Author of the Meditations, Theron and Aspasio, &c.
To a RELATION of Mr TRAIL L's,

Who was Editor of an early Edition of his Works.

SIR,
I

RECEIVED your very valuable and no loss acceptable present, some weeks ago. I should have acknowledged the favour sooner ; but I chose to stay till I had tasted the dish you set before me.

And indeed I find it to be savoury meat, the true manna ; food for the soul.

Your worthy relative was a workman that need not be ashamed. He knew how, clearly to state, and solidly to establish the faith of God's elect, and the doctrine according to godliness. O! that my heart, and the heart of cvery reader, may be opened, by the eternal Spirit, to receive the precious truths !

The letter at the end of the first volume, is a judicious performance. It rightly divides the word of truth, and says the line, with a masterly hand, between the presumptuous Legalist, and the licentious Antinomian. —- I am particularly pleased with the honourable testimony bore to those two excellent books, Dr Owen's Treatise on Justification, and Mr Marshall's Gospel-mystery of Sanctification : books fit to be recommended by so good a judge !

If the Lord pleases to give Theron and Aspasio any acceptance in Scotland, I shall be sincerely glad; but if he vouchsafes to make them, not only welcome, but useful visitants, I shall exceedingly rejoice. --- In case you should think them calculated to promote the honour and further the gospel of JESUS CHRIST, I hope you will favour them with your recommendation, and accompany them with your prayers ; which will be a fresh instance of kindness to,

TO THE

SERMONS ON STEDFAST ADHERENCE,

Which were Published after the Author's Death.
THE

HE subjects treated upon in these sermons, have been always
esteemed, by well-grounded Christians, to have the greatest influence
both upon our duty and comfort.

The promises of God are the matter of our faith, and ground of our hope. Faith in these precious promises, is that grace which

conveys to us our interest in them, and draws forth the strength and sweetness of them.

An honest open profession of that faith, not only in words, or
instituted solemnities of public'worship, but in all holy conversation
and godliness, is the distinguishing mark of the churches of Christ
in the world.

And a steady adherence to that profession, in times of tempta.
tion and great backsliding, is the believer's unquestionable duty,
interest, and honour.
These great points, of spiritual and practical religion, you

have
here opened and urged, with that plainness, gravity, and good
judgment, by which the late Reverend Mr Traill has been well
known in his former evangelical discourses. If any thing here
shall seem less correct, it will easily be imputed to the usual disad-
vantages of posthumous productions.

But surely great candour and tenderness will be thought due to such orphans, as are turned out into the world, destirute of those improvements which they might have received from the care and cultivation of their worthy parents, if they had not been by death deprive i of them.

In compliance with some of the author's particular friends, who
were desirous to have these serions made public, we would re-
commerd them to the perusa! of all such as are desirous to live more

upor: the promises of God, and to be just and true to their
holy profession. Tht the God of all grace would make them effec-
tual to these good purposes, is the earnest prayer of
Their servants for Jesus' sake

Wu. Tongue.
JOHN NISBET.
MATT. CLARK,

The Rev. Mr Robert Traill was descanded of an ancient family, that had been in possession of the estate of Bl: bo, in Fife, from the time of Walter Traill, archbishop of St Andrews, 1385, who purchased it, and give it to his nephew. Robert Traill, son of James Traill, and father of our author, was minister first of Ely, in the east of Fife, afterwards of the Gray-friars church in Edinburgh, and was much distinguished for his fidelity and zeal in discharging the duties of his function. He married Jean Annan, of ihe family of Auchter:llan, by whom he had three sons and three daughters ; William, who died minister of Borthwick; Robert, the author of the following sermons; James, lieutenant of the garrison in Stirling castle ; Helen, married to Mr Thomas Paterson, minister of Borthwick; Agnes, married to Sir James Stewart of Goodtrees, Lord. Advocate of Scotland ; and Margaret, married to James Scot of Bristo, writer in Edinburgh. At the Restoration, Mr Traill, with other ministers, was prosecuted before the Scotch council, and, in consequence of their sentence, was imprisoned seven months in Edinburgh, and banished from the realm. His answers to his libel do him much honour, as a man and a Christian. From these, and some of his private letters still extant, he appears to have been a judicious and holy servant of our Lord Jesus Christ *.

. In the conclusion of his libel, he says to the Scottish Parliament, I must, in all humility, beg leave to intreat your Lordships, that you seriously consider what you do with poor ministers, who have been so long kepe, not only from their liberty of ing the gospel, but of hea ic; that so many congre. gations are laid desolate for so long a time, and many poor souls have put up their regrets on their death-bed, for their being deprived of a word of comfort

He afterwards returned to Scotland, and died during the tinie of the persecution, we have se:n nothing of bis in print, but . a letter to his wife and children, from Holland.

His son Robert, the subject of this Memoir, was born at Ely, May 1612. After the usual course of education at home, he was sent to the university of Edinburgh, where he recommended himself to the several professors, by his capacity and diligent application to his studies. Having determined to devote himself to the work of the ministry, he pursued the study of divinity with great ardour for several years. He was intimate with the Rev. William Guthrie of Finwick, and several others of the Presbyterian ministers; and was present when Mr James Guthrie suffered death for his adherence to the peculiar principles of the Scottish church. His father being banished, had taken resuge in Holland; the family he left behind him were in great straits; in this situation our author had no settled residence. In 1666, he was obliged to lurk for some time, together with his mother and elder brcther, because some copies of a book, entitled, An Apologetic Relation, &c. which the privy council had ordered to be publicly burnt, were found in Mrs Traill's house. At that time the Presbyterians in Scotland were treated with great severity, and the privy council, in the execution of cruel laws that had been enacted by the legislature, at the instigation of the bishops,