History of the M.E. Church, Vol. IV - Media Sabda Org

The irascible Scot had severely attacked Wesley and Methodism as especially heretical respecting
the "doctrines of grace." Bishop Roberts, who was then a young Methodist on Cook's district, and
[1]
who "really thought that a greater or better man had never existed," witnessed the controversy, and
we owe to him an account of the scene. The people thronged from many miles, eager to witness the
combat; crowding the taverns the preceding night, and disputing, with spirit, the subject and the
claims of the contestants. On the appointed morning they gathered in hosts around a lofty pulpit
which had been erected in the midst of a forest, and was surrounded with a vast number of seats for
the immense concourse. These arrangements appeared to have been exclusively prepared by the
votaries of the old Scotch minister. In truth, Roberts saw no one who was at all inclined to favor
Cook, or his cause. Upon the whole, it was perfectly clear, from all that he could see and hear, that
a great victory, in the estimation of the dominant party, was that day to be achieved on the side of
Calvinism. It was at last announced that the Methodist preacher had arrived. Roberts found him, a
little beyond the limits of the congregation, quietly seated on the trunk of a fallen tree. His presence,
however, appeared to put a quietus for the time being on the rampant spirit of the opposition,
especially as their champion had not yet made his appearance. At length the aged Scotchman drove
up, until he had well-nigh reached the center of the crowd. He was a well-set, broad-shouldered,
venerable-looking man of about sixty. His features were strongly marked, and indicated a due
proportion of "iron" as well as intellect. When interrogated by one of his friends as to the cause of
his delay, he promptly replied with a heavy Scotch brogue, " I'm here in ample time to gi'e the
youngster a dose from which he'll not soon recover." The parties had never seen each other, and, of
course, had no personal acquaintance. When introduced, as they soon were, though in a very
awkward manner, Cook was treated with marked incivility. With an air of authority the Scotchman
ascended the pulpit, and, without prayer or explanation, commenced a furious attack on Wesley and
Methodism in general. He soon became greatly excited, "raved, stamped, and literally foamed at the
mouth." By the time he entered on the support of Calvinism, properly so called, his voice was
well-nigh gone. In about two hours he brought his remarks to a close, and sat down greatly
exhausted. Cook then rose in the pulpit, and after a fervent appeal to Almighty God, for wisdom and
help to defend the truth, he commenced under much embarrassment. His hand trembled, his tongue
faltered, and at times it was with difficulty he could articulate with sufficient clearness to be heard
on the outskirts of the assembly. He first took up, and refuted with great power, the allegations that
had been made against Wesley and Methodism. By this time his embarrassment had passed off; his
voice became clear and distinct, and, withal, there was a strange sweetness in his delivery, that
seemed to put a spell on the whole assembly. He then entered his solemn protest to the exceptionable
features of the Calvinistic theology. He opposed to the opinions of reputedly great and learned men,
on which his opponent had mainly relied, the plain and positive teachings of Moses and the prophets,
of Christ and his apostles; and in conclusion presented an outline of the scheme of human salvation,
as taught by Wesley and his followers in Europe and America; not in its theory only, but in its
experimental and practical bearings. At an early period in his discourse his opponent rose to his feet,
and exclaimed, with all the voice he had left, "Wolf! wolf! Wolf in sheep's clothing! Cook, however,
had become so perfectly self-possessed, and so entirely absorbed in his subject, that this rudeness
had no effect upon him. As he advanced he appeared to acquire additional strength, physical, mental,
and spiritual. The fixed attention of the vast multitude seemed to inspire him with new powers of
argument and eloquence. His voice, usually soft and soothing, rolled on, in thunder-tones, over the
concourse, and echoed far away in the depths of the forest; while his countenance lighted up,
kindled, and glowed, as if he were newly commissioned from on high to proclaim the salvation of