^2,5.05 Stom t^e fetfirarg of (pxofcBBOx n^^iffiam ^cnx^ (Breen Q$equeaf3c^ fig ^i*^ ^<5 t^e £,i6rari? of (Jptinceton C^eofo^tcaf ^eminarg BR 789 .S65 1853 Smith, John, LLD, of Glasgow. Our Scottish clergy /viKw M^- ^^ - ^^^^^ f ^^^ ( tQ $ OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. - ^- .^k (? OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY FIFTY-TWO SKETCHES (WITH ACCOMPANYING PORTRAITS), BIOGRAPHICAL, THEOLOGICAL, & CRITICAL; CLERGYMEN OF ALL DENOMINATIONS. By JOHN SMITH, A.M., AuTvioK OF " Sacked Biograitiy," &.c. &c. EDINBURGH: OLIVER & BOYD, TWEEDDALE COURT; SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, & CO., LONDON; ROBER'I lAYLOR SMITH, 7-ARGYLE STHEET, GLASGOW. PREFACE TO ILLUSTRATED EDITION. A VERY generally-expressed desire to have Portraits of the Clergymen, delineated in the series of Sketches, has led to great efforts to meet it. In making these the publishers met with the cordial co-operation of the Clergymen whose portraits now appear. Some of them kindly sat to painters of eminence, well known in Glasgow, and others of them cheerfully allowed the use of family portraits. It were folly to expect that, in every case, successful portraits have been secured. A number of them are unquestionable likenesses ; and, of all of them, it may be said that they, at least, suggest the originals. No expense has been spared to render them, as far as possible, truthful, and in many cases parties interested have been pleased to express their entire approbation. Considerable change will be found in the literature of this edition. Some sketches have been omitted and others intro- duced, and important changes have been made upon others. The volume, as it now appears, will be rendered more valuable 11, by the lapse of time. The fidehty of the sketches is now a matter of history, and as the originals disappear from this transitory scene, the mental, moral, and physical portraiture of them will become more and more interesting and valuable. We retain the originals of many of the portraits, and these are exceedingly creditable to the artists. The difficulty was to copy with fidelity so large an impression — extending to several thousands ; and, despite the greatest attention, it must be admitted that not a few beautiful originals were consider- ably marred. If the volume is only as popular loith the portraits as it has been loitliout them, the publishers will have no reason to regret the cost and care bestowed on the present edition. Glasgow, August, 1863. PREFATORY NOTE. The respect in which tlic clergy, of a nation, are held may generally be considered as an index of its true civilisation. Not the mere civilisation of scientific improvement — not civili- sation by tlie kindred arts of painting, sculpture, music, and poetry — not the civilisation of secular literature however enriched by exaltation of mind or brilliancy of fancy, but all these superstructed on the enduring basis of Christian mora- Hty and of Christian piety. For long years preceding the French revolution the wTitings of Voltaire and the Encyclo- paediaists, and the conduct of the Roman Catholic clergy themselves, had turned the mummeries and superstitions of the church, and the profession of the priesthood, into ridicule, and, what is worse, had brought Christianity itself into con- temptuous question and disrepute. Yet France was reckoned the centre of the civilisation of the world. The list of her celebrated men contained all that was gi'cat in science or illustrious in literature. The abilities of her generals were 6 PREFATORY NOTE. great by scientific rule, and the valour of her armies terrible from scientific power. Her language was the language of civiKsation, and her hterature the delight of the refined. Her ancient aristocracy dwelt in noble palaces exquisitely adorned with the all but breathing marble, and the canvass that seemed as if it would every moment burst into life. France was the grand nation of the Grand ^Monarque. She had secular civi- lisation enough, but her priesthood were disrespected, her people the most degraded in Europe, and from the monarch, and the peer, to the artist, and the peasant, the nation was one vast mass of moral corruption. The gorgeous ritual, the imposing but hollow ceremonies of her church were, perhaps, rated at their true value, but salvation Avas the theme of jest, the work of Christ matter for a sneer, and the Divine glory a fertile subject for the disproving abilities of infidel philosophers. Yes, France was a civilised nation, scientific and immoral, polite and corrupt, learned and atheistical. Then came the terrible revolution, the natural and necessary consequences of an irreligious civilisation, of a human religion and abhorred clergy. A long enslaved people robbed of their highest hopes, forgetful of the regeneration to which they were called, trampled under foot alike all that was good or bad in the national institutions. For a time the inferior clerg}^ became popular, not from their cloth but from their acquiescence in the early progress of the revolution ; but as the revolutionary car rolled on they were left behind, and perished with a heroism worthy of the first martyrs. The reign of terror, and atheism, was established. In La Vendee alone, where the philosophy of infidelity had not penetrated, where the ministers of a reli- gion, superstitious as it was, commanded respect, the people remained faithful to humanitv and morality, and horrified at the PREFATORY NOTE. 7 excesses of their free and enlightened brethren rahied around the royal standard, and ceased not their exertions till their homes were a desert and the bones of a million human beings lay bleaching on the fertile fields of the Bocage. But let us not be mistaken. Superstitious respect of mini- sters is no criterion either of civilisation or religion, else were Spain a paragon of enlightened piety and moral excellence, and Italy, as of old, the vanguard nation of all that is great, and noble, and godlike in man. A blind, bigotted, uninquiring regard for spiritual teachers is not characteristic of a religious and enlightened people. An unquestioning reliance on the teachings of ministers, and a determination never to see aught wrong in the pastoral character, are the grossest superstitions, subversive alike of man's reason, of the right of private judg- ment and of the authority of the Scriptures. It is only when we are satisfied, by the closest examination, of the truth of the doctrines taught, and of the undeviating harmony of their lives Avith their exalted office, that we can accord them our willing respect as the rational expounders and enforcers of God's revealed will. In our own country civilisation and Christianity are terms of synonymous import. The arts and sciences are the hand- maids of religion. The recognition of " faith, hope, and charity," is not speculation but a fact. Civilisation is not the patron and endorser of the truths of Christianity, but Chris- tianity is the supporter and propagator of civilisation. The Bible is the corner stone of the social edifice, and the illumina- tor of scientific discovery for the instruction of man. In no country are the clergy, as a body, more esteemed than in our own. It is because we recognise religion— not the faith of erring sects "wide as the poles asunder" in » rilEFATORY NOTE. non-essentials, but as the religion of God, that we respect the ministers of our faith. We see in them men called to a high office to strew with the flowers of immortality the dreary paths of mortal existence, to smooth the pillow of sickness and death, by pointing to the portals of glory, which introduce the just to a brighter and a better world. We study the book of life for ourselves, and behold in them teachers of its hallowed truths, and naturally and justly associate them with a mission so diAane. Nor do we unreflectingly bestow upon them our con- fidence. Nowhere are their lives more strictly watched, and their shortcomings more duly noted. It is because on the whole, considering the natm'e of humanity, that we find their profes- sions and practice in reasonable agreement, that we esteem our ministers as members of the noblest profession the world knows, and as the communicators of means of happiness infinite as the boundaries of the universe of God. Such being the views entertained by the writers of the " Sketches," the design of the publication is to enable ministers and people to form a correct estimate of the present state of the Scottish pulpit. The position of clergjmien is unfavour- able to acquiring a comprehensive and impartial view of ministerial talent and success. Occupied, as they generally are, every Sabbath-day, they have but rare ojiportunities of hearing others preach, and when at any time they may hap- pen to hear a discourse, the preacher is too much in juxta- position or competition with themselves to pennit that candour which leads to truth. Of the publishing portion of ministers, data is supplied to determine the literary standing, but from special discourses very little can be learned of ordinary minis- trations. In opposition to these .specially-prepared discourses, the Sketches ha-s e been taken, without the knowledge of the PREFATORY NOTE. 9 clergymen, while they were doing their ordinary work, and though one has had less and another more than average prepa- ration, a general average is faithfully secured. They who have been taken when then' appearance was less favom-able than they would have wished, will have an additional argument for being, as seldom as possible, obliged to preach with hasty pre- paration. As ministers have but little opportunity of judging of the matter and manner of their contemporaries, they are still more unfavourably situated for judging righteously re- garding their own ministrations. Generally speaking, every congregation consider their own minister superior, taking him all in all, to others. Indeed, they chose him for that reason. Facts, however, prove that this supposed excellence cannot be absolute, though it may often be relative. Clergymen, though not possessed of superior talent or general accomplishments, may be the most acceptable and profitable for the congregations to which they minister. It is far from the intention of the writers to lower any one clergyman in the estimation of his people — that estimation being the key to their heart and conscience. But though there is no wish to weaken that feehng of admira- tion and affection, which is the bond of successful teaching, it is desirable that a clergyman should have other standards to try himself by than the judgment of his hearers. It is to him a small matter to be judged of any man, but in as far as opinion may stimulate him to effort or encourage him in difficulty — that opinion being viewed as the exponent of His mind whose judgments are unerring and whose decisions are ultimate. These Sketches, then, may tend to lead ministers to encoiu*age a nobler ambition than the applause of those who, in virtue of their relationship, can scarcely do other than respect and esteem them even above their comparative excellence. On the one B 10 PREFATOEY NOTE. hand, they may encourage humble talent, and, on the other, rebuke flippant mediocrity. Besides correcting erroneous judgments on the part of indi- vidual clergymen and individual congregations, it is hoped the work may tend to destroy sectional bigotry. While each sect ought to be fully persuaded as to its pecuharities, it is desir- able that it, at the same time, should give others credit for equal sincerity. It is believed that the faithful delineation of the clergymen of different sects, when that delineation refers exclusively to their non-sectarian aspects, may tend to create or strengthen catholicity of sentiment among all denomina- tions. Though the writers cannot pretend to be free of all sectarian bias, the fact that they are mixed up with all the sects included, goes far to destroy that partiality which con- cludes one clergyman, in virtue of his connexion, superior to another. But there are still higher aims which the writers intend this work to serve. It is not merely meant to draw Christians closer together, but to show that they are already one. The doctrines and the duties taught by the different clergymen ai'c the same. The clergyman of the National Church preaches the same gospel as the clergyman who disowns all secular con- trol. Sectional peculiarity has been driven from the pulpit. Preachers " teach the same thing in all the chm'ches." The sneer of the infidel at divisions among Christians is unmerited. Christians are one in faith, in hope, and in love. In this volume, ministers of all the chief denominations in the country were reported as they prosecuted their usual work; and, among all the fifty-two Sketches, we challenge infidelity to point out one discrepancy — one contradiction, as regards the truths taught. Christians arc ranked under different PREFATORY NOTE. 11 banners ; but they are in the service of one King, and their different banners interfere not with their loyalty or their love. The volume will serve to prove the unity of the Church of God, and, as such, is calculated, at once, to rebuke infidelit}-, to dissipate doubt, and to encourage faith. The volume is now offered to the world in the hope that it may be of some use both to believers and unbelievers — to believers, by showing them that they hold the faith of all evangelical denominations, however much these may differ in mere forms — to unbeUevers, by convincing them that Chris- tianity is not the mere sectional thing they supposed, but, on the contrary, that unity dwells where external uniformity is absent, and that the office of the pulpit is not to gratify sec- tarian ambition, but to expound Christian duty and enforce Christian practice. Glasgow, Mav 12, 1848. CONTENTS. 1. Rev. Robert Buchanan, D.D,, Free Tron Church, Glasgow, 17—23 2. Rev. James, Barr, D.D., Established Church, St Enoch's, Glasgow, .... 24—29 3. Rev. David King, LL.D., United Presbyterian Church (formerly United Secession), Grey- friars', Glasgow, . . . . . 30 — 36 4. Rev. William Anderson, United Presbyterian Church (formerly Relief), John Street, Glasgow, 37—44 5. The Late Rev. T. Brown, D.D., Free St John's Church, Glasgow, 45 — 50 6. Rev. John Muir, D.D., Established Church, St James', Glasgow, ..... 51—56 7. Rev. Ralph Wardlaw, D.D., Congregational Church, West George Street, Glasgow, . 57 — 66 S. Rev. H. M. Macgill, United Presbyterian Church (formerly United Secession), Montrose Street, Glasgow, ....... 67 — 71 9. Rev. James Craik, D.D., Established Church, St George's, Glasgow, .... 72 — 77 10. Rev. William Symington, D.D., Reformed Pres- byterian Church, Great Hamilton Street, Glasgow, ....... 78 — 84 14 CONTENTS. 11. Late Rev. A. Bennie, D.D., F.R.S.E., Established Church, Lady Yester's, Edinburgh, . . 85—89 12. Rev. John Smyth. D.D., Free St George's Church, Glasgow, 90—91 13. Rev. John Eadie, LL.D., United Presbyterian Church (formerly United Secession), Cam- bridge Street, Glasgow, .... 95 — 102 14. Rev. N. M'Leod, D.D.. Established Church, Hope Street, Glasgow, , . . 103—107 15. Rev. William Lindsay, D.D., United Presby- terian Church (formerly Relief), Cathedral Street, Glasgow, 108—112 16. Rev. R. S. Candlish, D.D., Free St George's, Edinburgh, 113—119 17. Rev. M. Willis, D.D., late of Renfield Free Church, now of Toronto, Upper Canada, . 120—125 18. Rev. C. Popham Miles, B.A., St Jude's Episco- pal Church, Glasgow, .... 126 — 132 19. Rev. J. S. Taylor, United Presbyterian Church (formerly Relief), Hutchesontown, Glasgow, 133—138 20. Rev. James J. Wood, Free Church, late of Old Greyfriars', Edinburgh, .... 139 — 144 21. Rev. Alex. Raleigh, Congregational Church, Greenock, ...... 145—148 22. Late Rev. T. Chalmers, D.D., LL.D., & F.R.S., Professor of Theology, Free Church College, Edinburgh, 149—160 23. Rev. A. 0. Beattie, M.D. & D.D., United Pres- byterian Church (formerly United Secession), Gordon Street, Glasgow, .... 161 — 169 24. Rev. A. Wallace, United Presbyterian Church (formerly United Secession), Alexandria, . 170 — 175 25. Rev. David Runciman, M.A., Established Church, St Andrew's, Glasgow, . . 176 — 181 CONTENTS. 15 26. Rev. Robert Gillan, Established Church, St John's, Glasgow 182—188 27. Rev. Thomas M. Laurie, United Presbyterian Church (formerly United Secession), Partick, 189—194 28. Late Rev. Alexander Duncan, United Presby- terian Church (formerly United Secession), Duke Street, Glasgow, . • . . 195—201 29. Rev. James Paterson, D.D., Baptist Chapel, Hope Street, Glasgow, .... 202—207 30. Rev. John Arthur, Congregational Church, Helensburgh, 208—214 31. Rev, John Macnaughtan, A.M., Free Church, Paisley, now of Belfast, .... 215—222 32. Rev. George Jeffrey, United Presbyterian Church (formerly United Secession), London Road, Glasgow, 223—230 33. Rev. J. Forbes, D.D,, LL.D., Free St Paul's Church, Glasgow, 231--287 34. Rev. A. S. Patterson, Hutchesontown Free Church, Glasgow, 238—244 35. Rev. John Roxburgh, D.D., Free St John's Church, Glasgow, 245—258 36. Rev, R, Jamieson, D,D,, Established Church, St Paul's, Glasgow, 259—265 37. Rev. William Scott, Ebenczer Chapel, Glasgow, 266—271 38. Rev. John Brown, D.D., United Presbyterian Church (formerly United Secession), Edin- burgh, ....... 272—280 39 Rev. Gavin Struthers, D,D., United Presbyte- rian Church (formerly Relief), Anderston, Glasgow, 281—290 16 CONTENTS. 40. Rev. William Ramage, United Presbyterian Church (formerly Relief), East Campbell Street, Glasgow, 291—299 41. Rev. Matthew Leishraan, D,D., Established Church, Govan, ..... 300—306 42. Rev. William Wood, United Presbyterian Church (formerly Relief), Campsie, . . 307—314 43. Rev. Peter Napier, D.D., Established Church, College, Glasgow, 315—322 44. Rev. J. Henderson, D.D., Free St Enoch's Church, Glasgow, ..... 323 — 330 45. Late Rev. David Russell, D.D., Congregational Church, Dundee, 331—341 46. Rev. Thomas Guthrie, Free St John's Church, Edinburgh, 342—348 47. Rev. J. G. Lorimer, D.D., Free St David's Church, Glasgo.\, 349—358 48. Rev. A. J. D. D'Orsey, Episcopal Church, Anderston, Glasgow, .... 359—368 49. Late Rev. W. Kidston, D.D., United Presbyte- rian Church (formerly United Secession), East Campbell Street, Glasgow, . . 369—377 50. Rev. A. Watson, A.M., Established Church, St Matthew's, Gla.sgow, .... 378—386 51. Rev. Samuel Miller, D.D., Free St Matthew's Church, Glasgow, 337—392 5'2. Rev. John Robson, D.D., United Presbyterian Church (formerly United Secession), Wel- lington Street, Glasgow, .... 393—400 The Free Church Clergymen Sketched were all formerly in the Established Church. I t%t-l::NlF.i' T" 1H£ Mjr^'.h 'i'lW FaAMINKK .msTf 'MBmrnms mmmsumM, Boin IL\ GLASGOW. OUR SCOTTISH CLEEaY. REV. ROBERT BUCHANAN, D.D., FREE TRON CHURCH, GLASGOW. Diversities of gifts are as indispensable in tlie church now as in the eai-ly ages. One star differs from another in glory in the moral and spiritital as well as in the natural world. One clergyman shines brightest in the select circle of friends — another in the pulpit before the great and devout congregation, and a third on the platform in the presence of a promiscuous and excited assembly. The first of these is loved for his amiable qualities ; the second on account of his intellectual and rhe- torical powers ; and the third for his public and patriotic s])irit. In some rare cases we find a union of all these attractions. Some can descend from the pulpit, where they had edified and electrified the breathless congregation, and mingle in the family or select circle, exhibiting all the sympathies of a friend and brother. There they cease to thrill by the force of their oratory, and give fiill vent to the fiow of all the social affec- tions. In the pulpit they command respect and veneration, and in the select circle they are loved and admired. A fcAV there are who can extend their sympathies beyond the family c 18 OUK SCOTTISH CLERGY. and domestic circle — beyond the love of a large congregation, and embrace tlie welfare of the sect with which they are con- nected — of the entire chnrch of God — of the city in which they dwell, and of the wide extent of the hmnan family. Now they may be seen enjoying all the quiet and all the sweetness of chastened domestic affection — ^now they enter the pulpit, and there speak a word in season to their various audi- tors — now they enter the missionary arena, now they ascend the benevolent platform, and plead mth energy and ardour the cause of God and of suffering humanity. Now they plead denominational interests as if there were no others — now they advocate the rights of man, the cause of God, as if no sectional interests existed. Now they fill with triiunph the hearts of some religious or political faction — now they wither with their frown the hopes of some rival denomination. There are periods in the history of the chm'ch when the })latform and the social circle have to be summoned to the aid of the pulpit — periods when the clergyman must not only act his part well in the pulpit, but when he must appear on the platform as a com- batant, and in the family as an advocate. There have been always some clergymen specially qualified for such exigencies. They can delight a crowded audience as often as they preach — they can draw out crowds as often as they appear on the platform — and they can, from house to house, prosecute their mission with assiduity and success. In this latter class the clergyman, whose name heads these remarks, may be assigned a place. In person he is above the middle size, strongly built, and of fidl habit. The phrenologist and physiolo- gist pronounce the head and face of the occupant of the Free Tron Church pulpit altogether faultless. Those who have formed their opinion of him from reading his speeches during the time of the Vohuitaiy controversy, and who liave not had then* vicAVS mochfied by ocular demonstra- tion, have necessarily eiTed grievously regarding his appear- ance. There are certain mental manifestations which every man couples with certain physical developments. In reading an author, his image is intuitively formed on the retina of the mind's eye, and in general the image is just. With a crabbed, disjointed style, we naturally associate a bilious, unhealthy con- REV, ROBERT BUCHANAN, D.D. 19 stitution — a stunted ill-arranged physical structure. With large, and generally correct and comprehensive views, couched in fierce sarcastic phrase, we associate a mind acting on the external world through organs not altogether pleasing to the eye. According to these principles those who never saw Dr Buchanan, but have formed their opinions entirely from his sayings when he was minister of the Tron Church, feel them- selves puzzled when they enter the Free Tron. The image on their minds is that of an Esau — rough and savage, but the reality is meekness, bkndness — an impersonification of good nature, and all the graces. The speeches which produced the image were fierce, inflammatory^, withering — the person who delivered them is mild, gentle, and benignant. Listead of the ecclesias- tical gladiator who fulminated thunderbolts against Dissen- terism and Voluntaryism, wc have one speaking peace, and breathing good will to all men. The puzzle can only be dissi- pated by a knowledge of the fact, that during the controversy referred to, Dr Robert Buchanan was not himself. His mind, naturally strong and ambitious, was elated by the position he occupied as a clergyman of the Established Church. With Dissenters he coidd not co-operate, and Volmitaries he heartily repudiated- The platfonn and the pulpit were so contami- nated by their presence, that the minister of the Tron zealously eschewed them ; but years, and experience, and circumstances have satisfied him that a minister is neither the better nor the -worse because he belongs to a State Chm-ch ; and having abdi- cated his charge as a clerg^anan of the National Chm'ch, he, at the same time, abandoned all the dignity felsely associated with that office, and appeared in true character — the liberal, bland, energetic, and philanthropic minister of Christianity, and most cordially co-operates now with all evangehcal Chris- tians of eveiy name. We need not quote from the speeches referred to, though a perasal of them would show that a mira- cle has been wi'ought on their author — a miracle not by the distm-bance of any law physical, or intellectual, or moral, but by the restoration of him to a position much more favourable to his mental constitution, and a consequent restoration of his sayings and doings, to unison with his open and healthful comitenance. Though we alijm-e any approach to sectarianism 20 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. in these Sketches, we must be allowed to remark that Dr Robert Buchanan is one of a nmnber, to be afterwards noticed, whose severance from the National Chm'ch has been to them of incalculable benefit, as it robbed them of that false dignity which such a position as that of a State Church minister is apt to beget. Dr Buchanan possesses a mind of veiy superior natural powers. GilfiUan remarks "that Avhile the power of many wTiters lies in their chsease, the beauties of their "vmtings is the hectic flush — but the power of Cobbett lay in his robust health. He (Cobbett) was not a gi'eat, but a strong and healthy man." Probably the above description is not inappli- cable to Dr Buchanan. He is not so much a philosopher, nor a metaphysician, as a plain matter-of-fact common-sense person. The abstractions of Dr Candlish he would never attempt — the ingenuity of a Wardlaw, the gi'otesqueness of a Gutlnrie, the generalisations of a Gordon, are foreign to his constitution, but in gi'appling with a palpable fact or argiunent he is probably superior to all of these. In controversy, he most scrupulously discriminates between the chief points in dispute and all co- relative and subordinate questions. After others have so loaded the question at issue Arith heterogeneous matters as to lose sight of it entirely Dr Buchanan, Avith a few sentences, dissipates all irrelevant reasonings, and places the question before his antagonist in all its magnitude and importance. This peculiarity is strikingly developed at Presbytery meet- ings. After the matter of discussion is supposed by many to be set at rest, or fairly spoken doAvn, or hopelessly mixed up with other topics, Dr Buchanan seizes it "\rith the grasp of a giant, and drags it to light, frequently to the dismay of its advocates. The angles and by-roads which divert inferior minds fi'om their true coiu'se have no fascinations for him. He either sees straight before him or shuts his eyes altogether. It must be admitted that he is somewhat too conscious of his strength. He is not satisfied with slaying an opponent, he can laugh over a fallen or ex})iring foe. Whilst he crushes an antagonist >vith arguments, he blights him witli liis sarcasm. The laugh and sneer are out of place. It is very well for little men to lauiih because the\' cannot reason — to assume an oracular air REV. ROBERT BUCHANAN, D.D. 21 because complaisance would betray weakness, and probably inconsistency, but a strong man needs not these spiu'ious re- fuges ; with them they are miseenily, as would be the sneer of a giant rejoicing in his strength as he crushed an insect. We mean not to say that Dr Buchanan always reasons well or wisely. The strongest minds have their prejucUccs — eveiy man, according to Bacon, sits in his den, and sees objects occasionally in distorted and unseemly forms. We speak not of Dr Buchanan miiformly but generally. Ranged on the side of truth he is always mighty — on the side of error he flounders miserably. His mind cannot act, at all properly, un- less when in unison with tnith, righteousness, and mercy. On the American slavery question, at present agitating the Free Cluu'ch, he struggles like a lion caught in a net. He knows he is strong, and marvels cords so slender should so thoroughly entangle him, but if the cords are cords of truth, then Samson, even mishorn, shall never snap them asmider. We have been wont to assign Dr Buchanan a first place among the preachers of the Free Church. He is popidar without any one of the meretricious requisites on which the popularity of many, almost wholly, depend. His voice is soft and somewhat monotonous — his manner is graceful without much animation — ^liis style is simple, neat, and accm^ate — his arrangement logical — and his illustrations appropriate. He is generally textual without formal division ; and in lectming he seizes the chief topics of the passage mider discussion, and gives them great prominence and distinctness. In the com'se of a sermon there are seldom any antithetical sentences — any stately chmaxes — any elaborate or rounded periods — yet he sus- tains, by a monotonous excellence, a gradual evolution of some important doctrine or duty — a consecutive chain of close but imimpassioned reasoning, the breathless attention of his audi- ences. Though he always preached fi'om notes when con- nected with the National Cluu'ch, since the disruption he occa- sionally uses none. In preaching, he generally leans fonvard on the Bible, and looks towards the centre of the chm-ch, while he now grasps the Bible with both hands, now raises them aloft, and occasionall}-, but seldom, terminates a sentence by making them meet. His manner is calm, gi-acefiil, and digiii- 22 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. fied, and his matter is unexceptionable. His prayers are scnp- tural, simple, and earnest, but occasionally more than enough sectarian — the church of "which he is a minister occupying a larger place in his eye than, in all probability, in the eye of impartial heaven. In doctrine he is a moderate Calvinist. In preaching last Sabbath, for instance, from Psalm cxxxv. 4, " The Lord has chosen Jacob," &c., he gave several of the characteristics of the true Israel. He stated, first, that God's people are the elect. "Jehovah chose Jacob." He then quoted the passages in Romans ix. that refer to the choice of Jacob, and he also quoted the passages which speak of the elec- tion of grace generally ; and it is worthy of notice that, imlike certain sectaries who quote such passages just to speak them down, or to do away their meaning, or to make them suit some peculiar ism, he quoted them just as they stand in the Scrip- tures (pointing out their connexion of com'se), and made no attempt to make them mean anything but what they naturally Say. Having established by fair quotation the doctrine in- volved in his illustration, he then proceeded to state that the true Israel are taught to desire spiritual blessings. He showed the preference of Jacob of the blessing to the supply of his immediate wants, and then mentioned that Jacob and every true Israelite as really choose Jehovah as their God, as Jehovah chooses them as his people. He then showed that the true Israel seek spiritual blessings through the merits of another. Jacob supplicated it in garments not his o^^^l. He further stated that Jacob was a man of prayer — a ^^1'estler — Israel, and that all the true Israel are such; and, finally, he showed that all true Israelites are strangers here, and seek a better country, an heavenly. The discom'se was marked Ax-ith energy and earnestness. It was thoroughly practical, and calculated to be very useful. The sermon gave a very good illustration of some of the facts we have mentioned, of the mental consti- tution of the preacher. He was wholly occupied with one idea — the characteristics of the true Israel. What would have almost exclusively occupied other minds was never alluded to. His text was — " The Lord hath chosen Jacob mito himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasm'c." The ideas that woidd have struck most minds are the relations that Israel stands in REV. ROBERT BtJCHANAlSr, D.D. 23 to Jehovah, and the estimate Jehovah forms of his people, but these Avere never mooted. One idea, and one alone, seemed to absorb his whole attention. We pretend not to say whether it was the leading idea of the passage, but at aU events it strik- ingly illustrated the centralisation of the preacher's mind on one topic. Inferior mmds can discuss a dozen topics in half the time a superior mind requires to one. Dr Buchanan was ordained in 1827, so that he has been a clergyman twenty years. Save his hair, which begins to exlii- bit the hoariness of years, his comitenance is yomig and fresh — indeed, almost boyish. Wlien tmengaged, his visage wears an artless simplicity and tranquilhty seldom the lot of the face of the student. We contend not that he is possessed of genius, else physiologists would find a second puzzle in his countenance — the hues, the fire, the radiance, and restlessness peculiar to such are altogether absent; but when he speaks it beams though it burns not — the eye emits not the lightning of genius, but it is racUent with benignity, and the featiu'es, wliile they are sufficiently animated to intimate the earnestness and energy within, assume none of these distortions in which genius is said to disport. Dr Buchanan is, in short, one of the ablest and most useful ministers of his day. If he has not all that condescension which some deem essential to the clergjanan, he has that dig- nity of character and demeanom' which makes the pulpit re- spectable and mfluential. No man dare despise him. Despite the slight blemishes that appear in controversy, probably no minister in Glasgow of the same years commands more esteem. There may be ministers more loved by a small coterie of friends, but there is none more respected by all classes. Long may he continue the laborious and able and successfid minister of the Free Tron. Glasgow could ill afford to want one whose pre- sence cheers so many meetings — whose ministry edifies so large and influential a congregation — and whose deportment so hap- pily blends the accomplished gentleman with the uncompro- mising clergyman. Jan. 2, 1847. 2-i REV. JAMES BARE, D.D., ST ENOCH'S, GLASGOW. The different seasons are the apt emblem of the successive stages of hfe. Nor are the phenomena of the vanous seasons — spring, smnmer, autumn, and winter — more appropriate symbols of the physical than of the mental and moral consti- tution of man. So intimately connected is mind with the animal frame, that they necessarily, when in a healthy state, S}nnpathise vnth each other. The spring sun which causes the herb to spring also nourishes the noxious weed. The vigoiu' and buoyancy of youth, while they give '\^^ngs to fancy and fire to the imagination, also force into strength the wilder passions. Dming the days of summer, the useless and perni- cious are severed from the precious fi'uit. The tendency of the soil to nin riot is less, and the fields begin to present a more healthful and subdued appearance. In manhood (the comitei'part of summer) childish things are put away. The excrescences of fancy begin to be lopped off. The extrava- gancies of former days are abandoned, and the fiiiits of right- eousness make their promising appearance. In autumn the fields are covered mth the mellowed fruit. Earth and air, and even old ocean, assume a rich and chastened appearance. The flowers pom* forth their richest odom's — the air is laden with luscious perfumes — the birds sing their sweetest songs — and all creation wears the aspect of matmity. The well regu- lated Christian mind is the counterpart of nature's autumn. The hoaiy head is a crown of glorj', because it indicates the matm'ity of the mind — when its powers have reached their balance — when fancy ceases to triumph over the judgment — PKESENTEIi ■!- Ifr ih.^^CKTBrRS OF THK ' i^'W'UiY, r:,-;;\Mii.ji &LASGOW. REV. JAMES BARK, D.D. 25 wlien the wliole inner man has received Its fullest impress of the restored image of Him who is Light and Love. The counsels of the Christian, in the autmiin of his existence, are deemed inestimable even as regards the things of time. He has added to knowledge experience. He has heard the world's promises and seen its performances. He has witnessed the momentary success of the unprincipled and the unjust, and he has seen honesty and industry outlive their privations. He has seen so much of the scheme of Providence as enables him to generalise and infer, and he is therefore well qualified to give comisel to the inexperienced, and to encourage the perplexed. But it is in the clergyman that autumnal life appears most attractive. The weighty matters in which he deals require so much the more experience than the things of time, as they are more important in their relations, and more momentous in their consequences ; with what intense interest are his counsels received, who, having passed with safety the dangers of the spring and the summer of his days, stands forward before the anxious tlirong to tell of the perils he has safely passed, and of the goodness and mercy which he has daily received. The clergyman, whose name commences this sketch, occupies the high vantage gromid indicated by these remarks. His hoary head is a crown of glory, being found in the way of righteous- ness. In person, Dr Barr is tall and rather stoutly made, though not corpulent. His countenance exhibits more of the milder attributes than of the robust. His small weak eyes look out from beneath a brow of fine rather than of full development, and his features, though they begin to exliibit the maturity of years — the mellowness of autumn — are not particularly marked with any peculiar mental manifestation. On entering the pulpit, he deems it unnecessaiy to go through any intro- ductory preliminaries as regards di'ess or devotion — ^no pulling of the wristbands, nor adjusting of the gown, nor arranging of the hair, nor staring around on the audience — but immediately he commences his public work by reading in a low and some- what harsh voice, drowned by the entering auditory, a portion of a psalm or paraphrase which is beautifully smig by the leader and band, while the greater part of the large congrega- tion silently look on, Avi'apt in admiration, and peradventure, ^6 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. in mute devotion. In passing, we may be allowed to remark, that the singing, though unquestionably the best of its kind, savoui's more of English Methodism than of Scottish Pres- b;yi;erianism, and appears more mechanical than devotional. Dming the singing the minister occupies himself exclusively with his psalm book, and sets a laudable example before his people, by taking part in the exercise. Prayer is then offered devoutly, scnptui'ally, orderly, evangelically, though probably a little too formally, and certainly very lengthily, especially after sermon. During the whole time his clasped hands rest on the Bible, while his body, instead of remaining motionless, indicates his earnestness by not ungi-aceful though monoton- ous gestm'es. He then reads a part of the Scriptiu'es, and makes occasional remarks, and after singing again, annoimces his subject with much propriety. Avoiding the round-about formalities which many seem to think veiy important in the announcement of their text, he at once tells the whereabouts of his passage, and ha\dng read it once over commences his discom'se. In the forenoon he generally lectm-es, and in the afternoon sermonizes. In lectming he greatly excels, confin- ing himself strictly to the leading topics in the passage imder consideration, and throwing a flood of light on its connections and bearings. Last Sabbath forenoon, for instance, he lec- tured on James iv. 13 — 15 inclusive, " Go to now ye that say to-day or to-morrow we will go into such a city." He com- menced by remarking that the apostle, in the 13th verse, does not propose to state a fact but to illustrate a principle — to describe a prevalent character or class, and to expose a general error. After his preliminaiy matter he considered the cha- racter or class addressed, the expostulations urged, and the caution enjoined in the three verses. In speaking of the cha- racter, or class adch-essed, he mentioned that regarding them there was much to condemn and little to praise. He praised them for the prudent foresight they exercised regarding the future. They pm-posed to go to a suitable place, to stay a certain time, and by honest industry to secm'e affluence. The lecturer combated the mistaken notions attached to Scripture cautions regardino; anxietv for the future, and showed that M-hile they prohibited a fretful foreboding and mental disquie- REV. JAMES BARR, D.D, 27 tilde, encouraged a prudential anticipation of coming necessi- ties. He then remarked, that the apostle refers not to the laudable but to the censurable in their conduct. Though they proposed to get gain by la^vful means only, a spirit of avarice^ of impiety, of presumption, and of atheism, marked their con- duct. In treating of the expostulation of the apostle, he showed most lucidly the pathos and the jDower of his appeals in the question (what is your life ?) and the appropriateness of the figure employed (a vapour) to shadow forth the brevity of human life. He finally, briefly, but beautifully alluded to the caution in the 15th verse, and then summed up with practical remarks founded on his subject. In the afternoon he preached from psalm xc. 12, " So teach us to number our days that we may apply oiu' hearts to wis- dom." In a very neat introduction, he glanced at the circum- stances of Moses when he penned this psalm, and the beauty of the emblems employed in it to denote the fleeting character of man's stay on earth, and showed the appropriateness of the prayer in the text as a sequel to the observations he (the psalmist) had just made. He then proceeded to show, by a number of Scripture quotations, that the \visdom to which the heart is to be applied is the gospel, which possesses all the qualities of msdom, and which is the one great scheme which provides against a hastening futm'ity. He also showed the claims of the gospel on man's regard, and that the heart is its subject, and that it is to be a matter of earnest study, of a cor- dial reception, and of a wide diffusion or extension. On the means it employs, he spoke first of a correct estimate of our days, and that in making such an estimate our past days, our remaining days, the importance and difficulty of the work called to, and the privileges and responsibihties of oiu' time on earth, are all to be duly considered. And, finally, as a means, he stated that prayer was necessary, and that without it reflec- tion would be wholly unavaihng. He concluded vntb. a num- ber of pointed remarks deduced from his subject, and connected with the present season — the New Year. From the above rapid outlines, it is sufficiently obvious that Dr Barr is a preacher of very peculiar and marked excellence. Probably the first thing 28- OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. that strikes a stranger in St Enoch's Cliurch, is the imaiFected modesty of the occupant of the pulpit. During the prehmi- liary exercises, he appears as one, in the language of the poet, ** honest in the sacred cause," and " conscious of his awful charge." Instead of the flippant airs and listless gaze, his proper work occupies his exclusive attention, so that he seems to forget himself and his audience — the former receiving no attentions and the latter not even a look. The prehminaries being over, he gives out his subject, and placing his left hand on the Bible, he leans, and looks, forward, and, without notes, discourses wdth fluency and propriety, though ratlier mono- tonously as regards the manner. Every auditor is conscious that he listens to matter most carefully prepared by a vigorous and highly cultivated mind. The thoughts arise natm-ally and consecutively from the passage mider review, and are presented in a style remarkable for its accm'acy, brevity, and beauty. Few preachers, indeed, who use no notes, can express so much sentiment in so few words. The chief excellence, however, of Dr BaiT's preaching, is its common-sense character — a quality, much more rare and much more precious than some imagine. Some may think that we pay but a slight compliment to the Bible, when we say that it is eminently a book of common sense ; but did all its expounders possess that reqiusite, Chris- tianity would be saved many a monstrous doctrine and many a silly crotchet said to be wan'anted by its pages. Dr Ban* is one who unites, what many divorce, a strict evangelism and unquestionable orthodoxy with rational and responsible conduct — the doctrines of the gospel Arith the duties and amenities of life. As will appear from the above, his manner in the pidpit is graceful and dignified. His voice, though not musical, is thoroughly under command — his gestm'es, though they pos- sess more than enough of sameness, are natm'al and occasion- ally animated — his enunciation distmct and not too rapid. To the clap-trap of oratory he never condescends. He gives no fine quotations from prose nor poetic writers, but chooses to express his own thoughts in his own words. In a word, Dr Barr, as a plain, practical, logical, and popular preacher,, has few superiors. His sermons .are short for the simple REV. J.VMES BARE, D.D. 29 reason, that before he begins to preach he studies, and soon as he preaches what he studies he concludes — in other words, they are short, because he takes time to make them short, and he only requires to adopt the same method with his prayers, and his pulpit exercises would be unexceptionable. Dr BaiT was ordained in 1815, and is now in the thirty- second year of his ministry. He was removed from Port- GlasgOAV shortly after the disruption in 1843, and inducted to St Enoch's, Glasgow, where his ministry has been acceptable and successful. He has now one of the largest and most in- fluential congi'egations in the city, and is much respected by all classes. His conduct at public meetings is becoming his office, and his entire deportment is unobtrusive and gentle- manly. Jan. 9, 1847. 30 REV. DAVID KING, LL.D., GREYTBIARS', GLASGOW. The great majority of the preachers of the present day may be arranged in three classes. A considerable number, to a great extent, exclude themselves from the world, and com- mune chiefly ^dth their own minds and with books. With the exception of a few immediate friends they shut themselves out from the public, and hence of the prevalent modes of thinking and feeluig among different classes of society they are ignorant. The type of this class was John Foster, who, while he thought and wrote for mankind and for all fiiture generations, was unable to command the attention of the most select audience. That great intellectualist experimented on five congregations, and the experiment was complete. Some in each rehshed his great thoughts, but he was unpopular, and speedily the meeting-house was deserted. Though few or none are equal to the essayist in intellectual powers, there are many who adopt the course that deprived him of pulpit popularity. They collect abundance of excellent materials, but the struc- ture they raise wants s^Tnmetry and beauty. They present abundance of tnitli to their hearers ; but being ignorant of their circumstances and views, they are unable to find access to then' minds or to engage their attention. As a matter of course, their audiences are small and their influence limited. Another class excel chiefly in their commmiicative powers. In these they are so versatile, that a very diy and meagre sub- ject can be served up in a very savoury form. As they find a few ideas quite sufficient to occupy the usual time of a dis- coui'sc, they require to make little preparation. We have in PRFSETrn. TO Tffi; yiTB.SCRIBERs' OF UK i;U,vW,Wi: ■IXAMINEK srw3i> mmmi) isdm®. i&jdi GLASGOW. REV. DAVID KING, LL.D. 81 «ur eye a popular lecturer, whom we may consider as the t}^e of this class. Often when on the way to address a large audience, he picks up, from a fiiend, a few ideas which he so skilfully throws together that for hours an entranced audience hangs on his lips. Some grmnbles jfrom intelligent quai-ters may be occasionally heard to the effect that the lecture was showy but superficial, specious but inconclusive — but the many are delighted or astonished. As, however, he continues to lecture in the same place, admirers become fewer and grum.- blers many. Preachers similarly gifted may for a time excite attention, but soon the excitement is over, and the preacher mangels that he should be left to waste his eloquence on deserted pews. The third and the successful class happily unite the intellec- tual with the rhetorical, philosophical thought wath a popular diction, a coiTect logic "Hath words that bum, the gifts of the scholar with the graces of the orator. Seldom, indeed, are those possessed in the same high degree, in their united action, as they are severally enjoyed by the classes specified, but they are often combined to such an extent as to render their possessor respected as a scholar and admired as an orator. This class converse watli books and with their owm minds, and also with the living, acting world. They so mingle with society as to ascertain the prevalent opinions and errors of different classes, and thus furnish themselves with a key to the understandings and affections of those they addi'ess. They not only collect ideas for their discourses, but they take care so to aiTange and express them as to tell most effectually on an audience. They inculcate great principles by historical incident, and convey the abstract in the concrete. Among this class the subject of our sketch holds a distinguished place. He unites the acquisitive with the commmiicative in such a manner as to sustain and augment a high popularity. He generally preaches twice every Sabbath. In the forenoon he lectures — proceeding regularly through some one of the books of sacred Scriptm'e ; and in the afternoon he preaches from some text suggested by cir- cumstances. Soon as eleven strikes he is in the pulpit, show- ing his people an excellent example of punctuality. On rising, he, in a slow shrill voice, announces the subject of praise. Those 32 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. ■unaccustomed to liear him have some difficulty, in the distance, to catch the meaning, but as he proceeds he makes himself more audible, so that soon he is distinctly heard throughout his large and crowded place of worship. The singing is ex- cellent, and conducted somewhat singularly. The leader, in- stead of being elevated in a desk, sits among the band, and is wholly undistinguished fi-om others. The entire congregation properly join in the exercise, and sing with much sweetness and gi'acefulness. The singing being fully over, the minister slowly rises, and placing his right hand on the Bible, or Bible cushion, he offers prayer slowly and appropriately, and entirely fi-ee from form — the prayer being often foimded on the subject of praise. After singing again, he discourses fluently and cor-^ rectly -vrithout notes. His sermons are generally textual and well an*anged. Last Sabbath afternoon he preached on Gen. iii. 14, 15, "And the Lord God said to the serpent, because thou hast done this thou art cm'sed," (fee. After a brief and neat introduction, in Avhich he glanced at the context and cir- cumstances of the parties referred to in the text, he considered the curse pronounced, the conflict foretold, and the issue pre- dicted. In treating of the cui'se, he remarked that the serpent was not the only part of the inferior creation cursed for the transgression of man — the gromid was cm'sed, and the whole creation groans and travails in pain together. The serpent was therefore cursed pre-eminently, but not exclusively — " cursed above all cattle," because the agent in effecting the ruin of man. In refen'ing to the terms of the cui'se, he stated various opinions as to the original structure of the serpent — one class hokhng that before the fall it was of different form, and the other asserting that the curse affected its condition, but not its stnicture. The latter \iew, he said, seemed to be sanctioned by the latter part of the words of the curse. The serpent does not literally feed on dust, but is merely in a pros- trate condition. The same phrase is applied to the enemies of Messiah in the 72d psalm — " his enemies shall lick the dust." The preacher remarked, that though the serpent's eyes were piercing, and its colours brilliant, and its strength great, it is never spoken of, nor thought of, but with loathing and con- tempt which shows that the curse has a literal meaning. He REV. DAVID KING, LL.D, 33 then mentioned tlie difficulties involved in punishing any part of the material creation for the sin of man. He showed that the same difficulties attach to Providence as to revelation — to matters of fact as to matters of faith. The inferior creation suffers daily. The most usefiil and inoffensive animals are scourged and stanx^d in the service of man. He showed that the sei'pent was the mere agent in causing the fall of man, and the degradation to which it was subjected was designed to be to him a remembrancer of his apostacy. The agent in causing man to sin was transformed into the fearfol emblem of his transgi'ession ; but the chief pmiishment was inflicted on the old serpent, the devil, wlio was the active agent in the trans- action. In discussing his second division — the conflict foretold — he stated the powei'fiil and permanent antipathies between man and serpents. The serpent either flies from fear, or attacks through malice ; and man, on the other hand, domesticates not the serpent, but views it with disgust. But the chief anta- gonism is of a spiritual character — between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent — the righteous and the wicked. He quoted a number of passages, which expressly state that the wicked are the children of the wicked one, and that the righteous are the children of God. He then refeiTed to the struggle as earned on between Papacy and Protestantism, and showed that where there are any s^miptoms of a reconcilia- tion, it is because Protestantism is assimilating to Papacy — the true church to the folse. He spoke of the conflict in famihes, " a man at variance with his," &c., as Christ stated, and of the conflict in the heart of the children of God — the old principles striving for the ascendant over the renewed man. He finally considered the predicted issue of this conflict. " It" — the seed of the woman — " shall bruise the head of the serpent," " and thou" — the serpent — " shall bruise his heel" — the heel of the seed of the woman, or Christ and his people. He mentioned that the head of the serpent is its weakest part, and that it conceals it till it is ready to dart on its prey. He also stated that the heel was the part most exposed to the attacks of ser- pents, and summed up by showing that Satan was destroyed by Christ, and \vi\\ soon be under the feet of God's people, E 34: OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. and that the wounds the old serpent inflicts on the righteous will all be healed. He then concluded by reminding his auchence that all mankind was divided into two classes — the righteous and tlie wicked, and recommended serious inquiry, that each might ascertain to which class he belonged, and then reminded tlie righteous of their privileges as the children of God. The sennon was plain, practical, and short. The literal meaning was carefidly examined before the figurative Avas referred to, and the order was natural, and the illustrations appropriate. As a popular preacher, Dr King is second to none in Glas- gow. Ilis large church is well filled with an intelligent and influential congregation. It requires considerable attention and minute observation to ascertain those quahties that render him so popular. First among these may be noticed the clear- ness of his conceptions and the simplicity of his language. He makes no attempts at the abstruse or the mystic. He deems it unnecessaiy to adhere to the dogmas of any school — philoso- phical or theological. The stereotyped phrases and formulas which fetter three-fom1;hs of the teachers of Christianity he has almost entirely abandoned, and addresses his hearers in words of common usage, and in phraseology within the reach of the meanest capacity. By a course of long and assiduous applica- tion, he has brought the poAvers of a mind, natiu'ally well balanced, to a high standard of perfection. He seems to have made that best of resolves, to speak only what he understands — a resolve which can be carried into effect only by much patient research and continuous thought. The completeness of his ideas largely contributes to his popu- larity. In general he maps his discourses with much definite- ness and precision, and his illustrations are short and appro- priate. Having the ideas fully formed in his oaati mind, he clothes them in language terse, direct, and luminous. The preacher but impertectly acquainted with his subject neces- sarily uses language involved and obscm'e. Pie speaks Avith the hope that light may break in on his oaa'u mind as he illus- trates his subject, but Avhat is obscm'e to himself is miintelligible to his auchence. The subject of our sketch, on the other hand, REV. DAVID KING, LL.D. ^35 -conveys clearly conceived thoiiglits to liis hearers through a transparent medium. Whether right or wrong his audience cannot mistake what he means. Compact and unique thought is communicated in a neat and popidar style. We may also instance among the causes of his popularity, his distinct, deli- berate enmiciation and delivery. He ajopears quite at home in the pulpit. His hearers never think of pitying him — a most painful, yet not uncommon duty. He never seems at a loss or embarrassed. The order of his discovirse and the structure of his sentences are so thoroughly natural, that the more intelligent of his auditors can almost anticipate the preacher. Probably, however, the great secret of Dr King's success, as a preacher, lies in his matter. We have already hinted that he has abandoned the dogmas of the schools, and studied the Scriptm'es and common sense. He has few or no crot- chets. We know no preacher that declares more fully the counsel of God. The various doctrines and duties occupy, as nearly as may be, the same place and prominence in his dis- coiu'ses that they occupy in the Bible. When he meets with the doctrine of election he shuns it not, nor does he go out of his ■\^■ay to find it. When he meets with man's responsibility and accountability he has no fears of a full statement of these destroying other doctrines. He states truth, and seemingly opposing doctrines, in the same bold unhesitating manner in which he finds them in the inspired record. Though he calls no man father, his views are in accordance with moderate Cal- vinism. He asserts the responsibility of man, and vindicates the sovereignty of God. He preaches the sufficiency of the atonement and the freeness of the Spirit — the raiiversality and heartiness of the offers of the gospel, and the possibility and certainty that many exclude themselves from its blessings. Such being his views, it is easy to see that he occupies a place among what has been called the middle men of the Secession Church. He repudiates, on the one hand, the fatalism of the high Cal- vinistic party, and, on the other, the superficialities and plausi- bilities of a diluted Pelagianism. The critic might, no doubt, find something to censiu*e as well as much to praise. He modidates his voice, but not 36 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. always according to the laws of harmony. Though his lan- guage is generally \'igorous and terse, the sentences are often terminated ahruptly and harshly. His periods are stately rather than gi'aceful, and his enmiciation impressive rather than melodious. His pronunciation is partially affected by provincialisms. Many at college exliibit the only genius they ever exhibit. They finish their education and improvement at once, and become too vnse or too apathetic to make farther advances. Not so with Dr Kino-, He is a most devoted student to this day. He possesses excellent business habits, and his organ of order and perseverance must be " veiy fidl." "NAliatever he does he does heartily. He stiidies like a student — he obsen-es like a philosopher — he thinks vnth all his might. Dr King is the author of several works on popular subjects. Those on the Eldership and the Lord's Supper have been favourably noticed and well received by the religious public. In one word, Dr King is a popidar preacher, an enterprising philanthropist, a public spiiited and patriotic citizen, and an influential and consistent clerg^anan. His large congi'egation is weekly echfied by his instructions and cheered by his visits — public meetings greet his appearance vdth raptm'e — the poor find in him an ardent benefactor — and Glasgow is proud to rank him among its ministers. He was ordained in 1830, and is, consequently, in the seventeenth year of his ministiy. He was transferred from Dalkeith to Glasgow in 1834, to succeed the late excellent and learned Dr Dick, and has since that time ministered to a large and flom'ishing congregation. About tlu'ee years ago the University of Glasgow confen-ed on him the degi'ee of Doctor of Laws, and since then he has been allied by mar- riao-e to one of the most distinguished professors in that seat of learning. He has been settled in Glasgow thirteen years, and his fame has been steadily on the increase. He has gene- rally taught classes of students and other yomig people, and among these his labom's have been highly esteemed. He is a workman that needs not to be ashamed. His Avhole deport- ment becomes his profession. Jan. IC, IS 17. i KKoLNim In THJ-: ;SirB,S(:};if(ERt: dF THK CLAc-'OnW KXAMJNEE GLASGOW. REV. WILLIA:M ANDERSON, JOHN STREET UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. One of ]\Ir Anderson's favourite theories is, that the age of eighteen determines the future genius and history of man. The dull boy of sixteen years may become a clever man, but should he allow the fated eighteen to pass, while he remams in his dolthood, he has little chance of becoming distinguished. We are not inchned to doubt the accuracy of this general rule, though it admits of many exceptions. There are many, how- ever — and among these ]Mi' Anderson himself may be classed — whose pow^ers are but "seiy imperfectly known till after they are more than eighteen years of age. It is well known that twenty-six years ago, some of the ministers in the Relief Church had but a very incorrect idea of the youth who came before them for license and ordination, and hence some sciaiples were indulged as to the propriety of settling him because he read his sermons. About a year after hcense, a call was pre- sented to him from the most influential Relief conoregation in Glasgow. In this case, as well as in almost eveiy other, the discernment of the people was superior to that of their leaders. The complaint of clerical talent being unappreciated is, gene- rally speaking, supremely unjust. There are ministers of decided talent who are left to labom- in vain, but the man who possesses talent, and Avho is at all able to show that he possesses it, may have to endure the fi-o"SAni of jealous or of obtuse co- equals, but soon as he risks the ocean of public opinion, he may count on a voyage safe and prosperous. Soon after hcense, Mr Anderson was settled in John Street, Glasgow, where he has ever since presided o^er a very large congi'egation. So 38 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. anxious are many to obtain sittings, that for every seat tliat becomes vacant there are generally numerous applicants, and now that he is in the twenty-fifth year of his ministry, his popularity still increases. No man has had more untoward circumstances to contend \nth, and few indeed could have outlived them; but he has stood true to his post, and his people are taldng the place of worship into their own hands, and will soon entirely possess it. He generally preaches t^\'ice every Lord's day, and occasionally three times. When he preaches, strangers have some difficidty to find sittings, as the place is fully let. Shortly after the announced hour, last Sabbath forenoon, he entered the pulpit, and \Aathout sitting do^ai, gave out the subject of praise, while the entering of the people, which con- tinued fully twenty minutes after the hour, (probably the Queen Street fire kept some back,) prevented many from hearing the voice of the preacher. The minister and the entire congregation stand during singing, and join mth a hearty earnestness in the service. After singing, a part of Scriptui'e is read slowly and emphatically. The preacher then, while he places his right hand on the open Bible and the left is lifted up, offers prayer, remarkable for its simplicity, earnestness, and originality, and occasionally for its great length. Some have been censiu-ed for formality in prayer, but he, if possible, goes to the other extreme, and the conse- cpience is, that whilst the formality of the one produces apathy, the originality of the other excites suq)rise. Mr Anderson occasionally follows out trains of thought in prayer in which a congregation must have some (hfficulty to join — trains sug- gested by circumstances of which they are ignorant. He adth'esses numerous interrogatories both to the hearer of prayer and to his audience, and indulges to some extent in what have been called " indirect prayers." Frequently, too, his sentences are long and involved, so as to perplex those unaccustomed to his manner. As a specimen of liis orig-inality, last Sabbath forenoon he ])rayed veiy particularly for the bodies of his hearers, then for theu* souls, then for their friends and acquain- tances, &c. During the second singing the minister and people t:it, and at all the other singings they stand. The subject of REV. WILLIAM ANDERSON. 