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In addition to hints gathered in conversation with himself, and, since his death, with companions of his youth, and facts obtained from published records of the family- — the narrative has been enriched with contributions of incidents from his only surviving sister, and from the Rev. Kenneth McKenzie, of Bo'ness. Special acknowledgments are also due to the Rev. Mr. Gordon, of Gananoque, for information relative to a more advanced period — comprised within the first chapter. The writer has to state that he has carefully selected incidents, so far as they seemed authentic, and sketches so far as they were regarded just, from several memorial notices which appeared in public prints at the time of Dr. Bayne's death — ^particularly those which proceeded IV PREFACE. from the fjens of the Rev. James George, D.D., Rev. R. Irvine, D.D., Rev. M. Y. Stark, and Rev. A. C. Geikie, and that he has taken the liberty of making a free use of these notices, frequently quoting short pasrages, without even the usual acknowledgment of extract, by means of invenea conwias. It was thought desirable to preserve, and present in their proper order, several documents, testifying to the estimation in which the subject of this memoir was held, and therefore, although the current of the narrative has been a little retarded, and repetition became unavoidable — these, instead of being thrown into the form of an appendix^ have been introduced in their relative places in chapter secofid. Without a somewhat minute description oi th^ physique — the mental idiosyncracies — the habits and general character, &c., of our subject, it was judged that in the a'L ence of any diary, correspondence, or written remains of almost any kind, a memoir of him would have been im- perfect, and hence the third and last chapter. When we comraenced our memoir, we expected that it would form only the introduction to some of the valuable thoughts of him of whom we have written, as fragrant memo- rials among an attached people ; but from the circumstances referred to in our concluding pages, we have been disap- pointed. We have, however, been advised, and have yielded to the suggestion, to reprint the essay on ^^ Man's responsibility for his belief and with regret at the partial failure of our object, we now take leave of our solemn yet PREFACE. pleasing and honourable task, commending the eminent example presented in the narrative to our brethren in the mini-try, and praying that in the case, more especially, of those who once were hearers of Dr. Bayne, the effect of the recollection of facts and truths, and impressions called up by the perusal of this little volume, may be, that " he being dead, yet speaketh." G. S. ( CONTENTS, PAGE CHAPTER 1. From his Birth to his removal to Canada---Parentage — Boyhood — Education — Formation of Character — Choice of. a Profes- sion — Atflictive Experience — Commencement of Preaching. I CHAPTER II. From his removal to Canada to his di^ath — Settlement in Gait — Visit to Bmain in 1842 — Disruption in Canada — Publica- tion of Address and Pamphlet — Public discussion w^ith Dr. Liddell — Sustentation scheme — Moderator, and visit to Scotland in 1846 — Call to Cote Street Church, Montreal — Committee on Union — Invitation to Professorship — Degree of D.D — Decline of health — Assistant — Death — Notices and references to the Church's loss 16 CHAPTER III. Descriptive Portraiture — Personal appearance — Mental and social qualities, humour, sarcasm, sensibility, faithfulness as a friend, solemn mode of dealing, discernment of charac- ter — Poetical temperament — Christian character and tastes — Power as a speaker, and influence in church courts — Eminence as a preacher — Mode of preparing discourses — Manner in devotional exercises — Zeal against heresy ana remains 43 4 (V .■ ,;,. VUl CONTENTS. PAGE • APPENDIX. A Mother's Lament for her Withered Flower 70 Minute entered on the Record of the Presbytery of Hamihon, in reference to the lamented death of Dr. Bayne 74 Extract from a short sketch of the life of Dr. Bayne, by one of his co-presbyters, which appeared in the "Ecclesiastical and Missionary Record," in December, 1859, . , 77 Extract from Memorial Notice of the late Dr. Bayne, by the Rev. A. C. Geikie 81 Is Man Responsible for his Belief? A Lecture delivered before the Members of the Hamilton Mercantile Library Associa- tion, on the evening of the i8th of February, 1851, by the Rev. John Bayne, of Knox's Church, Gait 91 Addenda . . . , 136 I 1 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. CHAPTER I. FROM Ills BIRTH TO HIS REMOVAI- TO CANADA — PAR- ENTAGE — BOYHOOD — EDUCATION — FORMATION OF CHARACTER — CHOICE OF A PROFESSION — AFlf the Lord. "I desire to improve, for God's glory and my own good, this very solemn dispensation, and would now, as in the presence of the grec:t * Searcher of hearts,' record several resolutions, to which J purpose, in the strength of divine grace, hereafter to adhei'?. "To this Record I intend, God willing, in time to come frequently to refer, that I may never forget the im- pression of this solemn season, or violate the obligations under which I have come, or cease to hear the voice which seems so loudly to say from the grave of my departed sisters, "Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh." " I resolve, in the strength of divine grace : MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. II " I. To have eternity ever before me, and to seek to have in Time the same views of the nature and value of things, which I shall have of them in Eternity. "II. To keep a continual watch over my heart and members, lest sin, sense, Satan, or the world should gain, insidiously^ any dominion over me ; and, In particular, to attend to the state of my heart in secret prayer. " III. To engage, from time to time, in solemn self examination, in order that I may ascertain how far I have watched successfully against the assaults of sin, and whether I have been progressing or declining in the divine life. " IV. To repent and humble myself before God on the discovery of sin, and to do so without delay^ while my conscience is tender and my feelings are warm, ere fear and suspicion of God have begun to intrude, and before sin has acquired the strength and relish of habit. "V. Never, in my intercourse with others, myself to forget, or to let others forget, that I am a Christian. " VI. Never to meet with an acquaintance or friend, without asking myself, how I may do good to his soul — how, if he be a sinner^ I may recommend Christ to his acceptance, or, if he be a Christian^ I may stir up the love of Christ in his heart. "VII. Never to defer, till another opportunity, doing for the good of another, what may be done noiv^ remem- bering always that we may never meet again. "VIII. Always to remember that God is near, and never to think, speak, or act, without first considering 12 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. il I whether it is consistent with the presence of Majesty so awful, and Holiness so pure. " IX. Always to approach God and to transact with Him, through the Mediator. " X. Always to make love to God, as much as possible, the spring of my actions. " XI. Always to seek the glory of God as the great end of my life. "XII. To think much of Heaven." Although his spirits were naturally buoyant, and in congenial society he made himself most agreeable, yet the whole tone of his mind seems to have been subdued by these experiences. And this, together with a marked native reserve, habitual thoughtfulness, and deep religious solemnity — imparted a general melancholy cast to his countenance and manner, which was only occasionally thrown aside, and beyond which strangers seldom pene- trated. Intellectually, he was precocious. Yet his friend Mr. Gordon says, " The public evidences of his mental and spiritual endowments in his college life were greatly less than the true knowledge of him might have warranted us to expect. For of all men that I ever knew, I never knew any that I thought was so little covetous of the praise of men, or more single-eyed and earnest in seeking the approbation of God. There was as little of the spirit of vain glory in him as in any man I ever met with. There was a beautiful simplicity of character in him, — in wit a ina?t, in simplicity a child. ^ * * It may not ^■ ^^j^ ' ju. . ^ iu ^ i i' .i-^-4J !r ^ SSI MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 13 be uninteresting," he adds, " that with all his self-hiding, when master minds came into contact with him, they instinctively discovered his superiority. Dr. Chalmers did so. When about the year 1829 or 1830 the choice of a minister for South Carolina, U. S. was devolved upon him, he made the first offer to Mr. Bayne." It has also been stated that when that eminent man was engaged in his operations at the Water of Leith, Mr. Bayne aided him in the collection of statistics, and in household visitation. During his residence in Edinburgh, too, our subject was on very intimate terms with Dr. Andrew Thomson, of St. George's Church, who, in his later years, was the acknowledged Lader of the evangelical party in the Church ; also with Dr. Abercromby, a distinguished physician, an eminent Christian, and the author of several works connected with mental philosophy and practical religion. And as an evidence of his early maturity, one of the ministers of Edinburgh on a certain occasion, alluding to a saying of the late venerable Dr. Gordon, of that city, to the effect that this was the age of young men, remarked, "but Mr. Bayne never was a young man » Mr. Gordon, of Gananoque, referring to his intimacy with Mr. Bayne, writes : " But in this delightful inter- communion of soul, I got from Mr. Bayne's deep, com- prehensive mind, penetrating judgment, extended, accu- rate, miscellaneous, varied information, practical know- ledge of man and manners, and, withal, deep-toned piety, an impulse to my mind and spirit that all books could 1 14 MEMOIR OP THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. i I never have given. And the modesty, simplicity, disinter- estedness, generosity, and, withal, playful vivacity and sociality of his character, I had long the enjoyment of." He adds, "During my visit to Scotland in 1856-7, I often savv that good man, Mr. Bonar, who lived so much to the Colonial Church cause. Now Dr. Bayne, when he went to Britain to recruit his health, avoided public appearances, and seldom preached, but was a good deal in Mr. Bonar's company. And Mr. Bonar used to say to me, " When did you last hear from Dr. Bayne ? What a precious man that is ! I know of none from whose conversation 1 ever got more profit or refreshment." While resident in Edinburgh, Mr. Bayne joined a vt/- lage Sabbath School society, whose members went to vari- ous towns and villages in the neighbourhood, instructing the young and others in Sabbath Schools. His ability, piety and zeal, in this interesting field of labour, were con- sidered remarkable ; and his services were highly valued by the members of the society and by those to whom their efforts were directed. About this stage, when his course of study at the uni- versity was completed, he visited Norway in company with Mr. Lawrie, afterwards his brother-in-iaw ; and, on the departure of Dr. and Mrs. Wilson for India, he ac- companied them to London and Portsmouth. Mr. Bayne was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Pifesbytery of Dingwall, on the 8th September, 1830. Doubtless he entered upon his work under a profound sense of its responsibility) and with a resolution to be .-(•:v MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 15 faithful. He at once evinced both power and great fer- vour. In 1833 he accepted of an appointment as assis- tant to the late Rev. John Barry, of Shapinshay, one of the Orkney Islands, where he remained for a year,* preaching with much acceptance, and, we have reason to believe, not without success. To his clear and forcible expositions of the truth, while there, we have been in- formed that a gentleman of some standing in society owed the correct and evangelical views which he latterly held ; and that the same intelligent person acknowledged that he never apprehended aright the doctrine of justifi- cation by faith until he heard it expounded by Mr. Bayne. And the memory of that then young preacher is still fra- grant in the island where he laboured. *NoTE. — It was during his stay ill Or'mey that the writer first met with him. , 1 I I ^1 CHAPTER II. FROM HIS REMOVAL TO CANADA TO HIS DEATH — SETTLE- MENT IN GALT — VISIT TO liRITAIN IN 1842 — DISRUPTION IN CANADA — PUBLICATION OF ADDRESS AND PAMPHLET — PUBLIC DISCUSSION WITH DR. LIDDELL — SUSTENTATION ^ SCHEME — ^'ODERATOR, AND VISIT TO SCOTLAND IN 1846— ^/i CALL TO COTE ST. CHURCH, MONTREAL — COMMITTEE ON N' UNION — INVITATION TO PROFESSORSHIP — DEGREE OF D.D. — DECLINE OF HEALTH — ASSISTANT — DEATH — NOTICES AND REFERENCES 10 THE CHURCIl's LOSS. NWILLING, we believe, to let his talents lie in abeyance, and wait on for preferment in the Church at home, as was too common in those days ; and somewhat disgusted with the sys- tem of lay patronage, according to which the offices in the ministry were generally distributed in the es- tablished Church of Scotland, Mr. Bayne resolved to emigrate to one of the British Colonies. And having been appointed to Canada by the Colonial Committee of the Church, before leaving his native country he was ordained by the Presbytery of Dingwall on the 3rd September, 1834. After his ,• i , MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 17 arrival in Canada, he was called to fill the pulpit of the Rev, W. Leach, the newly-chosen pastor of St. Andrew's Church, Toronto, until his return from a visit to Scotland. In this position, which he continued to occupy till the summer of the following year, it was not long before his commanding intellect, his high gifts as a preacher, and his many admirable qualities as a man and a minister, were duly appreciated, and obtained for him, from the members of the congregation generally, a large share of esteem and attachment. After his period of service at Toronto was completed, he received a call from the con- gregation at