still I wish to
remain in my present sphere as long as I conveniently can. Having said
thus much, I will only add that Madeley has been regarded by me for many
years as a spot peculiarly sacred; it is still more endeared to me by the
consideration that my beloved and highly esteemed friend has been
labouring for ten years in that favoured scene of the apostolical
Fletcher’s ministry.
I wait with interest, but not with any anxiety, to hear from you the
result of my present communication. Believe me ever,
My dear Friend,
Yours very affectionately,
JOHN COOPER.