39 lecture last Sabbatli forenoon was ^lattliew xviii. 15, 16, " Moreover, if thy brother," &c. Having placed a few scanty notes on the Bible, the preacher, standing erect with clasped hands, commenced his lecture by stating that the words he had read sanctioned the order of ruling elders. He combated, what he called, the loose notions of those Avho hold that no formula of cluu'ch order and discipline is contained in the Scriptiu'es. He said there was more in Scripture to support the order of the church than there is to support many doctrinal dogmas. The divine right of presbytery he considered estab- lished. He accoiuited for little being said of its institution on the principle that the forais of presbytery previously existed in the Jewish synagogue. Christ, he observed, in introducing Christianity, revolutionised as little as possible, and therefore adopted existing institutions into its rights. He instanced Baptism and the Lord's Svipper — baptism being used by the Jews on the reception of Gentile converts, and the passover ceremonies being made the foundation of the rite of the Lord's Supper. As -w-ith its rites so with its discipline. The Jews, among whom churches were first formed, were familiar with the discipline of the synagogue, the affairs of which were managed by the president or angel, along with six, eight, twelve, or more accessories, and therefore no minute descrip- tion of presbyteiy was iiecessaiy. He considered the fact that the ministers of the seven Asiatic chiu'ches are called angels, proof that the order of churches was borrowed fi'om the syna- gogues. He then stated, in opposition to Independents, that there ought to exist an order of rulers chstinct from the people, and elected by them. In proof of this, he quoted Rom. xii. 6, 1st Cor. xii. 28, and 1st Tim. v. 17. He next showed, in opposition to Episcopalians, that there was no authority for any higher order than that of elders. In proof of this, he quoted Acts XX. 17, 18, Titus i. 5 — 7, and Phil. i. 1 — passages, in some of which the terms elder and bishop are used interchangeably, and others of which sanction two orders only. He asserted that the despotism of Episcopacy, and the unruly democracy of Independency had never wrought well, were not now work- ing well, and never would work well. Democracy could never work well. Some of the Independent chm*ches, he said, were 40 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. equal, and probal% superior, to Presbyterian cliurclies, but he denied that such were wTought on Independent prmciples. The deacons and committees did the work of sessions. To constitute one the reporter of a case is to make him a judge as really as an elder. The preacher then remarked that he sel- dom referred to such subjects, but that the recent election of elders, and their being set apart to office that day, rendered this chscussion of suitable. lie then proceeded to set apart the newly-elected elders, testing them on the five usual points — their belief of the Scriptm'es — of the Westminster Confession — of the correct- ness of Presbyterian worship and government — of their pur- pose to rule Avell and live well — and their purposed submission to the aclmonitions of the brethren ; and having obtained their assent, ne, very shortly addressed them and the congregation, and then concluded with praise and the benediction. In the afternoon, the introdvictory sers'ices were similar to those of the forenoon ; but instead of the semion immediately following them, the preacher made a number of intimations of missionary, educational, and charitable institutions — remark- ing at considerable length on some of them — intimations usu- ally made after sermon. The gi'eater part of an horn* having been occupied with these prehminaries, he gave out for liis text Pom. i. 13, 14, " Now I would not," &c. He commenced by remarking that he had been preaching a course of lectm'es on the doctrine of regeneration, in which he had proposed to consider what proved a man unregenerate, and Avhat did not prove a man unregenerate, and what was necessary to prove him regenerate ; but that he had found that his plan excluded some fi'om the ranks of the regenerate that ouoht to be amonff them, and that it included others who were miworthy, and therefore he meant to take time to reconsider his plan, and in the meantime woidd direct attention to Christian duty and obligation. He enumerated the various denominations who now took part in missionary work, and asserted that though the befriending of missions chd not pro^e one a Chi'istian, hos- tility to them, by general consent, proved the reverse. No Chiistian had confidence in one apathetic or opposed to mis- sions. He said there were various principles on which the REV. WILLIAM ANDERSON. 41 cause of missions might be successfully pled, but in the mean- time he limited himself to the justice of the case. He pointed out the difference between justice and generosity — justice being the requirement of law, and generosity the dictate of good will. A violation of justice is criminal — the neglect of generosity is mean and ignoble. He remarked that some men Avere proud of their justice who ' have little to say for their mercy. He wished to meet such on their own gromids, and to show them that justice had to do with missions. Many, he remarked, had no conscience as regards missions, and consequently acted from mere feeling in the matter. He wished to make all conscious, as did Paul in the text, that they were debtors, not choosers. He then proceeded to show, firstly, that justice demands sup- port to missions on behalf of God, and pointed out the. obliga- tions men are under to him as their Creator, Preserver, and Benefactor. He, secondly, showed that missions have claims on our justice in reference to Christ ; and, thirdly, in reference to the Spu-it. These particulars, he said, were included under the first table of the law ; but the second table had also im- portant claims, and to it the apostle refers in the text, when he says, " I am a debtor to the Greeks and the barbarians," &c., by which he meant that he owed much to them for re- cei^-ing his testimony. He remarked that he could almost be done with speaking of gratitude because Christians were not nearly the length of gratitude — he was anxious to get them to be just — to pay theu debts to God. He referred the discus- sion of the second table of the law to a futm'e opportunity, and concluded with suitable remarks. On witnessing his large place of worship crowded with an attentive audience — amounting to nearly sixteen hundi-ed per- sons, while many anxious to obtain seats cannot find them — one natiu'ally inquires into the causes of his popularity. These are numerous, and some of them obvioiis, while others may be disputed. First among these is the originality of his views. The most casual observ^er, on hearing him preach, is speedily aware that he listens to one who thinks for himself. He not only avoids the usual technicahties of theology — he denies them, and sometimes states their opposite, and yet no one doubts his orthodoxy as regards the doctrines of the gospel. F 42 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. Most evangelical preachers when they insist that man is saved by faith, seem afi'aid to hint anything of works ; he, on the other hand, boldly annomices that a saint's works are precious in the sight of God; and lu'ges. their perfonnance in the expec- tation of their being largely rewarded. After exciting sm*prise, he satisfactorily shows how the seemingly-opposing doctrines, of justification by faith and the rewardableness of works, beau- tifully hannonise. ]\Iost young men are taught that, in the selection of a help- mate, they have the sole choice ; he tells them that the public has a right to have a say in the matter. See his pvibHshed lec- ture to young men. These instances, which we might greatly multiply, prove the boldness and vigour of his ^^ews. It mvtst be particularly observed, however, that to his views the impu- dent, and audacious, questionings of aspiring A^anity or mis- guided youth have no analogy. The singularity of his ideas is natural — that of the others assumed. He has powers equal to sustain bold thought — theu-s are scarcely equal to produce such. His statements are the result of careful observation and reflection — theirs the effen^escence of a heated and disordered imagination. Another cause which contributes to his fame, is the originality and singularity of his style. As a matter of coiu'se, an original thinker is an original speaker. The man able to produce ideas will not require to learn any model through which to express them. ]Mr Anderson's style, like his thinking, is entirely his own. Both in prayer and preaching he avoids all the techni- calities of theolog^^ He divests his subjects of what John Foster calls " the barbarous mode of expression employed by the gi'eater number of evangelical diA-ines, and without detract- ing from the dignity of the subjects discussed, he presents them vi\adly to the mind in the language of eveiy-day life." Instead of speaking of one as affectionate, he calls him hind-hearted. Christian u-alk he calls Christian conduct. Instead of speaking of one appropriating his master's time, he says such rohs or steals from his master. Eveiy doctrine and duty he expresses in a way Avhich every one understands. He uses no circmn- locution to state certain subjects in what some call a delicate manner — he speaks out, and uses gi*eat plainness of speech. REV. WILLIAM ANDERSON. 43 No one has to ask another what he means, because he always says, and says plainly, what he wishes to say. Not only is his selection of words and phrases happy, but his manner of delivery is calcidated to arrest attention. Ever}^ one sees that he is honest and earnest in the sacred cause. Though his lan- guage is singular, and such occasionally as to provoke a smile from those unaccustomed to it, his countenance is grave, seri- ous, and earnest. There is no flippancy about him. He seems to know no one but his Master, and to stand in awe of no other. It is impossible to describe the feeling that comes over the mind as, in his own plain inartificial manner, he offers up prayer, and addresses his audience. He generally speaks slow, and marks the chief words Av^ith peculiar emphasis, so as to give the most listless a hold of his subject. An endless variety, in matter and style, keeps up attention. He is utterly free of form both in preaching and in prayer. With an exhaustless fund of ideas, and a good command of language, he every day edifies, and often surprises, his auditors. His style is unequal as well as varied. Occasionally it is loose and careless when he uses no notes, but when he preaches from notes it is accm'ate and even eloquent. In his published discourses there are passages of very gi'eat beauty — equal, even in language, to Gordon's, and superior in ideas. On the platform he is generally very much applauded. There he allows himself full scope, and expresses himself, on questions of great interest, with a fluency and pleasantry rarely equalled. The peculiar attributes of his mind are there mani- fest. He is often quaint without any attempt at being so. His quaintness is thoroughly natural, and, consequently, well received. A subject worn down to intolerable dulness he in- invests \\4th angles and corners, and grotesqueness so as to make it quite new to his audience. He often reasons well, even in his most salient moods. On the Volmitary controversy he made himself felt and feared in the high places of the Estab- lishment, and drew on himself a full share of the opprobrium of that time. He is also a determined advocate of Presbytery, and no minister in the chui'ch defends it with more success. Regarding the millennium his views are peculiar. He holds the second advent and personal reign of Christ on earth, and the 4-4 OUK SCOTTISH CLEllGY. resiuTection of the saints at his coming, at the commencement of" the thousand years. Many years ago he pubhshed on tliis system, and his views remain unchanged. Some of his brethren considered his teachings on this subject heretical, and woukl have called him to account, but fortunately for their own credit they have hitherto made them matter of forbearance. He occasionally announces, and gives his people, a whole lectm'e on the hastening glories of his millennium. As a "VA^'iter, he is not yet so well kno\^Ti as he shovild be. Abou.t a year ago he issued a volume of sermons, which were well received. In these we find no cimde, half-digested ideas — no sicldy sentimcntalism — no idle disputings. The great doctrines and duties of Chris- tianity are his themes, and these, instead of being treated in a dry, scholastic form, are presented with a freshness and vivid- ness with which, only, a mind accustomed to think, and a heart to feel, could invest them. We are at a loss ■s^'hether most to admire the vuifettered independence \\dth which every sub- ject is treated, or the deeply-pious feeling that pervades every page. With a mind bold and independent, the writer is g-uided by an accui*ate judgment from the errors peculiar to that class of AAT^iters, and hence his boldest assertions will be fomid, when rightly miderstood, to accord vnth the spirit and tenor of the sacred record. Many statements are bold and starthng ; but it is the boldness of truth delivered fi'om the mazes of system. The arrangement is worthy of the matter, and the style, gene- rally speaking, is original, striking, and accm'ate. Though ]\lr Anderson is a decided Presbyterian, no man is more esteemed among all sections of the church. He deems it mmecessary to support his own views at the expense of the honesty, or Christianity, of others. He loves all who give evi- dence of possessing vital Christianity, and is loved by them in return. Of infidelity in all its multifarious forms he is a deter- mined and powerful opponent. His presence is given to the greater part of public meetings held on educational, charitable, and religious subjects. We conclude by congi'atulating the Kelief congregation of John Street on its privileges under his able ministrations. Jan-. 23, 1847. ■ /-O-/ j fRESEJSTKLi TO THE SirBSCKlBERS OF TEE GLAbOOW EXAMINER GLASGOW. 45 THE LATE REV. THOMAS BEOWN, D.D., FEEE ST John's, Glasgow. The death of tliis eminent minister was in keeping with his life. No event in his life surprised the world, but his whole career edified and bettered it, and he came to the gi'ave like a shock of com in its season. Like some of the mightiest agen- cies in the material creation, which silently and unobtrusively accomplish their work, Dr Brown, during a long life, pursued the even tenor of his way, and on Satui'day last he finished his work, and calmly entered into rest.. In the contemplation of such a character and career as those of Dr Brown, there is something inexpressibly sweet. There is an entu"e absence of the tempest, and storm, and hunicane. The landscape has none of those Alpine heights, or inaccessible fastnesses, or lonely wastes, or eternal snows, or all, or any, of the other attri- butes of majesty and sublimity by which seers in the olden time were rapt as they heard the words of God, and from which poets in all times drew their inspiration. A fine and gently-variegated scene is the suggested emblem. The sum- mer sun pours his rays on the smiling scenery — the birds sing on every tree — the waters gently ripple — the lovely and the beautiful are in the ascendant ; but the attention is chiefly fixed on that placid river which, on its way to the ocean, mi- gates many a drooping plant, and nom'ishes many a lofty tree, while the verdure of its banks tells of the extent and minute- ness of its fertilising, mollifying efficacy. The river is no inapt emblem of the quiet yet majestic Thomas Brown, whoso death has thrown a gloom over our religious population. We doubt whether any minister wielded a wider influence than did 46 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. Dr BrowTi, and yet the least of them might be much more noisy. The fame of Dr Brown rested on a sui*e basis. His power lay in his heart and mind. He was emphatically a good man, and eveiy one believed him to be such. There are many that often try our charity, even in our best-natured moments, to beheve that they are true men. We find no diffi- culty at times because they exhibit proof of their goodness ; but when we see them breathing threatenings and slaughter — cast- ing firebrands, arrows, and death — anathematising those whom Christendom honoiu's — speaking peace in public, and sowing di\asion in private — commending the gentleness of Christ in their doctrines, and exhibiting the fury of the wdcked one in their lives — our charity faulters, oiu' doubts arise. Dr Thomas BrowT^i, however, never presented these anomalies — never gave rise to these misgiA-ings. He never desecrated the pulpit by indulging in anger, malice, and evil speaking. He never gave the lie to his doctrines by his hfe — he never took up an ill report against a brother — he never followed that which was evil, but always that which was good. His histoiy supplies an additional proof, if, indeed, proof is needed, that moral power is greater and much more desirable than intellectual power. In intellectual power he had not a few equals; in moral powder he stood, among his clerical bretlu'en, almost alone. We speak ad\-isedly. The power of the greater part of our influential ministers is, in a great measui'e, intellectual. They overtop their fellows in the exercise of gifts merely natural. They are more learned, or more eloquent, or more philoso- phical, or more metaphysical than their neighbovu's ; and, con- sequently, they occupy their lofty position as intellectualists rather than as moralists. Dr Thomas Brown, on the other hand, raised himself to his lofty eminence by the goodness of his heart, by the consistency of his life, by the faithful per- formance of duty, by the power of the simple tnath, and by patient continuance in well doing. That he possessed a well- balanced mind no one doubts ; but, though his mental powers were superior and well distributed, they never could have placed him on that ver}^ exalted eminence which, for many years, he well sustained. The feeling towards him, throughout the entire of Glasgow, was xery peculiar. In speaking of other THE LATE REV. THOMAS BROWN, D.D. 47 eminent ministers we often hear the detractive or doubtful " but" follow some declaration of admiration. In speaking of Dr Brown there was no "but." He never required to be spoken of in a manner that needed any qualification, for the simple reason that he never appeared in a borrowed character. He made no attempt to appear greater than he really was, and, of conseqiience, no one ever thought of denying him his natu- ral rights. Indeed, there is less injustice among men, as re- gards their opinions of each other, than many suppose. When one evidently aspues to honoiu's to which he has no claim, it is no injustice to deny him these, and of one who attempts to make an impression beyond his powers to sustain, justice demands the defeat. Let any man content himself, however, with seemino; what he is — neither more nor less — and there is scarcely a person in the world vnW disturb him. Such was the conduct of Dr Brown. He appeared uniformly the modest, meek, unassuming Christian. He never attempted to astonish an audience mth bm'sts of eloquence, or metaphysical acumen, or ready logic. He spoke the words of trvith and soberness without violating natiu-e, or astonishing the weak, or disgusting the strong, and he was loved by all, feared by none — unless the fear inseparable from the awfulness of true goodness. In prayer he greatly excelled every other minister. As his fine, open, apostolic countenance beamed mth benevolence, he gave utterance, in the simplest language, to the deepest emotions of the human heart. He was a man of fine feeling, and nowhere was that more apparent than when engaged in the loftiest of all exei'cises — communion with Heaven. Not only did he give expression to the great sympathies of humanity, but he most happily entered into the details of the joys and sorrows of the individual members of his great congregation. Instead of praying generally for the sick he offered petitions appropriate to their several circumstances. No minister could enter more intimately into the individual and domestic trials of life, and none knew, so well, how to administer heavenly consolation. The most thoughtless were awed by the solemnity and power of his pubHc prayers, while every Christian heart beat in unison with that of the speaker. His prayers, when he visited his people — especially when they were sick — were very remark- 48 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. able. The bui'den was removed — tlie temptation dispelled — the faint heart strengthened — as he brought near the pro- mises and prospects of the gospel, and directed to those soui'ces of consolation which flow from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It is much to be regretted, that with the exception of one discourse, as far as we know, he prepared little for the press. Several of his sermons Avere taken by short-hand MTiters, and published in weekly and monthly serials. His published sermons will satisfy the intelHgent reader that, in point of intellectual vigour, his ministrations were superior, and that for real practical value they were of a very high order. He had neither taste nor tact for metaphysical discussion, but he had what was infinitely preferable, a mind that trembled at God's word, and a heart under the practical influence of His love. He preached not himself but Christ Jesus the Lord, and avoided, equally, doctrinal and ecclesiastical discussion. His appearance in the pulpit was that of the old Piu'itan divine. His thin but graceful figure — his fine beaming comitenance — his graceful and varied gestures — his distinct and earnest delivery, all told with powerful effect on his crowded audiences. He was born in Closebmii, Galloway, in the year 1777, and was ordained in 1807, in Tongland's parish, in the stewarty of Kirkcudbright, and remained there about twenty years. After Dr M'Farlane had ministered some time to St John's Chm'ch, in which he succeeded Dr Chalmers, he was called to St Enoch's in 1825, and Dr Bro-\m — then the Eev. T. BroA\Ti — Avas called to Glasgow in ISIay, 1820, and he has since labom'ed with zeal and success in Glasgow. He folloAved out the pauper system introduced into the parish of St John's by Dr Chalmers. Every elder had to keep a correct list of all the poor in his district — duly notifying all the changes that took place amongst them, and all the poor, whether or not members of the congregation, got supply. This system continued from the time it was formded by Dr Chalmers till the charge of the parish was devolved on the ToAvn's Hospital about the year 1839. The two parish schools founded by Dr Chalmers were carried on by Dr BroAvn, and an infant school, and school of industry, Avere added under his oaa'u superintendence, and THE LATE REV. THOMAS BROWX, D.D. 49 these scliools are still continued under the auspices of St John's Session. He was unremitting in his attentions to the sick, and all the institutions connected with the chnrch received much of his time and care. On the Sabbath forenoons he lectured, gene- rallj, through some one of the sacred books, and on the after- noons he preached from texts suggested by circumstances. His sermons were carefully ViTitten out, and he alwa^'s used notes when preaching. He not only felt the force of \\'hat he spoke, but he had the peculiar power of making others feel with him, especially in what is called improving his discoiu'ses, when he made them bear with great force on the conscience. Often when expostulating with liis audience, on some important doc- trine or duty, the big tear rolled down his cheek, and, imme- diately, almost, his entire audience were similarly impressed. He threw his whole soul into his subject, and the most listless, of his auditors, were struck with the majesty and grace of his message, and the faithfulness and sympathy of the messenger. His people will not soon forget the scene that occurred on a Sabbath forenoon in the spring of 1839. The preacher had given out the God psalm, "Lord, thee, my God," &c., when suddenly he paused, and di'opped in the pulpit. The excite- ment in the congregation was indescribable — all considered that he was gone. As he was removed fi-om the pulpit, be- tween two friends, he was able to say to his affectionate people, " Eemember me in your prayers." Though he gradually re- covered from the shock, his constitution was greatly shattered, and he never afterwards regained his former streno-th. His congregation is both wealthy and liberal. At the open- ing of the magnificent place of worship. Free St John's Church, the collection amounted to nearly £1800, being the largest sum, as far as we know, in Scotland, ever raised at one church door collection. During the last six years of his ministiy, he has had assist- ants, among whom were the Revs. IVIi' Thomson, Mr Grant, and Mr Smith. The degi'ee of Doctor in Divinity was con- ferred on him after his settlement in GlasgOAv. He was remarkably systematic in conducting all his affairs. His congregation have always been ardently attached to him, and they showed that attachment ])y a steady attendance on G 50 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. his ministrations, and by many acts of kindness. IIo was called to Katho about fomleen years ago, but he declined accept- ance. About that time the younti; men of his congregation made him a very valuable present of plate. We need scarcely add that, at the disruption, Dr Bi-own seceded with almost all his people, who remain faithful to their principles. The high honoiu' of being Moderator of the second Assembly of the Free Church was conferred on him. His death has spread a wider gloom over the city than that of any clergyman for many years. Jax. 30, 1817. f^^M^^ raiSioii'oiiDo <;las(;<)>v. 51 REV. JOHN MUIR, D.D., ST JAMES', GLASGOW. A FEW years ago we heard it stated, in the presence of a Glas- gow audience, that among all the ministers of Glasgow, of all denominations, there was only one of them a native of Glasgow. That one exce})tion, to one hundi'ed and twenty cases, was Dr John ]Muir. We know not how many exceptions there are now, but we suspect they are not yet very numerous. Glas- gow gives its sons to manufactm'e and merchandise, but deems the pulpit un^^'ortlly of them, though blazing on the chief places of concourse, we find the significant inscription on its arms, " Let Glasgow flourish by the preaching of the word." It is the more honour-able to Dr ^luir that he, of all the gifted sons of this great city, was able to resist the gains of mammon, and to devote himself to the toilsome, though honoui'able, life of a Glasgow clergyman. For the period of forty-three years he has ministered to large and much attached congTegations — first at Lecropt, and latterly in Glasgow. He preaches generally twice each Sabbath, and has taken an active part in fonvarding the interests of the benevolent schemes connected with the Established Church. On the afternoon of Sabbath week, after singing and prayer, he read in the se^'enth chapter of Exodus, from the fourteenth verse to the end, which relates to the plague of turning the waters into blood. He com- menced his remarks by saying, that this man called Pharaoh was raised up by God that he might show his power in him. God, he said, turns blessings into curses to the wicked — he turns water into blood. What wicked men and fallen angels expect mitigation from only aggravates their miseries. Fallen 52 ouK SCOTTISH clergy. angels delight to do nuscliiel' in this world, but the mitigation they get from mischief-making and mischief-doing, recoils on their own heads. In this and following chapters, it appears that Pharaoh was punished by matters and things which he despised ; so in like manner, continued he, do fallen angels despise men, and think themselves greatly their superiors, but men will torment them in return. In subsequent chapters it appears that the Egyptians were always dying and never dead, and so fallen angels are always dying and never dead. God put a difference between the Israelites and the Egyptians. He delivered his people from Satan and his angels by a plan of substitution. When he slew the Egyptians he substituted a dead lamb for a dead child among his own people, and brought his people safe to a city of habitation. After the above exposition, a few verses of the 84th psalm were smig, and, on the whole, well sung, the greater part of the congre- gation joining. He then announced for his text, Song of Solomon, chapter ii. 17, " Until the daybreak," &c. He pro- ceeded to his discourse by stating that the object of this book — the Sono- of Solomon — was to set forth the endearments that existed between Christ and his church. Christ is the spiritual Solomon, and his people have intimate communion •\^'ith him here, and, longing to be where Christ is, they say, in the language of the text, "Until the day break,'' &c. He would elucidate his text by considering, first, the character; secondly, the expectation ; and, thirdly, the desu'es of God's people. We learn their charade)' from the word "beloved" — Christ is the beloved of their soids ; Ave learn their e.vpectation from the words, " Until the day break and the shadows flee away;" and their present desires from the words, "Be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of BetJier,"^ or division or separation. Dr ISIuir is one of those who, not choosing to pubhsli what would give correct views of him as a preacher, is chiefly known by remarkable sayings circulated by mistaken friends, and amended by misciiipulous opposers. Unquestionably he has uttered many notable sayings, but he is a preacher of a tlioroughly practical class, and can sustain a consecutive train of thought as well as utter an insulated and memorable sayhig. REV. JOHN MUIK, D.D. 53 "VVe ascribe Dr ISIuir's })Opularity partly to his manner in the pulpit — a manner distinguished by its ease, its energy, its singularity, and earnestness. His manner, we say, is remark- able for its ease. When he appears in the pulpit he seems quite at home. His movements are thoroughly inartificial. Though there are certain characteristics that belong to a grace- ful manner, there are also individual peculiarities indispensable. The person avIio regulates his movements according to the rule and square method of schools, may get credit for being well bred, but in many cases the rules of etiquette destroy that in- di-viduahsm which constitutes the gi'eat charm of physical action or gestui'e. Dr Muir retains that very strong indi^'iduahsm in his gestures that renders them so fascinating. His action is varied, and generally in keeping mtli his subject. His voice not unpleasant, and well under command, changes wth his subject, and pleases by its variety. The energy of his manner contributes to his fame. In former days, when in the vigour of youth and manhood, he had few equals in his ani- mated adch'ess, and even now that the weight of years begins to press him, he retains no small share of the vigour, power, and pathos which were wont to entrance his thronged audiences. He has sufficient independence of mind to carve out a path for himself, and hence many who have been accustomed to hear those Avhose manner and matter never depart even in one iota from the beaten path, have fi*equently expressed their suiqirise and wonder at what they designate his singular man- ner. All are struck ^itli his great earnestness. He fi'equently so expresses himself as to excite a smile when his sapngs are repeated by others, but as he speaks eveiy one sees he speaks because he believes, and hence the command he has always exercised over an audience. Those drawn to hear him on account of strange sayings attributed to him, have frequently, as they retu'ed from hearing him preach, expressed their sm- prise that they heard nothing queer. The chief causes of his popularity, however, are to be found in his matter. On the leading doctrines of the gospel he is thoroughly evangelical, and on its leading duties thorouohly practical. The views he constantly enforces are the apostacv and degeneracy of man — the substitution and work of Messiah 54 OUR SCOTTLSn CLEIIGY. — tlie justice, sovereignty, an- imao-inable, for the man who gives himself out as a discoverer in rehgion, to gather around him a gazing, wondering crowd, bu.t as the conjuror attempts, and fails, to work his mu'acles, the crowds disperse, the dis- coverer is deserted, and the Avorld goes on much as in the olden times. But let a man who makes no announcement as a dis- coverer, who treads the beaten paths of orthodoxy, continue, year after year, to edify a crowded and intelligent audience, and we seek no other proof that such is a man of talent or of veiy extraordinary tact. Dr Muir has done a great work, and done it well, and the hosts of upstart youths, who would set him down as an antiqiiated enthusiast, might profit by the anticipation that a quarter of a centurv before they reach his age they will have passed into silence, and be dead while they live. An ephemeral popiilarity the}' may enjoy ^^'ho have a smooth or a glib tongiie — a permanent popularity is the reAvard of pietv, consistency, and what, for want of a better word, we shall call individiiality. Feb. 6, 1847. C?s # 'if / PRj;SENT£J) TO THE SUT-iSCRIBERS OF THE (;USc;0¥ EXAMINE R. GLASGOW. m mM 57 REV. RALPH WARDLA^Y, D.D., WEST GEOKGE STREET CHAJPEL. At the commencement of the present centmy, the popuhition of Ghisgow amonnted to httle more than eighty thousand, being only one-fom'tli of its present number. The Estabhshed Church was then in the ascendant, and its adherents, naturally enough, assumed that dissent was very well off if it was tolerated, and that Dissenters had reason to bless themselves that the penal fires, of former days, were not still kindled by the civil powers whose " duty it was to take order and preserve purity in the church." At that time the entire dissenting clergy of Glasgow numbered little more than a dozen, and of these only two — Drs Kidston and WardlaAv — now remain and to then* instru- mentality, and that of their coadjutors, the progress and triumphs of dissent ai'e gi'eatly indebted. Since the time that Dr Wardlaw was ordained, in 1803, the Secession Church has increased its congregations in Glasgosv from five to twelve, the Relief fi"om five to nine, New Independent from one to four, while several other bodies have been formed and rapidly in- creased. So completely have the tables turned, that the ques- tion is, not whether will the Established Church tolerate dis- sent but, whether Avill dissent tolerate the Establishment — Dissenters now being, to members of the Establishment, as three to one. The career of one, who has remained at his post during such changes, would be of some interest though he had taken no very active part in passing events. The very fact, that during his public life, in our city, Glasgow had quad- rupled its popiilation, and its dissent, confers on him an ad\'en- titious honour and interest. If we lionour tlie onlooker who H 58 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. has been the witness of momentous transactions, how much more the man whose efforts and influence have encoiu'aged or facihtated tliem. The -vA-itness of a hundred battles is a cha- racter, the actor in them is a hero. It does not follow, how- ever, that such is unconditionally entitled to miqualified praise. The veteran, who has weathered the storms, of half a centmy, is not necessarily the object of universal admu'ation ; much less will he be universally beloved who, in batthng it with human passion and party prejuchce, has fi*equently to come in collision with the interests and opinions of those from whom he differs. As Ave are none of those who believe in an earthly perfectionism, either as regards the natural, moral, or religious powers of man, we of course consider ourselves imder no obligation to ascribe such to any man. Nor does it follow because one has been iiniformly prosperous in his undertakings, that the means he has employed to accomplish them, and the motives that have urged him fonvard, are miexceptionable. In treating of one's public career, Ave acknowledge no a jyriori argument, no per- sonal friendships, no individual interests, no latent jealousies, no sectarian considerations, and no probable consequences. We estimate actions irrespective of their doers, books iiTespec- tive of their authors, and public men irrespective of then' social, political, and religious relationships. In giA-ing a rapid outline of Dr WardlaAV as a preacher, theologian, and ethicist, Ave shall proceed in a philosophical order, hoAvcAer much we may \dolate pliilosophical accm'acy in our progress. The two great diAasions of philosophy are obserAMtion and deduction — the inspection of facts and account- ing for these fticts. According to this order, Ave consider first the position and the influence of the subject of om- sketch. The author of " Literary Portraits" acknowledges Dr Ward- laAv the facile pjiiicejjs of dissent, and almost the unanimous public affirms the correctness of this allotment. The place assigned him in all public meetings, Avhether political, educa- tional, or religious, the A'erdict of the entire public press, the deference with which his opinions are received, and the num- ber and character of his ecclesiastical assailants, all confirm the correctness of the aboAC opinion. A Avliole host of scrib- blers haAC most perse veringly attempted to bring themselves REV. RALPH WARDLAW, D.D. 59 into notice, and make to themselves a name by assailing his views, and exposing what they call liis inconsistencies. So much for his position, now for its causes. Does he owe it in part, or in whole, to his denominational connexions? Un- questionably some prefer to be connected with small sects through desire of fame, and such, often, find it easy enough to command the wished for honoiu' — they become the heads of tribes, and receive all possible, party eclat. Beyond the limits, however, of then' owti belo^'ed Zion their fame never extends — they are gTcat lights to a very small part of the world, and they prudently avoid the obscuration which might be caused by other luminaries, by abjuiing all connexion with them, and by moving in their own micontrolled, though oftentimes nar- row, and eratic orbits. While the subject of our sketch occu- pies a prominent denominational place his influence, unlike those referred to, extends over all the cHfferent sections of the chm'cli. One of John Foster's reviewers makes a curious attempt to prove that the chief cause of that profound thinker's popularity was his connexion with a small sect, but the attempt is a manfest failure, and proves the reverse intended. Gene- rally spealdng, sectional coimectlon is sectional limitation, and the man able to make himself felt, almost equally, by all deno- minations, must be one possessed of very peculiar qualities. The people of Scotland are pre-eminently a Presbyterian people, and Dr AYardlaw is an avowed Congregationallst. With his ecclesiastical views not a tithe of the people of Scot- land agree, and consequently to his ecclesiastical relationship his popularity owes nothing. Does he then owe his fame to his doctrinal orthodoxy 1 That he is strictly evangelical in his views few have dared to doubt ; but his orthodoxy on not a few questions, of grave importance, has been long matter of dispute, and men of great name, and of no name, have made themselves very active In exposing his errors and proclaiming his heterodoxy. When engaged in the Socinlan controversy (thirty-three years ago), his \aews of the Sonship of Christ, and the common operations of the Spirit, excited many sur- mises as to his soundness in the faith, and during later years his views of the atonement have been denounced from a thou- sand pul[)its, and deprecated in numerous pamphlets. It 60 OUR SCOTTISH CLKHCr. deserves special notice, that his departures from the usual path? of orthodoxy have none of those extravagancies that secure the temporary admiration of novelty seekers. Their character is so metaphysical as to place them altogether beyond the reach of such, and consequently can add nothing to his popularity among those who delight in palpable absurdities or flagi'ant impostures. The unthinking and si8pe)'ficial, who attempt to grapple A^ith them, find nothing to alann their feiu's or kindle their enthusiasm. While, therefore, some make to themselves a name by assaidting truths generally belicA'ed, and by bring- ing to light palpable truths hitherto imdiscovered, the subject of our sketch can gain nothing, in point of popidarity, from any peculiarities that attach to his theolog'}'. Does he owe his celebrity, then, to a ready utterance, a popular and thun- dering address, and a dogmatic and infallible asseveration ? Those who know anything of him will ansAver this at once in the negative. One attribute, of the popular demagogue, he certainly does not possess. Thougli lie can express himself A^ ith propriety on any given subject A\ithont premeditation, he is no platform orator. Though lie speaks AA"ith energy, he avoids everything approximating to a iolence^he Avorks him- self into no passion, and astonishes his audience Avith no A'iolent gesticulation. To that extravagance of figTire and clap-trap oratory of which many are fond, he is an utter stranger. On (juestions regarding Avhich his aIcavs are peculiar, he speaks Avith doubt and deference. lie never makes the matter of eternal sahation hinge on his doctrinal pecidiarities, and he fulminates no thunderbolts against those Avho reject them. It is obA'ious, then, that Ave must seek for the causes of his emi- nence neither in his denominational connexion, nor in his re- puted orthodoxy, nor in his popular talents. These yxe haA-e seen can contribute nothing either to an evanescent or per- manent eminence. Among the causes of his pre-eminence, Ave may notice what we may designate the completeness and elegance of his mind. Most minds are distinguished by one, or more, preponderating faculty AA'hich (juite overbalances the others. Imagination niles the judgment, or the affections master tlie understanding. In the subit'ct of our sketch it is inlpos^-iblc to detect am- such HEV. liALPII WAKDLAW, D.D. Gl discrepancy. There are men tliat possess some one faculty in a higher degTee, but few possess the Avhole in such harmony. Symmetry, not strength — health, not robustness — beauty, not sublimity, characterise his mind. INIodesty and shrinking sen- sitiveness govern his proceedings. He makes no adventm-ous voyages — no Alpine journeys in quest of materials for thought. The dangers of the distant — the gloom of the profound — and the risk of the daring, he never ventm'es upon. He has never raised the (Em-eka) " / have found" for he never went in quest of the man-ellous. The materials on -which he operates are perfectly common, yet these, subjected to the crucible of his mind, assume new and beautiful forms. Of a huge folio tlu'own into that crucible, three-fourths go to dross, and the residue comes forth like gold purged. His mind is not creative, but assimilative. Send it in quest of materials, and its very fasti- diousness would send it back empty a thousand times, but give it those that have occupied the attention of men of note, and its experiments are most successful. We do not say that it is perfect in its analytical operations. Our ophiion is that it is, if possible, too analytical. It analysis what every other will consider ultimate facts, and makes occasional distinctions with- . out a difference. Sometimes when expounding the Scriptures this excessive analysis is painful. He sees a principle, or pre- cept, involved in a passage, and labom's with extreme ingenuity to make that palpable to others, and hence, instead of adopting the usual and oljvious sense, he occasionally deduces meanings which are far fetched, and therefore doubtful. With this ex- ception, an exception occasioned by superabundant acuteness, the action of his mind is exceedingly healthful. When he is about to assail some argument, he is not satisfied with takinn; a general survey of it. He inspects it minutely as a Avhole, and as made up of parts. The tonus in which it is couched are first subjected to a scrutiny, and often a double meaning, which becomes the point of his assault, is detected in them, and the point, too, at which he is most successfid. He never is diverted fi'om this minute inspection by a fair and symme- trical exterior. An edifice which others Avordd pronounce, at once, faultless, is unable to forbid his keen search, and under the most specious external, he often discovers rottenness and 62 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. corruption. The extreme quickness of his mind renders him a formidable antagonist. He often, instead of defending his own hypothesis, demoKshes his opponents with their OAvn wea- pons, by showing them that whatever be the character of the views they assail, they use weapons that are more dangerous to themselves than to the assailed. Frequently his antagonists, on the Voluntary and Atonement controversies, have been astonished to find that their assaults on his views completely destroyed their own. No man can use the shield with more effect. The arrows glance on it, and return upon the strong- holds of the assailants. Grant his premises, and his conclu- sions are generally inevitable. Give him miquestionable pro- positions, and he will speedily construct a perfect syllogism. It is almost impossible to convey a full idea of his mental com- pleteness. His mind cannot move unless it can move with certainty. All hap-hazards are bugbears to it. He is no smatterer, and no pretender — what he knows, he knows thor- oughly. This peculiarity runs through the extent of his laiow- ledge. He never guesses at the meaning of a word in his own, or in any other, language ; before he uses it, he must know^ it. Nor is he satisfied with ascertaining its meaning, he must be sure of its pronunciation. Where he doubts, he must stop. He can refer to no subject in theology, in science, in philoso- phy, or politics, with Avhich he is not thoroughly versant. Such severe accuracy depiives him of the advantage of that show of learning which mere dabblers can readily command. In the professorial chair this peculiarity is strildngly apparent. If he never astonishes his students, Avith the extent of his learn- ing, the thorough mastery of the topics brought under review edifies and delights them. He can never speak of what he has seen somewhere, he must be able to tell the exact place. He seldom speaks of what one says in substance, he must be able to fi-ive his exact words and meaning. The disarrangement of a sentence — the false measui'e of syllables — improper intona- tions, all grate on his ear like harsh thunder. The pain such occasicm him is wholly indescribable. One may conceive something of it when his arm is dislocated, or when his eye- tooth is being torn from its socket. Often must the subject of our sketch enAv those whose minds are so disjointed that a REV. KALPII WARDLAW, D.D. 63 false measure, a limbless argument, or a barbarous intonation chime in with them ; and hence, when he slirinks and shudders, these harshly utter the enraptui'ed hear, hear. Probably another of the chief causes of his popularity, is his long-established mental integrity. The entire community give him full credit for stern honesty. In argument he may be mis- taken, but he is not wilfally mistaken. He may assail truth, but it is because he believes it to be a lie. He can believe no statement to have another meaning than that educible by strict hermeneutics. He cares not what meanings are attached to certain statements — he Mill admit no meaning but the one they naturally bear. In dealing with arguments, he is scru- pulously faithful in endeavouring to ascertain the meaning of then' authors. He takes no undue advantage of obscure dic- tion, or seeming, verbal, disagTeement — he ascertains what his antagonist means, and, if his fair meaning is invulnerable, he at once owns it. His honesty is sometimes troublesome to his admirers. Wlien such draw consolation, for instance, from a mistaken ^dew of some scriptiu'e passage, he at once declares such consolation a delusion. The popular eiTors, in spiri- tualising the historical, he cannot endm*e, and, consequently, astonishes and sometimes offends by s^veeping away such mis- takes. Notwithstanding his frequent assaults on Established Churches, he is almost universally respected by then' ministers and members, and readily finds access to their pulpits. They laiow that his opposition is the result of intelligent conviction, and they consider him on that account but, at the worst, a mistaken friend. His gentlemanly bearing and numerous accomplishments augment his reputation. In native powers and in extensive learning he has not a few equals, and, in some particulars, superiors; but in accomplishments he is probably without a rival amojiff his clerical brethren. In the dischar.) As an author, tlie same aiitliority says of liini — " Dv AVard- law lias been a voluminous and varied ^^Titer. What subject has he not touched, and what not adorned by the mild moon- light of his intellect ? lie has busied himself with solid mat- ters ; has \ratten on the Socinian Controversy, Assurance, In- fant Baptism, Christian Ethics, &c. ; has published divers volumes of discom'ses, and many single sermons ; has flung a smooth stone or two from the brook at the Goliah-fbrehead of Brougham, who had sported certain Philistine heresies on the subject of man's responsibility for his belief; has had a regular stand-up light with Chalmers on the Voluntary question ; has written lately an interesting and masterly ISIemoir of Dr M'xlll; and is preparing (which has since been published,) a Treatise on Congregationalism, meant for a facer to poor Presby- terians and their system for ever !" Since that time he has written an excellent memoir of his late son-in-la^v, the llev. IV'Ii' Iveid of Beilary, and published a series of lectures on the Life of Joseph, besides sundry other pieces. . His labours as a professor deserve honourable mention. For forty years he has discharged the duties of professor in the Glasgow Theological Academy, and till very recently hi^^ labom's were entirely gi'atuitous. Many students, of all deno- minations, were Avont to flock to liis class-room to avail them- selves of his lectures. His instructions were invaluable, and much is learned from his manner as well as from his matter. He treats the students as gentlemen, and never dogmatises over their faith. When other professors in the academy un- qualifiedly condemn minor mistakes, doctrinal or literary, he speaks always with deference, and occasionally with doubt ; but while others are frequently wrong, in no case is he found to have committed himself. When he thinks a false measure is given, it is sui-e to be false ; when he thinks a passage mis- quoted, it is found to have been misquoted. His only defect as a professor is his excessive gentlemanliness. He assumes the diligence of his students when he should test that dili- gence. He does too much himself, and makes them do too little. * He was educated in the Secession Church, a church of Avhich his progenitors were among the distinguished foiu.ders. I 6G OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. We have seen in his possession some of the relics of Ralph Ersldne, to whom he is related. At the time he was to re- ceive license he joined the Independents, who were then in- stituting the present form of Congregationalism. He was ordained in North Albion Street Chapel — a building now otherwise occupied — in 1803, where he laboiu'ed about twenty years, when his people erected their present place of worship, in West George Street, at a cost of above £10,000. He has generally preached twice every Sabbath, and, often, three times. During the earlier part of his ministry he preached Avithoiit notes, but since that time he generally reads his ser- mons, and it is universally admitted that he reads gracefully as well as energetically. As a reader of the Scriptures he is certainly without a riAal. His people love him ardently, and allow him the largest income of any dissenting minister in Scotland. Still Ave doubt whether his income is equal to his merits, and certain we are that it is much less than it would have been had he complied witli uro;ent invitatioiis to no to England. We had almost forgot a veiy general complaint — the extreme length of his public sen'ices. Generally these occupy two hours, and last Sabbath evening the lecture itself occvipied exactly one hour and tAventy minutes. We had prepared an outline of that lec- ture, but Ave cannot find room for it, and there is less need, as he has published so much. Fftb. 10, 1817. G7 REV. HAMILTON M. MACGILL, MONTROSE STREET, GLASGOW. There has always appeared to us to be something inA'idious and unjust in criticising, especially if with severity, a young minister. It were almost as fair to pass an opinion upon a bridge, one arch of which only was erected ; or upon a build- ing, one storey of which only had been reared. And yet few aspirants, in any walk, have to pass through such a severe ordeal as a young clergyman. This is especially true when he enters on the public stage amid the prestige of previous reputation. Under what a stern scrutiny is he then brought ! How many eyes are then upon him ! How chligent are his enemies in Avatching for his halting ! How nervous, sensitive, and liable to be disappointed, by the very excess of their ex- pectations, are his friends ! How jealous and w atchful are his elder brethren — uneasy under their prospective eclipse ! And how strong the strain upon his own unformed constitution and half-developed intellectual energies — a .strain under which too many sink. And just when he is beginning to master the difficulties of his virgin position, and for the first time to breathe freely, comes the reaction incident to the popularity of all, and the bloom of popularity -withers at the very tiriie when the fruits of his ministry are beginning to mature. No one, but he who has experienced, can conceive the harrassing anxieties, the labours, the annoyances, the disgust, the dis- appointments, and the chagrins of the first year or two of ministerial life. We have been amused with the lugubrious picture writers draAv of the laborious life of a metropolitan minister. According G8 OUR SCOTTISH CLEHGY. to tliem sucli is the most liard-^\T.'oiiglit of lier jS'Iajesty's siiLjccts. lie has so many visits to pav, so many speeches to make, and so Httle time for preparing the elaborate sermons, which he must, nevertheless, have in readiness for liis highly-polished Sunday audience. These authors Avax quite ])athetic in their pictiu'e of a desperate divine sitting in his study, at some " woo short horn' ayont the twall," hammering at the sentences of that day's sermon, adjusting this and the other fine clause for the grand show of the evening, and occasionally, we suppose, scratching his Avise head about the organ of constructiveness, or taking an euA'ious peep at his fair and sleeping partner. This is sad t\\ addle. If the divine, as an author expressly declares, spends a large portion of his week-day time in tea- table gossip, or in aftej-dinner chat with cits, it is his own blame if Saturday brings no holiday for him, if the Sabbath sun sometimes sm^prises him at his desk, and if he feels con- siderably Mondayish in the beginning of the week. AVe are convinced that tlie labours of semi-metropolitan ministers, and particularly in the beginning of their career, are quite as numerous, as incessant, and as harrassing as those of their London brethren — that the calls upon theu- time are as fi'e- quent — that the demand for decent discom'ses is now, more or less, imperative everywhere — that the loose glib talk, which abounds in London pulpits and platforms, wont go down so softly anywhere else ; and that if a minister, in a city such as GlasgoAv, rarely fails to discompose his Saturday's circle, it must be from a severe economy in the use of his time during the week. AYc thus introduce oxuselves, and om* readers, to the young minister whose name stands at the head of this article. We have long knoAvn and loved the Ivev. Hamilton MacGill. We did so from the first time almost that Ave saw his mild, expres- sive, and finely chiselled face — a fiice in which softness and spirituality hold a calm contest for the dominion. We remem- ber when Ave first met Avith Thomas Carlyle, that his appear- ance forcibly recalled Mr MacGill. He is not so tall nor strong as Carlyle — his face has not the sternricss of expres- sion, v.or the Inrid fire Avandcring aboiTt the back of the eye, but tlie f(_.i-iu uf the features, the turn of tlio head, and the REV. HAMILTON M. MACGILL. ()9 shape of tlie body, are veiy similar. Nor is this a mere eccen- tric judgment of oiu' own. A distinguished friend of Carlyle's, "Nvho had gone to hear MacGill, was greatly struck with the resemblance, which is that of a milder and yoiuigei*, to an older and sterner brother. Any one who possesses Mr Gil- fillan's Gallery of Portraits, may verify this by looking at the face of Carlyle as there represented, in Avhat, indeed, is the only endurable lithograph in the volume. Mr MacG ill's mind is distinguished less by the supremacy of any one power than by the harmony and fine balance in which he possesses and manages many. In the beautiful and intimate Avay in which his intellect and imagination interpene- trate each other, he resembles Dr Thomas Brown, in whom the two faculties seem to melt and mingle with each other, like tAvo currents of air, in endless interchauge. His intellect is remarkable rather for delicacy and subtlety than for strength — it rather un^^■inds than cuts the Ivnots which are presented to it. Its power is dilfnsed, in equal proportions, throughout the whole of his composition, and rarely condenses into strong points, or rears \\\) into sudden and striking positions. His thinking, as it goes on, sometimes used to raise and clothe itself in a quiet, dim, beautiful, but not impalpable or offensive mist. In happier moments, however, he was enabled to out- run this, and become perfectly clear and cogent. His ima- gination, we think, sympathises rather with the correct, the classical, and the refined, than with that outer and sterner Avorld, A\liere dwell the dreary, the rude, the fierce, and the terrible shapes of things. The figures he does produce are rather beautiful than powerful — rather elegant than new. His style, at one time, was somewhat perplexed and encum- bered with a kind of metaphysical verbiage, which he might have left L>elund him in the ethical class, and which, as much as his mode of thinking, served to darken his counsel. His sentences were long and somewhat involved, and the meaning rather glimmered stealthily through than looked with open face. These faults, however, he has long ago relinquished, and the last time Ave heard him, an'c admired the beautifiil simplicity and clearness of his diction, Avhicli, instead of the dim gorgeous coloured ANindoAv, had become the clear plain 70 OUn SCOTTISH CLEltGY. pane of glass, ivflccting a nicaiiing as cliastc and refined as the blue unclouded sky. Mr MacG ill's manner is, we think, a better medium to his present than to his first mode of preaching. When he was, as of yore, highly oratorical, his voice and action did not give out the full effects at which he aimed. It seemed a melody that suited some higher, played on an inferior instniment — a strain fit for the organ, but attuned to the flute. Its effect was a certain convulsion, or appearance of convulsion, in the speaker, and a certain imeasiness on the part of the hearer. This, however, has departed, and along -sAith it, a considerable degree of hesitation, which sometimes embarrassed his manner, and sometimes his meaning. His voice is a sweet continuous and mellow stream of sound, to which excitement seldom, indeed, says " spring up O well," but where lethargy never creates a standing and stagnant pool. His action is quiet but not feeble, and invariably forms a just measure for the feeling within, instead of, as with many speakers, exaggerating it by distor- tion and the other disguises of furious feebleness, or, as with others, indulging it beneath a load of coldness, like so much dull, wet, lieaAy clay. His manner is grave, earnest, un- studied ; and we know few preachers who are more free, on the one hand, from the arts and affectations of the elocutionist, and on the other, from that winning ranting tone, Mdiich is at present yet more common, and yet more disgusting, as if one, in becoming a saint, were compelled to cease being a man — as if that awfid Ear, which was wont to Msten to the minstrel- sies of the temple, and the music which marched with the ark, was now to be pleased and propitiated by a bad, borrowed, and monotonous tune ! ISh' MacGill, we regi-et to say, has not done his high poAvers justice, so far as publication is concerned. He has, indeed, published occasional lectm'es and speeches ; and his echtorship of the Juvenile Missionary ^fagazine does infinite credit to his industiy, skill, and taste. But there are prc^inces in religious literature where his refined thinking, his philosophic acumen, and his sense of the beautiful, would entitle him to shine. We think he could produce svich a book in the style of Bowdler's Essays, in no Arise inferior to it, and, in some points, probably REV. HAMILTON M. MACGILL. 