Gait, in the Township of Dumfries, one of the most flourishing districts of Western Canada, the in- habitants of which were composed almost exclusively of a respectable class of Lowland Scotch farmers. * Under his predecessor, the Rev. Wm. Stewart, a man of fine mind and of deep piety, but of feeble health, and who had accepted a call to Demerara, where he shortly afterwards died — the congregation at Gait had never greatly flourish- ed. But Mr. Bayne drew around him from a circuit of fifteen miles a large congregation, numbers of whom were fully competent to discern and to value his intellectual endowments, his remarkable pulpit gifts, and his high- toned piety. And while this congregation was growing in intelligence, grace, and power under his faithful minis- try, there sprang up around it other congregations in Paris, Ayr, Doon, Berlin, New Hope, and the two Pus- linches, all of which have been organized, and are now under efiicicnt pastors. Yet Gait, the mother of them all, i8 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 1 Hi never drooped nor dwindled, but throve and ripened all the while. Mr. Bayne's labours, direct and indirect, in founaing and fostering the congregations referred to, and the constant growth of his own charge at the same time, furnish a striking exemplification of the truth, " there is that scattereth and yet increaseth." His preaching was pointed, — often mistaken for being personal^ in an unworthy sense ; and he was unsparing in condemning sin and hypocrisy. His services were long, his sermons seldom taking less than an hour and a half, and sometimes taking more than two hours in delivery. Add to this that he was not always very punctual in at- tending to the time of meeting, nor to other arrangements of inferior moment in themselves, though of importance in their ^lace : and to those who know human nature, and the tendencies of the present age, it mast be apparent that he could not have long retained his hold on such a body of people but through the power of a master mind, and of one that evidently sought their highest welfare. But, nevertheless, his lucid and profound and scriptural exhibitions of divine truth, together with faithful and ear- nest dealing with his people in public and in private, and a conscientious, consistent, and impartial carrying out of the Church's discipline, rivetted to him in process of time a large number of intelligent and sincere friends. In the earlier part of his ministry, probably from the state of his health, Mr. Bayne " was far from being regu- lar in his attendance on the church courts : indeed, two meetings of Synod, — the one at Kingston in 1839, and \m. MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 19 the other at Toronto in 1840, — are the only occasions on which we find his name marked as having been present in the supreme court, till 1844, the year of the disrup- tion ; after which period again he was absent from Synod only on two occasions, and became also a very regular attender at the meetings of his Presbytery. When pre- sent, he always showed a deep interest in the proceedings of the Court, and gave to them earnest attention ; and, though never taking an obtrusive, he always took a pro- minent part in the business. He never sought display. While matters were going on to his satisfaction, he was content to keep in the back-ground, but whenever duty called, he was ready, no less to give his counsel in solv- ing a difficulty, or his help in carrying out any work, than to lift up his voice against what he considered wrong, or to stand in the breach, even single-handed, and resist any encroachment on the privileges or purity of the Church." In the year 1842, Mr. Bayne re-visited Scotland, and was commissioned by the Church in Canada to procure from home as many preachers as possible, to supply the newly but widely settled territory in the West, especially in the Presbytery of Hamilton, comprising at that time the entire western peninsula of the Province.* He was in Edinburgh during the winter and spring pre- vious to the memorable disruption of the Church of Scot- land in 1843, and, while there, had taken a lively interest in the stirring discussions that were going on, as also in • The writer was one of those who accompanied him to Canada on his return. ! 20 m i! r MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. i ill I the prospects of a satisfactory settlement of ecclesiastical questions with the civil law courts and the government of the day ; or rather, he watched the dark cloud which was then gathering over the ancient church of his fathers, and by faith endeavoured to descry streaks of light beyond it. After the disruption, he returned to Canada in the full hope that, from the peculiar position of the Church here, by prudent management a schism might be avoided. It was practically independent, and formed no integral por- tion of the Church of Scotland ; neither did it groan un- der any of the grievances which pressed upon the Church in the mother country. He therefore, with others, thought that by agreeing to strike out from its designation the words, " in connection with the Church of Scotland," the scruples of those who disliked the connection might be overcome, and no sacriuce be required of any one. But when the Synod met at Kingston in 1844, it became evi- dent that such hopes were doomed to disappointment. A large party were determined at all hazards to identify themselves with the Church of Scotland, and would not consent, on any consideration, to give up either the con- nection or the designation. Those who felt that the Church of Scotland had departed from her original and scriptural principles, and consequently sinned against her Great Head, and who therefore could not, directly or in- directly, countenance her, or be held responsible for her actions, were compelled to take a stand. And Mr. Bayne, by hi^ :^ntion to the subject, his clearness of compre- her.« • \i id weight of character, was qualified to be the guidi MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 21 ng spirit in taking up their position Around him, accordingly, all holding the same views confidently ral- lied, and, under his leadership, unhesitatingly went for- ward in what offered itself to them as the only path of duty. The step which they took was to many of them a painful one, nor were the sacrifices attendant upon it small. Compared with the case of their brethren in Scot- land, it was, perhaps, all the more testing, that with them it was a testimony borne simply to sacred principle. And the weakness of the body, only emerging from infancy, filled the minds of many with discouraging fears as to what might be the results of a disruption. But the un- flinching confidence of their leader gave assurance to all, that in honouring the Lord Christ, and in upholding the supremacy of His crown rights, was the only safe path for the Church. Though defeated in numbers, he was trium- phant in his argument for refusing to acknowledge any further connection with a Church which had practically and deliberately denied the Redeemer's sole right to pre- side in her councils ; and in his own name, and in the name of all whp adhered to him, laid on the table of the Synod a protest, which, like its prototype in the father- land, remains unanswered and unanswerable. The result, as is well known, was that twenty -three ministers, with a large number of elders, at that time separated from the Synod remaining in connection with the Established Church of Scotland ; and constituted themselves into the Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Canada. The movement was hailed throughout the 9 I m |r III II I It |, ,, 22 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. length and breadth of the Province as one in a right direction ; and was largely sympathized with and followed by its Presbyterian population. Mr. Bayne was sustained and followed by the vast majority of his own congrega- tion. And a new and large church, bearing the designa- tion of Knox's Church, Gait, was soon erected by them. So that in some respects outwardly his position was but little affected. From this period he took a deep interest in all that concerned the Presbyterian Church of Canada. And to his accurate and extensive knowledge, his clear head, and his sound heart may be traced, under a gracious provi- dence, much of her present prosperity. To detail all that he did in her formation, and the part which he took in the various movements consequent thereon, — were to write her history up to the date of his lamented decease. But it is necessary to touch on some of the more important of these with which he was specially identified. Immediately after the inception of the Presbyterian Church of Canada, at the request of the Synod, Mr. Bayne prepared a draft of a pastoral address to congre- gations, which the Commission were authorized, after revision, to print for general circulation — a document, consisting of twenty columns of close type, which will be found in the first number of the Record of that Church. He, too, was convener of a committee appointed for the purpose of drafting a testimony. And in 1846 he pub- lished a pamphlet of eighty pages, entitled, "Was the MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN EAYNE, D.D. 23 recent Disruption of the Synod of Canada in connection with the Church of Scotland, called for?" — a production indicating great power and research, — containing a digest of the arguments on the entire question at issue, and setting forth, firsts the sin of the Church of Scotland in submitting to encroachments on her spiritual jurisdiction; and next^ the sin of the Synod of Canada in continuing in these circumstances in connection with that Church ; together with answers to popular objections to the course which the minority pursued : a production altogether conclusive in its reasoning. And although this admirable address was rather late in making its appearance, as the excitement on the subject had, in a measure, subsided, yet it served a very important purpose. And one of the best legal authorities in the Province once remarked to the writer of this memoir that he felt, personally, under great obligation to Mr. Bayne for his pamphlet, as it contained within a limited compass, materials and a mass of facts of which he was perfectly cognizant, but upon which he was not always able to lay his hand. The summer following the Disruption, that is, in 1845, parties about Gait and its vicinity, anxious to hear an unvarnished statement on each side of the question, dur- ing a visit to these parts of Dr. Liddell, Principal of Queen's College, Kingston, arranged, with consent of him and Mr. Bayne, for a public discussion between them on the principles involved in the action of the churches respectively. The discussion came off in presence of a vast assemblage, from the neighbouring country, of excited I !lLi ' It Hi J m 24 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. but orderly hearers. It was opened by Mr. Bayne with a masterly array of facts in proof of his charge against the Church of Scotland ; and as the allotted time had expired, Dr. Liddell took the floor, and attempted a reply until his time was exhausted. Mr. Bayne then asked permission to state his argument on the next point, his charge against the Church in Canada, which he did in a few sentences ; whereupon his opponent took advantage of his position, to enter into irrelevant matter at great length, without however, touching the real merits of the question at issue. It was evident to every unprejudiced listener, before the conclusion, that the apologist of State connection was no match for the champion of spiritual independence.* At an early period of its history, the Presbyterian Church of Canada had taken up the subject of the sus- tentation of the ministry, — a subject deeply affecting the extension of the Church, and the maintenance of ordi- nances in newly and thinly peopled localities. After a committee had been at work for some time, Mr. Bayne devised a scheme, which avoided the evil of an equal dividend with which the Free Church of Scotland had started ; and secured the additional advantage, that none entitled to draw from the sustentation fund, should fall below a certain viinimum^ which, of course, might be supplemented by local exertion. Through the influence, ' however, of selfishness on the part of some then lead- ♦ The substance of the discussion, taken in short hand at the time and afterwards revised by the speakers, was subsequently pub- lished in pamphlet form. MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN EAYNE, D.D. 25 ing men in the Church ; and the prejudices or perversions of writers in certain of the pubHc papers, who endea- voured to represent the scheme as a clerical attempt to interfere with the Hbertics and hberalities of the Christian people, — this important measure was ultimately abandon- ed. For although it was tried, and kept in operation for a time >vithin the bounds of the Presbytery of Hamilton — Mr. Bayne's own Presbytery — yet it was manifest that a scheme of this nature could not prosper within a limited sphere, nor unless adopted by the Church at large. And thus was lost to the Church of Canada the benefit of that mode of sustaining her ministry, which, humanly speaking, has been the sheet anchor of the Free Church of Scot- land, and which might have been still more successful in this country ; for subsequent attempts to re-introduce such a measure have proved utterly abortive, — the time for inaugurating it being past. In the year 1846, M. Bayne was chosen Moderator of the Synod of his Church, which met in Hamilton, in the month of July. And from his intimate knowledge of the forms of procedure in Church courts, and, from the personal respect which he commanded, he was confessed to have discharged the functions" of his office with con- summate success. The following year, as retiring Mod- erator, he preached, at Kingston, a sermon on the "union of the divine and human natures in Christ, and His rela- tion to His Church," which the Synod asked him to pub- lish. To this request, after repeated objections, he hesi- tatingly consented. But, owing to a native shrinking jjui I ill Imi nil If ! I i ji m MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. from being brought into notice, and a higher sense of what was required, on such an occasion, than was enter- tained by his brethren, more than from any other cause, we beheve, the manuscript was never forthcoming; although funds for defraying the expense of publication were already collected. In 1847, the Synod, anxious to place its nascent theo- logical seminary on as satisfactory and efficient a footing as possible ; and finding that an additional professor was required, after written correspondence on the subject with the Church at home had resulted in nothing tangible, resolved to wait no longer, but depute one of its number to confer with the Colonial Committee, respecting the appointment of a professor ; and, in concurrence with the said Committee, to choose a fit and proper person for the office. Mr. Bayne was requested to undertake this im- portant and delicate mission. He accordingly paid a second visit to his native land in the service of the Church ; and returned to Canada in December of the same year, in company with Dr. Willis, who had been prevailed upon to give himself to this country. And the following Synod passed a resolution to the effect that "they "in particular record their satisfaction at having secured " the services of one so highly qualified for his office, nd "whose labours during the past Session have prov,d so " efficient, as the recently appointed professor of theology "—the Rev. Dr. Willis." The large congregation of Cot6 Street Church, Mon- treal, having failed to obtain a minister, as they earnestly MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN DAYNE, D.D. 27 wished and frequently attempted, from the Free Church of Scotland, made their first offer of a call, to any one on this side of the Atlantic, to Mr. Bayne. But he saw it his duty to decline the proposal. Shortly after the Disruption, friendly greetings were exchanged between the Missionary Synod of Ca?iada, commonly known as the U. P. Church, in this pro- vince, and the Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Can- ada^ popularly styled the Free Church. In due course, overtures for union were passed between the two bodies ; and a committee appointed by each, to confer together on the feasibleness of the step proposed. Mr. Bayne was nominated convener of the committee of the Church to which he belonged, and took a prominent part in conduct- ing the conference, from time to time. It was ascertained that there were, ostensibly, at least, if not really, important differences of view between the two committees, espe- cially on the subject of the civil magistrate. And though sincerely desirous, as he expressed himself to be, of such a union as would thoroughly consolidate the two bodies, on sound principles, Mr. Bayne yet felt that a union of dis- cordant elements was not strength ; and he was anxious to make sure of unity of sentiment before he agreed to a union of incorporation. He, therefore, pressed those, who held extreme views in opposition to his own, to the conse- quences of their tenets ; and, by an exact and irresistible logic, compelled them at last to the strange admission : — That the civil magistrate is not at liberty^ even within his peculiar sphere^ to act officially, according to the directions of 28 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. m mt Revelation^ but is bound to follow the light of nature only.'''^ Such views may not have been universally sympathized with by the 1 lethren of the U. P. Church then, or a great modification of them may have taken place since, but so impressed was Mr. Bayne and others, with the dangerous nature of the sentiments propounded, that they desired delay, and a most careful scrutiny of the Basis of Union occupied the Synod for several years. During a period, the prospect of harmony in view and of union seemed to be hopeless, and the matter was temporarily suspended. But after certain changes had taken place in the compo- sition of the respective Churches, the subject was revived, in consequence of overtures relating to it being sent up to the Synod. And Mr. Bayne, though he declined to act on the committee, as he well knew that many alleged, however unjustly, that he was opposed to union in any circumstances, and that his supposed extreme views and unbending nature had retarded or endangered the prospect of the two Churches coming together, yet watched with an anxious and jealous eye the progress of the question, aud the action taken by the supreme courts on the reports of their respective committees. At the last meeting of Synod which he ever attended, he firmly stood up for fur- ther and more explicit explanations on points which mem- bers on both sides were rashly desirous of accepting as matters of forbearance. In the most solemn manner did he beseech his brethren to beware of the course on which |i * This is no mere allegation, but the deliberate conclusion of the U. P. Committee, as may be verified by reference to printed minutes. MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 29 they seemed ready to advance, stating that, in private, he " had often been brought to tears, when he thought ot " the dishonour which might be done in the matter to " the Lord, Jesus Christ." In consequence of the vacancy made in Knox's College, by the death of Professor Esson, the Synod, in 1853, urged Mr. Bayne to accept of an appointment — to be his successor. But, shrinking from the idea of a position for which he was thought to be eminently qualified, and which many seem ambitious to assume, he persistently refused to listen to the proposal, alleging that to do jus- tice to the work required, would demand more extensive reading, and more laborious study than his health could stand. About the same time, the Presbyteiian Church, in the United States, having watched with interest, the proceedings of the sister Church in Canada, for a series of years ; and the authorities in Union College, Schenectady, wishing to pay some mark of approbat'on and respect to the latter body, corresponded, as we understand, with one of its leading ministers, regarding the party in its connec- tion on whom a degree in theology mighty with the great- est propriety, be conferred ; and that minister at one ^ pointed out Mr. Bayne, as the individual on whom such an honour would most gracefully rest. Accordingly, doc- uments were forthwith transmitted, conferring on him the title of Doctor in Divinity. So great was his modesty, however, that ^ .n he came to know what had passed, he affirmed that the distinction bestowed on him .should 30 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. It 'i>l rather have been given to the gentleman who, without his knowledge, had been instrumental in procuring it for him. And so little did he regard himself entitled to it, that a considerable time afterwards, in casual reference, privately, to the title oi D.D., he was heard to remark that in " his "own case, he had not yet got over the shame of it." Although possessed originally of a muscular frame, yet through sedentary habits, constant mental exercise, early and repeated trials, and several years' professional labour in the variable and rigorous climate of Canada, his health was gradually undermined, and in September, 1853, he had a severe illness which brought liim almost to the gates of death, but he was, in mercy to the Church, spared to recover at that time. He was, however, much solemnized by this event, and was known to tell how, at that time, the awful consideration of a constant stream of immortal beings flowing out of this world into eternity stood vividly pictured before his mind, while lying on his sick bed. For the benefit of his health, he sometimes resorted, during the hot .season, for a few weeks, to the sea-side, or to a watering place inland ; or took a ramble through the lower provinces, o'* visited some of the cities of the neigh- bouring republic. And, in 1P55, he obtained, from his Presbytery, leave of absence, when he again visited Brit- tain, and, at this time also, the continent of Europe. His health was then very infirm, and he spent some time in London, to be under the care of his friend. Dr. Miller, who was acquainted with his constitution, and with the MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAVNE, D.D. 31 Canadian climate —having practised several years in Gait. On this occasion he was absent from his charge more than a year, and returned towards the close of 1856, con- siderably recruited. The growmg requirements of his congregation, com- posed now largely of a town population, induced him to change the mode of conducting the Sabbath service as hitherto pursued. For a long period he was accustomed to give one service, extending oftentim ;s from before noon to nearly three o'clock in the afternoon. But the neces- sity for an evening service had induced him to curtail the usual revvicc in order to reserve strength for an additional «'uie. 1 or a short time he conducted both services. But, as he alleged, the ^Uwo yokings" were more than he could stand. After the first one, he felt so prostrated that he was more prepared for going to bed than for ascending the pulpit a second time ; and he would rather have con. tinued at work for a longer space in the earlier part of the day, and had the latter part of it for rest, than attempted to brace up his flagging energies for an additional service, when, in his ovai opinion, lie was not able to do justice to the cause. VVislnng, however, as far as possible to be all things to ai ircr ., 'le continued the double duty, until re- turning svmpton- '^r disease showed the necessity of his obtaining help, if the newly-adopted arrangements were to be persevered in. With an unselfish desire not to in- terfere with the welfare of the congregation, as he thought, or with the in<^erests of religion in Gait, he proposed to rcL'gn his ; arge, and had serious thoughts of transfer- 1 1 liJ il ■!;::« I If ! ! ! ' y 32 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. ring his services in the Church, for the remainder of his days, to the newer colony and more genial climate of Australia. But his congregation, aroused to a sense of the great privileges which they enjoyed under his minis- trations, were resolved, if possible, to retain him among them; and in 1858 applied to the Presbytery to sanction an arrangement, by which Dr. Bayne could continue to preach in the forenoon, as usual; and an assistant be pro- cured to conduct the evening service, and aid generally in the discharge of ministerial duty. The Presbytery, knowing his va-iue in that congregL 'r«^» "nd in the Church at large, cordially acquiesced in the , posal ; and, ac- cording to the new arrangement, an unordained assistant was first employed, and then, at his call to occupy a more independent sphere, the Rev. Archibald C. Geikie, at that time minister at Berlin, and now in Australia, was in- duced to resign his charge at Berlin, and accept of the office of assistant minister in Gait. Matters proceeded thus favourably for a season ; and Dr. Bayne, relieved from the annoyances of housekeeping, for which he had little either taste or aptitude, became a boarder in the manse, Mr. and Mrs. Geikie being allowed to assume the management of aifairs. But mysterious are the ways of God. While the new order of things was thus auspiciously commenced, it was soon to be interrupted. Dr. Bayne's heaHh, which had latterly been very precarious, was probably more infirm, and the cause of more uneasiness to himself than was at all suspected by others ; and the vital energies of nature MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.I>. 33 were now about to succumb, or, more properly speaking, he was ripe for another world ; and, in the sight of the King and Head of the Church, having completed his allotted work, he was now to be called to his rest and re- ward. This latter idea will appear to be sustained by the following expression of sentiment, contained in a private letter to a friend, who, shortly before this time, had re- monstrated with him on his intention of leaving Canada for Australia. Aniong other things, penned in his usual easy and humorous style, he gravely remarks : " But we are birds of passage here, — pilgrims and strangers on the earth, as all our fathers were, and must not lean too much on earthly stays. That is the best place for us to be in to which the Master calls, and where we can be best doing Him service. And that is the best attitude in which we can stand before Him — ready to go wherever on earthy or whenever from the earthy He may be pleased to call us. 'Here, Lord, am I : send me.'" On the morning of Thursday, the 3rd Nov., 1859, Dr. Bayne appeared to enjoy his usual health and spirits, and made preparation to depart for the township of Puslinch, whei"e he purposed filling the pulpit of the Rev. Mr. Mc- Lean.* He had his overcoat upon his arm, ready to de- part, when he suddenly complained of illness, and ulti- mately was compelled to retire to bed. Dr. Miller, who was then in Gait, was called in ; but no fears were enter- tained that his patieiit was in a dangerous state. After divine service in Knox's Church, Mr. Geikie asked him ■■!■ I ■ - I I ■ - ^ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ I I ... I ■ — I . I. . ■ I. ■! ■■ ■ I I - - l^ll . - ■-» - -Ml— ^ • That being a day of public thanltsgiving. jL 34 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. u 1 1^:;| to take some leftcahinent. This he declined ; and on Mr. Geikie going to repeat his request some time after- wards, he found him apparently asleep, and considered it prudent not to disturb him. About five o'clock Mr. Geikie entered his apartment again, and was surprised to find him still lying in the same position. Becoming alarmed, he approached the bed, when, to his surprise and sorrow, he found that his friend was sleeping the sleep of death. Dr. Bayne had evidently died suddenly and without a struggle. His whok attitude was perfect- ly natural, and his features bore more the aspect of sweet refreshing slumber than that of death. Mr. Geikie immediately sent again for medical aid, and called in Mr. Lutz, then mayor of Gait, one of the elders of the church, and one of Dr. Bayne's stCcdfast friends. But nothing could avail. The intelligence of the melan- choly event fell with astounding suddenness on the com- munity. It was received throughout the congregation with universal grief, as for the loss of a father. And, as announcing a calamity of no private or ordinary nature, it 7 uuced a deep sensation throughout the town, the surrounding country, and wherever it was carried by let- ter or telegram throughout the bounds of the Presbyterian Church of Canada. His death was such as those who knew him best say that he himself would have wished it to be — alone with God. The funeral took place on the following Monday, and we here give a summary of the solemn proceedings on ••/ \' MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOttN BAYNE, D.t). 