Cook, Parsons. Causes of the Decline of Doctrinal Preaching. A Sermon, preached before the Pastoral Association of Massachusetts, in Park Street Church, Boston, May 25, 1841. Boston: Press of T. R. Marvin, 1841. First Edition. [12077]
Removed, no wrapper, 8 1/2 x 5 1/4 inches, 24 pp., light foxing. Good. Pamphlet.
The text is 2 Timothy 4: 3-4, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine...&c."
The causes mentioned are human depravity, unskillful handling of the doctrines by the preachers, preachers distrusting the power of the doctrines, superficial preaching, indolence of thought, superficial religious training of the young, and the superficial nature of popular literature.
"In former days the pulpit dispensed its treasures among a people deeply read in the lively oracles, and in the productions of the shining lights of the Puritan age. And the difference is that, between preaching to a congregation of Baxter's readers, and to a congregation of Bulwer's readers."
Rev. Parsons Cooke (1800-1864), b. Hadley, Massachusetts; d. Lynn, Massachusetts. Rev. Cooke was graduated at Williams College, afterwards studying theology with Edward Dorr Griffin. After serving briefly as pastor in two churches in 1836 he became the minister of the First Congregational Church in Lynn, Mass., where he remained for nearly thirty years. He was also the the author of several books, was on the Orthodox side of the Unitarian controversies, and edited The New England Puritan periodical.