71 superior — equally uuctional, equally tasteful, and, if not quite so calm and chaste in expression, at once profounder in thought, and more poetical in spirit. Poetical in spirit he certainly is, although we do not know if he has ^^Titten much or any verse. But he is evidently not one of those who push poetry out of the pulpit, like Uzziah from the temple, as if it were a leprous and unholy thing, and supply its place by polemical fury or party spirit. Pie feels that the spirit of genuine poetry, and of genuine religion, are identical, or, at least, of kin ; and that, like the Bible itself, every sermon should aim at being a poem, in the true and high sense of that abstract term, i. e., seeking to give a poetic form and expression to eternal trurth — seeking to construct not a dry dyke of argument, nor a loose pile of so-called practical sand, nor a hedge of polemical thorns, but to place " a tree of life," li\'ing and choosing to live, firm and strong, even while it is shedding its leaves, for the healing of those who sit under its shadow ! As a man, he is remarkable for a manly mildness, which is very rai'e, as well as for all those feelings, tastes, and habits, which go to constitute the character of a gentleman. His conversation is distinguished by a thoughtful gentleness, and his modesty would be almost oppressive, and his amiability almost too perfect, were it not for that irrepressible intelligence which comes out in liis countenance, and in the mild but keen perspicacity of his talk. We have sometimes seen him roused to resentment ; and on sxich occasions he can express himself with great firnmess, dignity, and fire ; but nothing save what he deems gross ungentlemanliness, rudeness, or dishonour, ever betrays him into such moods ; and, on the whole, the general liabit of his mind, temper, writing, and preaching, is enlight- ened and calm. Feb. 20, 1847. REV. JAMES CRAIK, D.D., ST George's, Glasgow. Ox Sabbath last, at a little j)asl^ eleven, the minister of St George's ascended his pulpit, and a considerable time after- wards all the laro'e cono-reoation had assembled. Instead of being preceded in the usual way by the Bible and psalm-book official, the minister very properly ascends the stair before that functionary, who immediately follows, and places the books on the desk, and, ha\ang shut the door, retires. The occupant of the pulpit appears to be above forty years of age, of middle size and habit. His phrenological development is good. Ilis keen eye rolls beneath a ]:)lacid brow, which is siu'mounted with erect, scanty grey hau-s. Benevolence and pla^-fulness contest the ascendancy on the lower part of his face. Though not destitute of becoming gra^-ity, energy and sprightliness predominate in his appearance. Shortly after entering the pulpit, he announces the subject of praise in a sharp, shrill, distinct voice ; the letter 5 is enunciated too distinctly, in a hissing sound, disagreeable to strangers. Singing, which is performed chiefly by the band, being over, the minister, with his hands clasped on the shut Bible, and leaning forward, offers an a})propriate, though somewhat diftiise, prayer. He then, standing in an erect posture, reads a portion of Scrip- ture, and makes occasional explanatory remarks as he pro- ceeds. In reading, his pronunciation is unexceptionable, but his accentuation we consider faulty. We observed, especially when reading the 16th verse of 2d chapter of John's gospel, '' Take these things hence," &c., his accent indicated nothing of that autlioritv with which the words must have been delivered; m0"' ^ "^■^~v «^^ PKFSENTHTi TO '.rHl- THE GLASGOW EXAMINER roWWBD LLS^ GI.ASGOW. EEV. JAMES CRAIK, D.D. 73 and when reading tlie IStli and 19tli verses of the same chap- ter, the taunting questions of the Jews were read ydth. the gravity of oracular adumbration. We have been the more careful to note these blemishes, because we consider careless reading of the Scriptures a predominant pulpit vice, and be- cause, in the present instance, it contrasts so strikingly with the correct and eloquent delivery of the preacher. After the second singing, Dr Craik, contrary to custom, prays a second time, and at the close of this exercise, he repeats the Lord's prayer. On the occasion in question, the text was given out five minutes before twelve, or nearly an horn' after the announced time of meeting. The text was in 2 Cor. iv. 6, *'For God who commanded the light to shine," &c. He commenced his discom'se, which lay before him carefidly written out, by remarking that the apostle, in the text, Avas familiar with the meaning of the request of the disciples, " show us the Father, and it sufficeth us" — the glory of God, he said, is seen in the face of Jesus. This text, he continued, contains a comparison between what God did in creation and what he does in redemp- tion — He commanded the light to shine out of darkness, and He shines into the heart. To this comparison he meant to direct attention, and, in doing so, would consider first, the agency ; second, the work ; and, third, the results included in this comparison. In speaking of the agency, he showed that God was the efficient cause in the progress of creation, and that He is equally so in the illumination of the understanding. In treating of his second head of discourse, he referred to the successive stages in creation when the earth received its form, and matter its laws — gi'avitation, attraction, and repulsion, and when light began to shine and to vivify and cheer crea- tion. He then showed that a similar work is accomplished in the mind when a new creation is produced, and when the light of the glorious gospel is introduced. He here enumerated the perfections of God Avhich were disclosed, and the feelings and faculties of the mind that were renewed by this enlightening process. On his third head, the resvJts suggested by this comparison, he observed that division or separation was the first result. God di^dded the light from the darkness, and he separates in the mind truth from eiTor — the new man fi.*om K 74 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. tlie old, the renewed affections from tlie corrupt — tlie light of truth fi'om natural darkness. A second result, he mentioned, is a vast process of production — fertility and fruit followed the light, and in an enlightened mind love, joy, peace, &c., are the fniits of the Spirit. He concluded by remarking, that without this light all remained in a state of darkness and misery, and by discriminating between mere intellectual light and the light of the knowledge of the glory of God. Eveiy one at all competent to judge of such matters, must at once acknowledge the division and arrangement of the above outline altogether faultless. The entire meaning of the text is fairly embraced, the leading ideas clearly stated, and the analogy of the text is faithfully elucidated. Such, we say, is the character of the outline. The filling up, however, which our space at present forbids us to insert, was scarcely equal. On the several heads much that was true was stated in appropriate and popular language, but the illustration of the one head fi'equently interfered with the other — the agency with the icorhj and the loork with the agency. This sh'glit blemish Avas occasioned, probably, by the extreme difficulty of managing a figurative text. General illustrations aj)pended to such are powerless and pointless, and diffuseness must result in confusion. The discourse, however, was delivered with much energ}^, and the language was neat, chaste, and some- times eloquent. If we might ventm'e a criticism on a pulpit manner so popular, so graceful, and withal so dignified, we would suggest that the preacher commence on a key not qiiite so high, in order to admit of more variety, and to allow room for giving his many fine passages their full effect. Indeed, so high is the key he strikes, that he must occasionally terminate his graceful periods by descending when he should ascend. We point out these slight blemishes, because the superiority of the preacher gives them prominence. Among inferior speakers such are unobserved, and to attempt to lop them off woidd be idle — a feeble tree is Kttle better than a coiTupt one. His manner is animated and popular. Thovigh the entire of his discoiu'se is before him, he looks at it only occasionally. Indeed, those in the lower part of the chiu'ch could scarcely ascertain that he uses notes at all. His action is considerably REV. JAMES CRAIK, D.D. 75 varied, and, on the whole, gi-aceful. Occasionally his hands are placed on his discoiu'se, and at other times they are freely used. He generally assumes an erect postm*e, and looks chiefly towards the centre of the church. He frequently adjusts his gOAvn, which is disarranged by his gestui'e. We had almost forgot to mention, that though the sermon was comparatively short, the entire service, owing to the late- ness and length of the introductory department, was not over till one o'clock. From what we have said above, it will appear that Dr Cralk is one of our most popular ministers, and his success in Glas- gow is the best proof of that fact. Though his excellent pre- decessor carried with him to Free St George's the greater part of the congregation of St George's, in little more than three years the church has been filled up, and is almost fully let. The congregation is respectable and w^ealthy, as well as large, occupying still as, indeed, it has done always, a first place in collection lists. As a theologian his \4ews are evangelical, though his evan- gehsm is a little modernised. There can be no objection to show the bearings of Christianity on the business and respecta- bilities of life, or to adopt illustrations drawn from the present state of society, but there is some danger of fashionablising the doctrines and duties of an orthodox Christianity. Instead of adopting the pointed and specific Bible division of the human family into the righteous and the wicked, the behever and un- believer, we have heard such terms as the enlightened and un- enlightened, the Christian and the infidel. Instead of speak- ing of sin and guilt, we hear of moral evil and of shortcomings. The devil is at worst the deceiver, and, as " hell sounds harsh to ears polite," it is called the final abode of the wicked. Now we are ftir firom objecting to any, or all, of these phrases Avhen used only occasionally, but when they are used exclusively, so as to supersede the plain, intelligible statements of Scripture — they derogate from the chgnity of the Bible and the majesty of truth. Hokhng, as we do, that the Scriptm-es properly trans- lated are models of taste, we have an additional reason besides then' inspiration for adhering strictly to their spuit and letter. Nor is allowance to be made for the respectabihty of a people. 76 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. In treating vfith men from the pulpit, their moral relations and obligations, only, are to he acknowledged. The man with the gold ring is to be addi'essed in the same words as the man in rags. Though the minister of St George's, in some instances, is in danger of falling into the en'or specified, his yiews on the great doctrines of the gospel are beyond question. The eiTor complained of is verbal — being in the mode of expressing these doctrines. The miiversal degeneracy of the hmnan family — their recovery through the Saviour — the sufficiency of the atonement — the freeness and fulness of the Spirit — the work and gi'ace of Christ — the natiu'e and necessity of regeneration — the final judgment and the awards of the futm'e state, are prominent subjects of his preaching. His prayers breathe a fine evangelical spirit. We find nothing of that hateful sec- tarian assumption and exclusiveness not uncommon in certain quarters. In referring to the National Church, he says nothing of the Chui'ch, our Zion — he prays for the section of the Church to which he belongs — arrogating no superiority over other churches, and using no phrases that could ofPend the most fas- tidious Dissenter. As an intellectualist, there is comparatively little opportunity of judging of his status. He has written little or nothing; but from his pidpit appearances we Avould infer that he is probably more clear than profound. Like all speakers of the higher class, he studies to render himself intelligible. He makes no attempt to make an audience suppose that he is what is called " a deep preacher" — his sole ambition is to make himself a plain preacher. He deals in no incomprehensible abstractions — ^in no perplexing metaphysical distinctions — in no exploded dogmas — in no miintelligible doctrines — he exhibits palpable facts and doctrines, and urges the duties and decencies of life as the proof of faith in " the things most sm'ely believed." He denies nothing which is revealed, and he makes no efforts to discover what is not revealed. Imagination he miquestionably possesses, but it is exclusively of an illustrative character. It seldom strikes one with any novel idea, but it always pleases by attiring ordinaiy ideas in chaste and gorgeous di'apeiy. In- deed, so rich is his verbal fancy, that he occasionally obscm*es an idea by concealing it amid the splendom's of a fascinating EEV. JAMES CRAIK, D.D. 77 diction. His auditors are often surprised by a sentiment witli which they had been so famihar that it ceased to interest, being presented in colour's so dazzhng as to command the attention of the most Hstless. As a gentleman, we unhesitatingly place him second to no clergyman in Glasgow. In matters of business, he is pmic- tual as the return of day; and in correspondence, jDrompt, respectful, and polite. In all his commmiications with his fellow men, he sustains the dignity of the clerg^yTiian, without violating any of the accomplishments or refinements of the gentleman. He was ordained at Scone in 1832, and was removed to Glasgow in 1843, where liis ministry has been acceptable, and where he is miiversally respected. Fkb. 27, 1847. 78 KEY. A\T;LLIA:M SYmNGTON, D.D., GEEAT HA3IILT0N STREET, GLASGOW. We have long entertained the idea, that the body is the sym- bol as well as the residence of the mind — that the inward man bears a resemblance to the outward, both as regards symmetiy and proportion. In defenchng this theory or analogy, we have to battle it with some obstinate phenomena. We find Pope, Watts, and Channing at once physical dwarfs and intellectual giants, and we have to dispose of them by calling them splen- did exceptions — brilhant lusus naturw, the real centaiu's of the species — men in whom the physical quivers under the intellec- tual. Setting these aside, however, innumerable instances confirm the correctness of our analog}\ An ill-arranged, iU- concHtioned physical structure is generally inhabited by a dis- jointed intellect and disordered affections, and a spiimetrical physical system with a well-pro])ortioned mind. Physiognomy as well as physiology must of com'se be observed in tracing our analogy. Intellect draws its lines, and the affections manifest their presence, in the human face chvine, in proportion to their vigour and intensity. The brow unmarked and the face mi- fiin'owed have never felt tlie force of mind, nor been distiu'bed with the inspiration of genius. According to this theoiy, we expect the man of sharp and prominent features to give bu'th to distinct conceptions, to analyse with keen metaphysical acu- men, and to reason with subtlety and power. We expect the massive framework to contain powerful machinery, capable of producing the heaviest and most valuable maniifactm-es. Dr William Symington is an unquestionable illustration of our theory. His person is the faithful rei^'esentation of his mind FPuBSENTEU 10 THE SUB^'CEIBEJ^S OF THE GLASanw EXAAUNER GLASGOW. REV. WILLIMI SYillNGTON, D.D. 79 — massive, robust, symmetrical. Before proceeding to our proof and illustration, Ave shall give some accoimt of his public Avork. Last Sabbath, at seven minutes past eleven, he entered his pulpit, and at a quarter-past eleven, the greater part of Ms larcre cono;reo;ation had assembled. Some, however, continued to enter till the half hour. The serAaces Avere commenced by- singing the last fom- Acrses of the 31st psalm; and, after prayer, Psalm Ixxi. 10th to 15th verses inclusiA^e, Avere read and expounded at considerable length (tAventy minutes), and then simg. The only thing remarkable in this part of the public services of the body (the Reformed Presbyterian) to AA'hich Dr Symiington belongs, is their exclusiA'e use of the psalms — paraphrases and hjauns being both prohibited. Taa^o minutes before tAvelve, the 11th and 12th verses of the sixth chapter to the HebreAvs AA^ere read as the subject of lecture. The lectiuer first shoAved that these verses might be connected AA'ith the Avarning against apostacy in the beginning of the chapter, or Avith the verses immediately preceding them, in Avhich the apostle had expressed his full confidence in those he addi'essed. He then proceeded to minutely analyse the sub- ject of lectiue, and to give the strict meaning of some of its original tenus. He remarked that the AA'ord rendered desire in the eleventh verse, means vehement or intense desu'e, and indicates the deep anxiety a minister feels for his people. Pie also pointed out the minuteness of ministerial care indicated by the terms " every one." In speaking of Christian assurance, he said that Paul mentions it in three places, and in each of the three its aspect is peculiar. In Col. ii. 2, it is the assm- ance of understanding ; in Heb. x. 22, it is the assurance of faith ; and in the passage under consideration, it is the assur- ance of hope. The former tAA^o passages, he said, refeiTed to objective assurance, the latter to subjective assurance — a per- ception and conviction of truth revealed, and a personal in- terest in tnith received — the former being the assurance of faith, the latter of sense. He then stated the character of this assurance ; that it Awas no vague idea of safety, nor even of the mere acting of faith, but a deep personal persuasion of an in- terest in Christ, foimded on satisfactory CAadence. That such assurance is attainable he proved fi'om the facts, that it is the 80 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. subject of apostolic benediction, exliortation, promise, and ex- ample. He stated that it was attainable by perseverance and practical godliness, and that all behevers had it not, and that im believer had it always. He deprecated the conduct of those who consider doubts and fears essential to safety; these he affinned were neither parts nor evidences of a man's Chris- tianity. He then stated the three things that the apostle desired of the Hebrews — to show diligence, to avoid sloth, and to imitate those inheriting the promises, who, he said, might be either the living Gentiles, or their departed brethren, the Jews. He concluded by showing that sloth was sufficient to secure irretrievable ruin, and that the example of the saints is designed for imitation. He finished his excellent lectm-e at five minutes to one o'clock, and concluded the ser\'ices by prayer, singing, and the benediction which was pronounced shortly after one o'clock. In the afternoon the people had assembled by a quarter after two. The chiu'ch was A^ell filled, almost ever)' pew being fully occupied. After singing, a prayer of much fervour and \ery great length was offered. A chapter was then read Tvith- out remark, and the second sinoino: beino; over, Kom. xiii. 14, " But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ," was announced as the text. He commenced by stating that the text is a counterac- tive of the evil stated before it. He then divided his subject into two parts. Fu'st, he would open up what was meant by putting on Christ ; and, second, he would offer some remarks suggested by the text. On his first head, he remarked that the phrase " put on" is figurative, and is used in reference to God, who is said to put on vengeance, zeal, &c., and also to man — Job says, " I put on righteousness." ]\Iore particularly he obseiwed, first, that putting on Christ means to make a pro- fession of religion. As many as are baptized, in a certain sense, put on Christ ; but in a higher sense, those who volun- tarily and intelligently attend the other rite — the Lord's Supper — comply with the injunction in the text. To put on Christ includes, secondly, believing in him for justification. Thirdly, it means being conformed to the image of Christ, or the posses- sion of a new moral nature. He quoted Ephes. iv. 24, and Col. iii. 10. Fom'thly, it includes imitating Christ's example, REV. WILLIA]M SYMINGTON, D.D. 81 which he considered the chief idea of the text. Finally, it supposes an appropriating of Cluist whoUj. He then pro- ceeded to make his general remarks suggested by the text. Fh'st, what clothing is to the body, Christ is to the soul-^a covering, a comfort, a protection. Second, in putting on Clu'ist, we must put off Avhatever is opposed to hun. Third, Christ ought to be seen in liis people — the command is to put on Clu'ist, and what we put on is visible. Fom'th, Clu'ist is to be so put on as never to be put oiF. Fasliion or decay in- duces a change of raiment, but neither affects the putting on in question. He then concluded by censru'ing those who think it enough that God sees and knows their rehgion — man must also see and know it. He briefly described the happiness of those who have put on Christ, who are clothed in the fine linen clean and white — the righteousness of saints. The dis- course commenced at a quarter to three, and was finished at twenty minutes to fotn*. The concluding services were simi- lar to those in the forenoon, and the congregation was dismissed at ten muiutes to foiu\ As the reputation acquired by Dr Symington, as a ^ATiter and preacher, is now fully estabhshed, we feel more at liberty to remark on liis pubhc services. The lecture, briefly reported above, is one of gTcat merit. The connexion, mean- ing, and bearings of the passage under re\'iew, were faithfully and graphically pointed out — the comprehensive and the minute w^ere strikingly blended, and the critical and practical were happily miited. Though the lecturer had no notes, he dis- coiu'sed fluently, energetically, and eloquently. The seraion we consider by no means so happy. Even the outline might be improved, and the illustrations were inferior to the outKne. Comparatively few preachers can manage flgurative texts well, and such a figm-e as that employed in the text — a figm*e designed to exliibit what Paul calls a great mysteiy, the vinion of Christ with liis people, is the most difficult of all figm'es. The sublime is in extreme danger of being merged in the ridiculous — the doctrine of being desecrated by the symbol — the spiritual tem- poralised by the earthly, and the deep things of God of losing their magnificence, by being adumbrated in such lowly fomis. It has been stated, as a general rule, that Scripture figures are L 82 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. designed to illustrate a subject in only one of its aspects ; and, indeed, in the present instance, the preacher stated what he considered the principal idea in his text. In order, therefore, to do justice to such a text, illustrations should be confined to that one idea, as all inferior topics would, Avith more propriety, be elicited and enforced from other texts. So much, then, for the services of last Sabbath, and we now proceed to the proof and illustration refeiTed to at the commencement of this sketch. It may be necessary, however, to say something, in the first place, of the position and influence of the subject of our re- mai'ks. As a popular preacher, Dr Symington, as far as we know, has no rival in the body to which he belongs, and, AAath the exception of his brother, Dr Andrew Symington, of Pais- ley, he is considered superior to his brethren in talent and learning. His fame, however, is by no means Hmited by denominational restriction. Indeed, it is not a little remark- able, that denominational peculiarities are chiefly indebted to inferior minds for their support and perpetuity. Many a small theologian would go to prison and to death in bearing testi- mony to some miserable crotchet, Avhich not one thousandth part of Christendom acknowledges. It is to the honour of Dr Symington, and of all theologians of the highest class, that they busy themselves AAith substantial matters, and leave the crotchet department to small men. With such subjects as IMessiah the Prince, and the Atonement and Intercession of Christ, has Dr S}anington occupied his pen, and to matters of general interest has a great portion of his time been devoted. On benevolent, educational, and religious subjects, ministers of all sects calcu^late on his advocacy. On platforms conse- crated to the cause of suffering humanity — to the protection of public rights and morals — to the circidation of the Scrip- tm*es — to the spread of evangelical truth, he generally occupies a prominent and decided position ; and there, as in his usual ministrations, he avoids everything approximating to sectarian exclusiveness and party feeling. We have said that his deno- minational popularity is imrivalled, and, we may add, that he appears to no disadvantage among the most popular min- isters of other sects. Not only is his own large chm'ch crowded weekly with attentive audiences, but wherever he EEV, WILLIA:M SYMINGTON, D.D. 83 preaches — and he has preached in churches of not a few deno- minations — eager crowds assemble, and, enraptured, hsten to his eloqiient prelections. On the platforms of our city he is equally popular. Few speakers command more general atten- tion, and elicit more rapturous applause. In a word, he has gathered around him in Glasgow a large, respectable, and in- fluential congregation, and earned the esteem and respect of the entire of our citizens. This, then, is his position, let us JH'iefly state its cause. The Doctor possesses a mind of much vigovu" and energy. In this respect, his bold robust person is its faithful emblem. It seizes a subject manfully, and gi'apples Avith it successfully. It is constructive rather than analytical. In subtlety and acuteness it is comparatively defective, but in dealing with great principles and obvious facts, it has few supe- riors. It occupies itself more with the general outKne of a land- scape than with minute details. The precipice, the cataract, the woodland scenery, the waving fields, have more fascinations for him than the neglected flower, or mountain daisy, which blushes at his feet. In other words, his mind is comprehensive rather than minute — bold rather than metaphysical. The subhme attracts him more than the lovely — the terrible more than the trembling — the robust more than the delicate. This compre- hensiveness of mind, and this boldness of thought, give him great advantages in public speaking. His images, if not always lovely, are at least palpable. They may not command the homage of the affections, but they secure the attentions of the intellect. An occasional wish may be indulged, that the dra- pery in which they are adorned were a Httle more chaste and delicate, but the images themselves are unmistakeable and unexceptionable. This mental peculiarity appears to gi'eat advantage in lecturing or exposition. It enables him to show, Avitli gi'eat clearness, the I'elative connexion and bearing of divine truth. Keeping his eye on that vast field, he has neither time nor taste for hair-splitting distinction — for hidden mean- ings and minute details ; and if at any time he sets imagina- tion to work mvich out of little, or to display analogical in- genuity, as in the sermon referred to, he does violence to his mind, and, of course, fails of his puii")ose. He possesses not a few of the attributes of a popular orator. 84 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. His voice, tliougli soft, is not disagreeable, and is well under conmiand. His action is animated, varied, and graceful.. The only thing disagreeable in his appearance, -when speaking, is the contortion of his face, which, to a stranger, has the appear- ance of irritation and displeasure. As an author he is well known. He has pubHshed on the Atonement and Intercession of Christ, ^lessiah the Prince, the Evil of Ignorance, Considerations on Lots, Life of John AVil- liamson, the Salvation of Israel, Popery, Character of Scottish Martyrs, and several Sermons, edited M'Kenzie and White's edition of Scott's Commentary on the Bible, besides being a fi'equent contributor to magazines, reviews, &c. &c. These are worthy of perusal. Dr Symington was ordained at Stranraer in 1819, and translated to Glasgow in 1839, where he has laboured since with growing success. In the above sketch some may think us much too minute regarding dates, but chronology is a part of morality as well as of religion. The hours set apart for public worship shoidd be scrupulously sacred. A London gentleman, lately deceased, estimated his time at five pounds per minute, and held that whoever robbed him of a minute robbed him of five pounds. There are few whose time is so very valuable, but the time of every one is worth something ; and hence eveiy minute that elapses after the appointed hour, is lost to those whose time is most valuable — the punctual, who are always present at the stated hom\ March 6, 1847. 85 THE LATE REV. ARCTID. BENNIE, D.D., F.R.S.E., LADY tester's, EDIXBUEGH. It seems to be a Liav, subject, of course, to many exceptions, of this terrestrial scene, that objects of sm'passing beauty and brilHaiicy are destined to a brief existence. The coarser pro- duction of the vegetable Avorld battles with the storm of many a wintry day, while the delicate flower spreads its brilliant hues, during a few sunny hoiu's, and then disappears. The eagle, and other predatory- fowls, survive the wreck of many generations, whilst the sweetest songsters of the grove warble their lovely notes for a few brief years, and then are silent for ever. The birds of the forest survive centuries, the birds of paradise scarcely years. As in the lower, so in the higher orders of creation. Men there are who have scattered, duiing a half centuiy, the richest coruscations of genius on an en- tranced world — ^but these are undoubtedly the exceptions, and not the rule. The brightest luminaries, in whose light men rejoice for a season, are soon withdrawn, while the lesser lights shine on. Grey, Spencer, M'Cheyne, and Bennie, died young. They rose on different parts of the world, and shone mth a dazzling splendoiu*, but suddenly the dark shadows of death intercepted them from human view. Among the gifted sons of Scotland, the late Dr Archibald Bennie occupied a distin- guished place ; and, though he has now done v^ith his work, and entered on his revrard, om' gallery would be certainly incomplete were he excluded. The facts that he was a native of Glasgow, and for a time occupied one of its pulpits, give him additional claims to a distinguished place among our Scot- tish clera'v. In the year 1797, on the 1st of November, was 86 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. the subject of om- sketch born in Glasgow. He "was baptised in St Da^ id's Church, by tlie late Dr Ranken, then minister of that parish. His father was a manufacturer, and was much esteemed for his pubhc and private virtues. In the autumn of 1820, he was licensed by the Presbytery of Glasgow to preach the gospel, and in Glasgow and other places his first efforts in the pulpit were highly satisfactory and acceptable. At the unanimous wish of the Shettleston congregation — about three miles east of the city — he became assistant to the then aged minister, in the year 1822, being in his twenty-fifth year. After preaching there ^^'ith much acceptance, for a short period, he was chosen, from a nimiber of eminent candidates, as assist- ant and successor to the Rev. John M'Leod, minister of the Chapel of Ease, North Albion Street, Glasgow ; and on the Gth Augiist, 1823, was ordained by the Glasgow Presbytery. That large chm'ch was crowded to excess when he preached. Speedily his fame extended, and, in August of the following year, he received the presentation to the third charge in the West Church, Stirling ; and in June, 1825, he was removed to the second charge; and in 1827 he was translated to the first charge. His induction was dela_)'ed, for various reasons, till 31st March, 1829. In 1827— the year he was presented to the first charge in Stirling — he was married to JSIiss Eliza Noble, only daughter of James Noble, Esq., collector of excise in Stirhng, and that union was to him, through fife, a source of the richest domestic felicity. That excellent person now lives to mourn his early death. In 1833 he was appointed chaplain to the garrison in Stirling Castle, and secured the cordial goodwill of the ofiicers and privates. In 1835 he was called to Lady Tester's, Echnbm'gh, where he labom'cd with zeal and fidelity during the residue of his hfe. He held vari- ous offices of great importance connected with religious and benevolent institutions. In the Edinburgh Presbytery he was Convener of the Committee for the Examination of Students making Application for License, and latterly he Avas Convener of the Scheme for the Endowment of Quoad Sacra Chm'ches. He was one of the clerical governors of Ileriot's Hospital, and Convener of its Education Committee, and took a very active and decided part in forwarding the interests of that institution. THE LATE REV. ARCHIBALD BENNIE, D.D., F.R.S.E. 87 He "was also chosen President of the Edinburgh School of Arts, and though that office had pre^^ouslJ been held but one year, he held it consecutively eight years, having been re-elected each year. His name is famous in connexion with the Apo- ciyphal controversy. He was associated with Dr Thomson in denouncing; the evils of adulteratma; the word of God "with spurious ^^Titings. He also took a decided part in the emanci- pation question, and lent his eloquence to effect the liberation of the slave. In 1842 he was solicited to become Secretary of the Edinburgh Bible Society, but his other pressing duties prevented liis compliance. In 1841 he was appointed, by the Queen, one of the Deans of the Chapel Royal, and in 1844 he was enrolled a Member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and in the follo^\^ng year Glasgow University conferred upon him the degree of D.D. On the 21st of November, 1846, after a short illness, not deemed dangerous till within a few days of his death, he finished his M^ork, and left his many offices to others. He died at Dunoon, and his remains were carried to Edinburgh on the 25th, and afterwards removed to the family bui'jing ground in Stirhng, and now rest in the vicinity of the West Chm'ch, where his voice had directed many to the paths of life. So much, then, for the facts of his brief history — facts which show that, dm-ing the short period of his ministr}^, no fewer than six congregations enjoyed his labours — some of them during longer and some shorter periods. In such a career as that of Dr Bennie there is matter for contemplation for others besides the mere chronologist and historian. The metaphysician, the philosopher, the patriot, the moralist, the Christian, may, and ought to, ponder it vnth the minutest care. His external movements derive their interest ft'om his mental \agour — his temporal residence from his eternal relationships to God and man — ^his earthly fame, from its bearings on the eternal des- tinies of the thousands that came -v^dthin the reach of his in- fluence. The mind of Dr Bennie was trained and refined by the highest culture. From the facts given above, it appears that, from a child, he was devoted exclusively to the study of letters. A great part of those who rise to eminence lose, as far as men- 88 OUE SCOTTISH CLERGY. tal culture is concerned, a great portion of their time. Tlieir early training is neglected, from necessity or choice, so that they reach manhood before they have received the rudiments of education. They are afterwards educated, not to make them eminent, but because the natural ^•igour of then' minds raise them above their early chcmnstances. The subject of our sketch was one of the few wdio, if possible, are too early drilled in classical lore. The former class lose much by their minds remaining in inacti\'ity after they ought to be excited — the latter suffer partially by precocious effort. Too early phy- sical effort is fatal to the symmetry of the frame, and too late effort induces permanent imbecility. Dr Bennie, however, was able to endure the efforts of infantile culture. His powers early indicated their presence, and he w^as as old at ten as other juveniles at fifteen yeai's. We wish to dhect special attention to the fact, that he entered the University at the age of eleven years, and was not licensed till he was twenty-three ; thus having been under a coui'se of training for the lengthened period of twelve years. Nor is such a period one day too much. Our educational preparation for a hterary life is much too short. For learnino; some of the most common trades seven years are allotted ; but some of the learned professions shorten even that penod. The EstabHshed Church demands a classi- cal course of four years, and a theological of other fom' for her pulpit candidates ; but that period, generally speaking, is much too short. Dr Bennie, with a mind gi*eatly superior to the ordinary class, found twelve years all needed, and we had almost said that a shorter period would have shorn him of some of his futvu'e laui'els. We doubt whether those that hasten through a com'se of training, for which they are but imperfectly prepared, ever attain — unless extraordinary futiu'e advantages are granted — that philosophical accm'acy of thought, and that high finish of diction, which mark the discourses of Dr Bennie. We must also be allowed to doubt whether any seminaries of education, inferior to our universities, ■\\ill ever bless the world with such accurate scholarship, and such rare accomplishments, as those which distinguish the students of these national seats of learning. Dr Bennie's mind was vigorous and comprehensive. Cid- THE LATE REV. ARCHIBALD BENaSTIE, D.D., F.R.S.E. 89 ture Avill do much to improve a mind of inferior powers ; but on a mind such as Dr Bonnie's its work is perfect. No man saw a subject in all its parts and bearings more clearly than he did. Theology, that noblest and sublimest of sciences, offered a fine opportunity for the full play of his vast powers. He had no crotchets — to a mind like his, such are intolerable. \Vliile Mttle minds busy themselves fastening a peg in the sacred temple of religion, on which to hang some of their owii pretty ornaments, such a mind as Dr Bennie's smweys the gorgeousness and the glory of the entire edifice. With a firm step he walks about Zion, and tells the towers, and marks the bulwarks, as well as the beauties thereof. After perusing the volmne of his discoui'ses just pubhshed, the follomng ideas must occm' to the reflecting mind. It must strike such, that the doctrines of Christianity afford ample scope for the most vigorous exercise of the strongest and most accomplished minds, and by these only can their magnificence be unfolded. There are so many feeble expomiders of the doc- trines of Christianity, that the infidel occasionally dares to raise his feeble menaces against its truth ; but in the presence of such a preacher as Dr Bcnnie, infidelity looks contemptible and ridi- culous. He addresses the miderstanding as well as the heart. He renders the great facts of religion so plain, so palpable, and, withal, so magnificent, that the gainsayer is silent. He never requires to answer objections to these facts, for he states them in such a way that objections dare not be mentioned. Would infidelity plume itself on reason? — Dr Bennie reasons also. Does it become philosophical, and discourse of cause and effect? — Dr Bennie is philosophical too. Does it prate about univer- sal experience and the established order of things ? — Dr Bennie shows that Christianity contradicts no facts, disturbs no analo- gies, occasions no disorder, and involves in no absm*dities. Does it talk of the pure and the lovely, and the noble and the subhme? — These he shows to be all concentrated and illustrated in the work of redemption. In a word, those excellencies which in- fidelity pretends to find in other subjects, are shown to be found, in perfection, in the great themes which Christianity supplies. March 13, 1847. M 90 KEY. JOHN S^IYTII, D.D., TREE ST George's. Precisely at two o'clock last Sabbath afternoon, tlie Rev, Dr Smyth entei"ed his pulpit in Free St George's Churchy West Regent Street, Glasgow. After singing, prayer was offered spontaneously, reverentially, and appropriately. A part of the first chapter of Luke's gospel was then read, and, after singing again, Gen. iv. 8, and 1st John iii. 12, were read as the subject of discourse. The preacher commenced his sermon by remarking on the primitive condition of oiu' first parents, and on the oiigin of sacrifice. The skins with which the Lord God clothed them, he said, were generally believed to be the skins of animals slain in sacrifice, and were at once the emblem of the blood to be shed for the remission of sins, and of that righteousness which, soon as the sinner receives, is the eaniest of immortality. He divided his subject into three parts. 1st, The causes and efi^'ects of enmity against ( Jod and his servants ; 2d, The fearful power of sin in corrupt- ing the understanding and hardening the heart ; and, 3d, The duty of giving prompt resistance to evil thoughts, desires, and purposes. He illustrated his first division — the causes and effects of enmity against God and his people — by showing that, though certain states of society prevented the fidl mani- festation of the tendencies of the human heart, the image of God is not the less an object of aversion Avherever it is seen by the wicked, and the most amiable qualities in the people of God co\dd not forbid the manifestation, to a certain extent, of the enmity of the unregenerate heart. On the second division — the power of sin, &c. — he mentioned that it soon obtained a TRESEUra) TO THE SrjB,SCRlBERS OF THE GUSGOW EXAMINER misv? JEM SMWIE,IO)oIQ), GIAS&OW. REV. JOHN SMYTU, D.D. 91 fearful supremacy over Cain. Had it been told him before- hand that in him natural affection Avould be destroyed — that he would become a murderer — ^lie would have said, Is thy seiTant a dog that he could do this thing? On the third head — the duty of giving prompt resistance to evil thoughts, &c. — he said that the beginning of strife, or the manifestation of any unholy affection, is like the letting out of water. Cain cherished the vile purpose till he prepared himself to accomplish it. The first feeling of revenge — a word — a look — must be guarded, for, as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. ISIan should be jeal- ous of his own heart, and pray, with David, Deliver me fi-om blood-jniiltiness, O God. The axe must be laid to the root of every unholy passion. He concluded with an affectionate ap- peal to all to come to Christ, and with giving the assurance that the greatest sinner woidd be received. The above gives an idea, though but an imperfect one, of this discourse — a discom'se replete with important statements, couched in vigorous and popular language. Dr Smyth's sentiments, as a preacher, are thoroughly evan- gelical. We say his sentiments, in opposition to a dry routine of sound woj'ds, which e]iables many to maintain the character of orthodox preachers. The symbolic books, or standards of Protestant churches, prevent those, who maintain any kind of decent consistency, from giving utterance to heterodoxy, but in many cases the orthodoxy is verbal, and but ill in accordance with cherished sentiments, and hence then' expressed views, though correct, are often meagre, formal, and very diy. With the subject of ovu' sketch the case is different. He not only admits the grand distingiiishing doctrines of the gospel when he finds them clearly stated — he finds them pervading the entire of the sacred record. The imiversal degeneracy and depravity of man he finds in the history of the world as clearly proclaimed as by the explicit testimony of revelation. The necessity of an atonement he learns from the abounding proofs of the justice and benignity of Jehovah, as well as from His express declarations. The manifest faiku'e of all human appli- ances to change the corimpt nature of man, leads him to the conclusion that such change is the work of the Divine Spu'it. The divinity and grace of Christ he finds in t^-pe, in prophecy, 92 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. in promise, in miracle, in his life, death, and resurrection. In a word, evangehsm -with him is a system, and not the mere jargon of the schools. He evidently preaches these views because he believes them, and he believes them not because they are taught in insulated passages — though even these, Avhen in accordance with the analogy of truth, are quite enough — but because they pervade the entire of revelation — because they are in accordance "with right reason as well as with revelation, and because he sees the proof of their accu- racy in every day's experience. As a consequence, his views are saved that monstrous inconsistency but too common among the avowedly orthodox. Inherent depra\dty and constitu.tional amiableness illustrate, and never destroy, each other in his hands. The sovereignty of gi'ace interferes not mth freedom of thought and action — the pm'poses of God with the respon- sibiHty of man. His views are not only consistent, but they are exhibited in numerous and varied forms. He not only finds them in the whole of revelation, but he presents them in the same variety and beauty A\'ith which they illuminate the sacred page. They are the leaven that leavens the entire mass of his preaching, as Avell as of the Bible. Nor does he teach them dogmatically and formally — ^lie illustrates them from crea- tion and providence, and shows that philosophy and orthodoxy are not antagonistic but closely alHed — that the doctrines of grace, though above reason to discover, in their bearings and effects are at once reasonable and desirable, and that the les- sons which are accorchng to fvodliness are also according to the somidest philosophy, the purest morality, and the most active benevolence. As another consequence of these views, his prayers are remarkable for then' variety and excellence. So distinguished is he in this respect, that almost every public meeting at which he is present is either opened or closed by him with prayer. Both his brethren in the ministiy, as well as the people of Glasgow generally, count on his engaging in that way as a matter of com'se. The absence of all formality is most marked in these exercises. The jorayer always tlu-ows much light on the object of the meeting, and the most fastidi- ous can find no fault at all with his devotiond exercises, save, occasionally, their extreme length. REV. JOHN SMYTH, D.D. 93 In addition to the coiTectness of liis sentiments, the gravity of his manner deserves special notice. In the pulpit and in the parlour, in the duties of religion and in the duties of life, the seriousness of his deportment has been specially marked. His comitenance tells that he is conscious of his awful charge, and is in excellent keeping with the weight of his message. Grave men, uttering incoherent and superficial statements, we have always considered a species of unwitting caricatmrists. Their external belies their internal — the seriousness of their appearance, the superficiality of their minds. But in the sub- ject of om- sketch there is that physical and mental likeness, that sobriety of thought coupled with seriousness of demean- our, that external decorum that illustrates, instead of conceal- ing, the natural manifestations of the hidden man. As an in- tellectualist, he possesses a mind well balanced and proportioned. He thinks generally soundly, and reasons unexceptionably. He possesses a large share of common sense, which saves him from much of that extravagance now too fashionable. He generally sees a subject fiilly, though not in the strongest lights. He has comparatively little originality of ideas, though his arrange- ments are often new and beautiful. His sermons, if not spark- ling, are all respectable. Few ministers keep up all their dis- com'ses at a standard so high. Many preachers may occasion- ally astonish an audience much more, but few, if any, will edify one so much. He evidently reads a great deal, and is able to state the general opinions entertained of the passages he discusses, and to show cause why he adopts one in prefer- ence to another. He never assimies too much on the know- ledge of his people. Some there are among his auditors that are well versed in the first principles, but for the sake of others, he often refers to the foundations of Clmstianity — the simplest facts of revealed religion — and these he presents in intelhgible and fascinating forms. His deliver}^, though it appears heavy to a stranger, is relished by his own people. The weight and excellence of his matter make his manner a very secondary consideration with those who go to leani and not to ca^il ; and we have not seen a more attentive congregation than his. As he proceeds with his discourse, his voice becomes more distinct, and his action 94 OUR SCOTTISH clergy. more animated. In reading the chapter, and engaging in prayer before sermon, he allows his voice to fall at the termi- nation of every sentence, bnt as he warms \di\\ his subject, both his voice and manner become much more pleasant. He has his discourses fidly "smtten out before him, and, though his eye is not closely confined to his notes, he seems to deliver verbatim what he has prepared, and in this respect he differs fi'om most of his brethren of the Free Church in this city, Avho, since the disruption, preach from scanty notes, or wholly with- out notes. We doubt, however, whether his is not the wisest course. Aptness to speak and aptness to teach are not pre- cisely the same thing. Our space forbids enlargement, but we cannot conclude this brief sketch without mentioning the mutual attachment that exists between him and his people. He was placed oA'er them in 1823, and is, consequently, m the twenty-fom'th year of his ministiy. To their spiritual wants he is scrupulously attentive, and the conscientiousness of his services has seciu'ed for liim their imlimited confidence. He has only to mention a collec- tion, and one is raised second to no other Free Church in the city. The various benevolent schemes of the chiu'ch have his and their cordial support, and objects of general interest share their solicitations and munificence. In person he is rather above the middle size, of fuU habit, and of Ipnpliatic temperament. His features are marked, and his phrenological development is good. In prapng, and often in speaking, he leans forward on the book board, but when animated he stands more erect, and his action becomes more varied. Dr Smyth, however, is loved and respected far beyond the boimds of his congregation. His whole life long has been a constant acqiuring of fiiends, and few have retained a good conscience and at the same time made so few foes. The entire Free Church, and Dissenters generally, rejoice in his presence, and even the church fi'om which he separated has breathed nothing against his good name. Long may Free St George's enjoy his able and faithful ministrations. March 27, 1847. FRESENTEJ) TO THE SnESCRTBERS 01 THE GLASGOW EXAMINER iMivyMiiiEf isi\ji)nii,mB, nJiiDo GXAS &0W^. 95 REV. JOHN EADIE, LL.D., CAMBRIDGE STREET, GLASGOW. In no respect does the present differ more from the past, than in the demand which it makes from its leading minds of thorongh and trained scholarship. There was a time —and, though not old, we can remember it well — when everything in literatm-e was to be done by genius, and everything in theo- logy by unction, as it Avas quaintly termed. These words, besides, were thought by far too sacred to be capable of defini- tion, Avhich might have dispelled their charm, and dissipated that vague and magic mist which rested upon them. The idea of a poet studying was deemed perfectly preposterous, and the highest compliment to a di^dne was, that, like Cow- per's Cottager, he " but knew and knew no more his Bible tme.