SARAH COOKE
From Wayside Sketches by Rev. L. B. Kent
Of her early home and Christian life in England, she gives an interesting account in the first chapters of the book,(Wayside Sketches) as also of her experiences and work after her coming to America and Chicago; and it is not difficult to see that God was preparing her from childhood, and during the first years of her Christian experience and life, for the special work in which she has been so successful and happy for forty-five years. He had so prepared and enlightened her that, though a member of a church that did not teach entire sanctification as the present privilege and duty of regenerate believers, upon first hearing of this gracious truth here, she at once became an earnest seeker, and soon a joyous witness of the precious experience.
Of this Christian experience full account is given by herself; and none who have known her since that eventful epoch can doubt the thoroughness of the Spirit’s sanctifying work in her heart. Her fuller preparation for her life-work will be readily traced to the hour of the Spirit’s sanctifying work and incoming fullness; a life-work of unselfish devotion to the cause of Christ and the welfare of souls for whom He died.
Not in all instances of full sanctification does there seem to be so marked and manifest illustration of Paul’s statement concerning sanctified vessels in the house or church of God, as in the case of Mrs. Cooke. Why her case and that of some others should be, or at least seem to be, exceptional I will not venture to say; but evidently in her case the statement has full illustration. He says: “He that shall purge himself from these shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified and meet for the Master’s use, and prepared unto every good work,”―of course morally, graciously, and spiritually prepared. There may be personal characteristics which the Spirit will make especially available in the Lord’s work, possibly some of them the very things that in the unspiritual are unavailable, and often hindrances to the Lord’s use of His servants in the good work He would have done.
With Mrs. Cooke nature has been brought under the discipline of holiness and of the Holy Spirit, and has also had a gracious training, which has been of the greatest value to her and her work with and for the Lord. Of this holy discipline and gracious training of nature, many seem to know but little; and yet the lack of it accounts for much of inefficiency and failure. The disciplining of the regular soldier will seem arbitrary and severe to the raw recruit; but through it all he must pass before he can be a soldier indeed, though he may do much and many things from the day of enlistment. Mrs. Cooke knows herself. To special talents, natural or acquired, she makes no claim. She is among the people as one that serves, but not as a bond-slave, subject to their will and whims. She declares herself the bond-servant, the “handmaiden of the Lord,” ever asking what He would have her do in service for His disciples and friends. What He would do were He here in person, that would she do in His name, by His help, and for His glory.
She is possessed of great courage, and yet is so kind and gentle that often her courage is a surprise both to saints and to sinners. Of the fear of man she knows little; and yet of a sense of superiority to others she knows nothing. She would not fear to reprove a king, as did John, the great preacher, but in it all there would be no assumed authority. Only the faithfulness of a mother would be professed, and only the Spirit of Christ manifest. In faithfulness of dealing with individuals, evangelists, ministers, Christians and sinners, I have not known her equal. And in the day of awards this line of faithfulness will be seen to have been most fruitful.
Who can estimate the fruitfulness of the faithfulness of Mrs. Cooke and Mrs. Hawxhurst in reminding Mr. Moody of his lack of the Spirit’s power in his soul and work; followed as it was by seasons of prayer with him, and his earnest seeking till the holy baptism came?―the baptism to which he ascribes all the power and saving influence of his ministry since that day of Pentecost. With courage that seems more than human, I have seen Mrs. Cooke go quietly from seat to seat in a railway car and talk with each passenger, not passing one! And she does not hesitate to speak with persons in street cars, or anywhere else, as she has opportunity, in season and out of season.
Plain and simple in her life and attire, she silently and sometimes by earnest words of mouth, reproves extravagances in house-furnishing, food and dress, usually giving her own experiences respecting carnal or even needless indulgences. Her reading is almost wholly the Bible, and the best of spiritual books and periodicals. For the latter she has furnished articles, many and excellent. Realizing that all of life, and strength, and help, is of and from God, she prays in spirit “without ceasing,” and is always “giving thanks.” And yet she insists that she must be much and often in closet prayer, for herself and for the many for whom she must intercede as a priest of God.
Always and in all things temperate, she, like the early Methodists, keeps a weekly fast, besides having frequent seasons of fasting when she thinks it needful for the securing of greater victories in the Lord’s work. She holds no extreme views concerning divine healing, though she ascribes her almost perfect health, and her strength of body and mind for continuous active work at sixty-eight, to the promised quickening of the indwelling Spirit; and also testifies to personal bodily healing, at least once, in answer to the prayers of saints. Though a member by choice of the Free Methodist church, she is so free from the sectarian spirit that at all times, and everywhere, she is ready for holy fellowship with all of Christ’s followers, and for instant labor for the salvation of sinners. She is of the “holy catholic church,” being baptized into one body by the one Spirit of Christ.