BEING A FEW WORDS BY T. SIDNEY COOPER, R.A., C. V. O.
Born 1803. Born again 1889.
MUSINGS ON MY EIGHTY-SIXTH BIRTHDAY.
ANOTHER birthday dawns, the eighty-sixth.
How little take we note of fleeting time!
Since last this day of joyful glee was here
What blessings have been mine! Alas, how oft
Have unrequited been! The cares of life
Engross my thought, when holy things my heart
Should fill. Thou who hast made my way of life
So full of mercies, be Thou still my help,
When o'er this day of life the night shall fall,
And called my feet to pass through ways unknown,
Be near me still. Be Thou my strength; and, when
The walls decay, leave not the tenant lone,
But by Thy Spirit, comfort and uphold.
I have but Thee. I have no claim of gate
Of pearl, or street of glittering gold, but through
Thy boundless grace, my good and 'bad are both
Forgiven. In humble, fitting place, among
The many mansions, where there is no sin,
And by Thy crystal river, flowing on
Through heaven's green expanse, sing the new
And holy song of "Worthy is the Lamb,"
And 'neath the healing tree shall find that life
Wished for so long! (Rev. 22:1, 2.)
T. SIDNEY COOPER.
September 26th, 1889.
"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." (Isa. 53:3.)
No tongue can tell, nor human heart conceive
Thy woe, O Lord, as Thou didst tread the path
For man's redemption, yet despised. Those deeds
Of love divine broadcast were sown; by man
Rejected; yet in that bright realm above
Thou wilt reveal the secrets of Thy path
To all who loved Thee here; to all Thy grace
Hath won, Thou wilt bestow heaven's wealth.
Who but Thyself, Lord, couldst have borne our sins, and saved
Us from eternal wrath, to know Thy joy,
And see Thee in the glory as Thou art?
T. SIDNEY COOPER.
July, 1895.
BORN in wealth, reared in luxury, abounding in (so-called) pleasure, without desire for or thought of God, the younger son demands and receives his portion, and seeks a far-off clime, regardless of a father's love. Soon plunged into the vortex of immoderate excitement he is brought to ruin.
Alas! a beggar is the rich man's son. So long as he was in wealth, no care or anxiety had he, but now by famine stricken, under a burning sun, he herded swine, of all occupations the most abject.
We know not what thoughts came into his heart; but sorrow and sickness oft open memory's gates. The warning of a father's love, or soft endearing of a mother's kiss, or dreams of home, where bread was plenty and to spare, or, may we say, the grace of God awoke the heart to say, “Father, I have sinned. I will arise and go, he will not say me nay." “And he arose, and came," in rags and nakedness, in hunger and in thirst, and shoeless feet, but lo! the father runs to embrace his long-lost son. No greetings cold awaited him, but kisses of forgiving love. The robe, the ring, the sandals, tell the welcome home.
And thus it is with all who turn to Jesus in their need—helpless, crushed and stricken though they be. He only waits the word 66 BEFORE THEE I HAVE SINNED," and straight the sinner is enfolded in the Saviour's arms. Unfathomable love and power divine are his, a robe of righteousness adorns the supplicant, the feast of love prepared, the angelic shout of welcome rings through the courts of heaven, the eternal joy begun." For this my son was dead, and is alive again, was lost, is found." “Likewise I say unto you, There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." (Luke 15)
T. SIDNEY COOPER.
To the Editor of the "MONTHLY REPORTER.”
April.
DEAR SIR,—You ask me what I think of the Bible. It brought me to see I was lost in sin, and had no power to save myself. It showed how I must get God's forgiveness for all my iniquity, It told me the door of mercy was open, and salvation was to be freely had.
It showed me the wonderful sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and through His precious blood all my sins are washed away. "For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Cor. 5:21.)
I am thankful to say I read the Bible daily at 9, at 1, and at 10 p.m., and would recommend your readers to do the same.
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) T. SIDNEY COOPER.
(1803-1899.)
January 22nd, 1900.
My dear Husband said when very ill in bed:—
Dictated.
“As I lie here, I think of God as all-powerful and all-patient. He does not hurry any of His purposes, He worketh all things after the counsel of His own will,' and therefore it is useless to think the power of man can 'supersede the purpose of God. I do believe that if God blesses not the remedy offered, it is of no avail. All the little man can do is an atom compared with the infiniteness of God. The Great Physician, Jesus Christ, has the remedy for every malady: life for the dead; hearing for the deaf; sight for the blind; above all, the power of curing the soul. He says, Come unto ME, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.' (Matt. 11:28.) It is only to hear the gospel; a living faith in His atonement. It is the breath that has come from Christ. If you do not believe in Him you frustrate the very purpose for which He shed His blood. ‘The peace of God,' how do you know it? It has no shape, no substance; it comes over the heart without effort, and brings with it perfect light. I can only compare it to the early dew of a summer, morning. There is no fear. It is all glorious. I can give it no other name than ' the love of God.' There is the sweet sense that ALL the sins are gone; nothing but tranquility and rest.”