^^ All that has been changed, and it is now universally admit- ted that the flame of genius, however bright, must be fed and swelled with ample knowledge ere it can produce its highest effects, or give forth its stillest and strongest lustre, and that literatm-e, science, and learning, are not only the ornaments, but the weapons of a thoroughly-finished divine, who, in this age of unbounded, intelligent, and dauntless doubt, is com- pelled, at every turn, to give reasons for the hope that is in him, and who has often to run a neck-and-neck race, in point of information, with members in his own congregation, or, it may be, with the junior branches of his own familj^ Still, indeed, we admit that the standard of scientific and hteraiy qualification is, in all om' chm'ches, too low; but every year beholds it rising, and too high and far it never can rise. The age is travelhng at a geometrical ratio, and if the church follow 96 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. it only at an ar'ithnetlcal, or remain stupidly and obstinately stationary, it is at its proper peril. We were amused the other day by a remark we heard in reference to the new scheme of examination proposed at pre- sent for the students in the Secession Church, that it demanded from them too much preliminary secular knowledge, as if notoriously hitherto, examination previous to admission to the hall, were not the veriest sham — as if a student could possess too much knowledge any more than too much intellect — as if these were times for adhering to the rotten and worm-eaten formulas of the past — as if, after all, the test proposed were not still shamefully inadequate, especially as if every test stands in such risk of being cA^aded and neutralised through the haste or indolence or partiality of those entrusted with its application. Better, indeed, we grant, than all tests, is the circulation tlu'oughout the body of a generous literaiy spmt. And we know no siu'er way to this result than the possession, by its professors, at once of competent knowledge and of genuine enthusiasm. The Kev. Professor whom we now propose to sketch, is undoubtedly among the most erudite young divines in his chui'ch, especially on critical and biljlical subjects. There are, perhaps, one or two among the seniors of the body who have read aJi much — there are some who have made a more thorouofh conversion of their knowledge into mental chyle, or who hold it in a more intense and philosophic grasp — there are a few \\ho possess more originating and impulsive power — and one or two "\\hose reading has been more miscellaneous — but in the quantity and compactness of lore collected, and in the readiness, tact, and talent discovered in its use, Dr Eadie need fear no rivalship among the juniors of tlie Secession body, and perhaps among its elders yields to Dr John Brown alone. He answers completely to our idea of a helluo librorwn. There is a silent celerity in the manner in which he masters a book. He does not, like Dr Johnson, tear out its heart — he does not glance rapidly at its more prominent parts. He seldom stops to chew the cud upon its racier beauties, or, at the time, to combat its obnoxious opinions. He is never seduced by the suggestions the volume awakens, from the volume itself, till, in EEV. JOHN EADIE, LL.D. 97 delicious reverie, its very existence is forgotten — but with quiet, quick, cat-like motion, he crosses through it all, from its title page to its finis. And yet in this calm and rapid transit, he contrives to sympathise with much in it, to understand most, and to remember all ! His memory is of the most tenacious description. His mind seems coated over wath sticking plaster — whatever touches adlieres, instantly, easily, and for ever. Some men seem to grapple their knowledge to them as if by strong hooks and with con^'ulsive efforts. It is retained as well as procured with difficulty. But on Dr Eadie's mind it seems rather to float do^^Ti and calmly to rest. Such a species of memory is valuable, inasmuch as it secures many of the advantages and saves all the penalties of study, and itself un- burdened and mijaded, allows the other faculties of the mind free respiration and full play. We remember, and laugh, as we remember, of the simpleton, in the novel, who declared that, " after learning the Multipli- cation Table, he did not find his memory in the least burdened by it." But the man who should master an encyclopa?dia, and make the same declaration, would be no simpleton, but a Solo- mon among sages. INIany, like Dr Kippis, lay so many books upon their heads, that their brains cannot move. Cnide, un- assimilated knowledge, however vast, varied, and accurate, is, the more on account of such qualities, a yoke that few are able to bear. How far more valuable that knowledge which lies in essences, which has condensed into general principles, which carries about with it a thousand particular facts in the single compass of one just generalization, as, nearly a thousand farth- ings are packed up in one sovereign, which, so to speak, changes a A-ast clumsy collection of empyrical fuel into the white heat of philosophical flame. In this, however, we do not mean to reflect upon Dr Eadie, but the reverse. His learning, how- ever extensive, has eA-idently been completely cast into tlie mould of a manly and vigorou^s understanding. It has also been much aided by an excellent libraiy which he has, in a very short period, built up for himself. IVIanly and vigorous understanding is, indeed, apart from his extraordinary memory, Dr Eadie's principal mental power. His is rather a sharp, clear, acute, than a subtle or comprehen- N 98 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. sive mind. Its powers of acquisition arc greater tlian those of imagination. He combines rather than creates ; finds his thoughts on the tablets of his memory, and not in the " fairy land" of invention. His fancy is lively and abundant. The room -where its iigmres hang is spacious and fully furnished ; but they rather shine with the cold glitter of an armoury, than flash and flicker like weapons seen in the bloody light of the fray. They are more nmnerous than new. They rather glance over the surface of the soul than force for themselves and the truth they express, a forked way into the interior. In short, they are more the products of fancy than of imagination. His style is rapid, terse, and nervous; not tamely classical; not outrageously eccentric ; not even daringly bold ; not ostensi- bly formed on any model, nor capriciously distinct from all ; not signalised, in short, by any peculiarities ; by any " left hand or right hand defections ;" but simply a clear and mascuhne expression to his thought. We have called him ah'eady an easy reader. He is mani- festly also an easy writer. The term easy is somewhat equivo- cal as appHed to style. That style, which is most easily read, and which even seems to have been most easily ■v\iitten, has often, in fact, been constructed with labour dire and weary woe. That style, again, which tries the reader's attention by its closeness ; fatigues it by its Alexandrine periods ; stupifies by its gorgeous splendoui', and appals by the novelty and strangeness of its words, is sometimes ^\Titten currente calamo, and while the bewildered reader is deploring the misplaced labour of the writer, the writer is lamenting his o\a\ fatal faci- lity. Thus Addison and Dugald Stewart wrote slowly, with care and lingering labom\ Dr Johnson, and Dr Thomas Brown, Avrote with the utmost rapidity and ease. Words-, worth's lyrical ballads cost him, we venture to say, ten times more toil and elaboration than the magnificent measm'es of Shelley's Revolt of Islam, which came fi'om his pen as freely and fast as sparks from a torch. The simplicities of Tillotson and Hall were studied ; the sweet and long-swelling intricacies of Barrow, and the rich munificence of Taylor (Jeremy), whose sentences are often like the outspread tail of a peacock, seem to have cost them little but the manual labour. We know REV. JOHN EADIE, LL.D. 09 \%Titers and clergjonen wlio have been blamed for the elabora- tion of passages which had been literally the work of an hoiu'. The explanation of all this seems to lie, first of all, in the mas- tery which a writer has acfpiired, by proficiency or practice, over his materials. Secondly, in the degree and nature of the excitement which attends the act of composition. Thirdly, upon his temperament as controlling his animal spirits and conversational powers, which all go to tell upon the ease or difficulty of his writing. And, lastly, upon the fastidiousness of the writer's taste ; in other words, upon the relation or pro- portion which his ideal of his art bears to his advancement in it. Generally speaking, the -VNTiter who is most careful abou.t his matter, and least so of his manner, writes with the greatest facility. Dr Eadie, in the proper sense, is a ready writer. Speaking out of a fall knowledge, and with much matter, and a compe- tent command of language, it w^ould seem as if two pens were scarcely sufficient to record his thick-coming thoughts. Con- nected with this masterly ease, (an ease rather resulting from thorough proficiency than from intuitive perception,) we find a certain dogmatism adhering to all his compositions. He is often decisive to abruptness in his judgments ; shai-p to censo- riousness in his language. His verchcts are so given, that if reversed at all, it must be in toto. He seldom, like Locksley, " allows for the wind." He seldom premises " e.rceptis excipi- endis." Hard, sharp, total and round as pebbles, are his deci- sions upon authors and upon theories, mixed, indeed, with much just discrimination, and backed by plentiful — if some- times ostentatious — learning. He is certainly one of the clearest of writers. There never can be any doubt as to what he means. His language never twists into complication, nor does his meaning ever dip into mysticism. To mysticism, indeed, he is the natural and avowed enemy. That shadowy region, where thought becomes twilight and transcendental, where language trembles and stammers under the burden of strange and half-formed truth ; where the incommunicable becomes the felt, and beats and struggles toward becoming the uttered, odit atque arcet. This Jit once fits and unfits liim for a critic and commentator upon 100 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGT. the German authors. It, on the one hand, sccnres him agahist that miasma which has long been supposed to linger in the marsh mists of German philosophy. It, on the other, prevents him, we think, from fully sympathising Avith its purer and higher refinements of thought and feeling. Sometimes he "rolls their raj)tures," without catching their fire. Unques- tionably, however, he is, for his years, one of the first German scholars in Scotland, and has turned his learning to important account in his compositions and prelections. He is under- stood, too, to haA'e paid much attention to the philosophy and history of law, and to contemplate a Avork on HebreAV jiuis- prudence. As a professor, Ave can speak of his merits only by report. He is understood to fill the sphere of his office in a masterly manner, displaying in private all that frankness Avhich distinguishes the professors in Germany, and Avhich, in his case, as Avell as in theirs, seems quite compatible with the utmost imjiartiality, dignity, and, Avhen occasion requires, severity in the discharge of his public duties in the chair. We can fancy his critical rule — rather Ehadamanthine than othervN'ise. We think Ave hear the same sermon thus differ- ently criticised by his amiable predecessor, Dr Mitchell, and himself. " In this discourse," remarks Dr M., " I find indubi- table traces of great talents, and CA^en genius, accompanied by fewer than usual of those extravagancies Avhich generally accompany youthful gifts. The author, in point of thought, is quite original. In style, he often seems to pause upon the point of absolute perfection. A A'ein of gloAving piety perA^ades the Avhole ; and, in fact, among all the chefiVamvres of Massil- lon, Bossuet, Hall, and Dr Ferrier of Paisley, I remember nothing superior to this noble discourse, AAdiich is an ornament to the head and to the heart from Avhich it has emanated, and. which I trust to see soon piinted in the United Secession ^lagazine, and afterwards preserved in the archives of CA^er- lasting renoAA'u." "This discom'se," remarks Dr E., "may conscientiously be sustained. It displays considerable talent, occasionally overlaid by taAvdriness and affectation. In aim- ing at too much, the author has achieved little. His style is' raAv, incondite, AAdthout terseness, or curiosa felicitas. Its exegesis (so far as there was exegesis in the discourse) is desti- EEV. JOHN EADIE, LL.D. 101 tute of minute and severe accuracy. The autlior has some fancy, a little learning, no depth, and questionable diligence. I encourage (cum grano salis) the young man in the prosecu- tion of his studies." Sic fahula narratur. Of Dr Eadie as a preacher we must also shortly speak. Though we have heard him but seldom, he is not exactly like a celebrated Independent divine of the east of Scotland, a preacher with a long text, whose sermons alwa}^s, somehow or other, elongate into lec- tm'es. But certainly it is in exposition rather than in hortatory or impassioned discourse that he shines. His clearness, method, quantity of knowledge, facility of expression, and exuberance of illustration, qualify him well for giving rapid, succinct sylla- buses of particular portions of God's word. But he is less successful in treating a text containing in it one momentous topic, which sucks in all needful illustrations around it, and grows with gradual heat towards a passionate and fiery climax. Plis stream of thouo;ht and feeling does not increase with the progress of his discourse, nor does his genuine animation, although his physical rapidity of utterance may. You miss those grateful pauses and rests which diversify the current of a lecture, and that wide, free, flowing field of subject which it oj)ens to ^iew. As a speaker, Dr Eadie never seems to hold communion mth his audience. He rather speaks before than to his people, and they do not seem to be speaking to him. There is attention, profound respect and edification, but not that quick and instantaneous sympathy, that ever-fluctuating billow of emotion between the pulpit and the pew, that flashing to and fro of eyes, those trances of silence and those sudden sobs of somid which attest the poAver of certain speakers over certain assemblies. Some get themselves 'preaclied into elo- quence by their audience as they advance, and feel the influ- ence of their hearers over them as mamcal as theirs over their hearers. Even one fixed and earnest countenance will some- times determine favourably the fate of a sermon. Others withdraw themselves from their audience into their OAvn souls, speak as in a dream, and glow into Hfe through the mere fric- tion of their own motion. Dr E., properly speaking, belongs to neither of those classes. He is not exactly apart fi:'om, nor yet fused into, his hearers. He stands before and above them. 102 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. pouring out a succession of able and often brilliant sentences, in a free, rapid, and somewhat careless manner ; and while he generally furnishes instruction, and often delight, he seldom thrills, and almost never melts. A finished scholar, "ripe and good,'' an acute thinker, an accomplished rhetorician, are epithets which seem to sum up this gentleman's intellectual qualifications. We understand, besides, that he has a strong penchant for geology, and has collected a goodly array of minerals. An orator or a poet he can hardly be denominated. Perhaps he may be none the worse fitted for the highly responsible ofiices which he dis- charges >Yith so miTch credit to himself and advantage to the church. Too often is the orator the slave of that sympathy which constitutes his power ; and how often, alas ! does the heart of the poet bleed away in that very excess of sensibility which is at once his birthright and his bane. Fatal, except when they light on soils peculiarly favoured, are those di'ead gifts of nature ! Dr Eadie had the honour of collecting his attached people and forming them into a chui'ch, which, though small at first, has grown under his fostering care till the spacious edifice built by their liberality is well filled. Some three years ago, the University of Glasgow conferred on him the degree of LL.D., and of late several attempts have been made to trans- late him to Edinburgh. He has, however, resisted all efforts to remove him, and has determined to remain with his affec- tionate people, who now make him an allowance of salary equal to the first congregations in Glasgo-s^'. April 3, 1847. P.S. — Since the above sketch appeared, Dr E.'s congrega- tion, much to their credit, have cnlai'ged and adorned their chapel, at the expense of nearly £2000. rEISEUTED TO TIE 3IIBSCRBES.S OF THE (^LAoGoW EXAMl.Ml'.R GLASGOW, 103 EEV. NOEMAN M'LEOD, D.D., ST COLUMBA GAELIC CHUKCH. Few clergymen, wlio do not enjoy the distinction of successftil authorship, possess a wider popularity than the snl)jcct of the present sketch. For a long number of years he has occupied a deservedly high place in the public estimation — a position which he owes not more to the prominent part he has taken in almost every important measiu'e relating to the social, moral, and religious welfare of his native Highlands, than to his acknowdedged abilities as a preacher. The personal appear- ance of the reverend doctor is highly prepossessing. His fore- head, broad and high, is overshadowed by flowing, silvery locks, which impart to the preacher a dignified and venerable air. His mild eyes are large and lustrous, and light up featm'es, marked with an expression of energy and benevolence. In the forenoon he preaches in Gaelic, and in the afternoon in English, and few can speak so popularly and impressively in languages so diverse. Dr M'Leod's mind is capacious and ^-igorous. Above the rancorous prejudices of sect (so inchcative of little minds), his sympathies are not checked by the petty barriers of denomina- tional distinction. Wlierever the fundamental principles of Christianity are acknowledged and practised, there he sees a portion of The Church. Losing sight of minor differences between himself and his neighbours, he looks to their common belief, considers in what they agree, and claims with them and from them a common brotherhood. Conscientiously belie^-ing the principle of the Establishment to be sound, he believes at the same time that dissent ought not to imply disunion. In 104 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. preaching, he appeals to the understanding and the heart ; and the earnestly fervid manner of his deHvery rivets the attention of his audience. He expatiates more on the grace of the gospel than on the terrors of the div-ine law. He possesses no incon- siderable share of fancy, and frequently carries the minds of his hearers with him in his bold, imaginative flights. Fehci- tous in illustration, — his images are never indistinct, nor yet are they " dark mth excess of light," but always palpable and well defined. Level to the least cultivated of his audience, they contain nothing to offend the most refined. Some there are who, like John Foster, metaphysical and profound, are comprehended only by a class. Their mental constitution is of such an order that they cannot bring themselves do"^^^^ to the requirements of the less educated of their audience. The opposite extreme — a straining after extreme simplicity — Is also to be avoided. Some preachers, in their excessive endeavoiu's to be sim])le, allow their language to degenerate into weakness and insipkhty ; they exlilblt, in this respect, a pseudo simplicity, akin to that which rendered the earlier efforts of Wordsworth in the field of modern poetiy, simply ridiculous. In genuine simplicity there Is no wealcness. We would point to the ser- mon on the Alount as an illustration of our meaning. AVliat simplicity — yet what majesty ! Like some bright spot strewed with the beautiful flowers of uncultivated nature, it blooms there full of a soul-refreshing loveliness, which the artificial ingenuity of man, helped by all the apphances of art, may imitate, but In vain attempt to equal. The minister who can blend the two styles of preaching to which we have alluded, and address himself with equal accep- tablhty to the educated and the ignorant, possesses one of the most Important requisites to clerical usefulness. This qualifi- cation, we think, Dr ^I'Leod possesses in an eminent degree. Plain and energetic, he steers clear of that extreme simplicity, so apt, in unskilful hands, to merge in the ridiculous. His sermons are striking for fine, bold Imagery, and sober truth- fulness. Joined to a firm belief in the doctrines, and a consequent practice of the duties of Christianity, fancy becomes transcen- dently lovely. It contemplates natiu-e with all Its o>ra wai'mth EEV. KOE:\rAN m'leod, I).D. 105 of feeling, and susceptibility of beauty, heightened and hal- lowed by Christian principle. It delights to trace, in all the features of the external world, analogies between physical and moral beauty — to see a purpose and an expression of heavenly beneficence in the humblest flower that blooms — to connect all with a Divine Creator. Possessing a hearty love for external nature, the Dr draws liberally upon its exhaustless stores of illustration. Around his matter and manner there is thrown a glowing warmth, that at once bespeaks both from the heart. A brief summary of the more important events of the Dr's laborious career may not be uninteresting. He was ordained a minister of the Established Church at Campbelton, in 1807, at the early age of twenty-two, so that he is now in his sixty- third year, and in the fortieth of his ministry. He removed to Campsie parish in 1825 ; thence he came to Glasgow, and was inducted minister of St Columba Gaelic Church, in 1836. The same }^ear he was unanimously chosen Moderator of the General Assembly. At the earnest request of the Presbyterian Chiu'ch of Ire- land, Dr M'Leod went there and lent his valuable aid to that body in their endeavours to form and extend churches in the Synod of Ulster. Here he had an opportunity of addressing the poor Irish in then' native language, of which he had made himself master after imremitting application. On his return from Ireland, he was requested by the Presbyterian Church there to undertake a metrical version of the Psalms of Da\dd in the Irish tongue — a desideratum much felt, and which none had heretofore attempted to supply. Having brought with him to Scotland a native Lish assistant, he, mth that energy which forms so conspicuous a feature in his character, at once set about the accomplishment of this important and laborious task. By incessant toil, rendered lighter, however, by the great abihty brought to the work, it was finished in the course of a year, and in such a style of excellence as to com- mcind the unqualified approbation of the most competent judges. This work was dedicated, by permission, to his late Majesty William the IVth. On the recommendation of the Archbishop of Canterbmy, by the aid of the General Assembly of the Church of Ireland, and by funds collected by Dr M'Leod 106 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. in England, a large edition of the work was circulated gi-a- tuitously in those districts where the Irish is spoken, and received by the peasantry with the greatest avidity and deUght; and what may appear strange, the priests were among its most active and earnest diff users. This edition was soon out of print. We understand, however, that he, aided by some eminent Irish scholars, has prepared a stereotyped echtion, now finished, and in the printer's hands, and which is only prevented from being put into extensive gratuitous circulation by a lack of fimds to pay the balance of expenses already incurred. But his name is associated AAith other and still more important performances. In the year 1824, he brought the state of education in the Highlands and Islands so graphically before the General As- sembly, that it led to the fonnation of the Educational Scheme of the Established Chux'ch. That scheme is now in \'igorous operation, and has, since its commencement, proved an invalu- able boon. On three separate occasions the Dr, along with Principal Baird, was commissioned to \'isit the Highlands and Islands to ascertain the existing means of education there, to inspect the schools already established, and to fix upon proper stations for additional schools. For a long number of years he has been selected by Government to give Parliamentaiy evidence on every important subject affecting the Highlands — more especially on emigration, pauperism, and education. During the destitution of 1837, he was one of a deputation sent to England to collect funds for the then existing distress. The success of that deputation was veiy extraordinary', no less a sum than £100,000 having, we believe, been the result of its labours. And at the present melancholy crisis, when dearth is again pressing so tembly on his native land, he was the individual commissioned by the Central Relief Committee to proceed to England, and plead the cause of his famishing countiymen. Dr ]\I'Leod's valuable labom's were appreciated and rewarded by the late ^Ministry, who preferred him to the appointment of one of her Majesty's Chaplains in Ordinary for Scotland, and Dean of the Chapel Royal. He is likcAvise Chaplain to the Highland Society's Schools. When the Queen visited Blair- Atholl, he was called on to preach before her Majesty, from REV. NORMAN MCLEOD, D.D. 107 Avhom lie received every mark of courtesy and kindness. We liave reason to believe that it was very mncli through his influence with Sir Robert Peel, that the Established Church was enabled to grant bursaries to deserving youths speaking the Gaelic language and being educated for the ministry. Upwards of forty of these promising young men attend the Dr's Gaelic sermons every Sabbath forenoon, and, we doubt not, will profit not a little by what competent judges pronounce to be a highly eloquent and impressive style of Gaelic preaching. He presides over a nvimerous and attached people, who, on more than one occasion, have shown him substantial proof of their regard. During the Free Church controversy, his ener- getic and consistent conduct was so much approved of, that they presented him with a service of plate of the value of 150 guineas, and an adch'ess signed by 1300 members, expressive of their gTatitvide and esteem. In all his engagements he is scrupulously punctual. April 10, 1847. 108 REV. WILLIAM LINDSAY, D.D., CATHEDRAL STREET. In the natural world, tlie greater part of the agencies at work answer their important ends silently and unostentatiously. The stormy tempest — the raging ocean — the awfiil thunder — the desolating earthquake — occasionally do mighty works — hut they owe their fame to the general quietude of creation. But for the general calm, the tempest might howl, and the ocean might roar, and the thmider might crash, and the earth- quake might heave, without attracting notice or causing alann. The old earth turns quietly on its axis —the sun noiselessly sheds his lioht and heat on smiling worlds — the music of the mighty spheres is inaudible to those who dwell in clay — the rain gently distills fatness on earth — and ten thousand agen- cies in the vegetable kingdom, from day to day, minister to the comfort of man, while their presence or fiuictions are scarcely acknowledged. The neglected flower of the field, while tram])led under foot, contributes its share to the restora- tion of a tainted atmosphere — tlie mighty forest insensibly grows and protects from many a storm, and the earth, without a mui'mm', richly yields its fruit. The general law of the material universe is quiet activit}', unobtrusive usefulness, and noise and tempest are the exceptions. Nor is the moral Avorld otherwise conducted. It receives and gives its influence on the same great principles. Man, the active agent in its conduct, has a mighty work to accom- plish, and the greater part of that work is best done when most unostentatiously done. These agents act well only when they feel their connexion with Him who is a sun, and Avhen ,u£/l »»""'""'' ^ISV? \WMMM MHIE)SAY,in).B, &LAS&OW. REV. WILLIA3I LIXDSAY, D.D. 109 tliey move in tlieir spheres under liis almiglity influence, and in compliance mtli his high behests. In this great moral system erratic stars there are whose spheres and whose desti- nies are alike mysterious. Ever and anon some blazing comet attracts the gaze and excites the fears of men, but no one sup- poses such more lovely than, or half so useful as, the little twink- ling stars that stud the ffleaminc; firmament. True, these erratic wanderers attract much notice. Every man, and woman, and child are familiar with their names, because their eccentricity has fascinations for the untaught greatly superior to the beau- ties and harmonies of an unwavering consistency — a ceaseless uniformity. Not a few of the names best knowa to fame acquire their reputation more from their erratic than for their majestic com*se. We need not say that they wander from their destined sphere, though we say their movements partake more of the comet than of the planet — more of the marvellous than of the mighty. It is no discredit to the subject of our sketch that his movements have not yet attracted the gaze of much of the world. An influential position he occupies, and an important influence he wields, without causing his voice to be heard on high. The eminent place he holds he usiu'ped not — the influence he possesses he exerts strictly within his own sphere. lie has ne^er been found thrusting himself for- ward to discharge duties for which others are more competent, nor has he aspired to All offices for which others are better qualified. His honours as a minister, as a professor, as a theo- logical diplomatist, were not of his own seeking — they were given him without solicitation. At five minutes past two o'clock last Sabbath afternoon, he took possession of his pulpit (in his chapel lately built in Bell's Park, at an expense of some £4000), and the congTcgation was fully assembled by a quar- ter past two. A part of the 36th psalm was sung, and prayer was then offered m a veiy appropriate though rather lengthy manner. A part of the 79th psalm was then sung, and the introductory services terminated at twenty minutes to three. We may here remark, that the singing was very much to our taste, the gi'eater part of the congregation joining in it with apparent earnestness, and singing the tune proposed — we say the tune proposed, for it is not uncommon to hear in our 110 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. churches every one smging a tune of his own, and bidding defiance to the boldest efforts of the leader to create harmony. Dr Lindsay selected for his text 1 Cor. vi. 20 — " Glorify God in yoiu' body and spirit ^Yhich are God's." lie commenced by referring to man's pristine state of pmity and knowledge. As brightly as the new-born sun shone on the fields, so did the pure light of heaven radiate his soul. The som'ces of evil were as yet locked up — envy had not learned to look Avith malignant eye. Disappointment, discord, and other evils were unknown, and man of course had no consciousness of guilt. He then depicted the mournful day when man's disobedience caused a change in his character and circumstances. JSIan is now averse to holiness, and he treads on the concealed fires in the place below. The connection of the text, he said, sho^ved what men now are — mirighteous, idolaters, covetous, revilers, &c. He then referred to the old classification of human duties, which ijicludes them under three divisions — the duties we owe to om'selves, to our fellows, and to God, and he stated that the Corinthians had violated all the three. He founded the divi- sion of his discoui'se on this classification. The best antidote against the three evils is attendance to corresponding duties, and hence he ui'ged, first, that men are to glorify God by lives of temperance and self-government; secondly, by lives of jus- tice and integrity; and, thirdly, by hves of piety and Christian obedience. The outline of the above discourse is perfect. The lead- ing ideas were natural and logically arranged, and the con- cluchng remarks were obviously inferential. The discourse was carefully Avritten out, and the preacher seems to keep generally by his notes, though his eye is not closely confined to them. His delivery is, moreover, animated, and he com- mits no breach of propriety either in language or gesture. His right hand is generally lifted up or placed on the bible, while his left hangs by his side, and is occasionally brought into contact Avith the other. He speaks in a loud distinct voice, and thougli his modulations may not be perfect, there is noth- ing forbidding in his delivery. Dr Lindsay employs a plain, correct, vigorous, and occasionally eloquent pulpit style. In- ferior discourses he inai/ deliver — superior discourses he is quite REV. WILLIAM LIXDSAY, D.D. Ill competent to furnish. One on A^liom the duties of the pro- fessor as well as of the pastor devolve, may be compelled to appear before an audience less perfectly prepared than he could wish, but lack of time is one thing and incompetence is another. His sermons, carefully prepared, will loose little, in the estimation of the judicious, when compared with those of men denominated gi'eat preachers. Dr Lindsay presides over a nmnerous and attached people, among whom are several of our public and official men. His people love him, and they cannot but respect him, as his consistency is unimpeach- able, and his labours among them abundant. As a professor of exegetical theology in the Relief body, his labours are much esteemed. He was chosen professor in November, 1841, and commenced his duties, first session, in autumn 1842. In this capacity he enjoys the confidence of his ministerial bretlu'en, the respect of all the students, and the approbation of the entire Relief body. He conducts him- self prudently, and displays much good sense and sound judg- ment in matters of difficulty and of doubt. His counsels to the students are invaluable. On the one hand he despises the Eureka of novelty hmiters, and on the other the good-old- way watchword of musty schoolmen. His views are those of moderate Calvinism, and his orthodoxy has never been called in question. As a theologian, he has read carefully rather than exten- sively. His knowledge is more remarkable for its accuracy than for its extent. He speaks what he knows, and testifies what he has experienced. Few know better how to appreciate the teachings of the Fathers and of the schools. He hears all, and beheves Moses and the prophets and apostles only. In person he is about the middle size and habit. His countenance is fresh and ruddy, and indicates placidity, bene- volence, and kindness. His small dark eyes look from beneath a prominent brow, sm'mounted by a plentiful supply of greyish hair. The leading attributes of his mind are candour, discrimi- nation, independence, firmness, and perseverance. As inch- cated in our introduction, his power is not in bustle and noise and tmnult — liis voice is never heard unless when he is im- 112 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. mediately called on to discharge some public duty. His character is shrinking, retiring, and sensitive. He shuns pro- bably too much the excitement of the platform and the din of controversy, and quietly pursues the even tenor of his way as a pastor and professor. Had he aspired to be what is called a mob orator, he is destitute of none of the physical essentials that invariably secure notoriety in that way. He has a good command of voice, and a prepossessing appearance, and might have figm'ed conspicuously in the A'arious polemical, political, and benevolent controversies of the day, but he is practically a man of peace, and prefers the seclusion of his study, the sacredness of his clerical duties, the onerous functions of the professor's chair, to the hosannahs of an excited populace, or the praises of the public press. He was ordained at Johnstone in 1829, and was removed to Glasgow in 1832. The present elegant place of worship, in Cathedral Street, was opened in December, 1844. April 17, 1847. PRFSENTETi TO Ttf]- STTr!,<^rR[HFP:? np THE rUASaow HXAMIK'I-R USW [£„ i . >CAH-©lLIISm.,Ii KniNitiJitfiii. 113 EEV. ROBERT SMITH CANDLISH, D.D., FREE ST George's, edtxburgh. About the beginning of the present century, in a town then comparatively small, an humble and honest couple were glad- dened by the birth of a son. Though his appearance was not promising nor particularly prepossessing, his parents — like all parents — viewed him with hope. For a time there was noth- ing to distinguish their son from other chikken, unless, in- deed, a feebler person. By and by, however, others, besides his parents, saw that a mind of superior mould inhabited the frail tenement, and kindly yielded their aid and encouragement to secm*e for him a liberal education. Having attended the usual classical and theological cumculum, where signs of superiority were not few, he was hcensed as a probationer in the Church of Scotland, and was located — about the year 1832 ■ — for a time in a humble town in the west of Scotland. Oc- casionally he then officiated in Glasgow, and some saw in the young man gifts of a high order, but the mass considered his presence Aveak and his speech contemptible. Among his audi- tors in St Enoch's on a Sabbath was one of the most eminent lords of the Council and Session. At a public occasion on the following Monday his lordship took occasion to refer to the discourse he had heard on Sabbath, and expressed his siu'prise that, instead of a scantily-filled church, there was not a crowded congregation, foi', in his opinion, the sermon was one of the ablest he had ever heard. From that day forward our young preacher, who had hitherto been unnoticed and unknoA\^l, obtained a name and a fame. Our readers will already know, that the person alluded to, is Dr Robert Smith Candlish of r 114: OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. Free St George's, Edinbiu'gh, whose fame is identified with that of the Free Chiu'ch, and I'apidly hastens to a wide universaUty. Among tlie ministers of note who visited Glasgow at the Spring Fast Dr Candlish occupied a distinguished })lace. On Thursday, Saturday, Sahhath, and jSIonday, he preached in several of our Free Churches. On Sabbath evening, at a quarter to six o'clock, the doors of Free St Paul's were opened, and though the service did not commence till half-past six, a number rushed into the chapel soon as admission could be gained. Before the hour of commencement every seat was occupied, and the passages were filled up, and hundreds Avere unable to find admission. Soon as the neighbouring bells had ceased, a person under the middle size, wrapped in a huge pulpit goA\m, issued from the vestry, and with Imrried steps ascended the pulpit stair, and having flung himself into the corner of the pulpit, hastily snatched up the psalm-book, and turned its leaves. Having passed his finoers through his dis- bevelled hair, and made a ninnber of hasty movements, he rose, and in a harsh gutteral voice gave out the 20th Psalm to be sung. At this moment those who knew not the occupant of the pid})it were earnestly asking their neighbours, " Is that Dr Candlish?" and being answered in the afiirmative, set themselves very philosophically to reconcile their preconceived ideas of him with the person before tliem. During this hal- lowed exercise, however, it was impossible for a stranger to the occupant of the pulpit to avoid watching his movements and ruminating on his history. Such thoughts as the following passed through more minds than one. Can the mind that weekly entrances metropolitan audiences — the mind that pre- sides over and moulds all the councils of the Free Church — the mind that acknowledges no superior but that of the mighty master-spirit that dwells in Dr Chalmers — can such a mind dwell in that small and singularly-arranged morsel of humanity'? Is the intellect, whose scintillations have flashed throughout the entire of Scotland, sheltered in that brow concealed under these abundant and straggling locks'? Has the spirit which has entwined itself Avith the best affections of the Free Church — which has evoked the jealousy, the hate, the scorn, of proud politicians and prouder ecclesiastics. — its residence there ? Is REV. ROBERT SMITH CANDLISII, D.D. 115 that indeed the man who, in presbyteries, synods, and assem- bKes, on the platform, and in the pnlpit, occupies a first place and knows no fear, and seeks no favom-? While those who knew the preacher only by report were thus ruminating the singing was going on, and the occupant of the pulpit was now tlu'owing a hurried glance at the psalm-book — now rubbing his face with his handkerchief — now adjusting his hair mth his fingers — now arranging his gown and bands, in which he felt himself, to all appearance, much as did Da\'id when he assumed the armour of Saul. The singing being over, the preacher precipitately arose, and, leaning forward, poiu'ed forth a prayer remarkable for its simplicity, seiiousness, and energy. Those who know Dr Candlish only by his conti'oversial discussions, can form no conception of the character of his devotional exer- cises. He confesses sin, not in the general, not in stereotyped phrase — he thoroughly enters into the plagues of the heart and life. He seeks blessings, not in the wholesale, indiscriminate, impracticable, impossible manner, now too fashionable — he seeks them in adaptation and keeping with felt and acknow- ledged wants, and in the way prescribed and sanctioned by Heaven. His thanksoivino's refer to real o;ifts and favours, which are also specified. In a word, his prayer indicated a deep acquaintance Avith the human heart, and with the fulness of blessing promised and communicated in ansAver to request. After prayer. Psalm Ivi. 8, to the end, was sung with much seeming earnestness, and with no little harmony. The preacher then suddenly rose and opened the Bible near the commence- ment. He turned over the leaves in quantities, pressing them down with force till he reached 2 Timothy ii. 19, which he gave out as his text. The Avords are, " Nevertheless the foun- dation of God standeth sure, haA'ingthis seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his, &c. We may remark that the disco^Kse, for Avhich aa'c are unable to find room, but Avhich Avas elsewhere pubKshed, Avas of marked •excellence, and unquestionably among the most popular and impressive sermons we haA'e heard. Though the preacher's vicAv of the text is certainly not the usual one, the ideas he founded on it AA-ere palpable, practical, and the greater part of them natural. Though the preacher is quite equal (o treat a 116 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. subject in tlie aLstract, in this discourse lie dealt exclusively m the concrete. " The things of the Spirit" he invested with material forms — the natvu'al became the emblems of the spirit- ual. The figures, moreover, were those with which every one is familiar, and their character was such as to interest and to awe. jSIen were exhibited in their relations to God — they were represented as spectacles to the world, to angels, and to men. The guilt of sin and the Avay of forgiveness, the first and second coming of the Son of IMan, and the danger and consequences of religious deception were brought so near that their magnitude awed the most listless. The discom'se, moreoAer, was redolent "with the very essence of the gospel. The preacher searchingly discriminated be- tween a form and the power of godliness — between the religion of tlie lip and of the life — between an orthodox creed and a practical belief and reception of the truth. Keligion, as exhi- bited in the discom'se, was something more than a form of sound words — than a fair profession — than a series of forms; he represented it as an inward work, as a solemn matter be- tween man and God, as the real business of life, as the only preparative for eternity. He told not men in the general that they are sinners — he showed the desires and tendencies of the heart to be only evil. Redemption, too, was exhibited in its majesty and magnitude. It was no doubtfal expedient — no mere auxiliary to morality — it was slio"\\ai to be redemp- tion from the power and love of sin — from the captivity and service of Satan — from hopeless and eternal death. The discoiu'se also betrayed much thought and care. It was full of important ideas, well and distinctly conceived, and unexceptionably arranged. Nothing is more unaccountable than the prevalent half, and hasty, preparation for the pulpit. Hundreds satisfy themselves with collecting a few musty, moth eaten, threadbare sentiments, by way of treat to their audiences of a thousand people on a Sabbath day. Thought is not in the province of such. They are mere theological scavengers, who offer to their auditors putrid excrescences. In contrast with these, Dr Candlish preaches what has cost liimself pre- vious thought and ciu'e — care in the arrangement — care in the expression. REV. ROBEllT SMITH CANDLISH, D.D. 117 The discourse was delivered with much animation. The preacher threw his soul into his sermon. He spoke as con- scious of his a^\ful charge. We shall immediately speak as to the gracefulness of his delivery, but meantime we commend its earnestness. The man who believes that he is to his auditors the savour of life unto life, and of death imto death, must be in earnest. He will cry aloud and not spare. The example of Dr Candlish must in this respect be of great use in expelHng from the pulpits of Scotland that dull, and stately, and cold orthodoxy which freezes as it falls from immoveable statues — • that phlegmatic indifference which makes men speak of life and death as they do of the common transactions of yesterday — and that interminable doctrinal, and dogmatical discussion which has so lono; amused men hastening; to the ffrave. Dr Candlish, however, has his faults as a preacher — faults in thinking, in style, and in delivery. We have referred to his feilihty of ideas, and we must say he is frequently much too fertile. His imagination gets the better of his judgment. Regarding the very discoiu'se in question, we might say that though the superstructure is sjonetrical, magnificent, and commanding, the foundation is false. According to the soundest interpreters, the meaning that he affixed to the text is not its true meaning, and hence the text was at best a motto. The sermon was attached to the text, and it sat on it •with tolerable grace, but it did not give the precise meaning of the apostle, Avho elsewhere shows what he means by the "foundation of God," which is certainly much more stable than the most stedfast believer ; it is the truth, the promise, the oath, the Christ of God. The highly imaginative character of Dr Candlish's mind is specially apparent in his work on Genesis, and indeed in all his writings. He seems to have no patience for a searching analysis — for the slow process of an extensive induction. He seizes a thought at once, and becomes so enraptured with it, that he has neither time nor taste to qxiestion its accuracy. He assumes that at once, and proceeds to use it with as much confidence as though he had acquired it \\'ith Herculean laboiu", and examined it with microscopic minuteness. The extreme quickness aud minuteness of Dr Candlish renders him 118 OUR SCOTTISH CLEIIGY. a bold, adventurous, thougli by no means a safe leader. His enemies have not scrupled to charge him with disingenuous- ness, dishonesty, inconsistency, and even Jesuitism; and the data on Avhich they found have been furnished on account of this peculiarity. We cannot believe that Dr Candlish is wil- fully disingenuous, much less wilfully dishonest; but a mind like his is apt to lead to seeming inconsistency. He gi'asps a subject so quickly, and for a time holds it so tenaciously, that he occasionally works himself into the belief of what more cal- culating minds could never receive. His writings have been most severely handled, and not altogether mthoiit reason, for their looseness of thought and style. He sees a subject in strong colours, and so states it, that subordinate topics are overlooked. Some parts of his pictures are so highly wrought, that the shadow is obscure. He is much too daring a AATiter. Had he kept his thoughts twelve months beside him before he published them, many of them would never have seen the light. No man, be his natural powers ever so strong, could do one-half the work well which the Doctor undertakes. At the time he is forming and perfecting a complicated ecclesiasti- cal machinery, he is erecting manses, schools, and colleges; conducting Bible, missionary, and benevolent societies; pre- siding over a large metropolitan audience, and preaching in the provinces, almost every week ; writing letters of business, and preparing parliamentary documents; publishing exegetical and practical theology; discussing the natvu'e and extent of the atonement, and taking the lead in presbyteries, synods, and assemblies, and, of consequence, speaking on every public qiiestion. It is certainly no disparagement to say, that it is impossible for him to do all these things well — impossible not to lay himself open to the mistakes of friends and misrepresen- tations of enemies. All we can say is — and it is sm'ely a good deal — that he attempts more than any other man, and accom- plishes much well. His temperament, which is highly nervous, keeps him in pei'petual activity. One moment he cannot remain quiescent. During singing, when in the pulpit he is all astir, and to this perpetual restlessness may be attributed his excessive labour. Rest seems to be out of his province — activity — excitement his veiy element. Plis feeble frame can- I EEV. ROBERT SMITH CAXDLISH, D.D. 110 not long endure under such labour. He seems to work as if his days were short ; and, indeed, short they must be should he not relax his efforts. His slender attenuated body cannot bear long the superhuman activity of a vigoroas and restless spirit. In the excellent sermon referred to, there is not one laboured sentence — not one stately period — not one bold or starthng sentiment. There is, moreover, no lofty flight of fancy — no strainincp at effect — nothino; of the marvellous or of the sub- lime. The effect was '^aused by the completeness and clearness of the preacher's ideas — the simplicity and force of his figures — the continuity and obviousness of the train of thought, and the earnestnessness of his manner, and the energy of his appeals. His manner in the pulpit, as we have already hinted, is ener- getic, and even extravagant. He has caught all the impetu- osity and fire of Dr Chalmers. Plis gesticulations and gestures are violent and occasionally ungraceful. There is too mucli bustle and tumult to allow of dignity and grace. Now his hands are both raised higher than his head — now one arm pro- jects behind and another before him — now he works -v^ith his handkerchief in his hand as if it contained his thoughts — and anon he suddenly adjusts his gown and passes his fingers through his hair. This tumidt and temj^est deprive his appear- ance of that majesty and dignity which distinguish some of our great preachers. At the period of the disruption in 1843, his people erected a temporary place of worship for him, and about a year ago an elegant place of worship, built at an expense of nearly £10,000, was opened for the congregation. His people are wealthy and liberal, raising annually £10,000 to £15,000 for religious and benevolent purposes. April 24, 1817. 120 EEV. MICHAEL ^WILLIS, D.D., EENFIELD CHURCH. Few ministers of tlie gospel are more respected than the subject of the present sketch, not only in Glasgow, the scene of liis ministrations, but wherever freedom finds a worsliipper and humanity a home. His mind is pre-eminently of a prac- tical character — he is a worker not a di'eamer. He can preach, but he considers it his duty to do more than merely enforce the obligations of his faith. Humanity is prominent in his character. His sympathies are with the dowii-trodden and oppressed — with the poor of his native land, as exemplified in his exertions for their better support by law — with the degraded and brutahsed African in distant lands — the suffering and the injured everpvhere. They have more than his s}anpatliies — they have his time and his labours. Dr Willis sees in the enslaved " children of the smi" the lineaments of a noble and divine nature. To him they are brethren in kindi'ed, in destiny, in immortahty. He has no " set phrase of speech," no smooth, glozing, oily words where- with to varnish the rank and polluted stains of a feai^ftil sin. He must lift up his voice against the iniquity of crushing a fellow-creature, w^hatever be his colour or his clime. His soul is so bound up in the contemplation of the \^Tongs of the ne- gro, that his heart appears but to liave one desire, his life one aim. For years he has uncompromisingly struggled in the cause of abolition ; and when the Free Church, with which he is connected, retarded the emancipation of the American slave, he, in eloquent and indignant terms, protested against the be- trayal of the rights of the oppressed as an abnegation of the spirit and precepts of the gospel. i J- vKSENrhli Tn THK SlfBSr.HIbKKS OF THt C.I.ASiliiW .KXAMJNEK FREE CHITRCR. REV. M. WILLIS D.D. 121 Dr Willis Is not one of those men who placidly " take their ease" till driven into motion by the em'rent of a popular move- ment. When a principle has become fashionable, when to identify oneself w^th it is to secure popularity, as is too often the case, the indolent and time-serving enter the ranks when the victory is nearly won, and rob others of the reward of their disinterested toil. Not so with the subject of our sketch. lie is ever foremost in every movement for the spiritual and temporal happiness of his fellow-men. The fashion of an idea has no charms for him. He is no popularity hunter, ready to barter consistency for a cheer. Where he sees an evil to redress he calmly proceeds to his duty — hears not the voices of the timid and worldly prudent — heeds not the senseless clamour of selfish opposition. Ha\ang a duty to per- form, and he turns neither to the right hand nor the left. Secure in the syinpathies and esteem of the good, and the approving voice of his own conscience, he acts from 2)i'^nciple., not fi'om excitement. It will readily be perceived that a striking feature in the character of the Doctor is energy. Unless he had been prompt, energetic, and determined, he could never have taken and retained the position he now holds in public estimation. We have said that the mind and aims of Dr Willis are of a practical character. As a minister he sees truth clothed in simple majesty, and desires to present it to others in the same garb. In his mind the beauty of truth needs not to be bedizened with glittering gewgaws, as if it were the timber image of the virgin In a thrice holy shrine. " The melancholy madness of poetry Avithout the inspiration," finds no corner in his discourses. He is a practical man, and he does his work as such. He borrows not the liffhtnino-'s winij to illuminate some dark and knotty point of theology. Our eyes are not dazzled with the pearls and diamonds of rhetorical Illustration, while the inner man is left to slumber in chaotic darkness. The depths of the sea supply him with no profound nothings, muddy as its bed — the gorgeous sky of a summer sunset no " thick coming fancies," turning Into dark shadows ere an hour. The sun-gilt streams sparkle not in his phraseology, and the dews distil no soft drops of sentimentalism as substitutes for tears. Q 122 OUK SCOTTISH CLEKGY. The teachings of Dr AVilHs stand boldly before our eyes — no gay medium of rainbow beauty intercepts our \iew. The pulpit appearances of the Doctor are more than respec- table. His discourses possess substantial attractions. In list- ening one does not soon get tired — take out his pencil and pro- fanely di'aw carricatures on the blank leaves of his Bible, wish the preacher done, yawn again, and in despair quietly go to sleep. It is creditable to the pulpit to be able to keep the interest of the hearers alive and unabated till the last sentence and closing of the Bible. "We have heard Dr Willis more than once, and om' first feelings were that of disappointment at the discourses being brought to, seemingly, so early a termination. In the pulpit his manner is serious, but easy^ solemn, and dig- nified. His gestures, generally, are such as naturally arise from the subject. He incases his arguments rather by a plain forcible statement of their merits, than by the clap-trap mouth- ings and mountebank action of the mob-orator. His earnest- ness compels attention, and his fervid appeals carry conviction to the heart. A stranger on first hearing him, especially when warmed wdth his subject, Avould be apt to feel disappointment. His tones then fall quick and sharp on the ear like the rattle of musketry. But this feeling quickly subsides, and the listener is irresistably carried along by a train of sober and chastened ratiocination. On Sabbath forenoon last, Dr Willis entered his pulpit at the appointed houi*. A portion of the 104th Psalm having been sung, the whole congregation joining with much apparent fervour, he prayed in a manner consistent with his talents and piety. Reading the scriptures, and singing being over, the subject of discourse Mas taken by the liev. Doctor from the 1 7th chapter of Exodus. In the afternoon, in St George's Free Church, he preached from John xx. 27; " Thomas answered •and said unto him, My Lord and my God ;" with the preced- ing words of our Saviour, " Ileach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless but believing." Oiu' space excludes the discourses. Dr Willis, as far as we are aware, appeared first as an Ruthor in 1827, by pid^lishing a sermon on the occasion of the deatli of his father, which does equal credit to father and son. RF.V. M. WILLIS, D.D. 123 In 1829 he published an able discourse on the subject of popery, and in 1833 his chief work on National Church Establishments made its appearance. Since that thne a very attractive biographical sketch of " Tavo Brothers," and several other pamphlets on various subjects have been issued. The greater part of his writings are of a controversial chai'acter. Two themes occupy his chief attention, the destruction of slavery and the legitimacy, utility, and scriptm'ality of religious establishments. The first theme is one congenial to his Avarm sympathies and ardent temperament. He has only to heai* the sound of woe — the w^ail of the oppressed — and his soul is on fire. Neither honours, nor friendships, nor slavery dollars, can keep him silent. He speaks decidedly and warmly, be- cause he feels the iron entering the soul of the oppressed. The zeal he displays in behalf of the slave would secure him honour in any cause, but in such a cause it wall secure him a name in all time coming among the renoMTied pliilanthropists of his race. On his opinions of the principles of National Churches given in his work, and in numerous speeches, we cannot speak in such unqualified tenns. In his discussions he displays much acuteness and no little vigour of thought. Some of the arguments of the opponents of National Churches he demo- lishes, and we have no regrets for them, because they are not genuine; but, while we cheerfolly make this concession, we at the same time think that the chief arguments in behalf of vol- untaryism he assails in vain, and the chief argument in support of National Churches he defends in vain. We cannot speak in detail, but Ave may mention, for instance, pages 44 and 51 as containing principles a long way beyond our comprehen- sion. " Give," says he, " the magistrate the Avhole moral law as his rule, and you are driven into no such difficulty." We doubt Avhether anymagistrate would thank the Doctor for em- powering him to punish the breach of the first, second, and tenth, not to speak of the fourth commandment. We might also quote'page 51. " Yet if the nation is not bound, as such, to the Avhole divine law," &c., contains principles Avhich, if we mistake not, demolish his favourite establishment theory. Strange though it may appear, the Doctor to this day strenu- 124 OUR SCOTTISH CLEEGY. oiisly holds liis establishment principle. This to some has at least the appearance of consistency, and consistency, as far as a theory is concerned, it unquestionably is, but consistency in detail, when maintained at the expense of consistency in gero- eral, or, more properly, theoretical consistency ^A'hen main- tained at the expense of practical consistency has but slight merit. The Doctor is a churchman in principle, a voluntary in practice. He holds that national establishments have the sanction of scriptm'e, but he is opposed to every religioiis establishment under the sun. He is certain national establish- ments are right, but he doubts whether there ever will be one which he could sanction. In other words, the Doctor seems to hold that scripture presents some impractical mode, and sanc- tions some impossible form, of a national establishment. The Doctor is so invulnerable at most points that we have fully availed ourselves of the advantages which his anomalous eccle- siastical jiosition offers for successful attack. The subject of our sketch was born in Greenock, where his father, who may be considered the foundej of the Old Light Burghers, and the first theological professor to that body, was a minister for a long series of years, as also latterly in Stirling. His parents were among the excellent of the earth, and by pre- cept and example enforced right principles in the domestic cir- cle. Dr Willis received his education in Glasgow, and had the advantage of a Secession curriculum, and of several sessions at the University theological hall, where he carried off the first prize for theological exercises from the late eminent Dr M'Gill, who, on the settlement of Dr Willis in Glasgow, made honourable mention of that cucumstance. He had also the good fortune to obtain distinction in most of the Hterary and philosophical University classes. In height Dr WilHs is above the middle size. His eyes ai*e bright and penetrating, and his features grave and strongly marked, betokening great energy and determination of char- acter. His manners are gentlemanly and agreeable. He always appears as if his mind was in incessant activity. Dr Willis was ordained a minister in connexion vAih the Original Burgher Secession body in 1821. In 1835 he was chosen professor of theology, which office he retained till he EEV. M. WILLIS, D.D. 125 joined the Establishment. He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from the University of Glasgow shortly before that event. It was scarcely to be expected that a man like Dr Willis would remain in a state of quiescence while great eccle- siastical movements were in progress, and he, accordingly, led the movement in the synod, which resulted in the union of the majority of that body with the Establishment in the year 1839. Dr Willis came out, along with the greater part of his people, with the disruption party in 1843. In short, whether we view Dr Willis as a theologian, a phil- anthropist, or a citizen, he is worthy of that warm attachment and esteem which has so long been accorded him by ever}" section of the community. He presides over an ardently attached and respectable congregation, who fortunately luiow how to appre- ciate his moral and religious worth. Among other testimo- nials from his people, we may mention t^o — each of which was to the value of a hundred pounds. April 31, 1847. [Since the above was written, the Doctor has removed to Canada, where he holds a professorship . in the Free Church College, Toronto.- —Ed.] 126 REV. C. POPHAM MILES, B.A., ST. JUDE'S, GLASGOW. After philosophei's have talked themselves dumb, on the lofty plausibilities of an attenuated spiritualism, the greater portion of the human family continue to a})preciate, as iti the days when earth was young, the beauties of form, and colour, and sound. None have reached that state of pvu'e etherealism which would enable them to shut their eyes and their ears against the enchantments of earth, and to conduct their ambi- tious speculations and reasonings without employing the sensi- ble and gross symbols essential to a state of materialism. The eye and the ear of the most abstruse etherealist continue to admit to his mind the elements of thought and feeling, and the other senses, thovigh unacknowledged, daily minister to the health, activity, and vigour of the inner man. As long as mind dwells in flesh, so long will nature, in its various forms of modesty and majesty, of sw^eetness and of sublimity, furnish materials for the most exalted thought, and awaken the p\u*est, loftiest, and noblest feeling. It is to be lamented, however, that to the mass of mankind the scenes of mightiest interest have no attractions, and those spots to which the gaze, of higher orders of intelligence, is turned, are surveyed with indifferenee or with scorn. It is right to tread with thoughtful step when witliin the precincts of the honoured erection, be it turf or stone, where the master spirits that moulded the mind and manners of their country were cradled — it is right to gaze with Avonder on those ruins that recall the greatness of Babylon, of Nine- veh, and of Tyre — it is right to kindle hito rapture as the holy REV. C. POPHAM MILES, B.A. 127 ground, is trodden of that land where the Author of eternal redemption finished the work given him to do, and it is equally right to contemplate with reverence and awe the temples de- voted to the worship of Jehovah — " the house, He chooses to put his name there." Though we know nothing of the virtu.e communicated by consecration ceremonies, we have been wont to look on St Jude's Chapel as a place of peculiar interest and sacredness. AVe are old enough to remember the time when its site was unsightly, and when its neighbourhood was unin- habited — when the foot of man or beast was not wont even to stray there. Some eight years ago, however, enterprise founded the present edifice, benevolence perfected it, and genius drew together thronged and breathless audiences. We know almost all that has been said of the Rev. Robert Montgomery, its first incimibent — we have seen him abjui'ed by literatui*e, by philo- sophy, by Christianity, even by society — his name has been held up to scorn by the infidel and by the orthodox — his writ- ings have been condemned as unreadable, as absurd, and as profane — his preaching pronounced a mass of fermenting puer- ilities — we know all these things and a great many more when we assert that Glasgoio is proud that she once ranked him among her ministers, and that St Jude's will be pointed out to posterity as the cliief scene of his Scottish labours. We never thought it necessary to shut our eyes or to interdict our pen against, what we considered, the effervescence of genius or the sportings of a giant, but we at the same time perceived that he wielded an influence which will not be forgotten, and accom- plished a work, the effects of which will stretch far into other worlds. It is impossible to forget the anxious crowds which were wont of a Sabbath evening to press in and around that sacred edifice, and it is still more impossible to forget the mighty and eloquent views that were expressed amid the splendours of a gorgeous and ambitious diction, and the utter- ances of an earnest and eccentric spirit. Those wont to fi-e- quent St Jude's in the days of ^ir Montgomery, and who continue to frequent it still, are surrounded with associations and contrasts the most striking possible. The genius, the energv, the eccentricity of their former preacher are not now found — the feverish excitement which made the veiv stones 128 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. seem to move, has subsided; but after the earthquake and the tempest, and fire, they have the still small voice stealing with mao-ic effect into the most secret recesses of the soul, and silently exerting a power at once pleasing and marvellous in its effects. A greater contrast has seldom been witnessed than that between the present and former preacher of St Jude's. Bustle, boldness, tumult, and tempest have been superseded by order, modesty, quietude, and dignity. The truth of the gos- pel is the same, but its accompaniments and circumstantials are as wide, as the poles, asunder. The trappings and gildings of former days are no longer seen — truth unadorned, and yet the most adorned, is presented in her own simple, sincere, and honest, yet fascinating forms. Last Sabbath, as usual, at half-past two, the afternoon ser- vice commenced. ]Mr ]\Iiles read the service in his own quiet, correct, devout, and unpretending manner. After the liturgi- cal service, which lasted nearly an houi', he laid aside the white dress (the sm*plice), peculiar to the reading of the service, and was attired with goAvn and bands not very different from those used in Presbyterian places of worship. The organ and sing- ing having ceased, he kneeled in the pulpit and offered a few w^ords of extempore prayer. He then gave out for his text Rom. i. 18, 19—" For the wrath of God," &c. Pie concluded the discovu'se at ten minutes past foiu', having preached forty minutes. After singing, and the benediction, the meeting separated. As regards his manner in the pulpit we have no hesitation in saying that it is altogether unexceptionable. His voice is clear, sweet, and well modulated, and his action is exceedingly grace- ful. After reading his text from a small Bible, he generally speaks a few minutes almost motionless, with his hands on the bookboard ; but as he progresses and Avarms with his subject, his countenance becomes more animated, his hands are used so as to suit the words, and all his gestures are in consonance with the rules of the severest rhetoric. He frequently holds the small Bible in the one hand, and with the other points signifi- cantly to the various passages he adduces in elucidation of his siibjeet. We have said his manner is unexceptionable, but it mio'ht be somewhat more animated. Though he need not REV. C. I'OPUAM MILES, B.A. 12*j aspire to the liouours of a mob orator, an energetic delivery could cause no offence to the most refined of the congrega- tion. His pulpit style is equal to his manner. He uses no notes, nor does he need them. His discourses bear the most unmis- takeable marks of careful preparation — preparation not only as regards the sentiment and arrangement, but, also, the very sen- tences and Avords. The remarkable simplicity of his style par- ticularly strikes a stranger. He employs no mipronounceable unintelligible Avords — no involved and intricate periods — na abstruse metaphysical ratiocination. He clothes the weightiest sayings in the simplest dress, and lays them before his auditors in a form intelligible to the most illiterate, and, at the same time, unexceptionable to the most fastidious. He has studied language closely, and employs it not at random, but mth discrimination and taste. Those who listen to his discom'ses, soon learn that there are much fewer synonymes in the language than is gen- erally supposed. Terms there are nearly, a few "wholly, the same in meaning, but a speaker such as the subject of our sketch, acknowledges but few of such. With him every word has a fixed and definite meaning, and he accordingly employs the word that best and most distinctly expresses an idea. His matter also deserves special notice. We have seldom heard a preacher who more scrupulously complies with the injunction, " Preach the Word." To the elucidation of the scriptures, and to that alone, are his pulpit efforts directed. He seems never to have preached from a text till he has criti- cally and carefully examined it in the original. He never makes the assumption — an assumption but too commonly made — that his aucUtors understand the text. He states what it means, and what it does not mean, and his affirmations cany with them generally the sanction of the soundest commenta- tors, of common sense, and of the analogy of the sacred writ- ings. Vfe make this asseveration AA-ithout qualification and exception, and for the simple reason that his pulpit themes arc generally such as to admit of no diversity of opinion among Christian men. We hear nothing of the peculiar doctrines of the Episcopal Church or of any other — nothing of the inter minable looomachv of ecclesiastical warfare — his theme is R 130 OUR SCOTTISH CLEEGY. redemption through the work of Christ, and hohness of life through the Spirit of Christ. As he carefiilly prepares his dis- com'ses, they have the charm of variety. The preachei', who has a set number of facts, of crotchets, which he affixes with equal skill to any text, soon wearies the most patient listeners; but he who elucidates the scriptui'es — the whole scriptures — will present his hearers with truth as varied as the scriptures themselves. We are aware that we are speaking strongly of the excellencies of the preaching of the incumbent of St Jude's — we mean to do so, and because w^e are persuaded it deserves such. We have listened to his predecessor ^^^th mingled feel- ings as that extraordinaiy man now spoke the most irrelevant, now the most appropriate truth, as he preached Christ in all his fulness, and as he preached himself in all his emptiness, as he provoked the sneer of the scorner, by some extravagant idea, and as he awakened the purest feelings in the Christian mind by portraying, mth the skill of a master, the sober reali- ties of a hastening eternity. We have also listened to the pre- sent incumbent, and though there was no thrilling emotion, no conflict of alternating feeling, no tempest of passion awak- ened and stirred, the effect, if not remarkable, was at least bene- ficial. Thought is awakened, but it is the sober thought of eternal tnitli — feeling is stirred, but it is feeling acted on through the understanding. Attention is arrested, npt by extravagance of style, not by eccentricity of genius, but by the force of omnipotent truth. In one w^ord, the effect is the very opposite of wdiat is called studied effect. It is the effect of studied truth. While w^e use these strong statements, it is our opinion that the subject of our sketch does not do himself full justice as a preacher. We think it quite possible for him to allure the illiterate, without offending his polite audience. Were he partially relieved from the other onerous duties of his office, occasional evening discourses, either on Sabbath or Aveek evenings, might be producti\-e of incalculable benefit. We know that his sensitive disposition shrinks at any approach to popularity-hunting; but we know that he also Avishes to do good, and we therefore state that there is a large class in our city that might be reached by his calm, coiTect, philosophical, and earnest exhibition of Divine truth. We could wish the REV. C. P0PH.V3I MILES, B.A. 131 cold scepticism, the superficial and flippant infidelity that obtain among even our educated class, brought within the reach of his influence, sanguine of the result. Hitherto we have spoken exclusively of ^Ir IVIiles as a preacher; but his efforts as an author deserve honourable mention. His Expository and Practical Lectures, on the Book of Daniel, appeared in two volumes, and a third has yet to appear; and though we have not had any opportunity of exam- ining them, we have reason to believe the work is one of interest. " The Voice of the Reformation," from his pen, appeared, in 1844, as a thick octavo volume. It contains the opinions of the leading divines of the sixteenth century on the principal doctrines of the Anglican Church. It is divided into five chapters, and these are subdivided and logically arranged. The author wigjies to prove that the leading men, as well as the formularies of the Anglican Church, are strictly evangeli- cal. Whether he has succeeded in proving all the formularies orthodox, may be still a question; but the book at least proves that its author is strictly evangelical in his own sentiments. Since he came to Glasgow, he has published what shows his temper as well as his talents. We refer to his three adch'esses to the members of St Jude's Church, in connection with the Scottish Bishop. The addresses were written in cu'cumstances of extreme difficulty, and under strong provocation ; and, as might be expected, some very keen and caustic remarks are made. The addresses, however, supply a striking proof of the strength of religious principle, and will be long remembered, as such, after the cause of them has been forgotten. They reflect the highest honour on their author as one that maintains prin- ciple at the expense of self-interest, and more especially as one determined to maintain inviolate Avhat he believes to be the truth of God, whether as regards doctrine or chscipline. INIr Miles was educated in the University of Cambridge, where, after passing the usual curricuham, he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts. On Trinity Sunday, 1837, he was ordained in the city of London, by Bishop Bloomfield, and remained as a cm'ate in London for four years. In 1841 he was appointed curate to the parish of Bishopwearmouth, near Durham, and of which the honourable and Kev. Dr. "V^^ellesley lo2 Oi;j{ SCOTTISH CLEllGA'. is the rector, find remained in tliat charge till a short time before his settlement in Glasgow. In November, 1843, he Avas instituted in St. Jude"s, and has laboiired there since that period. It is generally kno'^n that in 1844, circumstances arose Avhicli induced Mr IVIiles to resign connexion -with the Scotch Episcopal Church, and at the same time he resigned his charge in St Jude's. The trustees, however, cordially in\dted him to resume his labours among them as a minister of the Anglican Church, and with this in-\-itation he complied. As a matter of course, many of the members of that church attached to Scotch Episcopacy, left St Jude's, while a great number thought proper to remain Tinder the ministrations of a clergy- man of the Anglican Church. St Jude's now, along with other nine churches in Scotland adhere to the Chiu'ch of Eng- land, although the congregations have renouncisd the jurisdic- tion of the Scottish Bishops ; and though their position may seem anomalous, it appears to be the only safe and legal posi- tion they could assume. As far as all practical purposes are concerned, the minister and congregation of St Jude's are part and parcel of the Anglican Church. The members of the An- glican Church that come to reside in Glasgow, may become a part of St Jude's Church; and, on the other hand, Glasgow members of St Jiide's are acknowledged by the Chiu'ch of England. Isir Miles is on the most friendly terms Avith the evangelical ministers of the Anglican Church, and frequently exchanges pulpits with them. Last summer be spent several months in England, and discharged all the duties of a parochial clergyman, while his pulpit at home aa as frequently supplied from England. Since the severance of the cono-regation from Scotch Episcopacy, it has been prosperous and united. A large proportion of new members haAC been added, and a consider- able amount of the chapel debt cleared off. The congregation is highly respectable, including a number of families in the higher ranks, and several of oiu* pidjlic men of distinction and influence. May 7, 1817. 