Henry Cooke, D. D., and Arianism in the Irish Chruch [pp. 205-230]

214 HENBY COOKE, D.D., {ApnI,
sat down to his early breakfast without having previously accomplished what most students would consider a good day's
work. In his theological reading he progressed rapidly, but
he found great difficulty in prosecuting many departments of
secular study, in a remote district, where he could procure
neither proper books nor teachers. WiHi the consent of his
congregation he applied to his Presbytery for leave of absence from pastoral work. Leave was granted, and placing
his young wife under her father's roof (he had married
shortly after his settlement in Donegore) lie set out for Glasgow University in October, 1815. During that session he attended lectures on several subjects, and prosecuted his private reading with great success. Next session, 1816-17, he
again retuined to Giasgow, and during the next he aftended
Trinity College, Dublin. Bringing to his studies in his second college course a fully developed intellect, and a maturity of thougbt which no youth fresh from school, however
gifted, could possibly possess, he made remarkable progress
in every subject to which he applied himself. Mid his studies were not confIned to those departments of learning most
closely associated witb Theology. Of many branches of science (for example chemistry and geology) he was an ardent
student, and throughout his long life he always found time
to familiarize himself with the most recent advances of scientific thought.
Mr. Cooke's reputation as a preacher increased, and in
bis platform appearances he becanie distinguished for his
brilliant wit, and scathing sarcasm. ile had great conversational powers, and was much sought after in private society
fle inade no secret of his devoted attachment to orthodox
views, and his bitter hostility to Ai4anism, and the Arian
party determined to extinguish him. Chance encounters in
the church courts, however, in which one after another of
their champions were worsted, proved to them that they had
at last met with a foeman worthy of their steel. It was clear
that if Cooke's influence continued to increase, vigorous
efforts would soon be required to sustain the Arian cause.
In 1818, Mr. Cooke was called to the pastoral charge of