February 6th, 1900.
Spoken in calmness to the LORD when suffering greatly.
“O God, in Thy mercy comfort me with Thy love, shed it o'er me, that I may feel it sustaining me, for it is Thy greatest attribute. The Scriptures say 'God is love; if I have Thy love, what can destroy me? Nothing, it is the sure foundation of eternal happiness. It is a long life I have had, and marvelously varied; storms and tranquility, sunshine and shadow; but Thou hast brought me through it all, and 'I am a wonder unto many.' I have long known how to rely on Thee. Thou hast been my strong refuge; may Thy love cheer me the little bit of the path left. Lord Jesus Christ, I want Thee to support me through this dreadful malady. I have full faith in Thy atonement; I am confident of Thy help. I am all contrition and humility, and the precious blood I fully rely on. I have no fear, as I go on through the valley. Give me full submission to Thy holy will. I have the peace of God, and the love of God in my soul. Lord Jesus, Thy strength is perfected in my weakness, and Thou wilt uphold me, and help me to endure. I am cleansed in Thy blood, and Thou dost comfort me with the blessed assurance that ALL my sins were obliterated at the Cross. Thou dost comfort me, Thou art the source of my comfort, I have no other, I want no other; may I have an easy issue into Thy presence above.”
March, 1901.
I HAVE to record the goodness of God in bringing my husband through another serious illness. He was in his room seven weeks, and suffered greatly from bronchial and gastric catarrh. I have treasured up a few precious words that fell from his lips, as they tell of the work of God in his soul, and I trust they will be used for His glory.
On one occasion the doctor said, "Everyone is asking how you are, Mr. Cooper.”
He replied, " It is very kind, but I am less anxious they should hear about my health, than that they should hear that God has rescued me by the blood of His beloved Son for an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for me. I want everyone to know that I am going to enjoy that inheritance -with Christ.”
I was writing to a friend who wished to hear of him, and said, "What message have you?”
“Tell her that I have full confidence in the mercy of God, both for soul and body, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.”
One day he was speaking of the certainty of salvation, and said, "If anyone asks me how I know that I am saved, I should say I know it better than if I had heard an angel out of heaven say so, for I might make a mistake about that, but I cannot make a mistake about the WORD OF GOD. The Lord Jesus said, All that the Father giveth ME, shall come to ME [and I have come to Him]; and him that cometh to ME, I will; n no wise cast out.' (John 6) The Father has made my soul a present to His Son, and I know that He will not take me away from Him.”
A friend said to him, "We must prepare for death.”
He replied, "The cross of the Lord Jesus Christ has done that for me.”
In conversation he said, "I have been thinking of the infinite distance between a holy God and a guilty sinner, but what intense delight to know the death of Jesus has bridged the distance, and made a highway unto the presence of God.”
Dictated.
THE resurrection day, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, the sure foundation of eternal life. Millions are rejoicing, and we trust that the preaching of the gospel this day will be as seed sown on good ground, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and will take root, and bud and bloom in many a soul for eternal glory. This the sixth week I have been shut in this room with a severe malady, not able even to go outside the chamber door. I have had continual prayer with my God and Saviour as to it. I abstain from any murmuring or impatience, or from questioning the authority of God, and I have earnestly prayed for grace to keep me so. I desire to maintain an abiding reliance on God's mercy, and that I may be able in the fullness of confidence to endure these circumstances, that they may not have any influence to prevent me having the joyful assurance that I have, through the Redeemer's blood, the indestructible conviction that all my sins are washed away, and that He will not allow these sufferings to interfere with my devotion to His holy will: I looked out of my window to-day, and could see my sheep cropping the tender grass in tranquility and comfort, the bright gleams of sunshine cheering all nature with joy and light. Oh! how I longed to be out for a little while to enjoy the beautiful atmosphere in exchange for my bedroom; I longed to be in the meadows and bask in the health-giving sunshine and to see the glories of God's creation, or to wander under the shadow of the gnarled willows, whose finger-like foliage moved by the gentle breeze, fans the nerves with peace and health. No sound heard save the silvery ripple of the pebbly brook, where often I have passed the time in studying the varied beauties of picturesque groups of trees, river, hill, and brilliant skies. Alas! that is not now the case with me... but I return to my chair in the full admiration of the wonderful creation of God, and in full confidence and trust that He will give me the strength I need, and restore me to health and comfort again.