133 REV. JAMES S. TAYLOR, . rNITED PRESBYTEEIAN CHURCH, HUTCHESONTOWX. Not a few clergymen of various denominations owe much of their popularity and influence to their being continually before the public. It is not, however, for a moment, to be believed that these men, often the most laborious workers in the field of Christian exertion, if not the most profound thinkers, are soli- citous of catching the breath of popular applause, and securing those honours and favours for their personal merits which shoidd alone be conferred on principle. They are of infi- nite advantage to the Christian world. Their sphere is action. They are bold and energetic, and they love to work, because they were born for effort. Hence their fi-equent appearances in public; their active support or opposition to improvements or alterations of such means, and measures, as aflPect religion or social progress. They are the most attractive public speakers, the committee-men of the greatest ability and tact, the influ- encers of majorities, the troublers of the waters of the polemical and political world. If encroachments are to be made on the spiritual independence of the people, the thinkers chscern and demonstrate the consequences, and the class of which we speak give these discernments and demonstrations a tangibility and a power which arrest the antagonistic movement and stagger governmental confidence. They are often the preachers of the masses, because the people have some knowledge of their talents, and are best acquainted with their fame. They are generally the orators of the night at pubhc meetings, and the most profitable preachers of charity sermons. They are the souls of presbyteries, and synods, and assemblies, and if the}' cannot 134 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGV. endow })arty with \itality, they can at least give it a mobihty, an energy and a purpose such as the earnest, and energetic, can alone impart. They fill, till their mission is performed, the eye of the world, for such is their destiny. Their home is not the study, but the platform, or the committee room ; their delight is not to muse with the spirits of the illustrious dead, as they whisper from the depths of past ages in books those precious heritages of their love and immortality ; but to mix with the world, and work for its pimfication and improvement. These men stand in the front rank in the battle of life, and when the shaft of one who never aims in vain has laid them low, among gi'eater consolations they have one, not much less, that by their instrumentality they have left the world a little better, and ^viser, than they found it. In many respects the subject of the present sketch is the reverse of the numerous and useful class we have just deline- ated. Though possessing much finnness, and confidence, in his powers which never betray him, though adapted by his good sense, correct and pleasing language, and gi'aceftil mode of communication, to make, in public, a strong impression on the cultivated and reflecting portion of the community, he cautiously avoids throwing himself into the vortex of platform and verbal contention, which is the breathing element of so many able and excellent men. Among the most coiTect, and chastely eloquent, of all our local extemporary speakers, he is yet deficient in some of those mental and mechanical requisites which make up the composition of the popular orator and skil- fid disputant. He never strains for effect, nor transfixes an antagonist with a hon mot instead of an argument, nor con- ceals the Aveakness of his chain of reasoning, by wrapping it around with felicitous allusions or apt quotations from the best authors. He cannot, or will not, seek sympathy for himself or his cause by questioning the sincerity or integi'ity of others. Nor are such dernier resorts in his case required. When Mr Taylor appears before an audience, it is not in antagonism to men, however eiToneous their ideas, but in vindication of prin- ciple. He levels no biting sarcasm nor contemptuous sneer at an opponent, for he knows none. In harmony with a princi- ple of his natm'e, he strives more to make virtue paramount REV. JA:MES S. TAYLOR. 135 over men's minds by a delineation of its excellence, than to disgust, even by a truthful limning, with the hideousness of vice. Mr Taylor thus owes none of his popularity as a preacher to tact, or sinister motives. Seldom before the public, unless in the performance of a real duty, we must ascribe his influ- ence, and the esteem in which he is held, to other causes than those by which many secure a temporary fame — a fame which perishes, almost, before the paper which reports the speech is elevated to the dignity of curl paper. Had he appeared oftener in public, he might have been better known as a semi-politician, but certainly not more admired as an able and successful preacher, nor more respected as a gentleman. In the qualities of his heart, in his knowledge of the sacred writings, in the theological treasures of his mind, which he pours forth in an unbroken equable flood, lie the secret of his success. He owes it to no adventitious circumstances, either of his own creation, or that of others. He is too proud — proud in the best sense of the word — to rely upon circumstances for that respect which his merits and intellect would deny. He is a useful preacher because his heart is in the work, and much reading and study have given him a vast store of ideas, and a clear, forcible style of utterance, to enlighten or persuade. A few minutes past eleven o'clock, on Sabbath last, Mr Taylor entered his pulpit. When he rose, at the commence- ment of worship, to read a portion of a psalm, the throng of busy feet was heard rushing along passes and stairs, and for a time his voice was inaudible. l\nien this had partially ceased, another and a worse interruption arose. And, here, it may not be improper to remark, that the disagreeable dis- temper of which Ave now complain is unfortunately common in congregations. No sooner does the minister proceed to read a psalm, or a hymn, than he is greeted with a universal coucrh. The chsease is contajrious, old and young join the ready chorus; and so inveterate has this absurd habit be- come, that sensible persons of vinexceptionable lungs, and who have not shown symptoms of a solitary desire to cough for the last six days are all at once seized with asthmatic suf- fering, which nothing but the sitting down of the minister can l'^»() OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. alleviate. The miseemlj practice may be easily avoided, or it* is certainly very wonderful that several hundreds of human beings, enjoying an average degree of health, should be sim- ultaneously attacked by a tickling in the throat, ending in a loud and almost unendurable convulsion. The psalm being sung, All* Taylor prayed in that distinct and unfalteiing voice which tells of the speaker's earnestness, his practised mystery over language ; and, above all, no lack of ideas, the paucity of which occasions so much halting in extemporaneous speak- ing. He then read from the eleventh to the nineteeth verses of the fifteenth chapter of the second book of Samuel, upon which he commented at some length. The introduc- tory devotional exercises were concluded shortly after twelve o'clock, and the suliject of lecture was given from the tenth chapter of Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians, commenc- ing at the fourteenth verse. The afternoon services having been opened by the iisual devotional exercises, ]SIr Taylor read the first eighteen Aerses of the fifth chapter of John's gospel, on which, in a similar manner as in the forenoon, he made a paraphrastical com- mentary. The subject of discovirse was chosen from the same gospel, first chapter and fourteenth verse, " And the Word was made flesh." We regret that we cannot find room for the outlines of these discourses. The preaching of ^Ir Taylor is li^'ely and effective. The interest of the hearer is never ponuitted to flag. His mat- ter is carefully arranged, the language is proper words in proper places, and his delivery is earnest and impressive. — In one or two instances we considered his illustrations, though attractive from poetic beauty, as being faulty and unable to bear a severe, critical examination. He cannot be reckoned a pulpit orator, hi the -vidgar acceptation of the term. He uses little gesticulation. His principal gesture is gently touching the palm of the left hand with the fingers of the right. His action is simple and unaffected; he ap- pears to give it no attention — it is natural. Pie is too much occupied in impressing the doctrine he teaches on his hearers to attend to externals. He treats us to no gi'and bm*sts of elocpience, nor rushings from one side of the pulpit to the REV. J-UIES S. TAYLOR. 137 other, nor beating the Bible to the manifest danger of break- ing its back. " The pulpit drum ecclesiastic," and enthusiasm though fast passing away, is not yet entirely extinct. As a reader of the scriptures, he is almost faultless. He appears to consider that if the Bible is worthy of being read at all, it should be read well, that he should give every word its due emphasis, and every clause its proper rest. He does not hurry over a passage as if reading the Bible were a mere form to be done in any way, no matter how indifferently or badly. His pronmiciation, though generally correct, is appa- rently marked with a slight affectation. It does not appear to be strained, but seems to have been acquired at an early period, and has become a fixed habit. How much superior, however, is his style of delivery to that absurd affectation of di'awling barbarism, as if it were necessary that the sublime truths of the gospel should be enunciated in measure the most uncouth, in a sing-song canting strain, happily nearly obsolete, and utterly unworthy of the shrewdness, and propriety, which characterise the ministers of Scotland. In stature Mr Taylor is about the middle size. His head is small, but well formed and intellectvial, with open and ex- pressive countenance. His eyes, " those windows of the soul," are bright and lively, and pretty clearly discover the strength and firmness of his mind. With the education and manners of a gentleman, he dresses as becomes one — plainly, but neatly — the very antipodes of a clerical fop. Ml- Taylor is a native of Campbelton, but left that town with his parents while but yet a child for Dvimfries, whence his parents removed to Edinburgh, where the subject of our sketch was educated. He was ordained in 1828, and preached to a congregation in Coldstream, till his translation to Glas- gow in 1839. While in Coldstream, in the year 1832, cholera was raging with great violence, and his attentions to the suffering of whatever sect or creed were close and unremitting. This truly Christian conduct, this daring exemplification of his Christian faith and character, at a time when the pestilence- stricken were shunned, and dreaded almost, by their dearest fi.nends, endeared him to the whole population. Money was afterwards raised by subscription, and he was presented with a s 138 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. • handsome gift of several pieces of silver plate, as a testi- mony of a grateful people, for his devoted exertions for the temporal and eternal welfare of the afflicted. He has also received other marks of attachment from the congreffations with which he has boon connected. The Hiitohesontown oongregation are much attached to their pastor, the best proof of which is to be found in his .crowded church, numbering upwards of twelve hmidred mem- bers. The seats have been fully let during the entire of his incumbency, and the congregation numbers not a few of our most respectable citizens. Max 15, 1847. 139 EEV. JAMES JULIUS WOOD, LATE OF EDINBURGH. Not a few form their estimate of pulpit excellence by the application of a false standard. Multitudes judge a sermon as if its chief object were to enlighten the understanding or to please the fancy, forgetting that the grand, and ultimate, aim of the pulpit is to affect the heart, so as practically to influence the life. According to this standard, the best discourse is that in which the great object of preaching — practical utility — is most effectually secured, and the best preacher is he who is most successful in the attainment of this end. In judging a lecture on literature, or any of the sciences, we estimate its excellence by the amount of knowledge which the lecturer dis- plays of his subject, or by the ability with which the informa- tion he possesses is conveyed; and it is by applying the same test to pulpit oratory, and judging of the merits of a discourse, as if its principal object were the same as that of a lecture on literature or science, which has led to the formation of this erro- neous estimate. Let it not be inferred, however, from these observations, that we mean to decry secular knowledge as valueless in contributing to the efficiency of the pulpit; on the contrary, we plead for it as indispensable to a minister's eleva- tion and a minister's usefulness. The mind of every preacher ought to be imbued with an enthusiastic love of Hteratiu'e and scientific knowledge, but we also wish to see him possess skill properly to apply it. Every description of knowledge, in the hands of the preacher, should be made subservient to the illus- tration and enforcement of the great practical lessons of Chris- tianity; and when it is employed in the pulpit for an end 140 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. different from this, it is knowledge misapplied, and hence subversive of the gi'eat object of pidpit ministrations. There may be acuteness of intellect, varied and extensive knowledge, joined with a refined and pleasing address ; but if there is no more than this, if there is no attempt to reach the heart and impress the conscience, such preaching, though it may com- mand a large attendance, will be sadly defective of practical fruits ; whereas, he whose talents and acquirements are under the guidance of a \'igorous and enlightened piety, will be esteemed, honom-ed, and blessed in liis work. The pulpit labours of the one ^\ill resemble the chilling fi'osts of a clear day — pleasant in some respects, yet retarding or arrestmg the progress of vegetation; while those of the other will be like the life-giving and invigorating influence of a summer's sun, dif- fusing warmth, animation, and joy, and hastening to matiuity the productions of the soil. In estimating the Rev. James Julius Wood by this stand- ard, he will be fomid to occupy a first place, not only amongst the ministers of the Free Church, but of every other denomi- nation. His discoui'ses may be regarded as, in many respects, a model of pulpit oratory, and this judgment is confirmed by the high popularity he has attained as a preacher. We do not pretend to say that, in an intellectual point of \dew, !Mr Wood ranks among the greatest men in the church ; but in regard to moral worth, he will bear a favourable comparison with these or with any other distinguished luminaries of the chui'ch. His greatness consists in his moral power. Amongst Hving preachers we know of none who has drunk more deeply of the pure and ennobling streams of Christianity, and whose pulpit ministrations are more redolent of its power. His elevated piety, and his earnest pathetic manner, impart to his discourses a peculiar richness and zest, and while they can scarcely fail to impress the most careless, they are universally appreciated by the pious and intelligent of his hearers. The key to the human heart is love, and he not only possesses that key, but knows well how to use it. His affectionate counsels and admonitions — his eloquent and touching appeals — his solemn and unpres- sive warnings, tell upon his audience ^dth poA^•erful effect. He never assumes that dogmatic style of address Avhich repels REV. JAMES JULIUS WOOD. 141 ratlier than attracts. He wins rather than awes men Into the beHef of the gospel, and into the observance of its precepts. To the " wisdom of the serpent" he unites " the harmlessness of the dove." Surrounded as he is by such a pm-e and bright moral atmosphere, it is not sm'prising that he should exert a powerfully beneficial effect upon his auchence ; accordingly, few ministers have been more eminently useful in the chiu'ch of Christ, or have been privileged to see so much fruit of their ministry — few ministers have drawn around them, in various spheres of labour, so at+ached and devoted a people. While ]Mr Wood stands unsurpassed in moral elevation of character, many of his brethren, we have already acknow- ledged, may occupy as lofty, and some even a loftier intellec- tual status — his mental powers, however, are superior. He is more distinguished for a well balanced, and well cultivated, mind, than for the possession of any one faculty of transcen- dant power. He always reasons clearly and accurately, if not profoundly. Being a shrewd and intelligent observer, he possesses an intimate knowledge of the human heart, and can touch with skill its tenderest and most secret springs. Having been schooled in affliction himself, he always excels in ad- dressing to mourners the consolatory truths of the gospel. In addition to the eminently pious spu'it which pervades his dis- courses, they are always characterised by clear and logical arrangement, by copious and appropriate illustration, and by dig- nified, yet plain and forcible expression. He is a substantial rather than an imaginative preacher, but when his text con- tains a figure, it is managed \\ith great dexterity, and sustained throughout the discourse ^dth consummate skill. His style of composition is elegant and chaste, removed ahke from the gorgeousness of an exuberant fancy, and from the dry matter- of-fact style of commonplace minds. His productions, in short, mark him as the elegant and accomplished scholar rather than the profound and original thinker ; he may never startle by a bold and striking thought, but the hearer is always pleased with the agreeable forms in which familiar thoughts are presented. He may never attempt the eagle's flight, but he always soars with a graceful and majestic wing. There may be no commotion of the elements, no thmider, no light- 142 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. ning, no tempest, but there is always the cahn, ehannmg, and invigorating sunshine. There may be no foaming cataracts in his course, no dashing of the impetuous torrent against opposing rocks, but there is the easy and peacefid motion of the majestic river rolhng its waters through the fertile plains. One may never be awed by the grandeur of the scenery, but is always charmed with its loveliness. On Sabbath w^eek he terminated liis temporary labours in Free St John's Church of this city. The text was in 1st Timothy iv. 6 — " Godliness is profitable unto all things, hav- ing promise of the life that now is, and of that wdiich is to come." We cannot find room for the discourse. Although ]Mr Wood had not occupied this sphere of labour much longer than tluree months ; and although to the majo- rity he had previously been an utter stranger, yet so ably, so faithfidly, and affectionately had he discharged the duties of the pastoral office, that an attachment was formed which could not permit their intercourse to be broken up wdthout painful emotions. On the parting occasion the house was filled to overflowing — all seemed anxious to listen to the farewell instructions of one who apparently loved them so well. ]Mr Wood's discom-ses, in order to be folly appreciated, must be heard. His appearance and manner are com- manding. His tall, gentlemanly, venerable figure, his high and expansive forehead, shaded slightly by long silvered locks, his quick and piercing dark eye, his finely formed countenance, expressive of deep thoughtfulness, and of the warm benevolence of his heart, all prepossess one strongly in his favour. His manner in the pulpit is gracefid and dig- nified ; his action easy and forcible ; his fervent piety imparts an additional wannth and energy, which not only command but sustain the attention of his audience, while his manly, full-toned, and well-modulated voice contributes to deepen the effect. His pronunciation is, with a few trifling exceptions, correct, and his elocution displays the same highly cultivated taste with his style of composition. In the pulpit he generally uses notes, although he preaches ocasionally without them, but the reading of his discourses never cramps his dehvery, nor lessens their effect ; the sentiments they contain always REV. JAMES JULIUS WOOD, 143 seem tlie warm, the genuine, the spontaneous effusions of the heart. He is thoroughly evangehcal in his views of Di^^ne truth, and under the influence of an ardent piety, and an enhghtened knowledge of the duties and responsibilities of the ministerial office, he always selects such subjects as are eminently practical in their tendency. IVIi- Wood was first settled, in the year 1827, in the parish of Newton-upon-Ayr, where he labom'ed about six years with great acceptance and success. Even then he was popular ; his popularity, indeed, may be dated fi'om the day on which he first entered the pulpit. Many well remember some of his lucid, eloquent, and effective exhibitions of Divine truth in the early days of his mlnistiy; and though less matured, perhaps, in thought and expression, they possessed all the depth of feeling, and all the fascinating power of his pre- sent productions. It was with the deepest regret that his attached flock in Ayr bade him farewell when he removed to another field of labour In the town of Stuling. The same popularity that attended him in his former sphere accompanied him here. But he was not permitted to remain long in Stirling ; a more extended field of usefulness presented itself, which he was Induced to accept. He removed to Edinburgh, to become minister of Old Greyfi'iars' Church, In 1838. After having been there for a short period, from the laborious nature of the duties, both physical and mental, of a city clergy- man, his constitution, never robust, began to give way, and he was advised to leave the British Isles and make a voyage to Malta, the beneficial effects of which soon began to appear In recruited health and bodily vlgoiu'. While at Malta he laboured in the gospel as his strength permitted, and his labours were not AA-Ithout abundant tokens of success. It was during this period that the chsruption took place in the Church of Scotland ; and after his return to Britain he declared him- self on the side of the protestors. The delicate state of his health, however, prevented him fi'om accepting any perma- nent charge, and it soon became evident that a complete resto- ration had not been effected; symptoms of declining health again began to appear, and he was once more recommended to try the benefits of a warmer climate. He accordingly went 144 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. to Madeira in the year 1844, where he remained about eighteen months, and the change had the happy effect of soon restorinff him to convalescence. While there he laboured in connexion with the Free Chui'ch, and his laboru's w^ere useful and highly-prized. After his return home he wTote a series of interesting articles last year regarding the physical and reli- gious aspect of that island. And we are happy in being able to state that he now enjoys better health than he has done for a number of years past. Mat 23, 1847. [We obsen^e that he has just received a unanimous call from the Free Church Congregation, Dumfries. — Ed.] 145 REV. ALEXANDER RALEIGH, CONGREGATIONAL CHAPEL, GREENOCK. On Sabbath the 15th May, Mr Raleigh preached in Dr WardlaVs Chapel, from 1st Peter ii. 17 — "Honour all men.'^ The preacher commenced his discourse by remarldng that the text was a Christian precept not found in any other code of laws or morals, and certainly exhibited in no character imless that of the Christian. There are certain honours paid by aU men to rank, talent, character, office, or whatever stands out, by reason of excellence, fi'om the structure of society. The gospel does not despise these honours, unless when they are made the ground of boasting. But while it gives honour to whom honour, officially, is due, it teaches to honour man as such. The connexion of the text shows that the honouring of man as man, does not supersede the honom's due to dignity, &c. ; hence we find that, while all men are to be honoured, " the king" is specially pointed out. It is remarkable that the honoiu* due to man as such, stands first in a cluster of duties — • even before the love of " the brotherhood" or the fear of God. The reason, probably, that it stands forth so prominently is, that it w^as a duty more overlooked than any other, and there- fore* the apostle wished to redeem a lost principle — to restore to man lost and neglected honom'S. The object of the present discourse is to point out some of the grounds of this universal honour. First, All men are worthy of honour on account of their origin. Our space excludes the illustrations. Secondly, Honour is due to man on account of his nature. 146 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. Thirdly, All men are to be honoured because all men are immortal. In the most deo-raded on earth there is a deathless principle — each wears the aA\^\il and majestic robe of immor- tality. The revolving cycles of eternity M'ill never quench one spark of the immortal fire. Fourthly, The magnitude of the means adopted for the recovery of the human soul shows that man is to be honoured. We have thus shown, continued he, that all men are to be honoru'ed. Honoiu' the child — faculties begin to expand that wall expand for ever. Plonour the inquiring youth. Honour the youth who puts no questions — his mind is encased in clay, but the incrustation may be removed. Honom' the poor man as he struggles with difficulties — blame him for his dissipation. Honour the rich man — he may be poor in spirit and an heir of the kingdom. Honom" the man of genius and of attainment — honour him not as an exception, bvit as what all men may become. Honour all men — not with the world's compliments, which may be good enough in their Avay, but honom' them by doing them good as opportunity offers. Our space cannot admit the illustrations ; but the attentive reader will perceiA^e that the above outline indicates poAvers of a high order. In listening to the preacher, one is forcibly struck with the originality of his view^s. His discoui'ses are replete with ideas, and these ideas bear unmistakeable marks of being the preacher's own. There are but few preachers who do not occasionally introduce a novel or bold idea into their discourses, but the subject of oiu' sketch produces a consecutive and elaborated train of thought, eveiy part of which has been subjected to the severest scrutiny. The illustrations of the preacher, as well as the mapping of his discourses, prove that he converses Avith himself and with the world before he pro- ceeds to address an audience. In speaking, for instance, of the common topic of the fallen state of man, instead of treeing his audience to a few commonplace affirmations, he goes in quest of illustrations, and finds the dimmed gold and ruined temple significant symbols of the present state of the human soul. In connexion with the freshness and identity, or individuality, of his views, their boldness deserves special notice. In the REV. ALEXANDER RALEIGH. 147 discourse just quoted, subjects are broached regarding which those who would be deemed orthodox are pecuharly jea- lous. In order to give prominence to salvation by grace, they deem it necessary to insist on what is called the total depravity of human nature. Mr Raleigh, on the other hand, while his orthodoxy is imquestionable, preaches the dignity of human nature, in order to enhance the doctrines of grace. The former insist on man's inability, till, in hopeless despondency, their hearers sit down to wait, for ever, a day of power. He, on the other hand, reminds mail of his origin and tu'ges him to enlist his powers at once in the matter of his salvation — not over- looking the fact that " it is God who works in him to will and to do of his good pleasui'e." Another peculiarity of his thinking, and one which at first sight may seem incompatible with those previously mentioned, is its guardedness. In the case of some who get credit for being bold thinkers, their mental progeny prove monsters, each devouring the other. A thought carefully nursed to-day is demolished with the afterthought of to-morrow. They see a subject distinctly and prominently, but disjointedly, and hence when they attempt to put it in its place it is found not to fit. Ikir R., however, while he seizes his ideas boldly, always views them in their connexions and bearings. Li discussing, for instance, his first particular — the honour due to man on account of his origin — he guarded himself against the common error that origin in the abstract entitles to honour. Every creature, animate and inanimate, has its origin fi'om God, and yet no one thinks of honom'ing every creature. The preacher, there- fore, at once saw that man's place in the scale of creation must be taken in connexion with his Maker before proof was fur- nished that man's origin entitled him to honour. In enume- rating the natural powers of man, which entitle him to honour, he carefully discriminated between man's natiu-al and his moral powers — showing that while the former are comparatively unimpaired, the latter have severely sufiered by the fall. It follows from what we have said that the subject of our sketch is a philosophical preacher. We need scarcely explain that by a philosophical preacher is meant not one that mixes philoso- phical systems or the dogmas of the schools with the gospel — 148 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. siich are the most unphilosophical of all preachers — ^but one who shows the harmony of revelation with natm'e, and the consistency of the doctrines and duties of the gospel, with right reason and common sense as well as with the benignity of God. In other words, the ideas of the philosophical preacher are based on a stratvmi of thought which stretches between both worlds, and which partakes of the character of each. Wliile there is nothing unbecoming in the manner of the subject of our sketch, it is capable of considerable improvement. His voice, though somewhat harsh, would not be disagreeable if perfectly modulated ; and his action, though not unbecoming, would be greatly improved by a little more animation. His enunciation is distinct and slow, but his emphasis is not suffi- ciently marked, and his language, though generally coiTect and graphic, might be a little more chaste. ^Ir R. ought to obtain a name among those popularly called great preachers, as he, unquestionably, has secured a place among the best of preachers. He may not alhu'e a wondering crowd ; he will always delight an intelligent audience. He has little to offer of the "flow of soul," but abundance of the " feast of reason." He cannot melt an audience with his tears, but he can silence and subdue it with liis arguments. He was settled in Greenock about two years ago, and minis- ters there, in a magnificent chapel, to an attached people. Beyond an occasional magazine article, we are not aware that he has aspired to the honours of authorship, though in that walk, if we mistake not, honours await him. Greenock com- mits a grievous error if it sends not weekly a crowded audience to listen to his racy and eloquent instructions. May 29, 1847. [We have just learned that ill health has caused a temporary suspension of his labours. — Ed.] PRESETTrED TO THE SUBSCRIBERS OF THE GLASGOW EX.AMNER mm mimii^ (moMmim.mMiLJLM), EDIJfBrKtJJl. 149 THE LATE EEV. THOMAS CHALMEES, D.D., LL.D. & F.E.S., EDINBURGH. Last week it was our melancholy duty to chronicle the de- cease of Ireland's uncrowned king. This week it falls to us to annomice the departm'e of Scotland's laurelled preacher. Throughout the length and breadth of the land it is announced with many a sigh and many a tear, Chalmers is gone! and the tidings hasten to fill Christendom with lamentations. At a comparatively early age, sixty-seven, the only Scottish preacher who, by the force of his genius, and the power and pathos of his oratory, has made his name European, has left liis country to weep, and Christendom to mourn. His mighty spirit com- panionless here, has gone in quest of nobler society among the spirits of the perfected just. Wliat pen can tell the magnitude of that bereavement which has robbed us of one whose name philosophy has enrolled among her noblest sons, and theology cliief among her princes! The doleful tidings announced on the Monday morning in the Assembhes of the Free and Established Churches, make their way to every city, and town, and vUlage, and hamlet, and home of Scotland, turning the songs of many into grief, and their laughter into heaviness. To say that the Church, of which he was incomparably the brightest ornament, weeps for him would be to say nothing — the Established Church — every Dissenting Church — every Christian feel in their veiy inmost soul that a prince in Israel has fallen. Even the frowning infidel, who,.while he attempted 150 OUK SCOTTISH CLERGY. to disbelieve the hearty and commanding testimony of the theo- logian, quailed before the genius and eloquence of the preacher, feels as if something strange had happened. That mighty orb wont to irradiate the profundities of philosophy, and to shed on Christianity an imperishable grandeur, has suddenly disap- peared. That master-spirit, after making its mightiest efforts to thoroughly Christianise a National Church, or rather to nationalise Christianity, after abandoning the attempt as hope- less, and modelling and perfecting a clnuxh according to what he thought the standard of the sanctuary^, seeing nothing more to do for Scotland, took its flight to its native heaven. Let none attribute extravagance to these sentences — they are sober — tameness itself compared with the loftiness of the theme. We recollect the consternation that spread on the death of his great Southern rival (Hall). Among the fifteen thousand clergy- men of the English Church, and the more numerous host of DissenterSj there was no man who supposed that Hall had left an equal behind, and it is saying little when we assert, that among all the gifted sons of Scotland, we look in vain for one to be compared, as a preacher, to the now immortal Chalmers. Since he left the National Church, we have had to notice some pmiy attempts to prove that, after all, he was not so very great a man. The onl}^ thing these efforts proved was what they meant to deny. If not the great man alleged, what need of a negation ? Now that he is gone, we cannot suppose that there is one in Scotland so contemptibly ignorant or unjust, as to deny him the laurels he so nobly won and wore. Dm'ing his career we embraced ever)' opportunity of record- ing his memorable sayings and doings, and while we uniformly conceded to him the praise due to the highest intellectual and moral worth, we dared to differ from him in matters of minor import. It is now pretty generally admitted that the greatest minds have then' peculiar crotchets, and assuming that there is always some ground for popular belief, we never considered ourselves bound to believe all that even a Chalmers taught, or to do all that he commanded. On the great doctrines of Christianity his views carried with them the force of demon- stration ; but in matters of detail his own history was the best proof that he was, like others, liable to eiT. The thousands EEV. THOMAS CHALMEES, D.D. 151 that have kept talking and -^mting of liim, have, in not a few instances, shown the grossest partiahty and the bhndest bigo- try. Some that were wont to string together great swelhng words in his praise when he was a minister and professor of the Estabhshed Church, had not one syllable to say of him after he left the pale of that Church; and others that saw nothing remarkable or praiseworthy about him when in his former connexion, were all in raptures with him after he assumed his new position. To say that in both positions he appeared the same praiseworthy man, to us, might seem to overstate the truth; but we may say, that to one such as Chahners, relative position however important in itself, is, after all, a very secondary consideration. Latterly he no doubt assumed, what eveiy Disssenter must consider a more scriptural position, but who will say that Chalmers, the Churchman, was either dis- honest or unenlightened '? He adhered to that Church because he believed it to be the Church most signally owned by his Mas- ter — he left that Church because he believed that in it he covild not enjoy the liberty wherewith Christ makes his people free. But though it is impossible to forget the eclat with which the Established Church spoke and wrote of their Chalmers, and still more impossible to forget the honour universally given him by the Free Church, of which he was the founder, we do not choose, in thinking of Chalmers in om* best moods, to associate him with any one section of the Church. When in his former connexion, wliile his immediate associates boasted of him, all sections of the Church claimed him; and even in his latter days, when he threw his vast energies into the service of the Free Chm'ch, he did not then become less the leacUng spirit in Christendom. It were a small compliment to him to say that he was but slightly attached to the Free Church — he loved it with all his might — and how great was that might? — • but he loved Christians — he loved Christianity with super- human might. In the Free Church he found play for his social sympathies ; but in the Church universal his s])irit lived and moved. Soon as he took up the great doctrines of the gospel he thought, only, of man as such — of Christianity as such — of time — of salvation — and of eternity in theu' OAvn vast, essential importance. Among all his numerous treatises — 152 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. unless those professedly ecclesiastical — we ask for one dis- course, one essay, one sentence, where ought can be learned of the section of the Church to which he belonged. While, therefore, we sympathise with the special loss suffered by the Free Church, we feel, if possible, still more for the loss sus- tained by Hteratm^e — by Christianity generally. To whom do we owe it that our philosophy is now becoming leavened with a healthftil Christianity 1 To whom do we owe it that infi- delity in its multifarious forms, skulks in secret places and shmis the light of day ? To whom do we owe it that Scottish Christianity, while it retains all its primitive simplicity, its pristine purity, keeps pace with the sciences and in advance of philosophy? To whom, in a word, do we owe it that Scottish sectarianism, and bitterness, and bigotiy, are giving place to catholicity, to love, and charity ? The reply is on the tongue of eveiy reader — we owe these inestimable blessings, pre-emi- nently, to Dr Chalmers. It needs no proof that to him we are indebted, in a gTeat measure, that the interests of astronomy and geology and other sciences are not still claiehing with the teachings of Christianity. To liim it remained to popularise the doctrines and the views obscm'ely hinted by that profound- est of English divines, Howe, and more fully elucidated by that most transparent of theologians. Fuller. These men saw that science and theology were in miison, but it remained for Chalmers to enable others to see — the millions to see — their harmony and their beauty. His mind was able to gi'asp the subject and his genius was able to throw around it the splen- dours of a tangible as well as of a fascinating diction. It is impossible for one of ordinary powers — however conceited such may be as to the eloquence of style and other small matters which occupy little minds — to read the lectures on astronomy, and not feel that he is in company with a master-spirit and under the spell of ethereal genius. We feel, however, that what we have Avritten, though it may convey some vague idea of greatness, does not give a sufficiently distinctive idea of his peculiar excellencies. It induces the feeling that he was among the gi'eatest of the sons of men, but the gi'eatness is but ill defined, and, of consequence, to a great extent, incomprehensible. The intelligent reader presses the REV. THOMAS CHALMERS, D.D. 153 question, — Wlierein did the greatness of Dr Chalmers chiefly consist? To this question there may be some apparent diversity in the form of the answer; but so distinct and marked were the peculiar excellencies of the subject of our sketch, that all who knew him, and could appreciate his char- acter, will be unanimous in the substance of their reply. To illustrative genius Dr Chalmers owes no small portion of his fame. Creative genius may be conceived of as that power which strikes out for itself untrodden paths and pushes its way into regions of unexplored thought and feeling. Illustrative genius is that power which enables its possessor to shed a new light on paths which ordinary mortals had trodden without seeing aught around them of the lovely and sublime. The daisy had been seen by all generations, but lacked its chamis till our national bard threw around it the fascination of a chastened illus- trative genius, and since that time every person of taste looks on that formerly unenchanted object with trembling tenderness. The cottar's fireside had in aU ages been an interesting sight, but it lacked more than half its charms till sung by Bums. Our Scottish scenery and antiquity were common till Ferguson and Scott and kindi'ed minds illumined them with the flash of genius. WTiat these men did for Scottish scenery and Scot- tish life, Chalmers has done to theology. The diy doctrines of the dull theologist became his theme. He threw around them the enchantments of his genius, and that which before was common, if not forbidding, attracted alike the illiterate and the learned. Wlio that reads the dull discussions written before the times of Chalmers, on the decrees, on free will, on election, and kindred topics, and then reads these doctrines after the light of his genius has gleamed on them, wall not require to ask what has Chalmers done ! They, who are perplexed and confounded to reconcile the macniitude of creation with the marvels of redemption, have only to read the lectures above alluded to, and the difficulty vanishes. The author of creation appears in his highest character as the author of eternal redemption. Thus, in ftilfilling his mission, he has not only clothed the osteology of a bald theology with flesh, but at the touch of his genius the system has become instinct with life, and appeared u 154 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. not only perfect in comeliness but in proportions so majestic as to appear unabashed in the presence of the magnitude of crea- tion. In thus clothing and viAafying theolog}^, he seems occasionally prolix and stationary. One at times concludes, as he holds up to "vdew some particular doctrine that he has already exhibited it on every side. The gem appears so much exhausted that even the kaleidescope can show no new phase. When Robert Hall heard liim preach, rumour has it that he could not help whispeiing almost aloud — " Well, go on — go on to something else — you have told us that already." But he would not go on, and he was right in not going on. He was immortalising some idea, and immortality caimot be confeiTed even by genius without care. It is to the fact that Chalmers' discourses contain only one or two ideas that they owe their chief value. The rustic might rudely have asked Bums — What about a cottar's fireside, and what about a daisy ? He Avould have answered only by his glowing descrip- tion. Thousands were inclined to ask Dr Chalmers — what of that idea, after all, of which you make so much ? But the only reply was another and still more eloquent illustration. Though at times he was caiTied away on the mngs of brilliant fancy, so as to pei'petrate a palpable non sequituvj he could both think and reason closely when in his more sober moods. As a mathematician, he acknowledged no superior; and on some occasions he carried the severity of size and figure demonstration into the region of morals. It must, however, be admitted, that on other occasions his imagination conquered his more sober judgment, and a baseless fiction assumed the importance of a sober reality. As a writer and as a preacher, this exuberance of illustra- tion was alike conspicuous. Indeed, he was alwaj^s prepared for the press when he was prepared for the pulpit, as he read liis discourses from a carefidly prepared, though to others almost unintelligible manuscript. The twenty-five volumes of the uniform edition of his works, one and all, are proof of our statement. We need scarcely mention the almost only criticism, that incompetent reviewers harp on perpetually, the looseness and incorrectness of his style. We never supposed that the Chal- J REV. THOMAS CHALMERS, D.D. 155 merian style was a style to be imitated. The man who makes the attempt will find himself much more awkward than David would have been in Goliath's armour. Let no one attempt his style that lacks his powers of fancy and thought. But the truth is, a great deal too much has been made of his faults of style. Some of his sentences are long and involved, and a few, it may be, incorrect ; but in general they are such as the dis- cerning reader could not wish to be otherwise. Genius has its style as well as its thoughts. The man of ordinary stature is but ill qualified to pronounce on, what he may think the sportings of a giant. We ca.nnot omit the mention of his active and hearty benevo- lence. Though latterly courted by the great, he seemed, during his career, from the time he knew the tnith, to assiime that his mission was chiefly to the poor. One gi-eat aim of his life and labours was to make the gospel overtake the out- casts of society, and hence, in his last days, he attended a church built for the poor. When in Glasgow his efforts among the poor of his parish were unremitting, and his per- sonal sacrifices to do them good were of no ordinary char- acter. Benevolence was with him a j)rinciple, and if we mistake not, the great prompter of his efforts. He laboured for and gave much of his own substance to the destitute. Vo- lumes might be filled with acts of his charity. We have room only to add a few historical notes of his career. He was born in the small and unimposing village of Anstruther, in the East of Fife, in 1778, of parents in the humbler ranks of life. At an early age, on account of the indications of genius, he was devoted to the service of the church, and received his training in the University of St Andrew's. Having terminated his classical and theological training, in a manner highly creditable to his talents and per- severance, he was inducted into the Parish Chiu'ch of Kilmany, a parish in the county of Fife. During the first twelve years of his ministrations, in that place, he belonged to a school in the Church of Scotland well known by the name of " Moderate." The following is fi-om his farewell address when he was about to leave Kilmany : — " And here I cannot but record the effect of an actual, though undesigned experiment, which I 156 OUR SCOTTISH CLEKGY. prosecuted for upwards of twelve years among you. For the greatest part of that time I could expatiate on the meanness of dishonesty, and the villany of falsehood, on the despicable arts of calumny ; in a word, upon all those diversities of character which awaken the natural indignation of the human heart against the pests and the distui'bers of society. Even at that time, I certainly did press the reformation of honour, and truth, and integrity, among my people ; but I never once heard of any such reformation having been effected amongst them; if there was anything at all brought about in this way, it was more than I ever got any account of. I am now sen- sible that all the vehemence with which I urged the \-irtues and proprieties of social life, had not tlie weight of a feather in the moral habits of my parishioners; and it was not until I got impressed with the thorough alienation of the heart in all its desires and affections from God — it was not until reconcilia- tion with him became the distinct and prominent object of my ministerial exertions — it was not until I took the scriptural mode of laying the method of reconciliation before them — it was not till the fi*ee offer of forgiveness through the blood of Jesus, urged upon their acceptance, and the Holy Spirit, given through the channel of Christ's mediatorship withal, set before them as the unceasing object of their hope — it was not, in one word, until the contemplation of my people was turned to those great and essential elements in the business of the soul, providing for its interests with God, and the concerns of eternity, that I ever heard of those subordinate reformations, which I aforetime made my earnest and my zealous, but at the same time, I am afraid, the ultimate object of my early minis- trations." On lea^^ng this place, where his ministr}^, after the change, he so powerfully and feelingly relates, took place, was singu- larly successful, he Avas inducted into the Tron parish, Glas- gow, in the year 1815; and in 1810 he was translated to St John's; and at that time, though the population of Glasgow ■was not above one-half of what it is at present, the parish of St John's contained nearly 12,000 souls. Little had been done at that time to reclaim the large mass of heathenism, to church-going, by clergymen of the Established Church. They REV. THOMxVS CHALMERS, D.D. 157 had satisfied themselves with preacliing to those who chose to come to hear ; but the Doctor commenced in good earnest the aggressive system, and carried the good tidings to those who neglected the sanctuary. Being in the full vigoiu' of all his bodily and mental energies, lie^ endured an amount of labour almost incredible. Instead of conforming to the plans of the other city clergymen, he commenced to divide his parish on the territorial system, and established Sabbath schools in dif- ferent localities. Being convinced that the unfortunate and profligate could be reclaimed only by ministers and elders, and other influential persons visiting them, and entering freely into conversation with them, he devoted a gi'eat part of his time to pastoral visitation. His aptitude for entering into familiar conversation, and overcoming the prejudices of the careless and the hostile was very remarkable. Many instances occurred in \A'hich, by his fertile genius, he devised means by which he quickly disarmed the most hostile, and induced the careless to attend the church, and not a few thus induced to attend became members. The church, which was but thinly attended previous to his induction, soon became too small to accommodate the crowds of earnest w^orsliippers that weekly congregated. He not only preached twice on the Sabbath, but he preached on week days when opportunity oftered. Among the fruits of his week-day efforts is his splendid volume of Astronomical Discourses, which have been justly reckoned, in many respects, the most fascinating of his productions. Though week-day discourses were a novelty in his time, crowxls of all classes attended. Even proud and titled aristocracy, as well as sticklers for clerical hours, might have been seen hastening, on a Wednesday evening, to gain admis- sion to the Doctor's eloquent and stirring prelections. While he was careful to point out the only ground of a sinner's acceptance, no one ever urged so earnestly and eloquently the " duties, and decencies, and respectabilities, and charities of life." Inactive Christianity he considered a spurious Chris- tianity — a sickly sentimentahsm. The following is probably as just a tribute as w^as ever paid to the Doctor's powers : — " In hearing or reading a discourse of Chalmers's, we seldom get farther, in point of hiformation, than the introductory 158 OUK SCOTTISH CLERGY. paragraph, all tlie body of the production being occupied in illustration or enforcement. But while the object — or the substratum, as he Avould call it — continues thus one and the same, the restless light of the preachei-'s genius is reflecting on it numerous and ever-vaiying tints of prismatic colour — the gorgeous crimson, the flashing red, the soothing green, and the tender azure, combining an endless exuberance of illustra- tion Avith an unvaried uniformity of principle. The peculiarity of the illustrations themselves consists in a certain broad, and vague, and indefinite character of elevation and expansion. There is something about it that is all ethereal and sublime. Its power does not consist in the A-ividness of individual images, nor the clear and definite impress of particular emotion. It is not like the sculptures of a Grecian temple, where, on the chaste purity of the monumental marble, every limb is clear and defined, every attitude is graceful and noble ; it is the magnificence of a great historical painting, where the masses of colom- are heaped together with a splendour that is grand when they are viewed in their combination, but which is merely glaring when they are contemplated apart. It is a cloud of glory, clothing with its ample folds one great conception, the unity of which alone prevents the view from being swallowed up amid the heaped magnificence of the enveloping shroud, the broad lights iipon its surface, and the shadowy outline of its form. To these two prominent qualities of intellectvial imity and imaginative exuberance, Dr Chalmers adds a third, which highly enhances their impression in his delivery. He conceives his images Antli an intensity similar to that wdiich is strikingly prominent in Gordon's conception of his ideas. He commences coolly and deliberatel}" ; but, as he advances, the springs of feeling begin to play — the waters gradually swell upward — at every moment their flow is quickened, their fervour boils more fiercely, their tide sweeps on with more resistless force — till the soul is borne away in breathless impotence upon the torrent of flowing and sparkling imageiy." In 1823, he accepted the chair of Moral Philosophy in the New College of St Ancbew's, where he remained until 1828, when he received the appointment of Theological Professor in the University of Edinburgh. He declined a proposal to EEV. THOMAS CHALMERS, D.D. 159 remove him to London University, for reasons which will he most obvious to those who knew him best, but may be suffi- ciently apparent to all who have read his works. From the period of his settlement at St Andrew's until his removal to Edinburgh, he published his work on Endowments, on Poli- tical Economy, the Bridgewater Treatise, and his Lectures on the Romans. Altogether, his published works form 25 volumes ; and they have been very largely circulated. In addition to them, he has made many and important contribu- tions to periodical literature. At the Disruption, in 1843, he resigned his professorship in the University, and became Prin- cipal of the New College. Dr Chalmers died at his residence at Morningside, on the morning of Monday the 31st. The Doctor retired to rest at an early hour on Sabbath evening, in perfect health, as it appeared to his family, and to a brother clergyman who was hving under his roof. Next morning, Professor Macdougal, who expected to have received a packet of papers from the Doctor, sent, at about twenty minutes before eight, to inquire whether the papers had been left out. The house -keeper knocked at the door of the Doctor's bed-room, but receiving no answer, and concluding that the Doctor was asleep, sent to the Professor a reply, intimating that the papers would be sent as soon as the Doctor should awake. Half an hour later, another party called, when the house-keeper knocked as before, but still received no answer. This, taken in connection with the fact that the Doctor had not rung his bell at 6 o'clock, for his cup of coffee, as Avas his wont, awakened the fears of the domestics, who agreed to enter the chamber, and ascertain if all were well with their rev. master. On entering, they were horror-struck on discovering that the Doctor, partly erect, partly reclining on his pillow, had fallen into the sleep of death. Not venturing to comnuinicate the mournful intellio;ence to the family, they went instantly to the residence of Professor Macdougal, immediately adjoining, and communicated to him the melancholy tidings. Stunned by the intelligence, the Professor hastened to the Doctor's residence, and entering his sleeping apartment, and drawing aside the bed-curtains, saw, alas ! the lifeless form of one whom he had so deeply revered. 