35 the occasion, as published in the Toronto Glohe^ and other newspapers at the time. ReHgious exercises were appropriately conducted by Principal Willis, who gave utterance to the words — " A prince and a great man is " fallen in Israel." After which the procession advanced, Dr. Miller, the attending physician, and personal friend of the deceased being accompanied by the Rev. A. C. Geikie, assistant minister, immediately in rear of the hearse. Then followed the members of the Kirk-session, and other office-bearers of Knox's Church. After them in order the members of the Presbytery of Hamilton, who were present. Then personal friends from a distance, the Rev. Principal Willis, D.D., of Toronto, Rev. John Ross, of Brucefield, Rev. A. D. McDonald, of Clinton, &c., &c. And this array of clergymen was followed by many hundreds of the inhabitants of the town and coun- try, where the lamented Doctor had laboured for more than a quarter of a century. It was an amazing spectacle to behold sorrowing men from every part gathered together to show the last token of respect to the illustrious dead. As the procession passed through the town, from the manse to the place of interment, all the places of business were closed, and every thing still like the grave, where all that was mortal of John Bayne was soon to be deposited. And there he was laid, dust to dust, in the assured hope of a glorious resurrection through the merits of Him whose grace he had lived to preach." After the solemn rites were concluded, the members of the Presbytery, who were present, met, as is usual in such 36 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. wmt m t K I ' cases, in the vestry of Knox's Church. The brethren united in offering up special prayer on the occasion, and appointed the writer of this memoir to preach in the fore- noon of the following Sabbath and declare the Church vacant, also Mr. Geikie to preach in the evening. On Sabbath the 13th, accordingly, we addressed the crowded audience as an assembly of mourners, from the words, " O death where is thy sting, O grave where is thy "victory." i Cor. xv. 55, understanding that he whose removal we deplored had latterly dwelt much on the sub- ject of dea^A in his public ministrations, and believing that he had now gained the victory over the last enemy ; adding at the same time, as we were able, a deserved tri- bute to his unquestioned worth, his Christian character and ministerial ability and faithfulness. Mr. Geikie followed in the evening with a discourse on 2 Cor. v. 6-8, in which he made an appropriate allusion to the solemnity of the occasion, and gave a just and happy sketch of the character of his admired and beloved friend. He also wrote a more detailed account of him, which appeared shortly afterwards in t\vo successive numbers of the Dumfriess Reformer^ and of which we have made a free use in the present compilation. Various other notices of one so long and so publicly known, and so generally venerated, appeared in the prints of the day, as well as proceeded from different pulpits. We have much plea:^ -e in referring specially to one of those that was sent forth through the columns of the Toronto Globe^ from the pen of the late Dr. George, of MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 37 Stratford, who during their early residence in Canada was a highly valued and intimate friend of Dr. Bayne, but between whom and Dr. Bayne there had been little inter- course since the Disruption, when they saw cause to take opposite courses. Dr. George, in transmitting to us in 1867 a copy of that notice at our request, says, " I wrote out of a full heart at the time, but had I given vent to my feelings, the article would have been much fuller, and, I am fain to think, it would have been somewhat better, but such as it is I willingly give it, to be used in any way you may think fit." The following passage is worthy of a man of genius, of a generous heart, and of a Christian spirit : — '* 'Dr. Bayne, of Gait, is dead,' is a statement which, as it falls on the ear, or meets the eye, will awaken painful emotions in multitudes in this country ; and the reply will be, ' Yes, and a great man is gone.' It is even so, for he was no ordinary man. Nearly a quarter of a century has elapsed since the writer of these lines first met with Dr. Bayne. He had just then come to the Province, and, although but a young man, no one could be an hour in his company without being struck with the force and originality of his mind ; for his stock ot information was even then very great, and his power of expressing his thoughts so clear and comprehensive, that you felt at once in the presence of a man of a well-stored memory and a highly cultivated intellect. As he continued to be a hard student, he was constantly adding to his mental wealth, so that, many years before his death, his stores of knowledge were uncommonly great. It was, however, in theological learning that he chiefly excelled ; for, although far above the ordinary run of even learned men in certain departments of secular knowledge, yet it was the learning of his pro- fession on which his heart was mainly set, and on which his intel- lectual powers were ever most vigorously exercised. No man knew /" *■" ■'■ '.; * 38 MEMOIR OP THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. better the vast difference in value betwixt the best piece of human learning and the knowledge of the Gospel ; and few men could turn to better account secular knowledge, in making it subservient, as far as it could go, to the illustration of sacred truth. From his fine taste and sound judgment, he could not only fully appreciate the labours of men in the various walks of literature, but could wisely employ these to throw light on his grand topics in the pulpit."* The late accomplished minister of Dundas, the Rev. M. Y. Stark, the oldest surviving member of Presbytery at the time, wrote an excellent account of Dr. Bayne, which appeared in the Ecclesiastical and Missionary Record^ (December, 1859,) and from which also we have taken the liberty of quoting. At the annual meeting of the members of Knox's Church, Gait, held in the vestry room on Wednesday, the 8th March, subsequent to the death of Dr. Bayne, the following resolution was carried by the unanimous voice of those present : — "This congregation, now assembled in annual meeting, and for the first time since the death of the Rev. John Bayne, D.D,, our late honoured, beloved, and lamented pastor, feel that we cannot allow this occasion to pass without in a special manner recording our esti- mate of him who so long went in and out among us, and for whom we mourn this day, because we shall see his face no more. It is not our part to speak of his influence and usefulness in the Church at large, great and acknowledged as these were ; nor is this the time to dwell on our high estimate of his mental and moral excellencies as a man; to us rather belongs the duty of speaking of him as our • Dr. George's remarks as he proceeds contribute so much- to illustrate his friend's character in different aspects that we reserve further quotations for the concluding part of our memoir, in which we shall endeavour to present that character in a kind of descriptive portraiture. MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 39 pastor ; and we feel how unable we are adequately to do so. For nearly a quarter of a century he dwelt among us, devoting to our scvice his great and sanctified gifts while in the freshness of youth, and though urged to change his sphere of labour, continuing in maturer years to toil for those to whom he at first came. Through all this prolonged ministry, we ever found him a kind friend, a wise counsellor, a faithful preacher of the Everlasting Gospel, and a con- sistent follower of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To us he was truly an ambassador for Christ, beseeching us in Christ's stead to be reconciled to God, and exerting an influence far and wide, which, blessed by the Holy Spirit, has, we believe, borne much fruit, and respecting which it is our prayer, that, ever more and more blessed, it may bear fruit many days hence, to the good of souls and the glory of the Redeemer. But a ministry so lengthened, power- ful, and honoured, needs not our commendation. While living he cared little for human praise, and our part now is only to make a tearful record of his surpassing wc rth, and our exceeding loss. A wise God has removed him at a time when we had fondly hoped he might long continue and break among us the Bread of Life, as in days gone by. That removal was sadly sudden ; the dispensation is surrounded by clouds and thick darkness ; but in the midst of sorrow we desire to acknowledge the righteous sovereignty of God, to repose in his unerring wisdom for guidance, and to say, * the will of the Lord be done.* This congregation also desire, while thus recording our grief for our own loss, to convey our sincerest sym- pathies to the relatives of our late pastor. A congregation deprived of such a pastor can estimate the grief of sisters deprived of such a brother. Our prayer is that God will sustain them in their afflic- tion, while we remind them of the consolation of mourners who know that ' those who sleep in Jesus, will God bring with him. ' " Mr. Hume, who was in the chair, requested such of the meeting as agreed to the foregoing resolution, to stand up, which they did, every man and woman present giving in their warmest assent. A committee, consisting of the Trustees and Elders was then ap- % imm A MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. pointed to take steps for the erection of a suitable monument for the late Dr. Bayne ; and the meeting adjourned. The latter part of the preceding resolution was in due time carried into effect, by the erection, at the grave of Dr. Bayne, of a handsome marble pillar, bearing a suit- able inscription. The congregation also, — and we believe mainly through the efforts of their female association, — raised funds to institute a bursary in connection with Knox's College, entitled the Bayne Bursary^ as an addi- tional tribute of respect to the memory of their late pastor, and a lasting testimonial to their and to his appre- ciation of an educated ministry. At the first meeting of the Presbytery of Hamilton, after so sad a breach had been made in their ranks, the brethren felt constrained to put on record a testimony to the loss which they, in common with the Church at large, had sustained, by the removal of him who was person- ally so dear to them, who had so often guided their delib- erations, and to whom they had always looked for advice in a case of importance or difficulty. But we may not burden our pages with all that was written or published. We reserve room, however, for the excellent minute of Synod, which at its first meeting after the death of Dr. Bayne — the following June — was prepared by a select committee, and passed as a just expression of the senti- ments and feelings of the entire Presbyterian Church of Canada in reference to one who had never spoken in that her supreme court without being listened to with attention MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 41 and deference ; but whose voice was to be there heard no more. " The Synod, impressed with the great loss which, in the Pro- vidence of God, it has sustained, in the removal, by death, of one so highly respected and beloved as the late Rev. Dr. Bayne, records its sense of obligation to the Great Head of the Church for granting the Presbyterian Church of Canada, and continuing to it so long, a Brother distinguished by gifts and graces of no common kind. "Connected with this Church for a quarter of a century, and especially identified with it as almost in a sense its founder, since its separate organization in the year 1844, we looked to him as a standard- bearer in the assertion of its characteristic principles, and the vindi- cation of its rights. E:ideared to his immediate flock by his profound elucidations of Scripture truth, and by his prophet-like earnestness and fidelity in urging its practical lessons on the heart and consci- ence, he is specially remembered by this Synod, as one who by the counsels of his wisdom commanded a degree of confidence seldom Sbcssed by a member of a church court ; and who, with a rare sure of tact and judgment often explicated what was difficult and embarrassing, defending his views with an impressive eloquence, which was powerful to persuade, and which, even where in the exercise of their rightful liberty other minds might differ from his conclusions, left on all the conviction of his rectitude of purpose, and deep devotion to truth. These qualities were strengthened in their influence by the general reputation our lamented brother and father had acquired as a man of highly cultivated intellect, and suc- cessful application to the study of general, and especially theological, literature ; and they are remembered, too, as associated with such simplicity of manners, and warm affections, as made him no less the beloved friend of many members of this court, than the counsellor revered by all. The Synod finally, records its sympathy, with his personal relatives, and his large bereaved congregation ; and ap- points that an extract of this testimony to Dr. Bayne's memory be ^■p 42 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. transmitted to the Kirk Session of Gait, and to his mourning