Richard Cook, a good man, who lived in the next house to Mr. Baxter at Kidderminster, was seized with melancholy, which ended in madness. The most skilful help was obtained, but all in vain. While he was in this state, some good persons wished to meet to fast and pray in behalf of the sufferer; but Mr. Baxter in this instance discouraged them, as he apprehended the case to be hopeless, and thought they would expose prayer to contempt in the eyes of worldly persons, when they saw it unsuccessful. When ten or twelve years of affliction had passed over Richard Cook, some of the good men referred to would no longer be dissuaded, but would fast and pray at his house. They continued this practice once a fortnight for several months; at length the sufferer began to amend; his health and reason returned, and, says Mr. Baxter, “He is now almost as well as ever he was, and so has continued for a considerable time.”

W. Nicholson.