100 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. and with whom he had conversed but the day before. The Doctor, it appeared, had been sitting erect when overtaken by the stroke of death, and he still retained in part that position. The massy head gently reclined on the pillow. The ainns were folded peacefully on the breast. There was a slight air of oppression and heaviness on the brow, but not a wrinkle, not a trace of sorrow or pain disturbed its smoothness. The coimtenance wore an attitude of deep repose. Professor ^lac- dougal grasped the hand. It was cold as marble. Life had been absent for several hours ; and the air of majesty on the countenance, greater than he had ever perceived on the living face, seemed to say, " I am gone up." No conflict had preceded dissolution — the bedclothes were gathered about his person, and had plainly not been disturbed by anv struggle at the moment of departm'e. On the forenoon of Monday, the Doctor was to give in the Report of the Col- lege Committee to the General Assembly of the Free Chm-ch; and, in anticipation of that event, his papers and ^-riting mate- rials lay beside him in bed, so arranged that he might begin his work so soon as he should awake. " Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing." June 5, 1847. [His posthumous works, edited by his son-in-law, give much insight into his personal piety and persevering diligence. — Ed.] ^\\i.u-. PKISENTED TO THE SUBSCRIBEES Of IHE GLASGOW EXAMINE? IGl KEY. A. O. BEATTIE, M.D. & D.D., GORDON STREET. About ten years ago we went, in company with several students, to hear a minister from Glasgow preaching in, the First Secession Church, Aberdeen. The evening was bleak and sombre, calculated to produce melancholy musings even in youthful minds. As none of us had seen the stranger, whose fame had reached us as a preacher during the day, we were on the tiptoe of expectation. On arriving, the crowded place of worship brightened our hopes, and led us to promise ourselves something good. A few minutes after the announced hour, a portly, grave man entered the pulpit, and, with a slow distinct voice, commenced the service of the eveninff. We were pleased with the simple, sincere, earnest, appearance of the minister, and before the preliminaries were over, we considered omrselves all right. The preacher selected for his text 1 Cor. xv. 53, 54. " For this corruptible shall put on incorruption," &c. He then proceeded to describe man as mortal here and as immortal hereafter, in graphic, solemn, and significant phrase. To give any conception of the effect of that discoui'se, on om'selves and others, is impossible. The subject was in unison with the gloominess of the evening. The structure of the human frame was so described, that every individual of the crowded audience seemed afraid to move lest vitality should cease, or the body fall to pieces. The solemni- ties of the resurrection morning, when this corruption shall put on incorruption, and this mortal immortality, were brought so near, that the trumpet seemed to sound, and the heavens to i*end, and the graves to open, and the righteous to appear in X 162 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. robes of splendour, and the wicked to come forth clothed with shame and everlasting contempt. The effects of that Sabbath evening were visible afterwards, and many to this hour, like ourselves, retain vivid recollections of that appropriate and masterly discourse. We need scarcely say that the preacher was none other than the subject of our sketch. Several years elapsed before we had an opportunity of again hearing him preach ; but Avhen we did hear him, which has been oftener than once, the opinions we formed of him, on hearing him first, were only confirmed. At four minutes past eleven on Sabbath week, Dr Beattie entered his pulpit, and after the first four verses of the 56th Paraphi'ase Avere sung, he read and expounded Proverbs 1st chap, fi-om 24th verse to the end. The exposition, which was thoroughly practical, was finished at eight minutes to twelve. Prayer was then briefly offered and other two verses of the 56 th Paraphrase sung. At four minutes past twelve. Psalm 106 and 24th verse to 37th inclusive, were announced as the subject of lecture. " Yea, they despised," &c. On this passage he founded the following observations : — 1st, Those who undervalue God's promises have reason to fear being excluded from their benefits. 2d, Those jealous of God's worship and zealous in performing service for his glory, shall be honourably rewarded. 3d, When God corrects the sins of infirmity in his servants, he may, by the same manifestations of displeasure, punish those who are the occasions of theu' sins, verses 32 and forwards. In the afternoon worship commenced exactly at the an- nounced hour, and the whole introductory services were over in the course of twenty-two minutes. John xvi. 21, " That they all may be one," &c., w^as the text. 1st, This union is seen by believers holding the same faith and making the same profession of it. 2d, This union is seen in the cordial love which the disciples of Christ cherish towards one another. 3d, This imion is seen in the public observance of the ordi- nances appointed in the clmrch. 4th, This union is seen in the s} inpathy believers manifest for each other. REV. A. O. BEATTIE, M.D. & D,D. IGo 5th, And lastly, this union is seen in their common eflbrts to extend the kingdom of Christ in the world in the conver- sion of men. The preacher then referred to the junction that had just taken place between the Secession and Relief Churches. In 1733 the elder branch (the Secession) originated by four ministers leaving the Established Church, and in 1752 the younger branch (the Relief) originated by Thomas Gillespie being expelled from the Established Church for refusing to attend at a forced settlement. Tlie four ministers have in- creased to above four hundred, and tlie one to above one hun- dred — the increase in both bodies having been in proportion to their original numbers. The ao-oTco-ate of both forms the United Presbyterian Church. In 1717 the unhappy cUvision between Burghers and Antiburghers took place, and in 1847, and about the same time of the year, the Secession and Relief happily united. After long and prayerful consideration it was found that the Secession and Relief Churches were one in doctrine, discipline, and government, and no reason could be found why they were so long asunder, unless passion, and prejudice, and the absence of Christian love. The preacher expressed his hopes that, by and by, farther unions would take place, and that, eventually, the whole church would be visibly one. He cautioned his auditors not to be proud of their pre- sent ecclesiastical position. The term Christian was originally adopted as a term of reproach, and he (the preacher) was old enough to remember the time when the terms Seceders and Relievers were used as opprobrious epithets, but now the United Presbyterian Church was an object of admiration and praise. It is not, however, the extent, but the usefulness, of a Church that constitutes its glory. The discourse was finished at five minutes past three, having occupied three quarters of an hour. The preacher then, after observing the ordinance of bap- tism, proceeded to ordain six elders according to the lately adopted formula of the United Presbyterian Church. The ordination questions of that formula being read over, and the new elders having given their consent to each, they were solemnly set apart to their office by prayer ; after which, the 164 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. minister and other elders, in the name and presence of the congregration, gave the new elders the right hand of felloAv- ship. The elders and congregation were then severally addressed on their respective duties. In addressing the elders, he said that he would not send them to learn their duties from books on the eldership, but he would send them to a much more honourable source — the Bible — read there that you may leam your duties. He then enumerated some of their duties, and also the corresponding duties of the people. In speaking of sick persons, he said that it is as much the duty of the afflicted to send for the elders as it is the duty of elders to visit the sick. The service was concluded at a quarter past four. It will be observed that, in giving an ou.tline of the day's proceedings, we have been very particular as regards chrono- logy. In regard to several preachers, we have stated that, to us, their introductory services seemed greatly too long — neces- sitating either the cmlailment of the discourse or a very long service. In the present case, hoAvever, the opposite extreme seems to be adopted. The didactic appeared to us to encroach on the devotional. The whole time allotted to prayer, in the forenoon, did not exceed ten minutes, before and after the lec- ture ; and, in the afternoon, the whole of the introductory ser- vices lasted just twenty minutes. It is but fair to mention, however, that the ordination of the elders may have curtailed the other services of the afternoon ; but even at the ordination the address to the elders seemed greatly out of proportion to the ordination prayer. The former occupied about half an hour, the latter about eight minutes. We are no advocate for long prayers, and, probably, in the present instance, they were, after all, long enough, though custom made them look short. There is, however, another objection to the order of the fore- noon's service that we must state — the deferring of prayer till more than half of the service is over. It appears, by the dates given above, that the prayer commenced at eight minutes to twelve ; and our objection to such delay, whether right or wrong, is tangible enough, and may be thus stated. When a preacher is in the way of giving expository lectiu'es, on his regular course of reading, the attention of the preacher, and of the people, becomes absorbed in the leading ideas presented REV. A. O. BEATTIE, M.D. & D.D. 165 in the passage read and expounded. As a matter of course, the thoughts of both preacher and hearer turn on these ideas in prayer, and hence the introductory prayer looses that fine generahty — that spontaneous flow of thought and feehng which the quiet, and the associations, of the Sabbath morning, naturally produce. We have cherished the idea that the nearer the opening prayer is to the beginning of the service so much the better. The appearance of the congregation, after a week's separation, engenders thought and feeling which may not be distiu'bed, till expressed in united prayer, even A^ith the exposition of sacred truth. We are far from objecting to run- ning exposition, and still farther from approving of those who read not the Scriptures at all — it is not the thing itself but the time of it we demur about. A conareixation that goes to the house of God, in anything like a becoming spirit, will be anxious at once to unitedly call on the name of God before their thoughts are fixed on any particular topic, and hence it might be considered whether prayer should not be before exposition. We do think that, notwithstanding the prolixity of the Episcopal formtda, the order of worship deserves special consideration. The didactic ought, on no account, to interfere with the devotional. We have purposely commenced with this jyoint of order, which many may consider but trivial and even unnecessary. We entertain strong views on the subject of order. That mere mechanical arrangement, which does everything like clockwork, we can despise, but that laxity of arrangement which takes an audience by surprise, is not, there- fore, justifiable. From om' introdactory remarks, our readers will be prepared to hear no ordinary excellencies, as a preacher, ascribed to the subject of our sketch. He is emphatically a clear thinker. One mai/ chsapprove of, but cannot mistake, his ideas. They are not indistinct images, but tangible realities — expressed not in elaborate diction, but in the simplest phraseology. That he has a mind equal to grapple with the abstract, any one who reads the masterly outline of the forenoon lecture will readily perceive ; but though the outline was the result of a very com- prehensive generalization, the illustrations he employs are all in the concrete. He deals in facts, not in theories. His mind 166 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. is evidently of a matter-of-fect cast. He sees a subject in all its bearings. The geographical and the historical he makes to illume the theological. A text, or fact, has no charms for him till he has examined its connexions and bearings. As a con- sequence, one of the leading characteristics of his preaching is its Tangibility. He draws out no fine-spmi theories from insulated texts — he never surprises an auditory with the trap- pings of oratory. As he speaks, fact after fact appears in one unbroken chain, each bearing a proper relation to the other, and all elucidating the subject of discourse. The most illite- rate, as well as the most learned, get a hold of his discourses. Unlike a preacher of which Robert Hall complained, that his sermon had no hooks — nothing on which the mind might fasten — Dr Beattie's discourses seem all hooks together ; and those unable to follow the train of his reasoning, can at least pick up important facts as he proceeds. The order, or arrangement, of his discourses desen'es special notice. ^^Hiether he sermonises, or expounds, he proceeds according to a regular method. A plan, whether or not for- mally announced, has been adopted by the preacher, and the entire discourse is moulded according to that plan. In gene- ral, the divisions of his discourses are withovit fault. They are not only logical, but they embrace the leading ideas of the passage discussed. We have seldom heard a preacher who gave every part of divine truth its proper prominence so well. The leadhig ideas he happily seizes, and the svibordinate he summarily dismisses. His introductory remarks are generally short, bvit often include more than is found in some sermons. Instead of keeping as far away as possible from his text, lest he should anticipate his general division, he plunges into the text at the very first sentence, and one begins to fear that, brief as are his introductions, they will so exhaust his text as to leave him no division at all. Such, however, is the fertility of his views, that he strikes out a bold, well defined, and mitouched outline. The mapping of the discourse is generally natural and happy, and the illustrations are short but pointed — bear- ing directly on the elucidation of the leading idea. In adchtion to the merely intellectual part of his preaching, which is unex- ceptionable, the earnestness of his manner adds greatly to the EEV. A. O. BEATTIE, M.D. & D.D. 167 effectiveness of his preaching. He feels as well as thinks. He preaches according to a plan, and that plan guides, bnt impedes not, the intensity of his feeling. Every one is satisfied that he is in earnest, and his earnestness seems to be contagious, and is transferred to his hearers, who listen with a seriousness worthy of the message. His views, it is well known, are those of moderate Calvin- ism. While he was firm in condemnino; the new views enter- ed tained by some now severed from the body to which he belongs, he was not less opposed to those who would have imposed their hyper-calvinistic interpretation of the standards on the entire church. The discussion of these topics, both in presbyteries and synods, gave him an opportunity not only of showing what he believed, but also of displa3'ing that tact, prudence, and common sense for which he has been lono- distinguished. Though he is the farthest removed possible from those who are chiefly delighted with what is new, he deals leniently though firmly with those of more volatile minds. Though he properly belongs to the orthodox school, he listens with attention to the discoveries and theories of juvenile minds, and then with a can- doiu* but too rare, attempts to point out the true and the false, and to guide the unsettled int' > stable paths. In the manao-ement of the affairs of a conm-eo-ation, this tact or common sense is of incalculable value, and saves both preacher and people from much disquietude. He has studied human nature closely, and consequently deals with it not according to what it should be, but according to what it is. The young he treats as young — the ignorant as ignorant — the err- ing as transgressors — the intelligent as well instructed. As a consequence, the session and congregation have long enjoyed peace and prosperity. His large church, which seats nearly one thousand six hundred people, is generally fully let, and well attended. Young and old are ardently attached to him, and probably no minister in Glasgow labours more ceaselessly in public and private, in the church and from house to house, in furthering the best interests of a people. Is he then with- out fault as a preacher "? Faults he unquestionably has, but they are such as few would choose to censure, and his own people, througli I'amiliarity, ma}- lie supposed to wholl-\' o\'er- 108 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. look tliom. His enunciation is not very pleasant to a stranger — his pronunciation is somewhat faulty, and his style is occa- sionally not in strict accordance with the dicta of lexicograph- ers. Fortunately, however, for the Doctor's fame, he makes no pretensions as a literary man. We do not mean to say that he is less learned or accomplished than his neighbours, but we do mean to say that he is more modest. There is no affectation, no pedantry about him. He may happen to give a vowel a false sound, or a syllable a false measure, but he never pretends to be fliultless in these minor matters. In- deed, it would appear that we have a class of speakers that treat these details with neglect, if not contempt. They deal in ideas, and leave others to settle about words. They reason strongly, and leave others to reason learnedly. They call in the aid of common sense, Avliich they express in their natural dialect, and allow others to consult Johnson and Whately, and to learn a languao-e for Avhicli their tonmies and sometimes their heads are but ill adapted. In this, as in other matters, the middle course is the safest. We see no propriety in mispro- nouncing, in order to avoid all appearance of pedantry, and as little in using a singular verb for a plural, in order not to affect learning. It is true that the man who affects learning Avliich he possesses not, is generally despised ; but it does not follow that the man who despises the ordinary rules of speech will be respected because he thus acts. The manner of Dr Beattie, as already hinted, is devout and commanding. He frequently leans forward with his hands clasped on the Bible, and slowly and emphatically proceeds with his discourse. At other times he becomes animated, and his gestures are natm'al. He uses almost no notes, but keeps his eye on his audience, and seems to look at every individual in the congregation. In stature he is of the middle size, and of very full habit of body. His appearance is that of the old English gentle- man. His countenance is mild and benignant ; biat as he warms "with, his subject, it becomes expressive of his thoughts. Dr Beattie was born in the tillage of Ecclefechan, parish of Hoddam, county of Dumfries, 16th August, 1784. He studied the lanoiiajics and Philosoi:)hv in Edinburn-h for three EEV. A. O. BEATTIE, M,D. & D.D. 169 years, and was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Edin- burgh, in March, 1807. He was ordained first in LesKe, Jannaiy, 1808, translated to Kincardine, in May, 1812, and to Glasgow, in October, 1825. He studied medicine in the College of Glasgow, and took his degree of M.D. in April, 1832, and in August, 1844, the University of Oxford, Ohio, conferred on him the degi'ee of D.D. He has enjoyed good health ever since he became a minister. Since the year 1808, now nearly forty years ago, he never was absent from a Sacra- ment, and only on one Sabbath diuing the whole of that long period was he unable to preach. Since he came to Glasgow, he has always preached to a large congregation. The number of members is large, and since October, 1825, he has admitted 3688 persons. His powers of recognition are remarkable, so much so, that he can name almost every indi\ddual connected with Gordon Street congi'egation. He is among the first to discover a vacated sitting in a pew. When he enters the pulpit, his keen, sharp eye runs through the whole house. He has been known to call on a Monday forenoon to see individuals who left the sit- tings somewhat abruptly, and would say, " I saw the first approach of your indisposition. I saw you becoming pale or flushed," as the case might be, "and was almost tempted to stop my discourse and recommend your retiring." Nothing, in fact, escapes his keen glance. In the church coiu'ts he is very useful, being well versed in the forms, and being a ready and effective speaker, becomes, when necessary, a powerful and somewdiat dangerous opponent. His medical knowledge is a useful auxiliary to him in \'isiting the sick, and his advice in that department is uniforndy trusted. Dr Beattie is a very agreeable person. He is possessed of a great fund of anecdote, and brings it out most felicitously, never forgetting, however, that he is a minister of the gospel. He is a man of strong feeling, and very warm and firm in his attachments. In a word, he is a minister of the gospel, a man of business, and a gentleman. Long may his attached con- gregation enjoy his valuable labours. June 12, 1847. 170 REV. ALEXANDER WALLACE, ALEXANDKIA. On Sabbath, 6th June, at twenty minutes to tAvelve, the Rev. ISir Wallace commenced his usual Sabbath-day services by giving out the first fom' verses of the 145th Psalm. After these were sung earnestly, and, on the whole, not unmelodi- ously by the congregation, jjrayer was oflfered generally, lengthily, but rather too politically for our taste. A chapter was then read, and a few more verses sung. Those accustomed to, only, the artificial singing of broken-winded citizens, can have but a faint idea of the fine clear full notes which proceed fi'om throats attuned with the invigorating breezes from Ben- lomond. The text was Col. i. 28 : " Having made peace through the blood of his cross." In the afternoon worsliip was resumed at two o'clock. After singing a few verses the preacher explained that the s^mod had requested the congi*egations in the United Presbyterian Church to have special reference to the state of the comitry in the de- votional ser\-ices of that afternoon. After reading Jeremiah, 14th chapter, he offered up a lengthy and suitable prayer in connexion chiefly with the character, extent, and causes of the prevailing distress. After singing again he proposed to make a few remarks on part of the chapter read. The part selected was verse 19th to end of chapter. The delivery of the subject of our sketch is superior to his matter, and tlie words that look veiy common-place in print tell very effectively as they are spoken. His delivery is in many respects good. It is earnest, animated, and impressive. i'fJJSENTEJ- TO THI SimS' j-lhtt;.^ uf TEE GLASGOW EX.WINER iMi^i\iLiMi\m)]iffi im&Aa EEV. ALEXANDER WALLACE. 171 His voice, though not musical, is pretty well modulated and under command ; his enunciation is slow, distinct, and agree- able, and his pronunciation, with a few exceptions, correct. In the forenoon, the notes of his discourse were on the Bible, but he used them very little, and in the afternoon he had none. It would be as cruel as unjust to say anything that would in the slightest degree hurt the feelings or damage the public re- putation of a young preacher in any circumstances, and espe- cially when, as in the present case, he is labouring successfidly to strengthen a young and comparatively feeble cause. The fact that, during the few months of his incumbency, the mem- bers of the church and congregation have doubled, shows that IVir Wallace is a workman that needs not be ashamed. It is because we think him already a successful as well as a pro- mising preacher that we shall examine with some minuteness his discoru'ses, and make a few suggestions that may be worthy of his attention. Though our space excludes the discourses, we may state that as regards the forenoon sermon, there could have been but one opinion of the excellence of the truth delivered. All that was said of the Peace-maker and of his work was import- ant and well said, but still we doubt whether the leading ideas of the text were made the leading ideas of the discourse. It is to be regTetted that many preachers err, not by attaching incorrect ideas to their text, but ideas that might be as well at- tached to any text. The remarks made were of much too gene- ral a character, and hence fail to elucidate the distinctive idea 'involved in the text. A whole system of theology presents its massive frame, when we look for the delicate shading of the specific words of sacred writ. The discourse, however, though greatly too general for the text, was, we suspect, still much above an average of sermons, and was calculated to be very useful, as it gave a very coiTect and accurate view of the " gospel of God." The afternoon discourse, though not strictly logical in its arrangement, was much more elaborate than that of the fore- noon. The style, as well as the ideas, bore evident marks of careful preparation. It appeared to us that though the chs- course contained much impressive truth, it was more than 172 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. enough political. We see no reason why politics should be on all occasions excluded fi'om the pulpit, but we see as little reason why politics should be a staple article in such a dis- course as that on which we remark. Impolitic restrictions and unjust legislation are no doubt offensive to heaven, but there are other e\-ils, and evils much nearer home that it were well definitely to call attention to, when national calamities are the subject of discom'se. The Bible does mention the deeds of unjust legislators in connexion with national visitations, but it censm'es priests as well as kings, and the people more than either. It so addresses men as to leave the cause on every individual's own conscience more than on kings or counsellors. Now, though in this discoiu'se individual guilt was alluded to, it was in a very causual manner, and the burden of the dis- course was legislation. We were very much delighted to see so young a preacher so hearty in the advocacy of popular rights and national privileges. These subjects are but too generally banished from the pulpit ; but we are sm-e the caution against making too much of national wrong, and too httle of individual guilt, will be taken in as good part as it is given. But we cannot close this sketch without marking very parti- cularly what we consider some of the chief excellencies of the subject of our sketch. We were particularly pleased with the interest taken in the temporal as well as the eternal welfare of his hearers. It is not a little remarkable that preachers in the comitry seem much more interested in the prosperity of their people than city ministers. Seldom do we hear aught in our city pulpits of the state of the season — of the state of trade, or of the state of the nation. Christ, \Ahen a preacher, kept prominently before men the things that belonged to their eternal peace ; but he also laboured to improve their temporal conchtion, and showed by his innumerable references to their various emj)lo}Tnents, that he took an interest in their present welfare. Now it struck us on hearing INIr Wallace preach, that he was doing much to restore to its proper place, in the l)ulpit, tlie temporal as well as the eternal welfare of man, but, like all cliarged ^nth. a special mission, he is in danger of giving it, all-important as it may be, undue prominence. Still, hoAv- ever, there appeared to us something extremely interesting in REV. ALEXAJS^DER WALLACE. 173 a minister entering into tlie pursuits and feelings of bis people, and thus persuading them that godliness, while it has the pro- mise of the life to come, overlooks not the comforts and decen- cies, and dignities, and respectabilities of this life. The subject of our sketch evidently casts an intelligent eye over the agri- cultural, mercantile, and political, as well as over the theolo- gical v>orld, and sees one God j^residing over them all. Theo- logy has too long been an abstract science. It has been severed from everything earthly, as if its contact with hmnan affairs, and even with providence, would contaminate it ; and we trust it is the mission of JSIr Wallace to unite that which has been too long severed — the religion of the Bible with the manifestations of natm'e and the developments of providence. We laiow all that has been said of the evils and dangers of natural religion; but natm-al and revealed religion, when rightly interpreted, are essentially the same, and that system of religion which includes not the whole feelings and thoughts, and being and destiny of man, is essentially defective. We trust, therefore, the subject of om- sketch ^^'ill continue to show that religion consults for the present as well as for the future happiness of man, and that the fears of ministers becoming worldly, because they know about tliis world, ai'e fears that be- long to a former and darker period than the present. Every one must be pleased with the sober earnestness of !Mr Wallace as a preacher. His mind happily unites the poetic with the solid. His thoughts are not only distinct but vivid. The charm of a chastened fancy plays around them, and hence he esjjouses them with an intensity peculiar to that class of mind. Though he may not always see an idea in all its bearings, he seizes it heartily in one point of view, and hence his preaching is characterised by a firmness and intensity which commend it to the heart and miderstanding. He seems to seize an idea so heartily at once as to forbid him to examine it too minutely. Like those of honest unsuspecting hearts, who readily admit persons to their fi-iendship while but im- perfectly acquainted with them, oiu' preacher is so much pleased with the aspect — the external of his ideas — that he welcomes them at once, and on some occasions, as we have seen, when a se^ ere selection would exclude them. Though 174 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. this peculiarity deprives a discourse of severity of logic, it allows a preacher to discuss his subject with great freedom. But high as is our estimate of Mr Wallace as a preacher, it is still greatly higher as a poet. lu 1839, he wrote a poem for one of the philosophj'- classes of Glasgow University, which commanded the prize despite very formidable opposition. The subject was the famous Egyptian pyramids, which our author treats in a very masterly manner — geographically and histori- cally, as well as religiously. But for one blemish — the lack of unity of design and completeness of an'angement — this one poem would have secured the author a place among our first poets. A reference to the contents will at once show what we mean. The introduction, addi'ess to the pyramids, their reply, and great age, open the poem well ; and, probably, also, the overflowing of the Nile is in its proper place ; but the dis- cussion of the visitors, before aught is said of the builders, or of the design of the pyramids, we think misarranged. We find also the futiu'e glory of Egypt placed before its present condi- tion. Mehemet Ali, Sunset, and Woman, are also cmiously situated. The order does not appear at all better in the poem than in the brief contents. We mention these things not for the sake of fault-finding, but because we are satisfied that were the poem revised and re-arranged, it would soon become widely kno^vn. The poem indisputably establishes its author as a poet of a high order. His present position affords him a fine opportu- nity for studying natm'e in some of her wildest and sublimest moods. The lofty Benlomond, with its glassy mirror, is suffi- cient to awaken poetry in duller minds than his. We shall expect to see, on an early da}', the fine scenery, amid which is the home of our poet, sung in strains worthy of its lovehness. AVhy should not the Leven be as immortal as the Nile or the Doon, when one dwells on its banks equal to confer immor- tality on whatever kindles his poetic fires ? The passing notices of Leven by other poets are not at all sufficient. Mr Wallace is a native of Paisley, and was educated in Glasgow University. After studying the usual time in the Secession Theological Hall, he was licenced to preach in 1845. During his probationary career, he received calls from the con- REV. ALEXANDER WALLACE. 175 gregations of Busby, Avonbridge, Laiighohn, and Alexandna. From motives best known to himself, he accepted the unani- mous in\'itation to become the pastor of the Secession Chiirch in Alexandria, thouo;h the livino; was inferior to most of the others, and was ordained in Februar}^, 1846. The chapel being unable to accomiuodate the congregation, it was sold to the Independents, and a veiy handsome chapel, capable of seating above 700 persons, was built. It was opened about three months ago, and above £100 were collected on that occasion. The chapel is substantial, plain, and neat. Instead of a desk, the precentor, who, by the by, is a very excellent conductor of music, occupies a sort of chair, wliich disencum- bers the pulpit of a veiy needless appendix. The chapel is well attended, and we have seldom seen a more attentive audience. June 19, 1847. 17G REV. DAVID EUNCBiAN, M.A., ST Andrew's. On Sabbatli last, the minister of St Andrew's Church of this city commenced his usual services at eight minutes past eleven. After singing, prayer was offered with much earnestness and appropriateness. A chapter was then read, and praise followed. The introductory service being over at twenty minutes to twelve, ^latthew vii. 7 — 11, inclu- sive, was read as the subject of lectui'e. The lecturer com- menced by saying that these words were addressed by our Lord to his first followers — words well calculated to produce hope and fortitude. They were spoken, however, not for their sakes alone, but for the benefit of believers in all ages. They bring before us, as it were, the Great Jehovah looking down — not as an indifferent spectator of the toils, and sorrows, and sighs of this world — but as one deeply interested, saying, "Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it sliall be opened." The subject suggested by the passage is the subject of prayer. Prayer is intercourse between the Creator and the creature. It unites two ideas — the high and the lofty one, with the humble and contrite heart. It is the strong though secret chain that unites heaven ^^^th earth — • time with eternity — man with God. How prayer can aftect tlie mind or tlie pm-pose of God, it is not om* business to inquire. It is enough for us that so obvious is the adaptation of prayer to the circumstances of man as to demonstrate God's wisdom and love. At present, he would state. First, The things to be asked in prayer; Second, The manner in which we shoidd ask; and. Third, The encouragement given to ask. 4- IAN 1851 rKfSENTEr TO THE SUESCKlBEi<8 Of IHE GlisuOM 'MiJf jDAWID) mWHCE' GLASGOW fflM.B.ffi). REV. DAVID RUNCIMAN, M.A. 177 We arc compelled to exclude the illustrations. The lecture was finished at twenty-five minutes past twelve, and the congregation dismissed at a quarter to one. At six minutes past two the afternoon sendee commenced, and the introductory services were over at half-past two. The text selected was 2 Samuel vii. 2 : " The king said to Nathan, the prophet, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains." The preacher commenced by remarking that the history of David was one of surpassing interest. He then briefly ran over the leading particulars in his life up to the time when he uttered the words of the text — • especially his being appointed to reign over Israel. On the text he then founded the following observations : — 1st, The words of the text are a striking proof of David's zeal for the honour and worship of God. 2d, The text is a striking example of gratitude to God for blessings bestowed. 3d, The text presents us with an example of one determined to serve the Lord in whatever situation of fife he was placed. The preacher then concluded by referring to the present extensive ravages of death, and the necessity of readiness for its coming. All other foundations but that laid in Sion will sink in the hour of trial. Pie earnestly and eloquently m'ged the necessity of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the only preparation for death, judgment, and eternity. The sermon was finished ten minutes past three, having occupied forty minutes ; and bap- tism having been dispensed, and the concluding services gone through, the congregation separated at half-past three. With the exception of the few minutes lost before the services commenced at the different meetings, proceedings, chronologically considered, were perfect. Praise, prayer, preaching, each occupied its proper time, both relatively and absolutely considered. The appearance and demeanour of both minister and people were in consonance with the sacred- ness of the services ; so that, externally contemplated, there was much to admire and nothing to censure. The prayers offered we considered unexceptionable, both as to manner and matter. Especially were we pleased with those offered before the discourses. Comprehensiveness, spirituality, scriptural- ness, simplicity, and affectionate earnestness, were their leading z 178 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. excellencies. The state of different classes in the congrega- tion — of believers and unbelievers — of old and young, was included — the fulness of blessing adapted to the cu'cumstances of each supplicated — the sins of each confessed, and blessings conferred were acknowledged with much feeling and propriety. We know we are using strong and unqualified terms ; we mean to do so. As regards the discourses, they contained much prac- tical and suitable matter. The forenoon lecture gives a very complete view of the duty and advantages of prayer, and the subject was treated popularly, pathetically, and usefully. It was, moreover, delivered in a very impressive and eloquent manner. Considering it, therefore, in the abstract, we regard it as very complete, but in connection with the text, liable to objection. All that was said under the first two divisions was excellent, but might have been attached to other texts with as much propriety, or even more, as to the subject of lectiu'e. The last chAnsion only was properly founded on the passage — a passage which teaches exclusively, and with inimitable beauty, the duty and encouragements of prayer. There could be no well-grounded objections against a brief introductoiy notice regarding the character of prayer, but the unquestion- able design of lecturing is not the loading of passages with all that can be said on the doctrine which they involve, but the bringing out that peculiar aspect of it which the passage is designed to elucidate. We are the more careful to notice this blemish on account of its prevalence, and because when asso- ciated with so much excellence, as in the case in question, it appears so prominent. The afternoon discourse also contains much excellent matter, and was delivered with much energy. The manner of the preacher towards the close was too much impassioned. The preacher is a natural orator; and though violence may answer as a sony substitute, in the case of those who are neither natm'al nor artificial orators, it utterly destroys the eloquence of the real orator. Natui'al eloquence rises with the dignity of the subject ; ^■iolence is associated with paucity of ideas and of words. When fully master of his subject, and revelling amid the exuberance of ideas, the natui'al orator moves on with the majesty of a mighty river, but when the current of his thoughts is diverted, he labours, and flounders, REV. DAVID RUNCIMAN, M.A. 179 and thunders. We have said, and we repeat it, that the subject of our sketch is a natural and graceful orator, and we would, therefore, urge that violence of voice and of gesture be carefully excluded. So much for the discourses of last Sabbath. A minister, however, who in the course of three years has gathered a large and respectable congregation in one of the most unpromising localities of the city must possess very marked pecuharities. The sitters who were wont to occupy pews there, with the exception of one or two famiHes and a few private individuals, left at the Disruption along with their minister. Mr Runci- man then had to take possession of a deserted church. The annual returns of the city churches have shown a rapid increase, till latterly nearly all the seats were let ; and though the price of sittings was lately raised, the large and elegant edifice is still well filled. We have, therefore, an a priori argument in favom' of JVIr Runciman ; and that argument is stronger when the fact is considered that St Andrew's Square is not now the fashionable place it once was, and, probably, its neio;hboui"hood decreases rather than increases as regards population. We have, then, a minister coming to Glasgow, a comparative stranger, inducted into one of the worst localities, as well as parishes of the city, gathermg around him, in a few short years, a very large congregation. Such being the facts of the case, the cause deserves attention. We know that a very inferior preacher may, in certain cu'cumstances, command around him a crowd of admirers ; but it deserves special notice that such in general teach some peculiar views respecting doctrine or discipline. We submit that no ordinary preacher who holds no peculiar views will be able to collect and keep up a large and intelligent congregation. No one ever supposed that the subject of our sketch is a setter forth of the new or of the strange. He preaches only the things most sm"e and generally believed, so that we must account for his popidarity on other grounds. We have ah'eady hinted at one of the causes of his fame as a preacher. He is probably the most natural orator in Glasgow. He has only to open his mouth and speak, and there is music and magic in every sentence. His strong, clear, musical voice, is completely under control. 180 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. It can represent every feeling and passion with gi'aphic precision. He can adapt it alike to the ten-ible and to the tender, to the humble and subhme, to the fair and to the forbidding. We -wish to mark the peculiarities of his oratory. It is, probably, more under the influence of feeling and of taste than of intellect. His sentences are connect, and some of his periods stately and even graceful, but he makes no attempts at fine or even elegant composition. His language is simple, clear, and forcible, but it has nothing of the delicate finish which lends enchantment to the harangues of the artificial orator. He attempts no metaphysical distinctions, no pointed antitheses, no abstruse ratiocination. He selects the most common topics, and illustrates them with common phraseology^ ; and yet the listener, while he knows he has heard the same things said many a time, feels he is under a spell, and wshes the preacher to preach on. In addition to this natural charm, there is a mingled earnestness and dignity in the manner of the preacher. He speaks eaomesthj as well as naturally — with dignity and autho- rity as well as with simplicity and persuasiveness. His motions are dignified even to stiffness, and his gestures have in them an air of authority, and what is rather singular, ^\i\\\ this dignity of demeanour there is an energy and pathos not surpassed by the most ardent enthusiast. ^lany are grave because they cannot be earnest — digniified because they cannot be sincere — distant because they are cold ; but the subject of our sketch combines antagonistic attributes, and at once dis- plays the majesty and the energy of a workman- that needs not to be ashamed. There are, however, still higher requi- sites to be included in making up the items that constitute his acceptability. He commends the truth to every man's conscience. There may be enough of generahty in his preach- ing, but that generahty embodies the substance of the gospel. The preacher may not divide with the greatest skill, but he places large morsels before his hearers. The leading doc- trines of the gospel occupy a leading place in his preaching, and if he fails to bring out the fine shades of thought of the sacred pages he never mistakes the " great things of the law." He may not quicken the intellect so much as the feci- EEV. DAVID KUNCIMAN, M.A. 181 ings, but tlie heart cannot be unimpressed nor the conscience undisturbed under his appeals. His ministry, if we mistake not, mil be useful as well as acceptable. Long may he minister to his attached and attentive people, and would that Glasgow contained many such ministers. In person the subject of our sketch is above the middle size, and of strong symmetrical form. His countenance bespeaks much dignity and firmness, independence and benevolence. His features are marked, and his whole appear- ance is commanding, though to those unacquainted with him probably not inviting. Those who know him best, however, testify that he is affable, condescending, and land, and at the same time well sustains the character of a minister and gentleman. The Rev. David liunciman was born at Wantonwalls, near Lauder, in the year 1804. He received his early education at the parish school of Lauder. In 1818 he went to the University of Edinburgh. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Lauder in September, 1826. In 1829 he was assistant to Mr Hunter of Swinton, and at the close of that year was ordained minister of Hope Park Chapel, now Newington Chm'ch. Mr Eunciman laboured in this charge till ISIay, 1844, when he was removed to his present charge — St Andrew's Church, Glasgow. Under his pastorate, as already hinted, the congregation has rapidly increased. June 26, 1847. 182 REV. EGBERT GILLAN, ST JOHN'S. At eleven o'clock last Sabbath forenoon, the Eev. Robeii; Gillan commenced his usual sendees. After prayer and praise, the seventh chapter of Revelation was read and expounded at considerable length. His manner of expound- ing is reachng several verses and then offering ciu'sory remarks. Prayer and praise occupied about twenty-five minutes, and the reading and exposition nearly thirty-five, so that it was past twelve o'clock before the introductoiy services were over. At five minutes past twelve, Matthew xiii. 43, " Then shall the righteous shine foi'th as the sun in the kingdom of their Father," was announced as the subject of discourse. The preacher commenced by stating that one word of Scripture throws more light on a subject than lengthened discussions. The Bible often illustrates things spiritual and unseen by the temporal and visible. It is not to be wondered at that the Spirit employs the signs of the heavens to unfold the deep things of God. What is bright and vivid is shadowed forth by the smi. Do we want to form a conception of the misul- lied perfection of God? He is set before us as a siui. Do we wish to conceive of the glories of Christ ? He is the Sun of righteousness arising with healing in his wings. Do we think of the chiu'ch in her best estate on earth? We behold her clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet. Do we follow the ransomed to their future home ? There we see them shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The preacher then directed attention — 1. To the residence or position of the righteous ; 2. Their qualities ; and, 3. Their ^\i'epose. f PKESENTEI. TO THE SDBSCRIBESS Of THE GLiSGi OWEX.-UHINEIC iiw? iR(n)®w mihJhM GLASGOW. ■\ EEV. ROBERT GILLAN. 183 On the first head — their residence — he remarked, that the godly, while here, dwell on the footstool, but they are journey- ing to the kingdom of their Father, where they shall no more dwell in cottages or tabernacles, but shall be elevated to yonder gorgeous palace and tread the crystal halls of Paradise. They will associate with the wise, the good, and the holy, with angels and archangels. They will have reached their meridian alti- tude, and shall shine amid the glittering garniture of those heavens which no eye has yet seen. They are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, and shall then sit down with Christ on his throne. II. Their qualities deserve attention. This refers to the amplitude of their mental qualities and to the brilliance of their moral excellencies. As the sun is gTeater than our earth, so will the future expansion of the soul exceed its pre- sent powers. The Httle that is known is seen darkly as through a glass, but then they shall know even as they are known. They shall approach near to God, even to his veiy seat, and shall see him face to face. Floods of knowledge will roll on, and roll in to the soul, and will expand its vision and its laews. The breadth of its intellectual knowledge will be a contrast with its present acquirements as great as the central sun forms with the globe we inhabit. The moral affections will likewise be elevated and refined. The saved are even now called righteous, though much imperfection still adheres to them. Their good is not unmixed with evil — their hopes with fears — their faith with weakness. Their patience is tried — their reso- lutions fail, but the time approaches when that which is perfect will be come, and that which is in part Avill then be done away. Their bodies shall be purged as by fire, and no spot, no wrinkle, no darkness shall remain. The soul shall be the habitation of truth and love, and become a likeness of Him who is light, and in whom is no darkness at all — pure and ardent as the sun in his uncontaminated splendour. III. The repose of the righteous is suggested by the text. Like the smi, they will have risen far above all disturbing influences. While here they cannot count on one moment's exemption fi'om trouble, — though the peace of God keeps their heart, outward depression is often their lot. They have to 184 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. battle it with sorrows, and sufferings, and poverty, but the time comes when they shall be raised above all the clouds and mists of time, and repose in the bosom of Divinity. They will be beyond the reach of ambition and calumny, and envy and bereavement, and secure in the house of eternal rest. Their agitations shall all have settled down in everlasting repose. He then concluded by reminding those wdio were anxious to enjoy the future repose of believers, that the present character of such must be possessed. The righteous^ and they alone, shall shine forth. The icise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they who turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. The pure in heart alone shall see God. He concluded his sermon at thirty-eight minutes past twelve, having preached thirty-three minutes. Prayer, praise, and the benediction being over, the congrega- tion separated at twenty minutes to one. In the afternoon, service commenced at the announced houi\ The introductory sendees having occupied about thirty-five minutes — Matt. vi. 12 — " And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors," was announced as the text. The preacher commenced his discourse by referring to the former petition in the Lord's Prayer — " Give us our daily bread." After shortly noticing the character and extent of the earthly supphes to be supplicated, he said, that granting these to be secured, there are other requirements as indispensible. The soul had to be provided for as well as the body. Supposing all temporal good to be bestowed fully, freely, and lavishly, if eternity was neglected, the things of time were mere flowers that deck the sepulchre. The text, however, warranted us to look for spiritual blessings, and holds out the pledge of forgiveness to those who repent and believe the Gospel. In the text, the followino; thino;s would receive attention. 1. The admissions here made. 2. The feelings these admissions shoidd awaken. 3. The nature of the prayer dictated by these feehngs. 4. The plea ; and 5. The duty connected with the prayer. We have been compelled to leave over the illustrations of the above divisions. We have not been in the habit of prefacing oiu' remarks by any preliminary or apologetic matter. We say what we have REV. ROBERT GILLAN. 185 to say witli a regard to truth, and to truth alone. In the present instance, however, it may he proper to mention that Mr Gillan has been but a few months among us, and yet in that time his preaching has excited very considerable interest. The church, which was almost deserted before his arrival, is now pretty well filled. In the afternoon, we should suppose that there were from 1200 to 1400 people present. A preacher who, in a few months, has raised such a congregation, must, of course, possess pulpit gifts of a very attractive order. In such cases, however, the opinion of many is often much too unquali- fied, and Ave shall, without respect to friends or foes, point out what we consider the beauties and blemishes of this extra- ordinary preacher. As regards the first discourse, Ave were more than delighted. It was logical in arrangement — beautiful in illustration — ■ cogent in reasoning — effective in appeal. The text was diffi- cult, being a figure so noble that commonplace illustrations had been powerless and even ridiculous. The preacher pro\'ed himself equal to his sublime subject, and added, as it AA-cre, lustre to the sun himself. We do not say that his language Avas always strictly chaste, or that his figures Avere unmixed, a critic, for instance, might object to crystal halls, or any other halls in paradise, but Ave do say that the coi^iceptions of the preacher Avere noble — that his language AA^as, on the whole, graphic and impressive — and that, on some occasions, he unquestionably reached the beautiful and even the sublime. The afternoon discoiu^se formed, in several respects, a contrast Avith that of the forenoon. The manner and the matter of the preacher AA-ere different. The sermon Avas as complete in arrangement and as neat in discussion as that of the forenoon, but it Avas much mox'e elaborate and profound. In the first sermon the language of the preacher was superior to his think- ing ; in the last his thinking was greatly superior to his diction. The preacher stated grand A'ieAvs of the government of God — of the responsibility of man — of the only Avay of salvation — and of the blessing of forgiveness ; but though these Avere very ably stated, the ease and the eloquence of the forenoon Avere never reached. The language Avas more chaste, but it Avas also more tame — the manner of the preacher Avas more graceful, but it 2 A 186 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. wanted the fervour wliich thrills and overwhelms. In a word, the first discourse showed the power of fancy, the latter the majesty of thought — the first commanded the feelings, the latter convinced the judgment — the former arrested by the splendours of oratory, the latter by the magnitude of its views. The two, taken together, j:!rove the preacher one of varied as well as of vast powers, and that his people may count on that variety of thought and of diction which secures attention. So much, then, for the discourses. Let us now more closely examine the claims of this preacher. In his case we find an illustration of our theoiy of mental and physical proportion. His appearance is the index of his mind. These sharp features — these rapid glances of the eye — • that restlessness in eveiy feature — all tell significantly of the activity, and energy, and vigour within. One can sa}', at sight, that the preacher, Avhatever pulpit faults he may commit, could not be guilty of the one most common and most intoler- able — Ave mean dulness. Before he opens his mouth, he is seen feeling and speaking. The thoughts have already left the mind and revel in the countenance — ^feeling has already commenced its outpourings, and circulates with CA'eiy pulse, and beams in every featm'e. That narrow, high, slanting forehead tells of a coming torrent, and that restless frame already feels the burden on the soul it contains. Liveliness then forms one of the leading excellencies of this preacher. He goes to the pulpit — not like a didl functionary, but like one who is to work Avith his might— not like one Avho is to say a lesson, but one Avho is about to throAv his soul into his sub- ject — not like one Avho preaches because he is expected to preach, but one aaIio feels a Avoe upon him if he preach not the gospel Avith all his might. Another characteristic of this preacher is, his command of figure and language. Almost every idea is illustrated by some familiar object, Avhich giA'es it a prominent and pressing tangi- bility. Instead of following the ordinary dry routine of theo- logical discussion, he makes the natural the symbol of the spiritual — the Aisible of the iuAisible. We do not say that all his figures are in keeping Avith a scA'ere critical taste, but, in general, they throAv much light on his subject, and arrest the REV. ROBERT GILLAN. 187 attention of those on whom commonplace illustration makes no impression. Nature, in his hands, becomes a vast system of symbols, all shadowing forth the doctrines of the cross. As to the matter of his preaching, we should say that it is evangelical. In the afternoon's discourse, he gave a very com- plete view of the entire scheme of redemption — man's position as a creature mider the government of God — his accountability and responsibility — his sinfulness and guiltiness — the way of acceptance through the atonement — and the means of sancti- fication by the Spirit and grace of Christ. But attractive as is the matter of this preacher, his manner is still superior. It combines almost every possible excellence with several defects. On a lively, energetic, and graceftil manner, he has induced all the rapidity and fury of the deli- very of Chalmei's, and much of the extravagant gestures of Candlish. When he commences his discourse, he leans for- ward on the Bible and speaks for some minutes, slowly, dis- tinctly, and calmly, but as he proceeds he becomes erect, and begins to move, with violence, his Avhole body. Now one of his hands is raised, now both of them — now one is before, another behind him — now they almost meet at his back — anon they come in contact before him. In general, however, the action suits the word, though in some cases the manner is more energetic than the matter warrants. Some of his periods are lengthy and stately, and occasionally he works up a climax with much skill, and terminates it with thrilling effect. It reqviires a very determined church-sleeper to enjoy a sound nap under his preacliing. We observed one — the only one — in the whole church, as far as we know, who contrived to get asleep, but the voice of the preacher soon broke his slum- bers, and he appeared greatly agitated on his awakening, and seemed under the impression that something more awful was transpiring than a " nelghhour snoring." Occasionally the preacher appears deeply affected with his message. On two occasions, during the delivery of the first discom'se, his feelings seemed to overcome him, and to de- mand relief in tears. Such manifestations, when natural, tell A^ery effectively on an audience, who always feel, and always believe, soon as they are sure the speaker does so. While we 188 OUK 8C0TTISU CLERGY. AAnllingly concede to the subject of our sketch the most popular pulpit style of any minister we have heard in Glas- gow, it were well for him to avoid extravagance. Extrava- gance has, in some cases, answered tolerably Avell as a substi- tute for higher requisites ; but in the present instance it is not required. The substantial excellencies of the preacher would of themselves secure a wide popularity. We may state, that with the first prajer and reading of the chapter we were certainly disappointed. The manner of the subject of our sketch lacked something of that gravity and earnestness essential to public prayer. The topics embraced were all important ; but his prayer did not embody those views of man, and of Christ, and of God, which should pre- dominate in evangelical prayers. The reading of the chapter — the seventh of Revelation — was decidedly faulty. We never object to making expository remarks, but we should much rather have a well-read chapter without remarks than one indifferently read, though accompanied with the most eloquent exposition. It Avere better, we think, for those who expound to read over the whole chapter first. Iji the case in question, snatches of the chapter were read so hurridly, as if the expo- sition had been of more value than the sacred and sublime words of sacred writ. We find no fault with their theological character, but the manner of the preacher was much too excited for expository remarks. These, if made at all, shoiild be made coolly, and Avith much hermaneutical precision. ^Ir Gillan was licensed to preach the gospel by the Pres- bytery of Selkirk in 1829, and was ordained over a congrega- tion of Presbytei'ians worshipping at Stamfordham, North- umberland, in 1830. He was called to South Shields in 1833, and succeeded to Plolytown, in Lanarkshire, in 1837, where he continued till 1843. After having been at Wishaw for six months, he was, at the secession, offex'ed and accepted the ])arish of Abbotshall, Fifeshire, and from that was brought to St John's, Glasgow, in February last, where he has laboured with unexampled success. Jti.Y 3, 18-J7. 