friends, with the assurance of the Synod's sympathy both in their sorrow and their joy — their sorrow while bowing with reverence to thr will of God in the bereavement which the Synod feels in common with them ; and their joy, as feeling assured along with them that this eminent servant of Christ has entered into his glorious rest." I' , CHAPTER III. DESCRIPTIVE PORTRAITURE — PERSONAL APPEARANCE — MENTAL AND SOCIAL QUALITIES, HUMOUR, SARCASM, SENSIBILITY, FAITHFULNESS AS A FRIEND, SOLEMN MODE OF DEALING, DISCERNMENT OF CHARACTER — POETICAL TEMPERAMENT — CHRISTIAN CHARACTER AND TASTES — POWER AS A SPEAKER, AND INFLU- ENCE m CHURCH COURTS — EMINENCE AS A PREACHER — MODE OF PREPARING DISCOURSES — MANNER IN DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES — ZEAL AGAINST HERESY — LITERARY REMAINS. R. Bayne was, in stature, above the average height, and his appearance, which almost improved with age, was commanding. His head was finely formed, and his eye searching. An excellent engraving from a daguerroetype likeness has been executed since his death, and is generally to be found in the houses of his friends. His frame was of an athletic mould, and, although study and sickness had impaired its vigour, yet, for one of his sedentary habits, it retained to the last immense muscular power. He moved with a firm step, and his gestures were always energetic. His nervous 44 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. system was of high tension, yet he possessed uncommon command over himself. His mental faculties were not only of a superior order, but were well balanced. To unusual aptitude for, and power of, observation, with clear judgment, a retentive memory, and logical precision of thought, he added con- siderable scope of imagination. There was also a native dignity about him, and his habits and manners were always gentlemanly. Except when duty called him forth, he lived retired from the world — often bewailing, we be- lieve, the folly, vanity, deceit, malignity and scepticism which so much prevail in it. But his solitary habits arose, not from want of sympathy with human nature in its better forms, but from dislike to the frivolities, pre- tence, and grovelling tendencies of mankind in general j and he seemed greatly to enjoy genial society when he had the opportunity, and, among a few chosen friends, it was a pleasure to see how he would unbend. To strangers he appeared reserved, sometimes, perhaps, stern or severe; but to those who had the privilege of intimacy with him, he soon discovered the genuine feelings of his heart. Wherever he was known, his visits shed gladness, — the old delighting in his wisdom, the young in his freshness and sympathy with them, and the godly in his counsels. And those who had known him only by report, or by seeing him in public, on meeting him in private among his friends, were at once astonished and delighted. . His powers of conversation were great. His anxiety to please was always apparent, and his readiness to be MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 45 i pleased no less remarkable. A genuine modesty checked anything like display, while the naturalness and simplicity of his character often deceived the undiscerning as to the extent of his resources. There was a playfulness and hu- mour about him which rendered his society peculiarly at- tractive. The writer remembers, on one occasion, saying to him in a jocular way, when he was in one of his happy moods, " Dr. Bayne, whoever writes your life, will, of necessity, have to insert that phrase so hackneyed in bio- graphies, viz. : he had a keen sense of the ludicrous^* ; and many droll sayings, as well as many weighty remarks and wise maxims, have fallen from his lips, which must remain forever lost. Connected and often mixed up with this humour was a playful sarcasm, than which no feature of his character has been more misunderstood. " Those who knew him slightly" (we quote from a biographical notice), "and only saw the occasional flash of his weapon, supposed its wielder to be bitter, and the idea with many was, that bitterness was his habit. But in this they wronged him. Bitter he could have been had he chosen, but even in public he seldom chose to be so, and in pri- vate never. The truth was, and he felt it, there are so many matter-of-fact people in the world, that his wit and humour, his most delicate sallies, his most obvious diver- sions, were often misconstrued, and set down to his dis- advantage. In other words, brilliancy, with ordinary mortals, is so little comprehended, that, like a comet, it excites distress rather than admiration." He was, indeed, intensely sensitive, as who that is pos- "^^^^ 46 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. sessed of a lofty spirit and a tender heart is not ? But he was at the same time nobly generous — ready to make amends for any unintentional offence given by him, or to forgive an injury done to him by another. He was a most agreeable and profitable companion ; and, as a friend,* he was warm and steady, — slow to trust himself with another, yet, when his confidence was gained, trust- ing thoroughly. To the ordinary qualities of friendship, he added that which is even more valuable, viz. : Chris- tian faithfulness in endeavouring to correct, as occasion * In this relation of Friend too, we think the subject of our memoir was not generally understood. From this impression we feei that we must adopt the following caveat from one of the memorial notices alluded to, viz. : — '* None but those who knew him intimately, knew him at all, and as all such loved him, praise so unmixed must issue from their lips, that others may take the simple truth for a laboured panegyric. On this point, however, we feel but little concern. Those who did know Dr, Bayne will gladly add their tcscimony to ours, while the deductions which others may be inclined to make, cannot affect one who, while living, sought no man's praise and quailed before no man's frown, and is now satisfied with the favour of the God he loved." And under the conviction that nothing could have been more distasteful to our departed friend than the idea that any one should write of him in laudatory terms, have we been in- duced so far to take a liberty in the prosecution of our labour of love, only by the feeling that a tribute of respect is due to the memory of departed worth ; by the hope that the revival of what is past may be productive of good ; by the principle that we are bound to acknow- ledge, with gratitude, the gifts and graces which the Head of the Church bestows on his servants ; and by the fact, that Scripture itself sanctions such expressions of affection, when it tells us th?<: "the memory of the just is blessed," when it records the excel- lencies of the righteous of former ages, and when it speaks of mei\ '•who were full of faith and of the Holy Ghost," and "of whom the world was not worthy." f li MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 47 required, the faults of those around him. And his cor- rection was made in no censorious spirit, but with such delicacy as rendered it obvious that he was willing to ac- cept of similar marks of friendship in return, which had the effect of making one rather see his own defects than feel the reproof so gently administered, and then, again, made the reprover be, on that account, all the more be- loved and confided in. It has already been remarked that he was characterized by great gravity — approaching sometimes, apparently, al- most to sternness or gloom. He had a very low estimate of the world and of human nature in general ; and whether, from the sadness of the spectacle so constantly presented to his view, or from inward personal feeling, we know not, but when alone, or when forgetful of the pre- sence of others, he would often give utterance to deep sighs and groans, — not the listless expression of lassitude or vacancy, but the forced utterance of powerful emotion. When by himself, so full, often, did these seem to be ot mental agony, that one who had not become familiar- ized to his peculiarities would feel tempted to burst into his room and ask what was the matter. He was sometLiies, too, very solemn in his manner of dealing with his friends. We can never forget one morn- ing, in his own house, when he came down stairs, his fea- tures not having relaxed from the sterner aspect which they frequently assumed when left to his own meditations, though he had been uncommonly genial and pleasant tlie evening before. On the subject of ministerial character 48 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. and responsibility being a^^cidentally introduced, he re- marked that it was the opinion of a certain aged and god- ly minister — strange though it may seem to some — that, after all, a small proportion only of those who hold the sacred office will be eventually saved. And, when the sentiment did not at once meet with a suitable response, or seem to make its intended impression, for which we cannot yet forgive ourselves, he gave one of his signifi- cant and piercing looks, which went to the heart, and which spoke volumes. And yet his religion was not gloomy. " His father's house," it has been observed, " was ever the resort of the godly" ; but, as he often re- marked, the piety which shone there so conspicuously waL" never marked by any moroseness. Nor could he at all understand by what process any man or school had ever connected piety with gloom. Indeed, so strongly did he feel on this point, that he vievvcd with suspicion any one whose countenance and carriage were peculiarly dismal. He felt that such appearances were unnatural, that they were assumed, that all ascumptions are pre- meditated, and, therefore;, iliat deliberately, and for a pur- pose, such men seemed solemn. What that purpose was, he might not, probably would not, indicate, but all such external exhibitions excited his strongest distrust. Levity he condemned, both by precept and example, but he also condemned any presentation of the religious character which did violence to nature and Revelation alike, and brought, in an ostentatious and peculiar way, him, who exhibited it, before the public. Naturalness he ever held MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 49 to be a beauty in all men, and especially in the Chris- tian. .; , Dr. George passes the following encomium upon him : "The man who is only distinguished in public has some grounds to suspect that his claims to greatness are, on the whole, rather equivocal. If Dr. Bayne was a dis- tinguished preacher and a leading man in church courts, he was a still more remarkable man in private. Indeed, it is hardly saying too much to affirm, that those who have only known him in public can hardly form any just notion of the richness of his mind, or the gentleness and humil- ity of his heart. Like all good men, he was eminently social ; but he possessed, what some good men do not possess, conversational powers of the highest order. As it was said of one of our greatest poets — * that whatever he uttered had something in it' — so may it with truth be said of Dr. Bayne, that all that he uttered had something genial in it, often something grand, and always something good. Men who understand of what materials high minds are made, will not wonder to hear that he was a man of genuine wit, and that his wit often overflowed in- to natural and pleasing humour. The conceited, the stu- pid, and those who are harassed with the dread of their hollowness being detected, were apt to suppose him not only severe, but cruel in the play of his wit. No suppo- sition could be more unjust. He was not only a Chris- tian gentleman in principle, but a most accomplished gentleman in his whole demeanour. He would, indeed, have shuddered to have uttered a word that could have ■ - so MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. given causeless pain to the humblest of his fellow crea- tures. No one who has ever witnessed him talk, with his earnest voice and look, with the young, whether cheerily or solemnly, by the fireside, can ever doubt either the depth of his piety or the tenderness of his affection ; and surely the man of mature years who ever left Dr. Bayne's own fireside without regret to go, must have had but little social affection, while he who could leave it without hav- ing made addition to his wisdom, and having had all his best motives strengthened, must either have been an ex- ceedingly wise man or pitiably foolish. He was, indeed, take him all in all, an admirable specimen of what the ministers of Christ ought to be, — learned, laborious, zeal- ous, and humble. Canada sadly misses such a man, and yet it is even more painful to think that the Province can at present lose but few such men." Like his father, he had grea>" skill in discerning charac- ter. To this study he was much given ; and so long had he pursued it, that the critical inspections of men had ceased to be an effort, and become a necessity. In early life he had studied phrenology ; and, while he distrusted its intricate subdivisions, he believed, as all observant men do, that there is much in the general form of the head. To this, to the countenance, and to the tout en- semble of every stranger he looked, and the result of his almost intuitive glance was an impression which he seldom found erroneous. But it was not only with the outward manifestations of character that he dwelt ; he analysed motives with a skill we never knew equalled. MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 51 It was vain for any one to attempt to stand before him in borrowed feathers without detection, — himself distin- guished for integrity and honour. He had an instinctive abhorrence of hypocrisy and cant ; and, while most indul- gent to the simple-minded, however inferior they might be in ability, he was unsparing in his exposure of such persons as pretended to excellences which they did not possess. ' As a student of human nature he took great interest in children ; and even when an infant only a few weeks old was brought before him, like a philosopher, he would contemplate with wonder the immortal germ, as if endea- vouring to realize its mystery, or trace the first workings of the mind ; while older children, whose