T. SIDNEY COOPER.
Feb. 7th, 1902.
The Lord Jesus has this day taken my beloved husband to Himself; he is "Absent from the body... present with the Lord." I am overjoyed in his joy; his every desire more than fulfilled. Who can tell the rapture that is his, or the rich compensation for every sorrow and suffering here? "To depart and be with Christ is FAR BETTER." A few days ago he said to me, with tears of joy, and a clear, triumphant voice, "Christ is cheering me. It is all clear; He is ready, and I am ready. I shall fall asleep in Him.”
I wondered to hear such words, as he was not seriously ill, but with delight I find they were put into his lips to comfort me. I said the two lines to him,
Jesus, Lover of my soul,
Let me to Thy bosom fly.”
With tender earnestness he said, “I AM ALWAYS THERE.”
When I returned to his room, after a short absence, I said, “What have you been thinking about?”
“The same thoughts.”
What are the same thoughts?”
“Of God acid Jesus Christ, and His sacrifice, and full faith, and holiness, and righteousness, and purity." He said, "Read to me.”
I read 2 Cor. 5., with those precious, blessed words, "Absent from the body... present with the Lord. "I then said," I must read the. glorious resurrection chapter," 1 Cor. 15, and read from verse 35 to 57, (1 Cor. 15:35-57) finishing there: " But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ," little thinking it would be the last words I should read to him from the Scriptures, and that the victory over death would so soon be his.
A few more hours passed without suffering, and his prayer uttered two years ago was answered “May I have an easy issue into Thy presence above.”
A short time ago I found in his own writing a little verse, written evidently when God began to work in him:
“My soul in anxious fear was lost,
By faith I fell at Calvary's cross;
My heart contrite, my soul laid bare,
Then oh what joy, I found peace there.”
And "peace with God" was uninterruptedly his, till the last, through abounding grace. (Rom. 6.)
On one occasion he wrote, “God has brought me to a sense of how unmindful I have been of the long chain of His mercies; not one link has broken from childhood to old age. He has brought me to seek mercy at the foot of the cross, where I found peace and grace which will support me the rest of my life in full and abiding faith in the precious blood ' of Him who was made sin for us,' and suffered in our stead, and accomplished the wonderful and glorious plan of human redemption; and I shall continue in that faith, staying on Him, till the time comes for my departure, when I shall leave this world in the blessed assurance of a glorious immortality; and I shall sec Christ as He is.'”
I was much impressed with some thoughts he dictated to me a few months ago, as I had never heard him express so much as to the first conviction produced in him by the Holy Ghost.
“God made man for His own enjoyment and delight; but sin came in, and death by sin.' Our Blessed God, instead of annihilating His creature, looked down in mercy. All the angelic host (Luke 2:13), witnessed the great and wonderful thought of God's love, in sending His only begotten and well-beloved Son to sacrifice Himself to an ignominious death. We read in God's word the treatment He received here: despised, scourged, spit upon and crucified, His glorious death opened the way of mercy, and in His own words He responded: The Son of Man is come to save that which was lost.' (Matt. 18:11.) The blood of atonement shed on Calvary is the blessed means by which every black sinner, despiser, murderer, may be cleansed and made whiter than snow,' and the invitation to such is, Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest ' (Matt. 11:28), the rest of holiness and eternal salvation. I wish that others could know what I did when the Holy Spirit first worked in my soul, showing me my need of the precious blood,' showing me the darkness of my heart, my ignorance and sin, and nothingness; but grace passed over my heart, and ' repentance unto life was mine. (Acts 11:18.) Now I know the love of God I have no fear, no anxiety; all is clear, and open, which once was hidden. The veil is rent (Matt. 27:51), and God can make Himself known to all who by faith are rescued from eternal death. The joy of holiness and salvation annihilates all sorrow, and fills with hope, and the peace which the world cannot give or take away, renders the heart calm and confiding, with no fear of death. Nothing disturbs, not even the thought of what we Once called happiness. The love of God; praise to the Saviour; contrite and humble watching and praying; subjection to the will of God; relying entirely on Him for every day's mercies, we have the full interest of the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He keeps us by Him, strengthens our faith, and has our souls in His holy keeping. He alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.' (John 14:6.) There is no other way to God.”
I have thus put down a few words uttered or written by my beloved husband, in thankful remembrance of the grace of God given to him, and in the earnest hope that some may be led to trust the Saviour who was so precious to him.
MARY COOPER.