189 REV. THOMAS M. LAWRIE, PARTICK. There is a certain combination of requisites wliicli, however indispensable to success in other professions, is not essential to the attainment of excellence in pulpit oratory. These are clearness and quickness of intellectual perception, united to a readiness of utterance, which enable, if not to penetrate deeply into a subject, to perceive, as it were intuitively, its different bearings and relations, and to express views, thus readily formed, with fluency, and often with eloquence. The value of such talents must be inestimable to the advocate at the bar, to a member of the senate, or to the public disputant — the method and matter of whose addresses so frequently arise out of the statements and arguments of some previous speaker. But the mind whose perceptions may be less acute, and whose language may be less exuberant, Avhilst the intellect is of a patient, plodding, cogitative character, appears to be better adapted to the attainment of excellence in pulpit oratory. Whether or not those talents to which we have referred be inconsistent ^vitll that depth and massiveness of intellect which we so often find in men whose mental operations are more slow, we do not pretend to determine ; but certain it is that some of our most distinguished divines and profound thinkers are men whose minds operate slowly, refusing to give forth their treasures until wrought out by dint of laborious study and close applica- tion — men who do not excel, and who, in all probability, never would have excelled, imder any description of training, as extemporaneous speakers. But perhaps the success of such, as 190 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. pulpit orators, may ratlier be ascribed to the fact, that, aware of the tartly nature of their own minds in the process of think- ing, they feel, as it were, a stern necessity laid upon them to devote themselves to study, and, consequently, do not appear in public mitil they have fully matui'ed their thoughts, and adorned with the graces of composition the subject on which they are about to speak ; whilst the man of a ready mind and ready utterance, conscious of his own powers, cannot resist the temptation of trusting to them, and thus neglects to study the subject on which he knows he can make a tolerable appearance without it. Accordingly, the discoiu'ses of the latter are gene- rally characterised by diffusiveness, repetition, and prohxity — those of the former by condensation, logical arrangement, appropriate illustration, and force and beauty of expression. It is to this latter class of intellectual character that the subject of om' sketch belongs. We regard the Reverend Thomas M. Lawrie as one of the most promising young preachers connected with the United Presbyterian Church. He may be little known beyond the boundary of his own charge, but there his talents, and his worth, are fully appre- ciated. There are obvious reasons for his comparative obscurity. His natm*al disposition lead him to shrink from courting public admiration and public applause. He does not go out of his proper sphere, mixing himself up with the public questions of the day, on which notoriety can be more speedily and certainly acquired than by the discharge, however able and faithful, of the duties of a rural pastorate. Even had he been ambitious of fame, the few years of his public life could not have gained for him that distinction which greater experience and a more matured intellect might warrant him to expect. But Mr Lawrie's ambition is directed to nobler ends than to secure human applause. The object of his ambition is to do good to his fellow-men, and to merit the approbation of his Heavenly Master. He devotes his time and his talents exclusively to the duties of the sacred office. His heart is in his work; he has that pleasiu'e in the performance of it which a man really in earnest alone can feel ; and this, amongst other reasons, leads us confidently to conclude that he is destined, at no di^jtant day, to occupy a position in the REV. THOMAS M. LAWRIE. 191 churcli of no inconsiderable eminence, and second to none in point of ministerial usefulness. Another circumstance from wliicli we augur liiglily of Mr Lawrie is his diligent and studious habits. He has a mind that can think, but a mind that requires labour and industry to brino; out its rich and varied treasures. His intellectual mines do not lie on the surface — they can be reached only by the plodding toils of study. He is quite aware of the necessity, to him, of mental labour, and stimulated by the ample returns that study is sm*e to yield him, he prepares thoroughly his discourses, never appearing in ]Dublic until he has mastered his subject, and clothed it in the garb of appro- priate language. He does not read his discoiarses, but it is evident that the phraseology as well as the matter has been fully studied. We presume he would never make a good extemporaneous speaker, b\it we regard this as no misfor- tune, having led to the formation of those habits of patient and persevering study, which, Ave are convinced, are no less indispensable to the attainment of eminence than genius itself; nay, some of our greatest men have acknowledged that they owe more to the latter than to the former, more to the cultivation of their powers than to the possession of any extraordinary talents. Mr Lawrie's mind is of a high order, possessing, in admi- rable proportion, most of the great requisites of the popular orator. As a metaphysician his powers are respectable, al- though it is not viewing him as a logician that we predict his future eminence ; his imagination is rich, chaste, and well cultivated — he is a keen and accurate observer of men, of manners, and of things around him, and has skill to turn his observations to profitable account. The various incidents and events of every-day life, as well as every object in nature, con- tribute to adorn and elucidate his subjects ; with such illustra- tions his discourses abound. His mind is well stored with ancient and modern literature, both of which sources also supply abundant materials with which to enrich his discourses ; but he never makes a parade of his learning, it is always made subservient to the main design of the subject in hand. Such being the character of his mind, he gives to his discourses, as 102 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. might be expected, a popular rather than a philosophic cast. Few young preachers excel more in adapting their sermons to the every-day feeling and experience of their auditors. Even subjects apparently the most dry and uninviting assume, in his hands, an irrcsistably attractive interest and importance. It is here where his success as a preacher lies — in his accurate and discriminating views of human nature — in the forcible and happy mode in which he illustrates Divine Truth, and in the skill with which it is adapted to interest and impress the various classes of his hearers. He arrests the attention of his audience, at first, by a short introduction, sometimes explanatory of the connexion of his subject with the con- text, but usually by the statement of some general truth or fact bearing on the subject, and with which all are familiar ; and after a division remarkable for its clearness and sim- plicity, he illustrates each particular with great power and beauty, displaying an intimate acquaintance with the Scrip- tures, and an accurate knowledge of their meaning. What is obscure or imperfectly understood he never evades, but always attempts an elucidation, and generally with success ; and any truth connected with his subject that may be com- monly misapprehended he is at great pains to exhibit in its true light, whilst his great object is to enforce the moral lessons which his subject naturally presents. His discourses are eminently practical. He never loses sight of the prim.e object for which he ajipears before his audience ; impressed with the importance of his high commission, and of the re- sponsibility which attaches to it, his grand aim is, throiigh the understanding, to reach the heart, and fix there the great moral lessons of the gospel. At the conclusion of his dis- courses one cannot fail to apprehend fvdly his views, and to be impressed with the duties he has laboured to inculcate. He is one of those preachers who always produce a feeling of re- gret when they come to a close. One cannot help wishing him to continue, — a feast which, so fiu* from having cloyed, has only served to whet the appetite for a more abimdant supply. A feeling of disappointment is also generally experi- enced when his place in the pulpit is occupied by another. His style is exceedingly good ; it is cleai', conci'^c, vigorous, REV. THOMAS M. LAWEIE. 193 and enriched with a lively imagination. Simplicity, beauty, and dignity are happily blended. He never uses any mLxed or incongruous figures ; " never paints a dolphin in the woods, or a boar in the waves ;" when a metaphor or a simile is employed, it is chosen and introduced with skill and taste, and with the evident design of imparting force and clearness to his meaning. His language is always plain, appropriate, and expressive. In the forenoon of each Sabbath, Mr Lawrie is in the habit of expomiding, in regular order, a portion of the sacred volume; and though these lectm'es are always interesting, we do not regard them as equal, in point of merit, to his sermons. To the latter description of exercises his talents are better adapted. That subtlety of intellect, and those powers of analysis which are necessary to excel in criticism and exegesis, are not the predominant qualities of his mind, but, by practice and care, we think him capable of attaining to a tolerable degi'ee of pro- ficiency in this important department of pulpit duties. Mr Lawrie's manner is energetic and impressive. He rises with his subject, and is always impressed with its importance. He exemplifies the true secret of eloquence, si vis me Jlere dolendum est primiwi ipsi tibi — " if you wish me to weep, you must first w^eep yourself." He has little gesture, and that little arises entirely out of the impulse of his own feelings, and is therefore natural and forcible. His elocution is by no means fine, and his pronunciation is fi'equently incorrect. Either he is destitute of a musical ear, or, like too many students, has disregarded the study of elocution as a thing of little value ; but with a voice of much power and apparent susceptibility of cidture, his modulation is very far from accurate. There is a constant repetition of the falling inflection, especially during the introductory services, unrelieved by a single rising tone of the voice, that is the very opposite of agreeable ; and this mono- tonous cadence haunts one until he becomes animated, usually in the first part of his discourse, when the energy of the speaker either produces a more varied elocution or the importance of the subject so absorbs the attention of the hearer as to render this defect no longer perceptible. Although delivery is always to be regarded as a secondary thing compared with the sub- 2 B 194 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. ject matter of the discourse, yet it is divested of its due im- portance Avhen it is all but totally disregarded. It may be laid doA\ni as a general rule that the more winning the man- ner, the more ready is the reception gained for the matter. And thus it is we long to see a more correct and refined elocution in the subject of our sketch, convinced that so valu- able an instrument of good would contribute, in no small degree, to his acceptance and usefulness as a pulpit orator. Shortly after having finished his studies ^Ir Lawrie was ordained in Partick in March, 1841, having accepted of the call fi:ora the church there in preference to other two from different chm'ches, which were presented to him about the same time ; and though the church members, at the period of his induction, did not number more than 140, they have in the course of six years increased to upwards of 300 ; and the chapel, which at present is seated for about 620, being found too small to contain the rapidly-increasing congregation, it is contemplated at an early period to make such enlargements as shall accommodate nearly 400 additional hearers. The set- tlement was a most harmonious one, and while subsequent years have confirmed the jucUciousness of the choice, they have also ripened into the strongest mutual attachment the affections of pastor and people. His amiable and miassum- ing manners have gained for him the esteem of all who know him, while his abihties and zeal in the discharge of his duties command the respect not only of his own flock, but of the membei's of other religious bodies. July 10, 1847. PBESENTEH TO TttE SUBSCRIBEJ^S Of THE Ol.ASGOW EXAMINER (i LAS (low. 195 EEV. ALEXANDEE DUNCAN, DUKE STREET. In attempting to portray the intellectual and moral features of a public man, a writer feels his undertaking difficult, unless some qualities in the character of the individual stand out in bold relief. In this respect, it is much the same with the pen- and-ink sketcher, who endeavours to dagueiTeotype an intel- lectual and moral portrait, as with the ai'tist, who, by the pencil and the brush, transfers to his canvass the physical lineaments of his subject. A painter prefers a distinct, expres- sive physiognomy to one which presents no well marked out- lines. So with the intellectual draughtsman. If the mental or moral qualities of the individual to be portrayed are strik- ingly prominent, he finds it comparatively easy to photograph a likeness, which, thougli deficient in minor details, is yet per- fectly true and recognisable in all its essentials. In either case, indeed, minutiae are of secondary importance; and the object of the artist is gained, if he makes the tout ensemble life-like and unequivocal in its general effect. In these days of enlightenment, when excellence is common, and when the table -land of mediocrity can be reached by almost all, the aspirant for distinction, either in literature or oratory, finds it hard to stamp upon his productions an original and decided character of individuality. As in the literary profession, so in the clerical, the attainment of greatness noiv must be the work of no common mind. The man, who, among the hosts of rival competitors would reach such an elevation as commands the notice and admiration of his fellow -men, must come to the 196 OUR scoTTisn clergy. task possessed of determined energy. The prodigal profusion in which we find talent scattered around us, has tended to render the discriminating public mind fastidious, and to make it bend, with reverential homage, before no intellect but the highest. ^len of talent, it is true, are, every day, rising into popularity ; but only, like ignis fatuus, to illuminate, for a few brief moments, and then drop into eternal oblivion. Yet these men, whose very names a few years serve to obliterate from the memory, might, at an earher period, have taken a place in the world as permanent, intellectual luminaries. But, hap- pily, the efficiency of a Christian minister is not to be measured by the loftiness of his intellect. The usefrilness of his life depends more upon the earnestness of his heart. The primary aim of Christianity is not to point the path to intellectual glory, but to renovate the depraved faculties of the soul. True, the necessary consequence of our heaven-born religion is to expand the powers, and midtiply the triumphs of mind, as well as to hasten the progress of religious improvement. And it is precisely when we see a master-spirit, under the guiding influence of a Christian heart, Avorking out the gi'eat and glorious destiny of humanity, that we realize the true dignity of our fallen nature. Among numerous talented and useful men, wdiose heads and hearts entitle them to far higher consideration than they command, we place the subject of the present sketch. Such men, thoroughly devoid of ostentation — ambitious only of meekly doing their duty — gHde through the world " alike unknowing and unknoAAii ;" wdiile many, possessing inferior abilities, but much greater presumption, push themselves into ephemeral reputation. Men of this unostentatious class may be compared to the evening dews, which, though falling silently and unseen, shed freshness and beauty all around. The thun- der ton'ent may excite gi'eater wonderment and attention, but produces not more permanent and beneficial effects. These men have not the world's applause — "their reward is in heaven — their record is on high." We present the reader with an outline of a discourse deli- vered by Mr Duncan last Sabbath afternoon, fi'om PhilHppians iii. 3 — " Vnc rejoice in Christ Jesus." The preacher com- REV. ALEXANDER DUNCAN. 197 menced by remarking, that veiy much of the disinclination to a life of piety, now so lamentably prevalent, is to be traced to the unfounded and unreasonable prejudice that religion tends to poison the sources of human happiness, and to fill the mind vnih gloomy and melancholy thoughts. Because it denounces sensual gratifications as unworthy intelligent and immortal behigs, and at once evanescent and impious, it is concluded that all who conform to its precepts must be tem- porally unhappy in proportion to the intensity of their piety. This opinion is at variance with scripture and experience. Because some, to the clear enactments of God's word, have joined the doctrines and commandments of men, or because others, through the influence of severe temptations and ungodly fear, have all their lifetime been held in a state of depressing and disgi'aceful bondage, does this give the stamp of truth to the misrepresentations of those who cannot, or will not, dis- tinguish between the effects of superstition and the fruits of enlightened piety ? Regarding the exercise and experience of believers which the language of the text implies, ISIr Duncan remarked under the following heads : — 1st., Believers rejoice in the supreme dignity of the person and the infinite loveliness of the char- acter of Jesus Christ. Whatever is beautiful in nature is calculated to arrest the attention, and delight the feelings, of the man of refined taste. Whether it be the landscape deco- rated with all the beauty and loveliness with which the hand of the Creator has pi'ofusely adorned our earth — or the sum- mer's sky, bright and gorgeous with the unpolluted light of heaven — or the resplendent orbs of the celestial regions shin- ing in their strength and walking in their brightness — or whether it be the symmetry of " the human form divine," or the moral purity of the good man's life — every object that proclaims the bounty and the wisdom, or reflects the character of God, is to him a fruitful source of unmixed delight. But the eye of the saint contemplates an object iiifinitely more attractive and ennobling. To his eye, beaming with regen- erated intellect and holy love, Christ's character appears in- ^•ested with eveiy featvu'o calculated to inspire affection and produce delight. 2d., Believers rejoice in the perfect right- 198 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. eousness of Christ as the ground of their peace with God. 3d., Believers rejoice in the freeness and all sufficiency of Christ's sah-ation. In contemplating the Saviour's finished work, the predominant feelings of the believer are gratitude and joy. He loves each member of the human family as if he loved him alone ; and in his breast there is a fountain of love sufficient for all. While he displays his power, he pro- claims his willingness to save. While he encircles in the arms of his everlasting love those who have fled to him for refuge, he says to his servants, " compel them to come in, for yet there is room." 4th., Believers rejoice in Christ as their kinsman Redeemer. Their king is also their brother. 5th., Believers rejoice in the constancy of Christ's love. Having loved his own, he loves them to the end ; and, assured of this, his people rejoice that he hath gone to the Father. Mr Duncan concluded by a pointed and practical appeal to his hearers, urging them to consider whether they were of the number of those who rejoiced and had good reason for rejoicing in Christ. The pious and intelligent reader will perceive that the dis- course, of which we have thus presented an imperfect analysis, is one of more than ordinary merit, and such, indeed, as would reflect credit upon a preacher of far higher pretensions and wider reputation. His mental vision is not of the Avidest range ; but what it surveys it surveys accurately and distinctly. He gropes not beyond the circle which his intellect illumines ; and though he may thus not reap the honours that sometimes reward a bold originality, he at the same time avoids the dangers and bewilderments which it often involves. Clear comprehension facilitates intelligible expression. In this Mr Duncan excels, and his hearers, therefore, are never at a loss to luiderstand his meaning. He does not clothe his ideas in obscure or magniloquent language, in order to communicate to them a meretricious value. A little mound, seen through a mist, may appear a mountain — the fog dispelled, its true size is at once apparent. And how applicable is this to much of the wi'iting and speaking of the present day. Language should be to ideas what the foliage is to the fruit. The leaves of the tree lend freshness and beauty to the precious bm*den EEV. ALEXANDER DUNCAN. 199 wherewith Its boughs are hiden ; but a tree is not valuable for its leaves, and neither is a book or a discourse valuable for its language. Ideas similar to these appear to regulate ISIr Duncan's preaching — at least they are observable in the style of his sermons. He makes the graces of composition appa- rent, not predominant; and never hides a want of thought in the empty roll of a finely rounded period. It may thence be inferred that his sermons are eminently practical. Solemnly appi'eciating his position, he proclaims his message in the spirit and letter of the Divine commission. Eschewing all vain disquisitions on sacred subjects that tend to evince more of intellectual ingenuity than to spread gospel truth, he at- tempts not to ^vl•ench curious or distorted meanings from its words, but dealing with the charter of man's sjjiritual privi- leges and immortal hopes as it is written down by the hand of God, he elucidates and enforces its obvious truths in lan- guage that he who runs may read. Few ministers keep self more out of view than Mr Duncan. Modest to a fault, he seeks not to win attention to his own powers. Losing such considerations in a deep con\dction of his sacred duty, his sole aim is to excite in his hearers hearts what he feels in himself — a love and reverence for the divine principles he inculcates. His discourses, thorovighly imbued with an evangelical spirit, are often clothed in a scriptural phraseology. He introduces copious quotations fi'om the sacred record, in illustration and enforcement of his o\vn remarks ; and these latter peculiarities are so prominent as to induce the belief that the preacher, at the risk of being accounted commonplace, chooses rather to invest his subject in Bible language than trust himself to his own. His sermons, in this respect, suggest an analogy to the discoiu'ses of some of the older divines. They remind us more of the anxious exhortations of the friend than of the deep, spirit-thrilling eloquence of the orator. Some, especially old people, admire, others disapprove of this mode of preach- ing. The judicious introduction occasionally of scriptural passages, may serve materially to lend point and power, as well as pathos, to the preacher's own remarks. But where, from their frequenc}^, they become not illustrations but prin- cipals, the pov.er and impressiveness of the discourse is dimi- 200 OUR SCOTTISH cleegy. iiished rather than enhanced. To secui'e the attention of a congregation it is not necessary^ that the preacher propound novel views ; but it is necessary that lie place the truths of religion in strong lights by varied and striking illustrations, and that he announce them in energetic language. We are at all times averse to fault-seeking, but where we think faults apparent, truth and candour alike require that vre should point them out. Occasionally, we have remarked a degree of stiffness and formality in Mr Dimcan's manner, to which, at other times, he rises superior. If a preacher appears to feel coldly and formally, these feelings, not in appearance only but in reality, are communicated to his hearers. Deep feeling in a minister is an indispensable requisite of power ; for while it prompts the " words that burn," it also suggests the " thoughts that breathe." A minister, destitute of any great onginality, may, nevertheless, under the influence of a glowing enthusiasm, send his own soul, like lightning, through his hearers, and breathe a life-enkindhng energy into old and faded truths. What was true in Goldsmith's time is also true in our own. It is " neither," says that acute and elegant writer, " writing a sermon with regular periods, and all the harmony of elegant expression — neither delivering it with emphasis, propriety, and deliberation — neither pleasing with metaphor, simile, or rhetorical fustian — neither arguing coolly and imtying conse- quences united in a prioti, nor binding up inductions a poste- riori — neither pedantic jargon nor academical trifling, that can reach the heart." At the risk of being termed hypercritical, we think that ]SIr Duncan distributes his discourses under too many heads. The announcement of six or seven "places" in a sermon pro- duces a somnific influence upon an audience, and should, where at all compatible with perspicuity, be avoided. But if, in addition to these, minor subdivisions are made, the result is "confusion worse confounded." The preacher compels the hearer's patience and ingenuity to thread the labyrinthine maze, or sets him a-dozing — in which latter case he uncon- sciously "nods" assent to all the minister's propositions, till the welcome "last place" falls upon his ear, makes him I'ub REV. ALEXANDER DUNCAN. 201 liis eyes, and try, by an easy, lialf-awake nonchalance, to look as if he had been listening very intensely all the while. It takes "all appliances and means to boot" to fix man's atten- tion upon religious subjects; and everything of opiatic tendency should, therefore, be avoided. Some people, it is true, would sleep in a thunder-storm, and refuse to be roused by the soul- thrilling appeals of a Chatham or a Chalmers. Besides his strictly clerical appearances, Mr Duncan has " done the state some service" in other respects. In a lecture on the " Unscriptural Character of the Corn Laws," delivered and published at the request of the Glasgow Free Trade Association, he lent his aid, as a minister of rehgion, to erase the monopoly from the British statute-book. Mr Duncan is the eldest of six sons, all in the ministry, of the eminent late Dr Duncan, Midcalder, w^ho was Professor of Pastoral Theology to the United Secession Church. In the more private but not less arduous duties of the ministerial office, ]SIr Duncan is peculiarly at home. The cordial intercourse and sympathy between minister and peo- ple are creditable to both. His modest and unassuming manner; the hearty interest he at all times evinces for the welfare of his hearers ; the dignity of Christian humility which marks his conduct; the active and kindly charity; and, in fine, the integrity and amiability of his wliole cliaracter, more than compensate the want of showier, but less practical qualities, which some other ministers possess. Mr Duncan is above the middle height, and his phrenolo- gical development is good. His countenance beams with a calm, thoughtful earnestness, betokening a heartfelt conviction of the importance and responsibility of his position, and a deter- mination to discharge its duties conscientiously. As regards personal appearance and demeanour, we know few clergymen in whom these more completely harmonise with the ideas we are accustomed to associate with the sacred office. Erroneous the adage, in many instances, in his case, at least, " the face is the index of the mind." His intellectual powers are rather remarkable for well-arranged compactness tlian magnitude. July 17, 1847. 2 C 202 REV. JAMES PATERSON, HOPE STREET. HiTHEETO, motives have been found sufficient to induce men to carry on the affiiirs of this world. Like everything else pertaining to man, these are of a somewhat mixed and miscel- laneous character. Few of the inhabitants of earth are urged on, solely, by supreme regard to the authority of heaven. Even those who recognise most vividly their responsibility, often allow inferior or mistaken motives to kindle their zeal and stimulate their activity. They are anxious to please God and profit men, but imperfection mixes with their desires, and mis- takes with their services. Ministers are influenced by motives similar to others. Some find their zeal inflamed by the belief that they have been apostolically ordained, and empowered, to fulfil their ministry. Others take courage because they have the sanction of Parliament and of Presbytery. Others man- fully discharge their duties because they minister to a willing ])eople, who chose them to be their servants, and who acknow- ledge their services by remunerating them according to their ability. Some preach with boldness, because Cahin or Luther sanctions their sentiments. Others wax valiant, because they preach some great discovery which they have made in theo- logy ; and others take their stand on the Scriptures, as expounded by some men of note, and as exemplified in their own experience. Though it is desirable that the motives, as well as the conduct, should be unexceptionable, it is well that man has to do with One who is fiimiliar with his Aveakness and Y.'aywardncss. Mistake in motive is more frccpiently tlie REV. JAMES rATERSON. 203 fault of the intellect than of the heart ; and hence, while incor- rect opinions may be entertained, the heart may be sincere and stedfast. Besides the motives we have mentioned, we may also state that facts, diametrically opposed, encourage different minds. Some proceed confidently with their work, because they have the majority of Christian men on their side ; while others have no small pleasure in believing that the fewness of those who hold similar sentiments as their own is proof of their being right. Believers they hold to be still a little flock, and that, therefore, they have presumptive proof in their favour that their views are correct. We believe that the tendency of small parties is to encourage self-confidence, and that many little minds place more reliance on their small numbei's than on the truth or oath of God. The subject of our sketch hap- pens to be connected with a body not very numerous in Scot- land; but he is one of those who are too intelligent to put confidence in numbers. He knows that arithmetic can do little to settle knotty points in theology. If great numbers are to be the test of orthodoxy. Catholics have it ; if small numbers are the test, the Mathites have it. The subject of our sketch seeks his authority for his views elsewhere tlian in numbers, or human authority. Whether correct or incorrect, he draws them from Scripture, and from Scripture alone ; and while he liolds them tenaciously, he unchristianizes no man nor any sect for differing from him. He proceeds vigorously mth his work, not because he pursues some crotchet, but because he believes he is serving his Master, and doing good to his fellow-men. We believe no one founds less on adventitious circumstances. He holds his views, not because few hold them, or because many hold them, but because he believes them to be founded on the revealed will of God. On Sabbath forenoon week Mr Paterson preached in his own churcli, Hope Street. The services of the day were commenced by singing a part of the 4Gth Psalm. The preacher then read portions of Scripture from the Gospel according to ^latthew and from the Acts of the Apostles. Prayer being reverentially and unaffectedly offered, a para- ])hrase was sung, and the subject of discourse was taken from 2d Corinthians, the three concluding; \erses of the 13th 204 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. chapter. The words of the text, he said, were addressed to the church of Corinth. The gospel was eminently a manifes- tation of kindness and goodwill to men — making them wiser and better by the holy sentiments of charity and peace which it inculcates. Modes of salutation were not originated by Christianity, but had been in existence from the earliest times. Sometimes man saluted his friend by the warm and kindly grasp of the hand, sometimes by a simple embrace, and on other occasions illustrated by Judas, who betrayed his master with a kiss. Different forms of salutation prevailed in different parts of the world. These were generally expressions of kindness — hence their injunction by the apostle. Greeting with a kiss is specially enjoined, because it was the mode of salution of the age and country. That it was not of a carnal nature Paul wished to show from the lano;uao;e, " Greet one another with a lioly kiss." This precaution was necessary to guard against the evil-minded and designing. The apostle was in a manner obligated to spiritualise this form of saluta- tion, because, in that age, futile would have been the attempt at its abolition. When Christians salute each other it ought to be done in the spirit of Christianity. The concluding verse, containing the benediction, he commented on, and explained its natm'e and purposes. With uninspired men, who use the terms of the benediction, it is merely a prayer, a simple asking of the blessing of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. An authoritative benediction cannot now be uttered, though it is affected by some as if they had recei^'ed authority from on high. This, however, is the mere assumption of })riestly impiety and pride. In the next place, the preacher alluded to the power and prerogative of Christ. His name was to be called Saviour, because he should save the world from its sins. Why, it might be asked, in the benediction, is the love of the Father specially mentioned? The answer is simple. Love is the great and peculiar characteristic of Jehovah. Love is the fundamental princi})le, of the Bible, the doctrine which permeates the entire di\ine record from Genesis to Ivevelation. Hence the apostle expresses his desire that it should be with all who call on the name of Jesus. The universe, however, could not comprehend the full measure of the Father's love REV. JAMES TATEKSON. 205 until the incarnation of the Son. In the last place, he referred to the communion of the Holy Spirit, and the obvious proof which the passage afforded for a great Christian doctrine. He shortly spoke of the grace of Christ, which he said was not given to make men skilled in doctrinal contests, but to induce them to love one another. If those who listened to the voice of the preacher would carefully study their Bible, they would learn what salvation was, and that it was within the reach of all. Nothing could prevent them from seeing and receiving this greatest of all gifts but the simple fact that they will not use the means which God, in his mercy, has placed at the disposal of all men. In the afternoon, Mr Paterson preached from John vi. 47 — 51, " I am the living bread." He commenced by saying that a large proportion of the instructions of our Lord were conveyed through the medium of insensible objects. Hence we find in the preaching of our Saviour those beautiful parables, which amuse and delight while they enlighten and instruct. Even, in this point of view, the miracles were merely parables, living acts designed to teach men great truths through the medium of insensible objects. The immediate effect of the miraculous feeding of the five thousand was the desire of the multitude to create him king. Our Saviour was followed by crowds which he well knew were in quest of bread which cost them no labour, and he urged on them to seek the bread ^^'hicl^ doth not perish, as he himself expresses, " The meat which endures through everlasting life." It led our Lord to unfold to them that he himself was the bread so necessary to their spiritual existence. The bread which had been given them was the food of this life ; figuratively it was the partaking of himself that suppoi'ted in eternity. What food is to the body Jesus Christ is to the soul of man. I. In the first place, he is the Living Bread intended for the w^auts of the human family; for the nourishment and strength- ening of the souls of men. Our Lord sustains the spiritual life of the soul when it is begun through faith. Bread, in ordinary circumstances, does not originate life, it only supports it when it has been commenced. Time necessarily compelled the preacher to be brief in considering Christ in another aspect 206 OUR SCOTTISH clergy. as the Living Bread. If we drink of the waters of tliis v.'orld, we shall thirst again ; but if we drink of the waters of life, our desires shall be assuaged. Man shall at last go to a world where he shall thirst no more, where want and sorrow are un- known, and where he shall live through the countless ages of eternity, in the enjoyment of that seraphic happiness which circles for ever aromid the throne of his Saviour and his God. From the foregoing outlines of the two discourses of the Kev. gentleman, the reader will perceive he is endowed with much more than the average amount of theological talent. He, as if by instinct, comprehends the full meaning and bear- ing of a passage which he illustrates with correct and nervous language. His mind is eminently logical ; he reasons closely and in order, and never suffers a conclusion to be absent a moment from his attention by some happy thought which may have casually arisen, and which might have afforded ample scope for an eloquent appeal to the fears or passions of his audience. The constitution of his mind, whether by nature or education, is severely orderly. Method is displayed in the artistic arrangement of his discourses, the careful grouping of kindred subjects, and the blending of them together so as to form a compact and harmonious whole. By severe study, he excogitates what he considers the meaning of the sacred '\\rit- ers, places that meaning before his hearers in perspicuous lan- guage, and dares not trust himself to these bold, yet frequently happy, flights in which, though a preacher, at the risk of losing the gist of his scriptural argument, may fix and rivet the attention of his audience. Mr Paterson is a philosophical preacher. We should imagine that not a solitary atom of the poetical is amalgamated in his mental constitution. He is neither a Jeremy Taylor nor a Chalmers; and though certainly not so profound, though more perspicacious and popular in style and ideas, than a Butler, his mind is more akin to the latter than the two former. If he cannot dazzle and astonish, ho can compel his hearers to reflect. If he fails to allure or alarm, he can convince of the duty or necessity, or sup])ly the elements of solcnui and earnest thought. Himself an acute thinker, he must speak to a congregation of thinkers, else REV. JAMES PATEESON. 207 his labours arc a nullity — worse than lost — if not crcatinp; a yawn, yet of necessity exercising a somnolent influence from the theological inductions which the mass of Christians are unable to appreciate. The preaching of ^Ir Paterson is in no way characterised by vehemence. The enthusiasm of the orator is wanting. He has no glowing descriptive language to excite the imagina- tion. He never makes fervent appeals, enchaining the mind by bold and flowery illustration. Containing many of the elements that enforce attention — commanding appearance, full sonorous voice, with a mind less didactic, or with a greater infusion of the poetical temperament — he might have been a great, popular pulpit orator. Yet he could not, by those who know him, be more respected as a minister, nor more beloved as a man. He is never forgetful of the proprieties of his office. In general, he does not bore his audience even with good and true things merely to glorify his own gifts. His prayers, in most instances, are not what prayers frequently are — an outpom'ing of fluent verbosity, wearisome to the ear, and fruitless to the understanding. The subject of our sketch commenced to preach the Gospel in ^lay 1829, and formed the congregation over which he still presides, in November of the same year. For some time their place of worship was in Old Greyfriars' Chapel, Inkle Factory Lane, now a continuation of College Street. About twelve years ago, the congregation erected the chapel in Hope Street, at an expense of nearly £2000. Upwards of two-thirds of this sum has been already paid off, and the remainder is in process of liquidation. The church numbers about 300 members, with about the same amount of a congi'egation un- less on special occasions when it is large. In the begimiing of the year 1848, ^Ir Paterson was appointed to the professorship of the Glasgow Commercial College, then recently formed, and has since continued to perform the duties of the office, to the entire satisfaction of the large number of students who attend his lectures. July 24, 1847. 208 REV. JOHN ARTHUR, HELENSBURGH. Last Sabbath morning, at a quarter to eleven o'clock, tlu3 music of the church bell pealed over the town of Helensburgh. The morning realised all the sweetest associations of a rural Sabbath morning. The ardour of the sun was mitigated by the fleecy clouds and gentle breezes. The busy sons of toil rested — the agitations of the sea had settled into unruffled calm — the birds sung with a mellowed sweetness in every tree, and creation wore a lovely and sacred aspect. On that morn- ing we found our way to the chapel to attend on his ministra- tions, who, during a quarter of a century, has gathered the people, of that town, around him to listen to the words of eternal life. At eleven he made his appearance, and part of the first Hymn (after the Paraphrases), having been svmg, he engaged in prayer with much propriety and be- coming solemnity. Having again sung a part of a Hymn, 2 Cor. iv. 12, to the end, was read as the subject of lecture. The lecturer commenced by stating that ministers at all times are subject to trials and privations. The Apostles are exam- ples of how much ministers may suffei", and at the same time abound in joy. Even when they were most successful their trials multiplied, but those things moved them not. They had fully counted the cost before they entered on the seiwice of the gospel — they were quite prepared for bonds and imprisonment. Their sufferings afforded an opportunity for the power of Christ to rest on them. Their hfe was one continued act of benevo- lence, and yet the world knew them not. It was not reconciknl EEY. JOHN artiiut;. 209 to them, nor had it any heart to appreciate their labours. Yet though they were persecuted and perplexed, they neither repined at nor repented of their work. They gloried even in tribulation, because that contribvxted to the advantage of believers — that which wrought death in them was "life" in their hearers. The faithful servant of Christ (as appears by the passage under review,) is ready to spend and to be spent for Christ and for the s»;ood of man. The advantages of their sufferings and labours compensate for all privations. In con- templating the ha]ipy effect of his ministration, he can calmly look on an early grave, and conclude death as great gain. The preacher then stated that the 13th verse was a quotation from the 110th Psalm, which is introduced on account of the similarity of the Psalmist's position when that Psalm was writ- ten — when the pains of hell got hold on him — when he found trouble and soitow, and yet believed that God would deliver him out of ail his afflictions. Tlie apostle had the same faith in God — he also believes, and therefore speaks. He so felt the power of Christ, that he could not but speak fortli the honour of his name. Silence, in some cases, becomes criminal. Believers are bound to declare what God has done for their souls. He concluded his lecture at a quarter-past twelve, having occuj)ied three quarters of an hour. The congregation was dismissed at half-past twelve. We give the closing part of the lecture in his own words, as a specimen of his style : — " For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, work- eth for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." In these words the apostle contrasts the sufferings of the Christian in the present life with the glory that shall be revealed. It is true his oAvn and the sufferings of his brethren were, viewed in themselves, great — greater, perhaps, than the sufferings of God's servants in any previous age of the world — and Pavil felt that they Avere great — so great that he often despaired even of life. But these sufferings, as contrasted with the divine I'eward, with that more exceeding and eternal weight of glory to whicli he was, in fall and joyful confidence, looking forward, were a light and momentary thing, not worthy to be thought of by the heir of immortalitv for a single momeiit. 2 D 210 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. How strong, how significant the terms here used to describe the future happiness and glory of the sons of God. What does he call it ? Not glory simply, but a weight of glory, as opposed to our light affliction. He calls it an eternal weight of glory-, in opposition to the brief duration of our jiresent trials, and rising in his conceptions of it in proportion as the contemplation of it fired his enraptured soul, he styles it a most exceeding eternal weight of glory — a weight of glory that shall be accumulating, and increasing in splendour, through- out the ages of eternity. What can exceed this "? What more can be said of it ? Eye hath not seen it. It is not seen, it is future, yet to be revealed. Observe one thing asserted by Paul here ; it is, that our present light, momentary affliction Avorketh for us this exceeding, this eternal weight of glory. How is this ? By God's blessing, present affliction weans the affections of his people fi'om earth, so that they are set on things above — v. 18, " while we look not at the things which are seen" — that is, with the heart, the affections, the desires, to have them as a portion — " but at the things which are not seen" — the rewards of faith, the inheritance of the saints in light — the former, the things that are seen, are temporal — the fleeting, transitory objects of an hour — incapable of imparting satisftiction to an immortal mind — the latter, the things which are not seen, are permanent, eternal, and therefore suited, from their natm-e and duration, to afford the highest pleasure and delight to the redeemed and sanctified spirit throughout an endless duration." At two o'clock the afternoon service commenced. The introductory part was short, occupying but about twenty minutes. The text was John xvi. 14 — " He shall glorify me," &c. He commenced by remarldng that the context shows who is the active agent referred to in the text — The Holy Spirit — the Comforter. His work consists of two parts — I. The glorification of Christ ; and, II. The salvation of men. 1st, The work of the Holy Spirit relative to the glori- fication of Christ deserves special attention. The words of the text are prophetic — " He shall glorify me " — and they have already received a partial fulfilment. They were fulfilled in the raising of Christ fii'om the dead by the Spirit of holiness; REV. JOHN ARTHUR. 211 Ills humiliation and sufferings had no glory in the eyes of the multitudes, nor even in the estimation of his o^vn disciples, but his future gloiy shed a lustre on the sorrows of the cross. Death had over him only a temporary dominion, and he had the firm conviction that the Father would not leave him. " I have set Jehovah before me," says he in prophecy, and " My flesh shall therefore rest in hope." The Eternal Spirit raised him from the dead, and he was thus declared to be the Son of God with power. All that Christ did previous to his death, whether as regards miracles or suffering, would have been insufficient to prove the virtue of the atonement, and would have therefore been of no use to man. His resurrection is the proof of the acceptance of his work, as well as the pledge of the resurrection of his followers. Christ is the first fruits — then those who are Christ's at his coming. The resurrection and its consequent results constitute the glory of the Gospel of God. 2dly, The exaltation of Christ to the Father's right hand is also matter of prophecy, and this was the second step of the work of the Spirit in glorifying Christ. That it was predicted Psalms xxii. and Ixviii. clearly show. 3dly, The Saviour was glorified on the day of Pentecost by the bestowment of the miraculous gifts of the Spirit on the apostles. 4thly, The Holy Spirit glorified Christ in the conversion of three thousand souls on the day of Pentecost. It had been predicted that Christ would see of the travail of his soul — immortal spirits emancipated from the thraldom of sin. How mighty the consequences of his atonement. It is the bringing of many sons to glory — the erection of that eternal temple Avhich will be an indestructible monument of the love and grace of Jehovah. And in what a remarkable manner did the pleasure of Jehovah prosper in his hands on that memorable day, when not fewer than three thousand souls bowed in willing submis- sion to the sceptre of the glorified Redeemer, and, from being his betrayers and murderers, became his devoted followers. AVhat a mighty change was there ! What a signal triumph at the Aery commencement of the Gospel. With what 212 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. transports of joy would tlie angels contemplate tliis scene — this first victory of the cross over human prejudices and the powers of darkness. And the Redeemer himself lately returned to heaven from the scene of all his sufferings and death. Can we describe his joy on that occasion, when he beheld the mighty efficacy of his blood — the mighty power of his gi*ace in the conversion of so great a multitude ? And in this scene he beheld the fulfilment of his own prediction in the text — " He shall glorify^ me," and of Isaiah — " He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasvu'e of the Lord shall prosper in his hands." The above, which is a mere outline of the discourses, gives but a very imperfect idea of their real merits. In reference to the lecture, it is obvious that the subject is very clearly eluci- dated. The verses which constituted the subject of lecture appear to a casual reader somewhat incoherent, but the remarks bring out the close reasoning which they involve. Seldom have we heard the relative position of teacher and taught, of present trials and futiu'e glory, of time with eternity, so impressively taught. The lecturer entered into the feelings of the great apostle, and laid before his hearers those high ])rinciples Avhich actuated him (the apostle) in the discharge of his onerous work. The things which are unseen he rendered so palpable and so important, that the present scene and all its glory dwindled into insignificance. In one word the lecturer in plain and popular language, elucidated fully and unexceptionably the great principles and views ^ compre- hended in the subject of lecture. The sermon is a very good specimen of what a discourse should be. The introduction threw much light on the relative position of the text — the division of the discourse was natural, logical, and neat, and the illustrations were apt, forcible, and clear. The manner of the preacher merits special attention. It is characterised by a severe propriety. His gestures, though they want that animation and extravagance, which are (considered essential to the popular orator, are natural and dignified. The action uniformly suits the word. The voice of the preacher is soft, and completely under control. It is alike distinctly heard on the highest and lowest key. Its soft REV. JOIIX ARTHUR. 213 whispers steal around the soul, and its thunders startle the most apathetic. In prayer we would say there is enough of monotony, and in preaching there is occasionally a flagging in the delivery. His style is chaste, and occasionally eloquent. It is painful to think of the misconception that prevails regard- ing pulpit eloquence. The man of stentorian lungs and of declamatory powers is greatly admired for his eloquence — while the man who has the heart and the mind of a poet — who expresses his thoughts in the most appropriate phraseology — if his delivery, is calm, is considered by many a dull preacher. It is scarcely needfid to say, that according to all the rules of rhetoric, the latter, and not the former, is eloquent. The style of the subject of our sketch is eloquent in this sense. The language is exceedingly simple; but it is the simplicity of nature and of good taste. Not a word redundant, not a sentence involved, not a period abrupt. Occasionally a very long sentence is employed, but it is either a stately well arranged climax, or a carefully arranged argument, so stated as to produce the happiest effect. The lecturer generally uses a carefully prepared manuscript, and thus treats his hearers, not to the effervescence of an hom-'s excitement, but to the stern realities of a week's study. Like many of om* best preachers, his physical frame is unequal to sustain the efforts of his spirit. Weakness often sacrifices an excellent discourse in the delivery. Had he the physical attributes of a popular orator, we know few preachers that would excel him. His enunciation is distinct, and, with a few exceptions, his pronunciation is agreeable and correct. He has been no inapt learner in the chaste school of Wardlaw. His hearers must be struck with the definiteness of his sentiments. He adheres strictly to the topic under discussion. Instead of rambling, round about introductions, he rushes at once to the subject. He makes no attempt to exhaust or attenuate an idea. He states at once its broad featm'es, and proceeds to something else. No one can be at a loss to under- stand him, for he always says distinctly and distinctively what he means. Few preachers are so utterly free of the mystic. His sentiments and language are alike transparent. His thoughts frcipiently stretch out into the distant and sweep 214 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. creation ; but even then, the path though before untrodden is distinct — regular — phiiii. As a consequence of this definite- ness, brevity is also a characteristic of his preaching. In the three quarters of an hour which he occupies he traverses a considerable space. Some preachers wander hither and thither, so that in accomplishing their usual distance, they go two miles when one might suffice. They start after every idea that fancy can suggest, and leave the highway sacred to the ciurent of thought. As we follow the subject of our sketch, we see him start correlative ideas, but these never divert him from his straightforward path. His preaching is exuberantly suggestive, but he keeps by his straight path and allows his hearers to follow out the suo-o-ested traces of thouo-ht at their leisvu'e. The benefits of this course are incalculable. The whole service does not occupy an hour and a half, which would occupy a round-about, long-winded preacher, twice that time. As to his theological views, they are strictly evangelical — evangelical in the best sense of the term. On difficult subjects he speaks in Scripture language, while on plain and practical duties, he makes to play all the arguments suggested by the grace and glory of Christ. He analyzes the human heart in its depths and deceitfulness, and brings out of the treasures of the Gospel a fulness of blessing to meet the exigencies of man. IVIr Arthur, who prosecuted his studies in the Glasgow University and in the Theological Academy, was ordained in 1824, and has laboured in Helensburgh ever since. The chapel was built about fifty years ago. Messrs Sime, Edwards, and Boag, were successively settled there. Mr Boag is now well known as the author of a popular dictionary. For several years, !Mr Arthiir Avas sole minister of Helensbm-gh, but now he has no fewer than five colleagues, Secession, Free, Estab- lished, Episcopalian, and Baptist. No man is more respected, and no minister more esteemed. July 31, 1817. 