sayings and doings he watched, afforded him an easier and more interesting study. Like most men of superior intellect he had very keen sensibilities. And in connection with these, and his strong social feelings, for which he did not always get credit, we may mention his poetic temperament. Natural- ly gifted with a highly emotional nature, with imagination and exquisite taste, — to the growth of which familiarity with the magnificent scenery fronting his native town had no doubt contributed ; and which early sorrows may have modified — he sometimes as a relaxation exercised his talents in the composition of verses. We have heard him repeat by the fireside with deep pathos lines written in reference to the melancholy death of his two sisters, Mary and Isabella, although it was only long after the 52 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. event that he could bring himself to take up the subject ; also very touching verses on the death of Mrs. Wilson, another sister who had gone to India as a missionary's wife, and had herseif become an active agent in the mis- sion field, — in which he contrasted the aims of the true soldier of the cross with those of many a worldling who goes out in his country's service, but seeks no more than military promotion and glory. The former were not the less affecting from their connection with the following simple incide;nt : — " On his voyage home from Norway, a poor little bird, sorely beset with the raging tempest and nearly gone, took refuge in the ship, where it was most kindly received ; but had no sooner recovered in some measure from its distress than it was devoured by a cat." The incident made a deep impression on his mind, and he used to describe it most touchingly. And when some time subsequently his sister Isabella was drowned, im- mediately after her recovery from an illness that it had been feared would prove fatal, he said with indescribable feeling, " How little did I think, when musing on the fate of the little bird, that I should have so soon to mourn something so like it in the case of one so very dear to me )} These and several other specimens of poetic tendency however, we fear, are irrecoverably lost. But we venture to give one example of this class of his mental efforts, — not because it is judged by any means superior or equal to some of those already referred to, but because, so far as we know, it is almost the only one extant, and MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 53 » because it exemplifies a trait in Dr. Bayne's character : deep sympathy with others, — of which many regarded him as utterly destitute. The subject of it was the death of a first-born child, who was taken away at an early age. The mother mentioned an incident connected with the child, and with her own grief; and the doctor, after musing on it for a time, kindly requested that she would favour him with a note of the circumstances, and he would make an attempt to put them into verse. The result was a little poem, entitled, " A Mother's Lament for her withered Flower^ founded on a description furnished to the author by a friend who had recently lost her first- bom son, — a lovely and engaging child of two years and five months of age."* His iudgment in ordinary affairs was eminently prac- tical and sagacious. It was a pleasure to lay a difficulty before him. He would patiently hear all you had to say, quietly ask a few questions for his own guidance, and then give the advice wanted, displaying a prudence, a consi- deratenebs, a practicalness, an amount of common sense and tact, which we are hardly entitled to look for in one always a student, mostly a recluse, and never engaged in any of the business transactions of every day life. Many a troubled heart came to this wise counsellor in adversity, and no small portion of such clients felt that the advice given was wise, while all knew that they received a true welcome, and unaffected sympathy. * The description of circumstances and the Poem, accompanied by an explanatory note, being too long for SL/oot-note, we give in an Appendix. 54 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. He never made a boast of scholarship or a parade ot learning. Indeed, it might be difficult for those who were most intimate with him, to decide as to the extent of his attainments in these respects. His library was not large, and he was by no means what is known by the soubriquet^ "a book-worm." But he read with discrimi- nation, and digested what he read. He kept himself abreast of the age by perusing the leading Reviews and other periodicals. And any new work that issued from the press he was sure to get hold of, and so to master, as to be able to give an account of its contents and pass an opinion on its merits. His mind was made up on most points that were subjects of discussion for the day. And his general information as well as intellectual ability gave him an influence among his brethren, and rendered him an ornament to the society in which he mingled. His personal piety was simple and unaffected ; but, at the same time deep, earnest and unquestionable. It was profoundly experimental, as was evident from his private conversation as well as his public ministrations. To say of him, as we would of many professing Christians, that he was consistent, — would not convey half the truth. He lived near to God, and "his profiting appeared to all." As a pastor, he wisely exercised chiefly those gifts with which his Maker had endowed him in a superior degree. Perhaps he was not so multifarious in his movements, nor so ubiquitous in his presence, as some others seem to be. But he took a deep concern in the welfare of his flock : in the religious instruction of the young, and in MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 55 the institution and conducting of prayer meetings. He was also solicitous in watching over anxious souls, and faithful in directing enquirers after the truth, while he was opportune as health permitted, and always welcome, in ministering consolation to the afflicted, the sick and the djang. As Moderator of Session, it is enough to say, that he uniformly manifested wisdom, faithfulness and tenderness in dealing with those more immediately under his superintendence. Cautious in taking up a case and skilful in conducting it, he soon discovered its merits. And while most feeling towards the offending, when they manifested symptoms of penitence, he could not tolerate any approach to evasion on the part of the accused, or attempt to justify themselves or extenuate their faults, on the part of the convicted. And in the higher church courts — for there he shone — he was ever found on the side of truth, righteousness and evangelical purity. His opinion had always great weight with his brethren. He was clear and powerful in debate, whether in the statement of a case, or in reply. He had a remarkable facility for unravelling perplexed cases and for exposing sophistries. From his acquaintance with forms and precedents, while yet attending chiefly to the principles involved in them, he took, on every question that came before him, a course which he at once felt to be right, and which he was able to uefend. He was never at fault. But from his wide ranp^e of view, his penetration, and perception of the ultimate bearing of a question on cognate subjects ; as well as from the honesty of his heart and zeal for the Eil ■H J3 56 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. cause of pure and undefiled religion, which never allowed him to trim in order to propitiate friend or party, — he was often compelled to d\|fer in judgment from many of his brethren, and v/ith pain to contend for an issue oppo- site to that which approved itself to them. And he impressed, with the depth and sincerity of his feeUngs, even those who did not agree with him in sentiment. He never aimed at fine speaking, but when his feelings were roused he was more than eloquent. As a speaker, he was deliberate, clear and consecutive ; his language always appropriate, exact, and often strikingly beautiful. Even in private, his manner of. expressing himself was distinguished by accuracy, if not classical elegance ; and in public when warmed with his subject he gave utterance to his thoughts in language amazingly forcible and telling, while his gestures, if not characterized by studied grace, were in keeping with his sentiments — intensely energetic and powerfully impressive. Never rising to address an assembly without being fully master of his subject ; he took a comprehensive view of it in all its bearings, and ncer failed to present his case in a manner fitted to command attention and admiration. And well do we remember the noble stand which he took at the time of the Disruption, and the sublime attitude which he assumed on the floor of the Synod at Kingston, on the evening of the memorable tenth of July, 1844, when inter- rupted in his address by the leaders of the majority under the pretext that he was using language unbecoming the court; although, in fact, he was only warning his brethren MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 57 of the danger of unfaithfulness to their great Head if they should send forth an approval of the course taken by the Established Church of Scotland. When he was inter- rupted, he at once sat down, till the confusion was hushed. He then rose and said — " Moderator, I will explain," and proceeded with an array of facts, to charge the Church of Scotland in stronger terms than ever with dereliction of duty ; and, in a strain of the most solemn appeal and crushing rebuke, to remind some who were present of their vacillation; at the same time, compelling, as it were, a hearing, until he had finished his address and tabled his motion. But it was as a preacher that Dr. Bayne was best known. His pulpit qualifications he seems in a great measure to have inherited ; for the following, which was written respecting his father, is equally applicable to him- self, — " He was rich in good matter, clear, scriptural, and often striking in his illust~ • 'ons ; generally favoured with uncommon fulness and freeaom both as to the frame of his soul and language in delivery, accompanied with a sweet savour and holy unction. In his application he used to be uncommonly animated, most searching and close in his appeals to the conscience ; very rousing and awful when addressing unconverted sinners, formalists and hypocrites. But he never finished his appeal to those characters without opening ministerially the door of mercy, and pressing and directing them most earnestly to the Saviour. He was most tender, affectionate and con- soling in addressing weak believers, wounded consciences, 58 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. and tempted and doubting souls." And in the applica- tion of his discourses to different classes of hearers, in varied and pointed appeals, awful and tender by turns, the son eminently excelled. He had indeed few of the qualities which are generally understood to make up a popular orator ; yet, in the art of expounding and apply- ing the Word of God, he has seldom been equalled. He was indeed mighty in the Scriptures, having studied them carefully, and his discourses were at once simple and pro- found, clear, scriptural, evangelical and practical. One maxim with him in expounding Scripture was that the mind of the Holy Spirit in the word is to be gathered rather from the context, and the drift of the writer than from any verbal criticism. And on this he generally acted. In his earlier days, he seems to have written out his discourses elaborately and with considerable care ; but for a long period, latterly, they were not fully committed to paper, not that they were hastily prepared, or were extemporaneous effusions, for they were thoroughly digested and elaborated in his mind, and his manuscripts show that the method of treatment, the train of thought, and mode of illustration, were exactly laid down even when there was not much written. And it appears to those who heard them, that upon comparison with the MSS, these were not much departed from in the delivery. He used to speak to others, not only of how they were to prepare a discourse, but how they were to preach it. And in his own case, in view of pulpit duty, he would lie KHRRa' MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 59 down on the sofa for hours together ruminating on his subject ; then ge,t up in haste, take writing materials, and jot down what he had cogitated, ample space being left on the paper for interlineations and additions, during further meditation. In the more immediate prospect of engaging in the work of preaching, again he might be seen sitting with his skeleton sermon before him, his pencil in his hand, and his tobacco pipe, to which he was excessively addicted, in his mouth, conning over his theme till the hour of service arrived. It was evident, then, that his mind was roused and his heart full. And in these circumstances, it was equally plain that any attempt at interchange of thought.on the part of another, however politely met, was an intrusion. He hurried to the pulpit. But there, he commenced deliberately. Every thing proceeded in order. There was no hurry, no hesitation, but a calm, full, equable flow. He had such a command of language without volubility that he never seemed at a loss for the choicest expressions. Apt illustrations, often tinged with the hues of poetry poured in as required. And sometimes in the application of his discourse his mind became fervid, and his gestures vehe- ment. The result was, that every attentive hearer was carried irresistibly along, and felt that the entire discourse was in the text, and from the text, which now' appeared large, luminous and impressive. And even those accus- tomed to the study of the Scriptures wondered that they had not before seen in the passage opened up what had now been presented to their mind. 6o MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. Upon his knowledge of the inspired volume, he brought to bear the power of his gifted mind, and the experience of his Christian life, so as to draw from the depths of every te..t that he handled, its precious contents and illustrate them in the happiest and