OI should love, when I depart to heaven, to be able to tell this news to the redeemed millions, that the Holy Ghoft had been remarkably poured down in East Lothian, and that there was not now a family in which the worship of God was not observed. I dare fay, it delights the redeemed above to hear of Chrift's glory being displayed, and of fouls being faved on earth. Ever fince God dealt favingly with my heart, I never had any comfort in a thought that my fins were little, but in the belief that the virtue of Chrift's blood was infinite, "Blood that cleanseth from all fin :" And, in the confideration of God's mercy being higher than the heavens, it might be written on my coffin, Here lies one of the cares of Providence, who early wanted both father and mother, and yet never miffed them. I would not with there fhould ever be the least appearance of avarice of the world in me: I can truft my family to Providence; and if, when I am in heaven, it appears that there was one converted by means of any thing ever I wrote, I will mark down an hundred pound; if there fhould be two, I will fay there is two hundred pounds; and if twenty, there is fomething of more value than two thousand pounds: That is the reward I wish for my writings. God deals fo tenderly with me in my afflictions, that, indeed, I think the ftrokes go nearer his heart than they do mine. The command is, "Owe no man any thing :" What a mercy that there is no fuch precept as this! Owe a Saviour nothing; or even this, Study to owe him as little as poffible. I confefs that I would not like to stand at our town-cross with a paper on my breaft, declaring I was a bankrupt to men; but,

Oh !

Oh! I think I would love to stand in the most public place in heaven, having all the redeemed pointing to me as the greatest finner that ever was faved; yea, I think their very staring at me as the chief debtor to free grace would rejoice my heart -On the king's birth-day here, he expreffed his mind in the following words: O when will that glorious folemnity arrive, when all the artillery of heaven shall be let off on that day of Jefus, when angels and faints fhall join in a general fhout to his honour! Then fires fhall be in heaven, and fires on the earth; the heavens fhall pass away with a great noife, and the elements fhall melt with fervent heat; the earth alfo, and the works that are therein, shall be burnt up. Bleffed be God, we have a better king's birth-day to celebrate than that of our prefent fovereign: Unto us was born, in the city of David, a Saviour, who is Chrift the Lord. On account of that event, the gospel-bells have been founding for ages paft, and they will ring louder and louder still. O the fovereignty of grace! How ftrange that I, a poor cottager's fon, fhould have a chaife to ride in; and, what is far more wonderful, I think God hath often given me rides in the chariot of the new covenant. In the former case, he hath raised me from the dunghill and fet me with great men; but, in the latter, he hath exalted the man, finful as a devil, and made him to fit with the Prince of the kings of the earth! O astonishing! No doubt I would love to be at my public work again; and, had it been any other than God who had restrained me, I would not have taken it well; but, as it is the Lord, I defire to fubmit. I must own I have a concern for my

wife and children; but, when my heart enters properly into these words, " Be ever with the Lord," the leaving of them diminishes into a very finall point; and, although natural affection for them is as strong as ever, I hope that, when I am away, Chrift will far more than fupply my room to them, and then we will be better on all hands. I really wonder at the kindness of men to me; but, especially, I am amazed, when I reflect, its all the kindness of MY GOD through them. June 17: He was now become exceeding weak, and spoke little; but the folid joy of God's falvation, and the peace that paffeth all understanding, continued with him to the end: He faid, the Lord is my strength and song, he also is become my falvation; God is an everlasting rock. The laft words he was heard to utter, were MY CHRIST! about four hours after, he fell afleep in Jefus, June 19. 1787.

SKETCH OF THE CHARACTER OF THE AUTHOR.

WE

E love an author from whofe writings we have derived pleasure or improvement; we naturally with ourfelves introduced to him, and made acquainted with the difpofition and conduct of the man. To gratify a defire so reasonable is certainly proper; in the present cafe it appears, in fome degree, neceflary. The felfdenied manner in which the author writes the narra

tive of himself, and the strong terms in which he expreffes his fenfe of his finfulness, especially when dying, seem to veil his character, and conceal his excellencies. The truth of the following particulars, it is fuppofed, will not be doubted: They are generally well known to those who were fo happy as to be perfonally acquainted with him.

In learning, the late Rev. John Brown was fuperior to many. It was his ardent wish in youth to know a variety of Languages. His attainments in this fort of literature will appear extraordinary, when it is confidered that, except during the space of a month when learning Latin, he never enjoyed the affiftance of a teacher. He was, notwithstanding, a good Latin fcholar. Of the Greek, but especially of the Hebrew, he poffeffed a critical skill. He could read and tranflate the French, Italian, Dutch, German; also the Arabic, Ferfic, Syriac, Ethiopic. He gave attention to Natural and Moral Philosophy, but his favourite reading was in Hiftory and Divinity, his knowledge of which is fufficiently apparent in his writings. He abridged the whole of the Ancient Univerfal History, though it consists of 20 large octavo volumes. In divinity he chiefly perused the writings of the best old divines, particularly Turretine, Di&tet, Mastricht, and Dr Owen; also these of the modern, Boston, Erskine, Hervey, &c; but, above all, he studied the Scripture of Truth. His acquaintance with the Bible was fingular. Seldom was a text quoted but he could repeat it, explain its meaning, and point out its connexion with the context.

In

In piety he was eminent. Prayer was his delight. Befides his ftated closet prayers, he appeared often employed in ejaculations, particularly when he compofed and meditated his difcourfes. He frequently fet apart a morning for extraordinary devotion; and family fafting and thanksgiving were exercises to which he often called his domeftics. Though few were more fympathizing with the diftreffed, he was fcarce ever feen to weep, except from the deep impreffion of divine truth, or through compaffion for perifhir g fouls. Bodily afflictions and the deaths of relations he fuffered without fhedding a tear; but, when warning finners of their danger, and befeeching them to be reconciled unto God, he could not refrain himself.

He was a strict obferver of the Sabbath. To make the common news about the affairs of the nation, or even the externals and trivials of the church, a fubject of conversation on that day, he confidered as criminal; and as he would not allow himself in saying or doing what was inconfiftent with Sabbath fanctification, he endeavoured to restrain all within his house from fuch practices.

In converfation, it was apparent to all that his conftant aim was to inform and edify. He feldom gave any opinion in politics, or intermeddled with them. The remarks which he made when others introduced subjects of that kind were generally religious. Inftead of expretfing approbation, or of paffing cenfure on the conduct of ourselves, he used to take notice of that providence which manageth all for the glory of God and the good of the church. To talk in company about the advanceC 2

ment