215 REV. JOHN MACNAUGHTAN, A.M., PAISLEY. The mere title of our sketch will, to thousands, suf;rgest the best likeness that could be dra-\vn, for Mr Macnaughtan's name is as wide-spread as that of almost any preacher of the present day, and, once seen or heard, he is a man not soon to be for- gotten. His popularity is not of that mushroom kind attaching to some preachers, for a short year or two, and then crumbling away, but has been gradually progressing since the commence- ment of his ministry, and bids fair to rival that of any of the risinfv men of the times. He is known throuo;hout the leuoth and breadth of Britain, and even across the Atlantic his fame has diffused itself. The reasons for this popularity, were we asked for them, are simple enough. He has never courted the applause of the world — cares, we think, little about it, and has steadily adhered to the discharge of his ministerial duties, particularly to those of the pulpit. Such a course cannot T>e too highly recommended to many of our young clerical aspir- ants, who seem to think there is a possibility of draAving the Avorld after them, by being • every thing by turns, and nothing perseveringly. How many shattered congregations exist — how many names that bade fair for honour and esteem, can we point to, almost irretrievably ruined from this prolific mistake of seeking popidarity without ability to retain it, or stedfast- ness to deserve it 1 Mr Macnaughtan is, we believe, a native of Greenock. Soon after his college curriculum was completed, he received a call to a small charge in England, where he laboured acceptably, 21G OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. Lut Avitlioiit making much progress, for a few montlis. Hap- pening to be on a visit to liis native place during the vacancy which occurred at the death of the Eev. INIr Geddes of the High Chm'ch of Paisley, an invitation was sent him to supply the pulpit for a few days. He went — an entire stranger almost — preached two sermons. At the close, the unanimous feeling of a congregation numbering some twelve hundred was, " That's the man we want." No delay was allowed to elapse till he received a regular call. It was accepted ; and from that moment his fame has gradually and deservedly advanced. Plere he continued for about ten years, till the advent of that remarkable and important epoch in our church history — the Disruption of the Scottish Church— faithfully preaching the great truths of the gospel. All along he had been a stern and uncompromising advocate of non-intrusion doctrines. The thimder of his eloquence on this subject has been throughout the length and breadth of the land re-echoed. Perseveringly, and determinedly, he can-ied his opposition to the moderate party in the Establishment into every town and hamlet almost in Scotland, and consistently, when the moment of the seces- sion arrived, he Avas one of the first to renounce his connexion with the State. This he did, drawing nearly the whole of his flock along with him. The Free High Church was soon after erected, since which he has continued as its pastor. In personal ap})earance, IMr INIacnaughtan is rather below middle stature. He has a well-made firmly-set body, and a gracefiil carriage. Indeed, we may add, that, to our notion, he is the beau ideal of a little man. In the pulpit, or rather on the rostrum, (for there is no pulpit in the Free High Church,) he appears to great advantage. His features are dark and finely chiselled : his forehead expansive, his eye piercing and eloquently flashing around him, his lips thin and slightly curled, indicative of great energy and firmness. He seems to be about forty years of age ; a few grey hairs glisten- ing in his dark locks, intimate that his life has been spent " in labom's oft," and, indeed, this were no less than truth, for there are few men who get through a greater amount of business, and yet manage it more methodically and with less noise and bustle. As he ascends the stair on a Sabbath,^ a dead stillness REV. JOnX MACXAUGIITAX, A.M. 217 pervades the congregation — any murmurs or whispers that may have been running through the house for the last ten minutes (and we regret tliat the Free High Church is not exempt from this too common fault of gossip in church,) are instantaneously hushed. All eyes are du'ected to the preacher. Often on enterino; a strano;e church, or obtainino; a first ghmpse of the minister, one begins to doubt the prudence of the step — wishes he had tried some other place, there is so little appearance of anything on the minister's face calculated to awaken expectation. Not so with INIr Macnaughtan. He settles down more firmly in the seat, convinced from the first glance that it will be his own fault if he don't get a good discourse. Nor is such likely to be disappointed. Pie surveys his congregation ; takes up the psalm-book, and gives out, in a strong mellifluous voice, a few verses. He does not then throw the book aside, and sit staring at his flock as we have seen some pastors do, as much as to say, " The psalmody's your work, get on with it as well as you can," but joins in the praise of God along with them; nor is he in the least averse to raising the tune, if the precentor should come short, or fail in his office. His prayer, which follows, is solemn and impressive. He may be said to have a peculiar gift of prayer — of earnest, deep supplication, clothed in the appropriate and beautiful language of scripture. One is never treated to sounding rhapsodies or long-winded, involved, strained efforts at the magniloquent, nor to those rambling incoherent displays which some men rejoice in. From begin- ning to &nd yoti follow him withovit eftbrt, and without sacri- ficing the solemnity of worship to the emptiness of sound. We have often noticed that those who excelled in prayer were defective, in some point, as preachers. It is not frequent that the combination of excellence in both gifts is found in one individual. We cannot pretend to say which is the most important of the two — whether that gift — " the key which opens the gate of heaven in the morning and closes it at night" — or the convincing, appealing eloquence that reaches the heart's inmost closet ; and it would be wandering out of our province to discuss the point ; but this is certain, that Mr Macnaughtan's prayers and discourses will bear comparison 2 E 218 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. with each other. His style is distinguished by a clear, close, logical acumen. One may obtain few new ideas, during one sermon, but these few are brought home fi'esh and forcible. No point is left at a peradventure — nothing in a state of uncertainty. One may concur in what he says, or may differ from him, but away one must go without a doubt of what he wished to understand, and of every argument which the preacher employed to enforce the importance of the subject. He never loses sight of his subject, nor allows his hearers to do so; his text, whatever it may be, is kept in view, and the divisions of his sermon are to be found in it, and this is saying more than the utmost stretch of our charity will allow us to admit regarding the one -half of sermons. United to a bold and vigorous fancy, he is possessed of great powers of close metaphysical reasoning, and the ability, however difficult the gromid he occupies, of so simplifying his subject, that the slowest understanding may follow him. This is one excellent featu.re in all his discourses — the bottom of his subject is seen. Many suppose that this virtue, so rarely possessed, of being able to accommodate a subject to any mind, betrays the shallowness of the preacher. Never was a more mistaken idea. Yet there are hundreds who, after hearing a confused jargon of sound and sense — " all huninous yet no light" — which might as well have remained in its original chaos, as be brouglit forth for any good — ready to laud it to the skies. " The pebbles at the bottom of the deep pool may be seen, while you cannot penetrate through the shallow, noisy gutter." His language is chaste and simple, often highly poetic, rising to sublimity, as he dilates on some favour- ite theme. Unhke the short, gra])hic sentences of Dr Hamil- ton of Leeds, skipping one after another hke grasshoppers, those of Mr Macnaughtan are long, and often involved, suited, however, to his peculiar style. Yet, though this forms a great barrier to the popularity of his printed discourses, one does not find fault with them. On hearing him, one rather likes them. Their length does not obscure their meaning. The hearer is never obliged to pause and ask what that sentence meant, or to try the re-constniction of it, puzzling the brain to extort the sense or connection out of it. His manner in the pulpit is REV. JOHN MACNAUGHTiysr, A.M. 219 dignified and impressive ; his action graceful and appropriate. There is no straining at effect, no torturing of the body into hideous postures, or still more hideous grins, disfiguring the countenance. All is unstudied and natural. His voice is strong, clear, and regular, without being injured by that affected, disgusting drawl, or twang, which so many preachers seem to think adds a degree of sanctity to speech. He pos- sesses complete command of it ; even at its highest pitch — and Ave have heard it rino-inp' throuo-h the largest churches in Scot- land, till the hearts of the hearers thriUed within them — it is completely under his mastery. Save when delivering contro- versial discoiu'ses, he rarely or never reads, seldom even employs notes ; yet one never finds him stumbling or break- ing down, or employing inappropriate language. His voice, as he commences, is at first low ; it gradually rises with the development of his subject ; his action increases till he reaches a climax — a very torrent of words thundered forth eloquently, and at times awfully. " Fire baptised sentences" roll at the heels of each other in quick succession — every eye is ri vetted, every heart trembhng, eveiy somid hushed ; the tear is trick- ling down his own cheek, it is rolling over the face of many a hearer ; quick, low sobs may be detected in the silence, deep- drawn from some touched conscience : the preacher's voice still rises — arises with the language of inspiration ; some solemn Bible passage crowns the whole — a deep amen — and he is silent. Often have we sat under such passages as these, with breath suspended, waiting for the close. All the time he preaches, his eye is never off his congregation. It flashes forth sternly at them, pew by pew. No sleeper, inattentive or disorderly hearer, escapes notice ; and we believe it is no unusual thing to hear him stop abruptly, and order that man or woman to be wakened up, or mark out a restless individual. How often do we find the effect of a good sermon marred or injured at its close, by a needless repetition or clumsy patching up of its substance to create effect, or by a twisted, tortured effort at a second application of it, accompanied by a fi'agmen- tary repetition of the already exhausted arguments. !Mr ISIac- naughtan always avoids this. He closes the book, a single sentence or quotation more, he is done, leaving it to produce 220 OUll SCOTTISH CLERGY. its owTi effect, wliicli it never fails to do, the mind being un- distracted by wading throngh an unsatisfactory effort at fui'ther enforcement. Were we called upon to trace a resemblance betwixt the subject of our sketch and any other preacher, we should say that In many respects in an eminent degree, he resembles the late Dr Andrew Thomson of Edinburgh. Time, there is not the same stamp of lofty genius that glows upon the memory of Thomson, the same lofty grasp of intellect, the same gigantic mind, shadowed forth in Mi' Macnaughtan ; but there is much of the same manliness of independent thought, much of that fearless intrepidity of action that characterised the great apostle of fi'eedom. The leading principle of Mr Macnaughtan's mind, reflected in his life, is determination. A fearless energy of purpose has ever distinguished him from the crowd of other men who surround him. He never is lukewarm on any subject, never half a friend and half a foe. What he under- takes, he does heartily — what he opposes, openly and sternly ; what he advocates, with all his soul; what he condemns, emphatically. One knows at once what side he is on, and what to expect from him. Joined to this characteristic there is yet another point of resemblance — his controversial powers. This is Mr Macnaughtan's forte. Whether Avielding the " wooden sword of Harlequin or the club of Hercules " — whether scattering the stinging arrows of satire or ridicule, or employing the heavier metal of logical argument, the hand of a master is visible. On the platform. In the pulpit, or with the pen, he is equally at home, if the watchword is war. At college he was distinguished as a wrangler. Later, when the memor- able shibboleth of party on the Voluntary and State Church (juestlon echoed through the land, he was one of the sturdiest and most unmerciful assailants of the Voluntary cause. Then followed his onslaught on Popery — a scries of lectures on the errors of the Romish Church, which led to a pamphlet warfare with the late Rev. Mr Bremner of Paisley. Afterwards succeeded the ever-memorable causes which hastened the dis- ruption of the Scottish Chiu'ch, and which we have already noticed. But to go over all the controversies in which he has btvn a('ti\ely engaged is a matter that wuidd occu])y too A\Ide EEV. JOHN MACNAUGIITAN, A.M. 221 a space for the limits of our present notice. Nor are we disposed to enter into any disquisition on the errors of judgment A\'liicli have been laid to the charge of Mr Macnaughtan in some of these matters. Charity to both parties must lead us to pass over errors in both bodies ; for, it has always proved the case, that in the acrimony and bitterness of party warfare many things have been said and done, by those contending, which in cool blood and on after reflection must look both ridiculous and wrong. However strong the animosity which existed during the reign of these two great questions which agitated the very heart of Britain — the Voluntary and Free Church contro- versies — and however merciless Mr Macnaughtan's argumen- tative firebrands may have been scattered, we think that there is none, however much opposed to him, will charge him with having been an unfair or dishonest adversary. No opponent will, we think, venture to assert his want of candour, or any injustice or unfairness done to his arguments. Mr Macnaugh- tan — and the admission comes from one opposed to him in many matters — never descended to buffoonery nor garbled and t^vistcd the arguments of his adversary out of their jiroper legitimate meaning, to answer a party end, so far as we have ever been able to trace his proceedings. Of late years, now that the volcanic fire of controversy has burnt low, his views, if they have not undergone a change, have at least in some points become considerably modified. There seems to be more of the liberal enlightened principle of Christian love, forbear- ance, and unanimity glowing in his actions. May it long increase ! In private life his manner is pleasant and engaging. Though in public a stern decision characterises his actions, in the family circle, or amongst friends, the cheerful, good-humoured, easy manner he assumes wins esteem at once. In public, he is the pastor; in private, the friend and adviser. No better evidence of this is needed than exists in the strong attachment entertained by his flock towards him. Young and old, rich and poor of them look up to him Avith love, reverence, and esteem. Indeed, we have sometimes thought this feeling was carried too far — so far that the pastor became the hero, the idol of the congregation ; but this is the safest side to find an 222 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. error on. We remember wlien, shortly after the disiniption, he had received a call to Leith, the consternation and dismay the probability of his acceptance of it spread amongst them. A friend happened, one evening about that time, to pass the Old Low Church, Avhere Mr Macnaughtan's congregation assembled till their new house was erected. There had been a meeting in the chvu'ch that night — a very sad one — of the congregation, to consider means to induce the minister to remain in Paisley. At the church gate, there was a girl standing sobbing, like to break her heart. The passenger stopped and inquired, "What ails ye, lassie? — why are ye greeting that way?" "Oh, it's Mr Macnaughtan !" "IVIr Macnaughtan ! what has he done to you ?" " Oh, sir," she replied, like Niobe, in tears, " he's brocht us oot o' Egypt, an' noo gaun to leave us in the wilderness !" and the tears broke out afresh. Though this anecdote in itself may appear silly enough, still it affords, regarded in a proper light, no small evidence of the strength of that attachment which even the humblest of J\Ii' Macnaughtan's congregation entertain towards him. During the course of his ministry, he has received several invitations to other fields of labour, preferable, in many respects, to Paisley. At present, he has one, we believe, from London, with what chance of acceptance we do not know; but there ai'e many men whom Paisley could better spare than the subject of oui' sketch. August 7, 1847. .00-^ \"b ,^^ "I'/lA FW'SENTED 10 THE SUBSCRIBEi^S Of THE (;LAPCPO¥ F,XAa\UN£P. ftLAS eow: 223 REV. GEORGE JEFFREY, LONDON EOAD. There is a certain class of men who never seem to grow old. Years pass over their heads, indeed, and do not fail to drop down their less or larger flakes of snow, nor to plough deeper or shallower wrinkles on their brows. But their feelings, their heart, their blood, their very looks and motions, continue young. The causes of this are, we suspect, manifold. In some it springs from a certain elasticity and buoyancy of body — they seem made to dance through life — and their hop, step, and jump-like motion begun at the cradle, ends only with the tomb. In others it springs from a child-like simplicity of character and of mind, a simplicity which, though seeming soft as the down of the thistle or the foam of the wave, is yet hard as the white marble, and will not yield to all the influences of a tortuous and heartless world. In a third class it is the result of carefully preserving the tastes and habits of boyhood from its innocence and horror of guilt, down to its sweet tooth and liking for raw turnips. All poets, too, are young, and always young. Genius is just the union of great intellect with perpetual youth; the head of a poet grows grey, but his heart can never grow old ; his imagination may even lose some of its fire and freshness, but as soon may the sun become weary of shining as his mind cease to ray out more or less the fervour and the feeling which are essential to his natiire. No surer mark of a genuine genius than this. We hear of men being hotm poets. No one ever was. There is no poetry in the infant eye — none in his bitter tears — none in the ciy, by which he proclaims that 224 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. he smells the air ; the cold seed, indeed, of poetry is in that infant, bnt whether it shall ever warm into the life or expand into the blossoms of genius, depends upon a thousand circum- stances, including the contagion of the faces which meet his opening countenance, the scenery which salutes his early eye, the education he receives, the companions who surround him, the books which wreathe their silent chains around his imagina- tion, and the passions which lurk or blaze up in his soul. But once a poet always a poet. " Call no man happy till he be dead." Call no man a poet till he be old. Not till then can you tell whether his vein has been merely the heat of young blood, the escape of early passions, the echo of early reading, or the effect of an irresistible afflatus. Yes, all poets are essentially young. Look at yonder bard, grey-hauled at twenty-eight, bent luider a load of premature sorrow, apparently dying of age ! Is he young? He is; look at his eye, still ever and anon elate with childish delight, as a strong sunbeam glints into his darkened room, or as the rainbow suddenly spans the window of his sick chamber. Feel the pressure of his hand all glowing and biTrning, and you feel that the man is still young. And how much more intensely would you see the same, could you but behold his heart reflecting in its red stillness as in a mirror of love, all being, from diidnity to the fly, which is mm'm.uring unhindered amid his wild neglected hairs ; or behold yon poet who has seen some sixty summers — he is stone blind — his forehead is written over with wrinkles — his white hair shines like mountain snow. Is he old ? No. his soul is sixteen though his body be sixty — his imagination winged as luxuriantly as when it led him through the shady dingles and bosky bowers of that immortal wood where Comus held his mysteries, is traversing the bowers of Eden, and floating above the crystal waters of the river of God. He has renewed his youth like the eagles. A grey souled genius I There is no such being in the world. Age bedims not the eye of true insight. " Time writes no wrinkle on its brow," any more than on the azm'e brow of ocean. Strange years intermeddle not "vnth its joy, nor add much to its sorrow. What has it to do with time, which thirsts after the infinite, and at every movement of its powers stretches toward the Eternal '? EEV. GEORGE JEFFREY. 225 These remarks may serve as a cool garden arch to introduce us to the subject of our present sketch, who unites much youthful freshness to much manly vigoiu\ The Eev. George Jeffrey possesses one of the most ingenuous and open of coun- tenances, has all a boy's frankness of manner, buoyancy of gait, animation of animal spirits, and a joyous ringing laugh which it does one's very heart good to hear. We knew him when a youth in his first session at college, and really know no differ- ence on him since. Fifteen years have left him the same frank, cordial, warm-hearted being that he was then, and he may say, "let fifty pass, they'll find no change in me." His mind, indeed, has expanded, his knowledge increased, his powers matured, but his heart and manner are precisely the same. In this how much does he differ from the race of mankind ! One is separated from persons while still in the bloom of youth. One meets them years afterwards, and, but for their features and form, would imagine they had been changed. All their natural manner is spirited away — they have become cold, stiff, formal — their eye has lost its speculation — they take your hand as if it were a Imnp of mud — perhaps a mangled English accent adds to their strangeness. If you allude jestingly to the events of former years they look grave and distant, and bid you at last farewell, as if they felt tliemselves standing at the point of divergence between the broad and the narrow roads, and you cannot doubt for a moment whither they conceive themselves bound. " I see you vipwards cast your eyes — ye ken the road." George Jeffrey is none of those solemn twad- dlers. He is a plain, blunt, straightforward friendly man, as full of generous impulses as when he was a boy, but possessed of sufficient wisdom and knowledge of mankind properly to curb and regulate them. His two leading faculties are intuitive sagacity and geniality of spirit. His mind does not work by any round about pro- cess ; it leaps at once upon the point. He chooses his side of a question by a kind of instinct, and he generally chooses right. We love this intuitive quality — it is worth cart loads of that low, logical faculty, which is so much prized in the present day, that traces out a subject as a man would follow a fugitive in the wilderness, by external walks and foot prints, ' 2 F 226 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGA'. by the evidence of dishevelled bushes and broken branches. The other is the sure scent of a bloodhound, tracking its victim through the finer medium of the air, and working equally well when the sun is on the path and when darkness has blotted out every vestige and foot-print. The subject of this sketch can indeed reason when he pleases, and reason well, but he forms his opinions apart from, and independent of, the logical relations of subjects — he brings them at once to the touch- stone of his instinctive sense and glowing heart, and judges of them accordingly. Logic we hold to stand in the same cate- goiy among intellectual powers or processes that prudence does among the virtues. It is, like it, a useful guard and defence, but it is negative in its character, and ought, though it does not always, bow the head when higher powers appear on the field. A generous impulse tramples often prudential motives in the dust. A great, sudden thought rends some- times logical formulae in sunder, as did the arms of Samson the new ropes of the Philistines. Akin with this instinctive sagacity is a genial and enthusi- astic temperament — two things Avhich indeed generally go together. We will not settle the knotty point whether Mr JeflPrey has genius, lest, should we deny it, he should assure us (and Ave have heard of such things) on his own authority that he has, and who should know better than himself? Bat his intellect is certainly steeped in the genial nature. Hence his ardent enthusiasm — an enthusiasm so great that it appears to colder spirits almost foolish and absurd. Hence the self-forget- ting and self-abandoning spirit with which he praises those authors and friends whom he loves. Hence the forcible and rapid fervour of his style and of his manner of public adch'ess ; and hence the zeal with which he throws himself, head and heart foremost, into any cause, however peculiar and mipopu- lar it may be. And yet it is curious to remark how much prudence he manages to blend with his zeal and enthusiasm. As in his face, with all its transparent openness, there is a certain sharp and knowing look, which proclaims him no simpleton, so there is method in his management of the measures he supports, hoAvever extreme and violent they may appear to many. There, for instance, is the question of total REV. GEORGE JEFFREY. 227 abstinence, of which he is an ardent sup})orter. We have, in fact, met with few endurable teetotallers Ijut himself. He is not eternally intruding the subject into every company and conversation. His face does not blacken, as if he were seized with a fit of apoplexy, at the entrance of the wine decanters. His fingers do not shrink shiveringly from handing them about, as if he were lending a lift to the golden calves, in their rounds, from Dan to Beersheba. His conversation is not principally composed of scraps of speeches on the favour- ite theme, nor does he ever inflict entire lectures upon the ill-fated audience, who wish the lecturer away to practice his total abstinence in the Ked Sea. Himself, a firm, (jonscien- tious, and most consistent abstainer, IVIr Jeffrey has too much charity and good sense to call every man an infidel or a drunk- ard who does not see the matter at the same angle of vision with himself, and knows full well how much this of all causes has been hurt by its weak and windy, or its rude and brutal, or its fierce and intolei'ant advocacy, and that there is too much truth in the taunt that total abstinence, as Dr Johnson said of patriotism, is often the last refuge of a scoundrel. ]Mr Jeffrey's mind is peculiarly distinguished by its activity. You see this in his phrenological developement. His brow is not particularly large, but it proclaims a mind in a state of constant and happy activity, tidings which are amply confirmed by the expression of his eye, the aspect of his body, and all the habits of his life. Hence, with all his fire and enthusiasm, he is a most practical man, one of the best young men of business in the United Presbyterian body. He is an admir- able Presbytery Clerk — his punctuality, activity, liveliness, and hon hommie constitute him, perhaps, the best ministerial teacher of youth in the west. At the Synod one cannot be withovit seeing his curly head (for he is a " curled darling "), his frank face, and his elastic gait, bustling about, now thread- ing the crowded passages, now exalted on matters of high import beside the Synod Clerks, and anon diving down some of the staircases leading to those obscure recesses where committees do convene and bear on their shoiilders the Atlan- tean weight of synodical business. As a preacher, Mr Jeffrey is uniformly animated. The 228 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. moment he begins, out comes a rushing stream or torrent of genuine ardour, which continues, without the shghtest inter- mission, to the close. The great error of this is, that his manner and utterance, being all along pitched on the same key, produce the effect of monotony. Consequently, he comes to a close, but never to a climax. His rapidity, force, and fluency are wonderful, but the wonder does not increase, after the first particular. He reminds us somewhat of a gig-horse that once bore us, whose blood seemed absolute fire, whose breath you were disposed to shun, lest you should be singed, and who, the moment that the reins were loosened, rushed away as if pursued by the furies, " swallowing the ground for fierceness and rage," and who, evidently, if michecked, woidd have ran on till death. Svich a demon in Iloughnhi/m shape we never fell in with. Mr Jeffi'ey pursues a similar neck-or- nothing pace, although his fire is never of a w ild or frenzied kind. He has sometimes been accusedof imitating DrChalmers; and certainly there are tones in his voice, accents in his pro- nunciation, motions in his body, and expressions in his style, which reveal one who has unconsciously imbibed miich from the great master. But apart fi*om many other differentite, he has not those refmlarlv ascending bursts wdiicli have ever been charged as proofs of ai*tifice on the part of Dr C, although we imagine they rather sprung from the natural motion of his mind. Like all runners, he began slowly, increased his speed as he went on, frequently paused to take breath, and proceeded again at a rate steadily and cumulatively accelerating toward a gi'and finale. It had been otherwise had he reached his maximum of speed at the first heat, or if the commencement of his last run had been precisely at the same pace with the commencement of his first. Our ft'iend, on the other hand, commences at the gallop, and at the gallop continues to the end. His style is less correct or elegant than rhythmical and rounded. It is less pointed than dispread. His sentences are generally long, sometimes loose and straggling, but always full of liveliness, force, and rapid flow. Sometimes in striving to keep up the uniform rush of language, he has landed in the batlios. We have heard of him closint; a ^•crv solemn and REV. GEORGE JEFFREY. 229 powerful sermon, by exhorting his audience to holiness, as they would avoid the ^^everlasting torments of an eternal hell." Perhaps, indeed, this multiplication of perdition, this (to use heraldic language) charging brimstone on brimstone was only a lapsus linguae. As a lectm-er and platform orator, Mr Jeffrey is a great favourite in Glasgow. His well-known fearlessness and honesty, his frankness and obhging disposition, his fondness for the forlorn hope, the readiness with which, without gloves, he goes forward, and from the nettle-danger plucks the flower safely, while the timid and temporising around are hesitating, and hawking, halving their doubts, quartering their scruples, and consulting even twopenny gods in the market-place, as to times and seasons, ways and means, and prudence and expediency, and so forth, not to speak of his readiness and manly eloquence — all recommend him to those who can think for themselves, and are willing to weigh independent thoughts against money- bags, or wind-bags, or great names, though piled up to the horizon, and to stake their all on the upshot. We can point to two clergymen at least who have exempted themselves from the influences of such bastard aristocracy as may be found even in Glasgow — one the subject of this sketch, and another, if he would but fully speak out his mind — strong, plain, gifted William Anderson. Mr Jeffrey's sole publication is a lecture recently delivered in Edinbiirgh, at the request of the Free Church Anti-slavery Society. We heard it delivered, and liked it much as a clear and vigorous expose of the enormities which American Chris- tianity perpetrates or hugs to her bosom. It hit the subject between wind and water. It did not repel the timid, nor did it disappoint the firm and fearless. It was at once milk for babes and strong meat for those of full age. Hence even the Free Church Society took it in sweetly, and consented, without a scruple, to adopt it as theirs when it was published. Hence certain milk and water periodicals while passing by in silent contempt still more thorough-going exposures of the evil, such as that of the pen of Nelson of Belfast, gave this not more praise than it certainly deserved. The subject is one which ^Ir Jeffrey has carefully studied, and to which he does great 230 OUIl SCOTTISH CLERGY. justice. It is, as a piece of composition, irregular and imper- fect ; but no one can read it without his heart heaving and his blood boiling at the facts it reveals, and the beat of righteous indignation is audible in its every line. Mr Jeffrey was settled in London Road in the year 1838. He found " a beggarly account of empty boxes," but has, by perseverance, talent, energy, and that honesty which is the best policy, reared a most respectable congregation, amounting, we imagine, to more than 700 members. He is deservedly much admired by his congregation, and beloved by his many friends. He is allied by marriage with Dr Ritchie, whom in many points he resembles. If the son-in-law^ do not equal his father in versatility of powers, or in that matchless vein of original humour which distinguishes him, he promises to be a more useful minister, and bids fiair to rival him in that rather uncommon quality which drew forth the admiration of Pope and Burns, and makes the latter exclaim, — " Princes and lords are but the breath of kings, An honest man's the noblest {and scarcest) work of God." August 14, 1847. I'R FSKWTFT) TO TIE SDT!SCTiTBEPS OF THE CLA-WW FXAMINET! (;LAS(;o>f. 231 REV. JOHN FORBES, D.D. & LL.D., FREE ST Paul's. The adaptation of Christianity to men of every country and clime has, justly, been considered one of the most potent evi- dences of its Divine origin. Without destroying individual or national peculiarities, it assimilates men of every age, and rank, and condition, into the image of its heavenly Founder. Nor is its adaptation to all varieties of mind less remarkable. The mind of a Newton is entranced with its sublimities, while the unlettered ^^easant weeps over its simple and wondi'ous tale. The entrusting of men, of passions common to humanity, with the message of mercy, is a manifestation of the wisdom and knowledge of God, and the employing of persons of all possible variety of natural, mental, and moral endowanent, to circulate the " glad tidings," is an arrangement which must commend itself to every intelligent man. Who has not been struck to see one ignorant of every other subject, both learned and eloquent, regarding the scheme of human redemption. The unlettered, untitled, and unsent — by man — missionary, who can speak only his own tongue, and that imperfectly, often in a barn has made himself felt by his rustic audience, and awakened in them thought and feeling which shall return to quiescence no more, but flow on till they lose themselves in Him who is light and love. The rhetorician may scowl as every one of his rules is violated — the logician may see nothing proved — but there is an internal process going on — minds are receiving an impetus which may impel tliem on through a long career of useful- ness and honour, while they turn many to righteousness, 232 OUR SCOTTISH CLEKGY. who along with them shall finally shine with a brightness which shall obscure the mendian sun. " Not many wise men after the flesh are called," and, consequently, not many who occupy a first place in the ranks of mind are employed in proclaiming the gospel. There have, however, in every age, been preach- ers who have occupied a high place among the learned and eloquent, and accompHshed portion of the race — men who, while they hold the same views, as those less endowed, of the rudiments of the gospel, take a wider and stronger grasp of the great mysteries. These are equally familiar with the great facts of the gospel; but they are able to embrace more comprehensive views of the Divine character and government, and unfold more fully " the manifold wisdom of God." They can trace the great principles of the Divine administration — the mighty analogies wdiich obtain throughout the three great departments of creation, providence, and redemption. They not only understand and appreciate the announcements of scripture, but they hear the voice of God alike in the tempest and in the whisperings of the gentle breeze. As they look on the circle and examine its proportions, they discover some of those oTeat laws accordino; to which the Divine administration is conducted. They look on these heavens, and while many view them merely as a gorgeous roof to cover this world, they see them redolent with worlds where all the activities of life go forward, and where social and sweet affections have their home, and where the universal Creator makes himself known and felt by intelligent and happy worshippers. Among this class of preachers every one, who knows any- thing of the minister of Free St Paul's, willingly concedes him a place. He is not only the devout Christian — ^he is also the man of science and of learning. He has long sustained a high position among masters of the abstract sciences. In the science of magnitude, proportion, and number, he is thoroughly versed. His works on these subjects have received the sanc- tion of the most competent judges, and have been of incalcul- able value to many a student. Strange though it may appear, it is not the less true that a knowledge of the abstract sciences seems almost incompatable with a ready or eloquent utterance. The man who has never subjected his thoughts to the severity KEV. JOHN FORBES, D.D. & LL.D. 233 and strictness of mathematical demonstration will find little difficulty in seizing language in which to embody his ideas, but those accustomed to arrive at remote conclusions, by adliering to strict definitions, and by using language in entire accord- ance with these, will weigh their words well, and rather stop short than vitiate their ratiocination. It has been often observed that even one session's study of geometry has shorn the young orator of all his flowers and similies. Those accus- tomed to listen to him when he knew as much of the pons asino- Tum as he did of the geology of the moon, and were enraptured with his dazzling periods and glowing and fiery elocution, are shocked to find, as he emerges from the crucible of Euclid, that he has become a " dry stick." His Johnsonian sentences, and his Hervian descriptions have given place to abrupt sayings couched in simple phraseology. Alas ! how fallen in the eyes of those who come to listen to a speaker for the purpose of being made merely to gaze and to gape, without the trouble of thinking or the excitement of feeling. To this general rule Dr Forbes can scarcely be considered an exception. He can express himself with propriety and with fluency, but to the furor of the orator he is an utter stranger. Without notes he can speak unhesitatingly for any given time, and occasionally his style becomes animated and elegant, but he can make no approaches to the eloquence of the man who knows not but the moon, at his father's door, is the shield of Wallace hung up on a distant pole, and who conscientiously believes that the earth is a level surface surrounded with high walls to keep the natives from tumbling over. We repeat it, that he who knows nothing of the quadrant or differential calculus, or of any one science, will astonish and delight many an audience that would deem the accomplished minister of Free St Paul's an uninte- resting preacher. While on the article of speaking, we may state that, for a number of years, Dr Forbes generally read his sermons fi.'om carefully prepared manuscripts, but since the disruption he often uses no notes whatever. With all defer- ence to the majority, who may think otherwise, we consider the doctor has committed an error. Some preachers ought not to use notes and some ought not to want them, and among the latter we think the subject of our sketch must be assigned his 2g 234 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. place. His calm, philosophic, profound mind demands to be allowed to put down its thoughts leisurely and in order to be able to state them neatly and elegantly. Violence is done to such a mind when it is compelled to produce or reproduce thought with the rapidity necessary for a public speaker. It requires to feel its way, to examine with care the different aspects and bearings of its own productions. To compel it to give its thoughts to an assembly in any other manner than through a carefully prepared phraseology does it a violence and a wrong which it is impossible to calculate. As Dr Forbes has made himself well kno^vn through the press, it is not oiu* intention to occupy space with any length- ened details of his usual pulpit appearances. "We have oftener than once listened with pleasure to his accurate instructions. On the forenoon of Sabbath week he was in his pulj)it at five minutes past eleven. The congregation was not fully assembled till nearly a quarter past the announced hour. After a few verses were sung, a prayer, remarkable for its simple and experimental character, was offered. We have been present when prayers, which never engaged the thought or feeling of an audience, were said. Despite the efforts of the most devout, it is impossible to view them as other than a mere pantomime. On the occasion in question the most apathetic could not but feel an interest. The feehngs, affections, and desires were all finely expressed. The only defect we felt was a lack of order. Some topics were oftener than once inti'oduced, and others introduced in an unnatural connection. A chapter was then read, and, after the second singing, 1 Pet. iii. 13 — 15, was read as the subject of lecture, " Wlio is he will harm you," &c. The lecturer commenced by stating that the cause of Christ in its mfancy had to contend with peculiar trials. Christ had forewarned his disciples of the sufferings to which they would be subjected, and recommended that they should count the cost before they became his followers. Their very sufferings, however, quahfied them for being witnesses for the truth. These made their sincerity manifest. A cause which involves such privations will be embraced only by those who have a hearty belief in its truth. In making known their testimony in the midst of REV. JOHN FORBES, D.D. & LL.D. 235 opposition, consolations were imparted that otherwise would not have been needed. The word of God is adapted to all times in which the church may be cast. It assumes the church is afflicted, and there are consolations accordingly provided. Suffering, if it impedes the spread of Christianity, makes it more intense. Grace is given to meet and to bear the trials. After some other preliminary remarks, the lectui'er proceeded to inquire into the scope of the question, "Who is he who will harm you if ye be followers of that which is good?" The question, he said, might be viewed, 1st, as pointing to the effects of true goodness even on the wicked. In this sense it might be considered a challenge. Who can touch real good- ness ? If a man's ways please the Lord, his enemies wdll be at peace with him. A natural conscience rebukes the perse- cutor when he injru'es the unoffending and patient, and, in some cases, has converted the enemy into a friend. The power of goodness has often been more than a match for the most hostile. The question, 2dly, may be referred to the enemies of Clmst and of his cause. Who are the enemies ? what their name, their character, or their power ? Is there anything in their position which would make it desirable, and induce to join them ? Probably the question may be meant to awaken pity for them as actuated by ignorance and prejudice, and under the influence of Satan. Fear them not, for, at worst, they can only kill the body. The question, 3dly, is designed to suggest the power of God as engaged to protect his people. It points to the true source of all consolation and support. Wlio is against you if God is for you? If any suffer with him it is that they may be glorified together. In illustrating the 14th and 15th verses, the lecturer quoted Isaiah vili. 13, as the passage quoted by Peter, and pointed out the connec- tion in which it stood in Isaiah, as illustrative of the meaning attached to it by Peter. The lecturer then pointed out the antidote against all fear. The sanctlf)dng the Lord God in the heart, and the confidence that his name is the strong tower in which his people are all safe. He concluded by referring to the effects of meekness and kindness on those who oppose themselves, and directed to imitate the meekness and gentle- ness of Christ. The lecturer commenced at twenty-five minutes 236 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. to twelve, and ended at twenty minutes to one, having occu- pied an hour and five minutes. As ah-eady hinted, the language of the preacher is simple and laconic, and, consequently, he embodies a great deal of matter in each discourse. As might be expected, from his knowledge of the abstract sciences, he adlieres strictly to his subject. The only difficulty the hearer experiences is to follow the principles which he illustrates. He lays hold of the lead- ing ideas, the principles involved, and illustrates them with much care. The gi-eat defect, however, is in his not stating, so intelligibly as might be done, the principles he is discussing. He sees them almost intuitively, and assumes others to do the same ; whereas they have often great difficulty to understand the bearing of a particular illustration on the subject under discussion. In a word, he assumes too much on both the knowledge and mental sagacity of his people, and leaves them to learn or infer what he should broadly and palpably state. The doctor embodies too much truth in a sermon. No man, unless a perfect gormandiser, could devom' the Benjamin messes he places before his hearers. In this respect his preaching forms a direct contrast with that of Dr Chalmers. He was continu- ally dividing and subdividing his matter till, at length, it became almost diluted, but the subject of our sketch is heap- ing up the dishes of his auditors when they can do little else than gaze in mute surprise over the gorgeous repast. Dr Chalmers would have supplied the world for a whole twelve- month with one meal of Dr Forbes'. It is impossible to describe the effect of this weekly surfeit on an audience. Some will loathe the rich fare, others will partake but not digest, and those of full age oidy are able to properly use " the strong meat." It would, however, be an immense improvement in the doctor's preaching would he devote a part of the time spent in catering such a superabundance of provision to divide and season it. Such " lapfulls " are enough to destroy the best mental stomach, but were he to serve up his wholesome fare along with lettuces or other productions of the garden, he might nom-ish his people better and save one half his provisions. Few can stand a perpetual feast. It leads to imbecihty or loathiiiir. REV. JOHN FORBES, D.D. & LL.D. 237 The appearance of Dr Forbes deserves some notice. "We have not seen a man of talent more apparently at peace with everybody and with himself. As he reclines at his ease during singing not a thought seems to pass his fresh counte- nance, not a smile to play on his lip, not a care to lower his brow, but there he sits the very impersonification of the passive virtues. When he begins to speak the channels of thought and feeling begin to flow and overflow. His counte- nance speaks more eloquently than his tongue. Dr Forbes has pubhshed on a variety of subjects. Besides a number of discourses published — some by request and some, we apprehend, without request — in the Scottish Pulpit and otherwise, his scientific works are well and favourably known. His book on the Differential and Intregal Calculus, derived synthetically from an original principle, proves him a master in the abstract sciences, and while his sermons prove that he has a heart, this demonstrates that he has a mind vigorous and powerful. In a volume published in 1840 on the Headship of Christ, which includes lectures by a number of clergymen of the Established Church, one by our author, which opens the volume, we consider a good specimen of his style — a style at once stately and accurate, flowing, and highly chaste. Dr Forbes was born at Dunkeld early in the present century. He was educated at Perth and the university of St Andi'ew's, and ordained to the ministry in 1827. He was first settled in Hope Park Chapel, Edinburgh, and then removed to Glasgow. In 1843, he left the Established Church along with the greater part of his intelligent and ardently attached people. He now worships with them in a neat church built by their own efforts in Cathedral Street, and there ministers to a numerous and affectionate people, who, as far as we can learn, make him the full allowance of salary he had in connexion with the Estab- lished Chm'ch. Long may the congregation of Free St Paul's enjoy the hiinistrations of their learned and accomplished pastor. Dr Forbes received his diploma of D.D. from the university of St Andrew's and the degree of LL.D. from that of Glasgow. August 21, 1847. 238 REV. ALEXANDER S. PATTERSON, HUTCHESONTOWN FREE CHURCH. In Hospital Street stands Hutcliesontown Free Church, in which the Reverend gentleman, whose name is at the head of our present sketch, ministers with great acceptance to an attached congregation. There is nothing of a formal or aflPected character either in !Mr Patterson's mode of conducting public worship, or in his style of preaching. His prayers are truly edifying, being offered up in simple and Scriptiu'al language ; and while they include all the various topics appropriate to the supplications of the sanctuary, they are never protracted, as is the case with too many of our clerg}-men, to an unreasonable or wearisome length. His preaching is practical and thoroughly evangelical ; and, in all his pulpit ministrations, he shows him- self to be, indeed, "a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." IVIr Patterson's text, last Sabbath afternoon, was Gal. vi. 9, first clause of the verse: " Let us not be weary in well doing." From this comprehensive subject he preached a most excellent and impressive sermon. He commenced by saying that the words well doing as here used, denote Christian beneficence, and belong to that class of words which applies to those actions of men which have for their object especially the promotion of the welfare of the church and of the world, a meaning rendered probable by the verse which immediately follow^s that of the text : " As we have therefore opportimity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." The principle of the obligation involved in the text is rRESEJfl'El) TO THE SUBSCKJBERS Of THE (ILASC-mw e:(AMINEK MIEV? A„ So IPATiriS]l.S(iDN< GLASGOTT. EEV. ALEXA2s^DER S. PATTERSON. 239 universal, extending to every act and enterprise of the Chris- tian life. Hence the dolefal cry of the prophet of old : " O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee ? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? For your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away." And so too those monitory words of our Saviour : " No man having put his hand to the plough and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God;" and also that comprehensive admonition of the apostle : Be ye steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." In illustrating and opening up the subject, he said three questions require to be asked and answered. 1st, How is it that some grow weary in well-doing ? 2d, Why should we not grow weary in well-doing ? And 3d, How may we guard ourselves against growing weary in well-doing ? Under the first question he applied the subject, 1st, to the case of impenitent and unbelieving sinners. And 2d, To that of renewed souls. In proceeding to illustrate the former case, he said, it was necessaiy to guard against two dangerous mistakes. In the first place, we are not to suppose that such men as are impenitent and unbelieving ever attempt a compre- hensive and consistent course of well-doing at all. It is one of their characteristics that their course of well-doing is miserably partial, and that even when disposed to good actions they pick and choose out for themselves only those principles which most easily harmonize with, and accommodate themselves to, the tastes, desires, and appetites of their carnal mind. And secondly, we must guard against the mistake that there is any virtue in the sight of God on the part of unbelieving and impenitent men, even when they do those things which are in themselves right, and which, if guided by pure and proper motives, would be acceptable in the eye of the great Creator. Two things are requisite for the acceptability of a man's actions. 1st. They must proceed from right motives, and be prompted by deference to God's authority, by love to God's law, and by a desire to promote God's glory. And 2d, They must be sprinkled with the blood of sacrifice and wrapped round with the righteousness of Christ. The actions of unholy men want these two requisites. But besides that the 240 OUE SCOTTISH CLERGY. well-doing of these men is neither godly nor pleasing to God, they having no foundation of grace in their soids are apt to falter and fail, and soon grow weary in well-doing. The preacher proceeded to refer to the case of the religious hypocrite, who, among many other reasons, is led from the following principal one, to grow weary in well doing, namely, because hypocrisy will not last for ever, and the persons whom he is most apt to impose upon, being those with whom he is most familiar in the ordinary intercourse of life, are just pre- cisely those who, sooner or later, must find him out. There arc other impenitent and unbelieving sinners who undertake, for a time, religious observances, from a love of excitement and the desire of novelty. He next referred to the principle of natural benevolence, which sometimes leads men to engage in religious exercises, but which is apt to fail, because it is not strong enough to overcome the disappointments and difficulties of a Christian life, and because carnal benevolence soon discovers that there are spheres more congenial with itself than those of Christian enterprise. Even in such a matter as the education of little children in the principles of the gospel, such a man Avill find obstacles in his way where he least expects them. In explaining the ele- mentary portion of the Christian religion, so long as he has to deal only with the mild, and sweet, and gentle part of it, he goes on smoothly enough, but when he comes to speak of the darker mysteries of revelation, of death, and judgment, and eternal condemnation, his own conscience shrinks from the task, and he becomes weary in well-doing. He also instanced the man who, for reasons of his own, becomes a member of a Christian Church, and for the first time wishes to approach the sacramental table. At the table of our Lord, Christianity shows herself in her most pleasing- aspect. But she has another form when she assumes the awful front and majestic dignity of discipline, when it becomes necessary to warn away from tliat holy feast those who have no business there. It is not at such a time that she puts on her soft and silken garments, her forehead wreathed with roses and lier cheek suffused with smiles. And when an REV. ALEXANDER S. PATTERSON. 241 unregenerate man finds that the church takes cognisance of his habits and his hfe, that rehgion can be frowning and severe as well as kind and gentle, he sometimes bids Christianity and the church farewell. On the second view of his first question, the preacher referred to the case of converted and believing m.en who are sometimes guilty of growing weary in well-doing from two causes — 1st, External Temptations ; and, 2d, Inward Character. Even when a man occupies a place in the Christian chui'ch, and abounds in good works, he is exposed to the influence of the pleasures and pursuits of this present evil world. For exam- ple, while he has been in his humble sphere, doing his modest part, he sees some one or other of his companions in early life, who, it may be, sat on the same bench at school with him, long ago, attain the garland of worldly fame, or accumiilate a store of wordly wealth, or wield the rod of worldly power, and the influence of these must have their effect upon him. Great disappointments and discouragements, too, are exjDC- rienced in the Christian's life, especially in the exercise of religious philanthropy. It is often a thankless task to be speaking of the things of salvation to ears that will not hsten, and appealing to hearts that give no response — to be expending one's time and labour apparently in vain — to seem spending words on the winds and throwing money into the waters. Under this view of the first question, Mr Patterson referred to the inward state of the regenerate mind to which tempta- tions make their appeal. Of themselves, temptations go for nothing, unless there is something in the inner man which has a sympathy with them, and gives them an influence and a hold. Even in the believer, rehcs of the carnal heart remain, passions and appetites of the natural man still linger, suggesting what is wi'ong and impelling to evil. Side by side with them, indeed, is faith, through which some have "subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness," &c. But if the believer fails to pray, if he fails to watch, his faith becomes weak, and is easily over- set by the blasts and storms of this wicked world. Should faith not receive the fuel, which can only be got by prayer and watching, it will flicker, though it will not die — for faith can never die ; but what becomes of the believer with a faihng, 2 H 242 OUR SCOTTISH CLERGY. flickering faith, and powerful and vigorous relics of carnality ■within, and ten thousand temptations from -without 1 What marvel if he fall aw'ay and grovr weary in well-doing ? On the second question of the discourse — Why should we not grow weaiy in Avell-doing ? — the preacher did not enlarge, the subject being pretty well overtaken under his first head. But as encouragements to continue in Christian well-doing, he remarked that we should do so : first, as such a course was in conformity with the will of God, and submission to his holy law ; and if God requires us to do well, why should we not stedfastly continue to do so "? Secondly, doing well is the noblest course we can pursue. !Many things are done in this world which make a man famous, or powerful, or rich ; but it is pre-eminently noble to do well, and the noblest thing of all is to continue to do well, though fame, and power, and riches fly. Thii'dly, the apostle says, in immediate succession to the text, " In due season we shall reap if we faint not." God's way with his sei'vants, indeed, is sometimes to allow them, in this world, to labour as it were in the dark. But in the world to come all shall be made clear ; and, oh ! what blessedness it will be for a believer there to find that the once ignorant and erring man now shining in his white robes among the angels of heaven, has reached that happy world by his having first taught him the way, or that yonder once poor blinded idola- ter was enlightened and spiritualised by means of the Bible, which he was instrumental in placing in his hands, or that some other poor child of sin was led from the error of his ways, and now wears a coronet of glory among the blessed hosts of heaven — from his whispering the admonitions and the promises of the gospel into his once unwilling ears. With the bright prospects of glorious results like these believers should go on in their course of well-doing. And God himself has taught them that, although such a course can never purchase or deserve one gleam of the celestial glory, yet in that sublime and transcendental glory it will find its recompense and crown. On the last question. How may we guard ourselves against wearying in well-doing? — he remarked that the rules were simple. 1st. We must be born again. There was no safety for the sinner so long as he remained in his sins. He must REV. ALEXANDER 8. TATTERSOX. 248 go to Christ for pardon and to God for grace. 2d. Believei's must " watch and pray lest they enter into temptation." They must ask God to enlighten, and guide, and strengthen, and sanctify, and encourage them. 3d. They must realise the considerations stated under the second question treated of in the discourse. 4th. They must " live by the faith of the Son of God," and thus cultivate love to God and to Jesus Christ his Son. Mr Patterson preaches without notes, nevertheless his sermons bear every mark of being carefully prepared. lie is very fluent in delivery, and his gesticulations are few and never extravagant. He addresses his people in the most impressive terms, always anxious to set the doctrines of the gospel in the clearest and most attractive light before them. His discourses are logical, and most perspicuous ; and his illustrations, being generally drawn from scripture, come vv'ith the greatest force upon his hearers. His divisions are textual and natural, and he omits nothing from his discourses which appears necessary for the proper elucidation of his subject. His elocution is correct, and his enmiciation clear ; and the great truths of the glorious gospel ai'e developed and explained by him with singular dis- tinctness, and frequently with great effect. Earnest and faithful in expounding the leading articles of the Christian faith, he brings clearly before men their imminent danger as sinners, and their only way of safety in Jesus Christ. In doing so he falfils the gi'eat object of the ministiy better than if he was to attempt to lead away men's minds by eccentric displays of fanciful and high-flown language, or endeavour to earn to himself a name for extravagant and flowery pulpit oratory. His mental facilities are energetic and acute. His reasoning powers are very superior, and his sermons generally are distin- guished by conclusive and convincing argument, and are eminently prax^tical. He takes no one-sided view of the gospel, or any of its doctrines, but preaches it in all its fulness, and in all its freeness ; opening up and expounding its mysteries in a way at once emphatic and comprehensive, and so as to be easily apprehended by his hearers. His style of thinking is vigorous, and shows evidence that he is possessed of a powerful intellect and a liighly cultivated mind. As a lecturer he excels, as his 244 OUR SCOTTISH CLEEGY. published lectures testify. The passages and subjects which lie takes up for elucidation and exposition, he traces and follows in all their bearings, until he brings out and places in the clearest lioht their hidden meanings. He is rich in ideas, and has considerable imagination, but it is restrained and regvilated by his judgment and taste, both of which are very good. Altogether, as a ])reacher, he is liberal and enlightened. The religion which he inculcates is neither naiTow nor gloomy, neither bigoted nor intolerant. His general attainments are very high, and he is considered an excellent theological scholar. He very seldom makes an appeal to the feelings of his auditors, or endeavours to touch their imagination or delight their fancy, but contents himself with fixing their attention on, and im- pressing their minds with, the subject of the text more parti- cularly before them. His manner, altogether, in the pulpit, is marked by fervour and earnestness ; two of the most indispen- sable requisites of a good preacher. His success as a preacher has been highly encouraging. Mr Patterson is the brother of the late accomplished and lamented John Brown Patterson of Falkirk, and the grandson of the late John Brown of Haddington, whose " Self-Inter- preting Bible" is universally known, and many of the addi- tional notes to which were furnished by the subject of this sketch, as well as by his brother John. He is the author of "A Brief Commentary on the first Epistle of St John," published in 1842, and of one on the first Epistle to the Thessalonians, which appeared in 1846. He is also the editor of an edition of the Select Works of Thomas Boston, minister of Ettrick, piablished in 1844, with a memoir of his life and writings prefixed. To some of the religious periodicals he has likewise contributed valuable and excellent papers. He was ordained in 1837, and was, for about two years, minis- ter of a Presbyterian congregation at Whitehaven. He has been minister of the church in Hutchesontown, where he at present labours, for the last eight years. He lately received a call from the town of St Andrew's, but the Free Presbytery of Glasgow declined to loose him from his present charge. August 28, 1847. ^ ^^^pf^m- m^^ry . ^ 245 REV. JOHN ROXBURGH, M.A., FREE ST John's. We have always looked on the congregation which now wor- ships in Free St John's Church with peculiar interest. Viewed as part of the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts, its origin and cultiu'e have been very remarkable. The gi'eat Husbandman generally enlarges his territories by comparatively simple and silent agencies. He sends forth his servants to cultivate the waste places, and generally, after many years of anxiety and toil, at last fruit is produced. In the present instance, how- ever, a large addition was made, as it were, in a day. A beautifid oasis suddenly appeared in the desert — or rather a lovely island sprung up from the face of the troubled ocean, and speedily was clothed mth life, and verdure, and beauty. On soils long under the influence of improvement, we look for ordinary crops ; but on the discoveiy of a new island, or the subjugation of a waste to cultivation, we expect abun- dant production. On the new soil, the air is balmy and the productions vigorous, and everything wears an air of high health and surpassing loveliness. The congregation now worshipping in Free St John's was formed mider the plastic hand of the now immortal Chalmers. Like as some mighty volcanic agency throws an island above the waters, did that master of assemblies command into existence, and order, and vigoiir, the congregation of St John's. Soon as he lifted up his voi(;e in the spacious building erected for him, he drew from the lowest strata of society, as well as from its higher grades, hundreds of immortal spirits that started into new 216 OUll SCOTTISH CLERGY. existence on bis announcement of the life-giving word, and formed themselves into a powerfid phalanx, to take the lead for a long time to come in the annals of Christian enter- prise. Nor is all the interest v,e have felt in that congrega- tion occasioned by its origin and connexion with the greatest preacher Scotland, or perhaps tlie world, ever saw — the culture of the field has been as remarkable as its reclaimation. After the spirit of Chalmers had made itself felt in every heart, and wakened feelings and affections no more to slumber, Dr Thomas Bro'wm was opportunely induced to enter on the labours which Chalmers so well began. Men more unlike it had been difficult to find. Chalmers was the hurricane and storm — Brown was the still small voice which followed. Chalmers raised a tempest of emotion almost dangerous — Brown ]3oured oil on the troubled waters, and spake peace to those whom the thunders of a Chalmers had aroused and affrighted. Chalmers touched the fountains of benevolence in many a bosom, and Brown directed the streams into proper chan- nels. Chalmers, with electric force, detached many a rugged stone from the quariy — Brown polished and fitted them to sustain their place in the holy temple. In a word, Chalmers, by the force of his intellect, awakened thought, and Brown directed it into the love of God and patient waiting for Christ. Viewing Chalmers as the great apostle of the poor — the herald of the gospel to our Scottish outcasts — Brown may be considered as Apollos. The former planting, the latter watering, and God giving an increase unprecedented in abundance. On these principles it is easy to explain the piety, and the principle, and the benevolence, which have long characterised the congrega- tion of Free St John's. In point of privilege they have been exalted above their fellows, and hitherto the streams of their love and charity have flown somewhat in unison with these advantages. But Chalmers is not, and Brown is not, and how fares it with that favom'ed people now? The Husbandman has been sinffularlv kind still. One has been sent to them, who unites, in some good measure, part of the excellencies of both his distinguished predecessors, and who gives promise of untiring labour and abundant usefulness in the gi-eat w