most forcible manner. His expositions were never dry, abstract discussions, but savoured much of the spiritual and practical. He dealt with the understandings of his hearers, but only as a channel to their hearts. And a salutary advice given by him privately to others employed in the work of the ministry was " Speak to the consciences of your hearers, never mind their intellects." He had no idea of submit- ting the matter of God's claims to be judged by man's ratiocination ; it was his aim, and singularly his forte to deal with the conscience. He seemed to have a wonderful insight into the import of Scripture, and the mysteries of the Kingdom ; also into the wants and workings of the human heart, and the ex- perience of the growing Christian. And he dwelled much on portions and views of divine truth, which, in a measure, lie beyond the grasp of ordinary minds, so that when he did take up such passages, as are more commonly treated by others, he carried his audience further up the mount of vision, as it were, than they are generally brought. Perhaps in* this connection, it may not be too much to say, that while we have often listened to many of the most eminent preachers that Scotland has produced during the present century, candour compels us to give it, as our sober verdict, that in full exhibition of gospel truth, in MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 6i power of application, and in all the essentials of useful preaching he was unsurpassed. And for correctness, breadth and spirituality of view, for lucid ar-angement, and for chasteness and felicity of diction, as well as holiness of aim, his ministrations furnished a model which many of the present day would do well to imitate. " It was, in- " deed, in the pulpit," says Dr. George, " that this eminent "servant of God appeared to the highest advantage. "There were those — perhaps not a few — who thought " his discourses heavy and by far too long. Yes, these dis- " courses . "re heavy, but they were heavy with thought ; " and if somewhat longer than modern custom sanctions, " it should be known that this was not through a want of " taste or prudence in the preacher, but from burning zeal " to benefit souls. He appeared to feel that his message " was so momentous, and the present opportunity so im- " portant, that he did not know well how to stop while there " were unconverted sinners before him, and souls that " needed the consolations of the Gospel. And yet, when " one thinks how rich his discourses were in matter — how " clear the reasoning was that ran through them — with " wh£,t simple and noble diction the great truths were " clothed, and with what natural and forcible majesty they " were delivered — he cannot but wonder that Christian " men should have thought them unreasonably long. The " truth is, that to men of vigorous intellect and healthy " piety. Dr. Bayne was ever an acceptable preacher. It is " not saying too much to athrm, that, on all the topics he " carried to the pulpit, he ever spoke so as to interest and 62 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. " edify. Yet, those who have heard him frequently will " readily admit that it was when he came to speak of his " Saviour's love, and his Saviour's sufferings, that his dis- " courses partook of a grandeur and beauty quite peculiar. " On these highest of all themes — the themes unspeakably " dearest to his heart, he was in the best sense truly an elo- " quent preacher. It need scarcely be observed that his " eloquence, neither on these nor on other occasions was " at all of the sor*; so much in vogue with many that run " after a certain kind of pulpit orators. The genius of his " eloquence was eminently intellectual. Hence it dealt " mainly with the understanding and conscience, and was " intended to reach the feelings only through the con- " science. This it often did with singular force. The " church to which he so long ministered — perhaps the " largest in the province — is composed of a people whose "good sense, solid information, and simple manners emi- "nently fitted them to appreciate the high and varied " talents of their gifted pastor. What a loss that church "has sustained !" The manner in which Dr. Bayne conducted the more devotional part of divine service was also remarkable. He was evidently much given to private prayer, and the fruit of this became manifest in public. There was an unusual solemnity, fulness and power in his prayers. We have heard it remarked by some of his own people, that even in the public assembly he prayed as if he were a/om with God ; and yet in the difficult art of appropriately and profitably leading the devotions of others, he had — MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 63 apparently without being coiiscious of it — attained to such excellence, that without the slightest effort or subjection to any rule, but as the result of familiarity with the holy exercise, in combination with a mind of high order, and an unfettered command of language, he proceeded in an unbroken train ; comprehended every requisite particular ; and closed with unexhausted copiousness and fervour. So that every one present who gave his attention to the subject felt that, independently of the privilege and responsibility of being so assisted in addressing the throne of grace, there was a singular beauty in this part of the service ; and that, if he should attempt to criticize, he could not advantageously alter a word. He had a great jealousy of doctrinal error ; and earnestly did he set himself on different occasions, when he thought truth was in danger or the honour of God at stake, to " con- tend for tliC Faith which was once delivered to the Saints." This he did, not from a love of speculation, — not in the spirit of controversy, nor from a desire of victory ; but from a sense of duty, love to the truth, zeal for the glory of his Divine Master, desire to be faithful to the trust committed to him, and concern for the salvation of immor- tal beings ; for he ever made the vindication of the truth, subservient to the great aim of winning souls to Christ. At one period, scepticism, and the heresy known as Morrisonianism threatened to become prevalent around Gait, when his solid teachings from the pulpit on the doctrine of the Atonement, tended very much to settle the minds of his own people, and to check the spread of that 64 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. V \ un scriptural and dangerous system. And from a similar conviction of what was due to the branch of the Church to which he belonged, though contrary to his own inclina- tions, he took a prominent part in conducting the cases, both of Mr. Peden, of Amherstburgh, who was deposed on account of his heretical tenets ; and of Dr. Ferrier, of Caledonia, who was cut off from the Presbyterian Church of Canada for contumacious resistance to the decisions of its supreme court. The result of all could not be other than that a most extensive and salutary influence should have been exerted on the community in and around the place of Dr. Bayne's residence and labours ; and, we believe, that throughout very wide bounds, a leaven was diffused, which will not soon fail in its operations. He built up a large and well consolidated congregation, said at the time of his death, to have had the largest communion roll of any Presbyterian congregation in the Province ; and gathered around him a select staff of intelligent and efficient office-bearers, and a mass of enlightened and deep-seated piety among the membership ; and in the hopeful character of many of the rising generation he laid the foundation of a work, into which other labourers have had the privilege to enter. How much the character of the recent Revival at Gait may have been moulded by the previous labours of Dr. Bayne we shall not attempt to investigate. His ministrations will long be hallowed in the memory of all who appreciated and have benefited by them ; and especially of those who can look back to him MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 65 as instrumentally their spiritual father. The good eifect will, no doubt, more abundantly manifest itself as time rolls on, but the great day alone will declare what has been the result of Dr. Bayne's ministry in Gait. It is to be regretted that Dr. Bayne has left behind him little in the form of written or published composition, as the fruit of his capacious and sanctified mind. I M? tion to the resolutions and addresses prepared in connec- tion with the business of the church on important occa- sions, which are published in the minutes of her courts, and the pamphlet on the Disruption, already referred to, we are not aware that there is almost anything that has seen the light, except a lecture or so delivered at a meet- ing of a Mechanics' Institute, in the place where he lived ; one on the Maine Liquor Law^ the substance of which was printed in the Missionary and Ecclesiastical Record in March 1852 ; and a discourse on man responsible for his belief which was read before the members of the Hamilli. I Mercantile Library Association — a production which was favourably noticed in the Record of the Church in June 185 1, and which was pronounced by one com- petent to judge in such matters, to be fully equal, if not superior, to Dr. Wardlaw's celebrated treatise on the same subject. He was very fastidious in composition : and whether that want of health, or any higher motive prevented the appearance of additional and larger publi- cations, we know not; but he had always a great aversion to thrust himself into notice. An earnest desire was felt from the period of his F 66 MEMOIR OK THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. decease, that some memorial worthy of so eminent a preacher should be prepared from his manuscripts. Be- sides individual sermons of surpassing power, which were long remembered, and alluded to after their delivery. Dr. Bayne had given his people the benefit of various series of discourses, — for instance, one bearing evidence of care- ful preparation, and that was much valued, — on the epistle to the Romans : and another on that to the Hebrews. But scarcely any trace could be found in his depositories of the papers from which these discourses were preached ; although it was expected that they were in a state almost fit for the press ; and the present writer had it in correspondence from his own pen at one period, that he was busy in preparing something of that kind for publication, at the request of his congregation. And if we mistake not, a person was really engaged to act as his. amanuensis in the matter. There were very few of his sermons written so fully, that any other than himself could make much of the manuscript. The few that were more elaborated were evidently his earlier efforts. Some parties of note in the science of theology expressed the opinion that the publication of a number of his skeleton sermons might prove a valuable aid to ministers. But although his assistant who had charge of his effects was bent upon sending forth to the world a volume of sermons in such form as they could be re-produced in, and would scarcely be restrained from carrying out his wish, yet by others interested in the matter, it was judged that nothing, which would do justice to the character of Dr. Bayne as MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 67 a preacher, could be gathered from his manuscripts. And that idea was iinally abandoned. The original desire, however, among his people of hav- ing something that they had heard from him put into a tangible form, and which might bring back cherished remembrances vividly to their minds, was still enter- tained, and was latterly revived by the discovery of some volumes of notes of discourses preached by Dr. Bayne, and which had been taken down in the course of delivery by the late Mr. Peter Cook, of (ialt, an intelligent and attentive hearer, as well as much esteemed friend of his minister. These notes were found to be full — in most cases, giving the plan and divisions of discourse, the leading thoughts, ottentimes the illustrations used, and even the ipsissima verba of the speaker. So that when they were read in the hearing of some who had listened to them with delight, as they came from his lips, they im- mediately elicited the exclamation, " that is just Dr. Bayne himself." It was felt that while nothing could be put forth from the Doctor's own MSS. without his personal reputation being at stake, it would be otherwise in pub- lishing notes taken by a hearer ; and, therefore, although it is only a very inadequate idea that could be conveyed of the style of his preaching, — and perhaps no correct idea at all, except to those who remember the original, — it was resolved with the sanction of his nearest surviv- ing relative, to gratify the long cherished desire of his people, and to publish for their use, and that of others who may feel interested, a small volume of these valuable 68 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. notes ; and, at the request of the Kirk Session of Knox's Church, Gait, this memoir was commenced, with the view of its being prefixed to the main part of the pro- jected vohime. But for reasons, which to them seem good, the present respected pastor of the congregation, who had undertaken to select and superintend during its passage through the prePS what it might be advisable to publish, along with his session, have resiled from their original purpose; and the writer is now left to cast his contribution to the memory of his highly gifted and esteemed friend, on the notice of the public, without any accompaniment, save the essay on man responsible for his belief which it has been thought desirable to reprint. '4 uJ^-' APPENDIX. HE description referred to in p. 53, hastily drawn out, was to this effect : — " It was on a bright, lovely morning in May, that — accom- *panied by our dear little boy in all the bloom and vigour of health — we left our dwelling to visit some friends. We passed an uprooted tree, which, in its J^ fall, had detached large portions of the soil, in which grass and wild flowers were growing luxuri- antly. Of the latter, one more brilliant than the rest attracted the eye of our sweet little companion, and to gratify him his father climbed up and secured the hanging treasure. We pursued our walk, our darling rejoicing in his pretty flower; and we in our lovely bud so full of promise. In January, I passed the same place alone. The sun shone brightly, and the glittering snow seemed rejoicing in his beams. But that 70 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN Bx.YNE, D.D. bare, leafless tree, still occupying the same spot, was all of surrounding nature that seemed in unison with my feelings. Its bright flower j were gone, and over my sweet one the cold grave had closed. In fond memory alone could a trace of either be found, for the place which so lately had known them shall know them no more." The verses given below were sent by Dr. Bayne to the \vriter of the preceding, accompanied by a note containing the following, viz. : — "Thosewiiounderstand what poetry is will find more true poetry in your own ])roFe thin in my rhyme; and to any copy which you may think it worth while to take of the latter, I should like the former to be prefixed. The chief deviation which I have made from your own thoughts consists in the introduc- tion of descriptions of the scenery of a Canadian winter and spring. How far this is an improvement I mi.si leave you to judge. It is sometimes alleged that there is nothing poetical in Canadian scenery; and I confess I had something of the ambition, although you will prob- ably think little of the retpiisite jKjwer — to show that this opinion is unfounded. I do not know, if you have noticed the Huvnnini^ Bird yet, as I was some years in the Province before I had tlmt pleasure, but they may easily be seen by the lovers of early walks." a motiikli's lamknt kok iikr vvithekei) ki,c)wi:r. 