Eternal Reality: Sermons by Archibald Cook (Cook)

Archibald Cook (1788-1865) was born in Arran, an island off the coast of Scotland. He was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Presbytery of Glasgow in 1822. His experimental and searching preaching saw him called to Inverness in 1837 and then, a year after the creation of the Free Church of Scotland, he accepted a call to Daviot, a few miles to the south. It was there that the sermons published here- in translation for the first time- were preached in Gaelic.

Mr. Cook made a deep impression on the church of his day and his influence spread across Scotland. One commentator said that “he lived daily as seeing Him who is invisible and with an eye to the eternity which stretched out before his spiritual vision.” B.B. Warfield said that what made Cook’s preaching acceptable and effective was “the intense reality of the man.” His preaching was described as having the “free mercy of God” running through it “like a vein of the gold of Ophir.” Cook emphasised closeness to God, urged separation from worldly activities and specialised in encouraging weak believers.

Testimonies to Archibald Cook’s Preaching

Benjamin B. Warfield “His preaching was of that pungent order best represented in our American pulpit, perhaps, by Dr. Archibald Alexander in which the appeal is characteristically to the conscience, and the prime quality of which is searching analysis of the state of mind of the sinner lacking and the sinner under the power of Grace…He felt keenly what sin is and made his hearers feel its dreadful evil and power: and he pointed them with the most winning appeal to the love of the sin-forgiving God as the source of all their hope.”

Neil Cameron “The people felt that they had in him a faithful servant of Christ- a true, unwavering friend that wept with them that wept and rejoiced with them that rejoiced, and one who lived and laboured for their everlasting benefit. They were convinced that they had in him a man anointed with the Holy Ghost, whose conversation shined before men.”

Table of Contents: 

Sermon 1 – 2 Timothy 4:8 “And not only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

Sermon 2 – 2 Corinthians 9:15 “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”

Sermon 3 – Philippians 2:5 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”

Sermon 4 – Jeremiah 31:3 “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love” therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

Sermon 5 – 2 Corinthians 4:3 “But if our gospel be hid…”

Sermon 6 – 2 Corinthians 4:3 “But if our gospel be hid…”

Sermon 7 – Joshua 7:12 “Neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.”

Sermon 8 – Joshua 7:12 “Neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you." 

Sermon 9 – Isaiah 50:10 “Who is among you that feareth the Lord…?” 

Sermon 10 – 2 Corinthians 6:17 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate…”

Sermon 11 – 1 Peter 2:2 “A newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.”

Sermon 12 – 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins…”

Sermon 13 – 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins…” 

Sermon 14 – Matthew 24:44 “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

Sermon 15 – Daniel 12:3 “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament.”

Sermon 16 – Daniel 12:3 “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament.”

Sermon 17 – Psalm 84:10 “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand…”

Sermon 18 – Song of Solomon 8:5 “Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? 

Sermon 19 – John 1:36 “And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God…”

Sermon 20 – Romans 13:11 “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep…”

Sermon 21 – Romans 13:11 “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep…”

Sermon 22 – Job 33:24 “Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.”

Sermon 23 – Psalm 127:1 “Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman walketh but in vain.”

Sermon 24 – Psalm 127:1 “Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman walketh but in vain.”