'Twf.s on a lovely morn in early May, Thai, by this winding path, 1 wandered last. I Tow changed the scene 1 without, the winter's ^loom ; Within, what jjriefs their darkening ^.hadows east. ja^*.' MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 7I Clad in their spotless robe *of frozen snow, » The whitened fields stretch cheerless to the eye ; With hoar-frost feathered o'er, the silent woods Their stiffened branches leafless spread on high. Ice-bound the shrimken river, scarcely heard Its hidden current as it glides below ; Fled every form of life, — withered each flower ! Clothed widowef a flower for earth too bright — a heart Already tuned with heavenly joys to thrill I could not wish him from that realm awjiy, Again to wither in this world of death. Oh no ! I'll seek him where the lilies bloom, Immortal fragrance in their odorous breath. Yes, often there my still bright flower I'll seek, And hover a'er it, upon faith's glad wing ; Till midst the winter of my blighted heart, The hope of heaven shall like a snt)w drop spring. 73 74 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. Minute entered on the Record of the Presbytery of Hamil- ton^ ifi reference to the lamented death of Dr. Bayne. " The Presbytery, stricken undei the sudden and weighty calamity sustained in the death of their late highly esteemed and now lamented Father and Brother, Dr. Bayne, of Gait, feel that they can only bow with humble resignation to the will of their heavenly Father in this mournful event, saying that, while He is infinitely wise and righteous, and gracious in all His acts. His dispensations are to them often dark and unsearchable. They deeply sympathize both with the attached congre- gation of Knox's Church, Gait, in the sore chastisement with which the T^ord has seen meet to visit them, and with the afflicted relatives of the deceased, in a distant country, under their heavy bereavement. They are also afresh and most affectingly reminded by this event of the necessity of being always personally prepared for their coming changes, and diligent in the great work assigned them by their Master. And while they rejoice in the consoling and sustaining confidence that their departed brother has been removed from a world of sin, sorrow, and toil, to one of perfect purity, rest, and glory, where he is numl)ered with those who shall shine 'as the brigluness of the firmament, and as the stars fc ever and ever,' they are utterly incapable of ade(|uately exi)ressing the loss, — humanly si)eaking, the irreparable loss, which they have individually and collectively sustained, in the removal from among them of a faithful friend and wise counsellor, MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. n — of one whose varied and surpassing gifts were manifest in every department to which he turned his attention, and whose eminent graces rendered him the object of venera- tion and affection to his brctliren. Yet, as Scrijjture sanc- tions grateful acknowledgment of the goodness of the Great Head of the Church in all the gifts and graces bestowed upon His ser\ants, and teaches us, while guarding against all idolatry of the creature, duly to honour the memory of the just, the Presbytery regard it as a sacred duty in this case, to pay a tribute of deserved respect, and, therefore, embrace the oi)porturity of unani- mously recording their sincere though feeble testimony to the greatness and worth of him, who long, and even at last regular meeting, took a prominent i)art in the busi- ness of this court, but whom it is now no more their privilege to behold among them,— and that, in the fol- lowing terms : "Dr. John Bayne, of (ialt, who, for well nigh a (juarter of a century, ministered in the (iospel with unusual ac- ceptance and success among his i)(;ople in that place, and who was a member of this rresl)ytery from its earliest or- ganization, was a man richly endowed with all those (jualities of mind and heart which, when sanctified by grace, as they were in him, render one's life ])eculiarly valuable to the world and to the ('hiirch. His Christian- ity was simple and iniostentntious, yet deej), umjuestion- able, and experimental. As a friend, lie was warm, gen- erous, and faithful ; and his intercourse with his brethren was always characterized by integrity, dignity and cour- 76 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. ■I I ;1 M it teousness. As a preacher, he was mighty in the Scrip- tures, and clear, comprehensive, spiritual, practical, and powerful. And as a member of the various judicatories of the Church, he was invaluable for the extent of his knowledge and experience, the correctness of his views, the sagacity and profundity of his judgment, and the zeal which he ever manifested for truth and principle, — in con- sequence of which he legitimately, though apparently al- most unconsciously, wielded a powerful influence wher- ever he appeared. The Presbytery, at the same time, feel that they have been laid under the greatest obliga- tions to their late brother, and through him to the author of all their mercies, for the upright and noble stand which he ever made, while among them, in behalf of truth and justice, the honour of Christ and the salvation of sinners, — for the zeal which he uniformly displayed in endeavour- ing to make the portion of the Church under their juris- diction fulfil the high design of the Church's living K ^ad, — and for the care which he took, and the talent which he put forth in directing its deliberations and decisions — frt-c|uently, l)y his clear-sightedness, delivering the brethren from difficulties and entanglements from which others saw no escape. And they think there is no presumptuous step[)ing l)eyond their province, nor invidious distinction made, in exjjressing their conviction that the Sui)rjme Court of the Church has been, in a similar way, more in- debted to him tiian to any other, for the able manner in which he often guided her counsels, and the efficient part he look in maintaining her purity and indei)endence, — MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 77 and that the Presbyterian Church of Canada at large, which must acknowledge him to have been, in a certain sense, her founder, has been deprived of her chief orna- ment and pillar. In view of all these things, it is with a feeling of unfeigned grief, and yet of genuine gratitude, that the Presbytery reflect on their fellowship with the subject of this minute during the time that is past ; and not without sadness and anxiety they address themselves to present duty, or look forward to the exigencies of the future. But they remember that the Lord reigns, and bearing in mind that, if any lesson be taught them by the present dispensation, it is, " cease from man," they would, with renewed solemnity, diligence, and faithfulness, set themselves to the fulfilment of their several important du- ties, during the remainder of their brief and uncertain term of service in the Church below, — seeking the grace of God to direct and support them while here, and anti- cipating the glorious reward which is laid up above for all such as shall be " followers of those who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises." Extract from a short sketch of the life of Dr. Bayne^ by one of his co-presbyters^ which appeared in the ''*■ Ecclesiasti- cal and Missionary Record,'' in December, \8^g. " Much of his time was spent in the reading and thought required for his pulpit preparations — even more in thought than in reading, for he was not a man to satisfy himself with taking up and appropriating the ideas of others. He 78 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. u [ a was a man independent in thinking, as he was in character, and of much originality of conception. His sermons were distinguished by profound views, logical clearness, a thorough acquaintance with the system of divine truth, by the power infused by a mind deeply imj^ressed with the importance of what he uttered, and by the energy of one who wished his words to go home to the minds and hearts of his hearers, as he himself felt them. His philosophical reading to which he was much devoted, and his varied knowledge were apparent in his discourses, but with him philosophy and science were ever but the handmaids of revealed truth. They never took the place of, but always followed in the wake, of the word. His illustrations were appropriate and striking and his whole manner was solemn- ly impressive, as if his whole frame was heaving with the thoughts to which he strove to give utterance. "He had a deep insight mto human nature, a thorough accjuaintance with the workings of the heart, and in no department probably did he more excel than in analytical exposition of the word of Cxod, and his powerful applica- tion of its truths to the hearts and consciences of men. — But never was he more truly sublime, more touchingly eloquent, or more solemnly impressive, than when dis- coursing of the love and sufferings of the " Man of sor- rows;" his tears at the grave of Lazarus — his agony in the (larden of (lethsemane — ihe awful mysteries of Cal- vary, or the abiding love and tenderness of our Olorified Redeemer — or reat High Priest— the Lamb in the midst of the throne as it bad been slain, and when he I MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.3. 79 sought, by those attractions, to win sinners to repentance and bring them to Jesus, and to build them up in the faith, the consolations, and the holiness of the Gospel calling. If there was, sometimes repetition in his weekly discourses, it arose from no vagueness of thought, but from the desire that what he said might be understood by all, and if his discourses were long, it was from the fullness of the foun- tain from which they flowed, and had not his long services interfered, in some cases, with necessary duties, and in others with family arrangements, and been wearisome to young children, we should have heard, I believe, no com- plaints on this score from any who were capable of appre- ciating them. For his Bible class and his weekly \. cture he made the same careful preparations as for his Sabbath services. In the discharge of all his duties he acted under a weighty feeling of his responsibility as a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ. He gathered round him a staff of office-bearers, such as few congregations could produce, and as their moderator and head, he ever maintained the dignity and pre-eminence, without assumption, which be- came his position. In his exercise of discipline he was unflinchingly faithful, yet remarkably tender, wherever there was the appearance of genuine sorrow for sin. Like his Master, while he denounced with severity pharisaical hypocrisy and wickedness, he would not break the bruised reed, nor ([uench the smoking flax. "Though mixing little in general society, he was highly qualified to shine in it; and in all the intercourse of pri- vate life he adorned and delighted every circle in which 8o MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. he moved. With extensive information and well matured opinions upon most subjects of general interest, he had great conversational powers — much playful wit — and a keen, cutting sarcasm, in the use of which, though he may sometimes have seemed severe, he never, we believe, knowingly hurt the feelings of one whom he had ground to respect. Genuine piety was in his view a redeeming quality, which covered a multitude of frailties. He was ever the perfect gentleman in his feelings and manners — a generous opponent, yet a very Knox in steadfastness of principle, and one who, like him, feared not the face of man, but at the same time a Knox also in gentleness of nature, and a most steadfast and consistent friend. " Whether we regard him as a minister, or as a man, his transcendent talents — his natural endowments — his ex- tensive acquirements, together with the attractive graces of his Christian character, command our admiration and engage our esteem. "Such an occasion as that of his funeral obsequies Gait never witnessed. The number of his brethren in the ministry who attended — and it would have been greater had time allowed others to come from greater distances — shewed the respect and attachment with which he was regarded by them, and many a sorrowful countenance betokened that a loved and lamented one was gone. The suspension of all business, and the streets lined with crowds of females and children, and the vast procession — composed not only of the office-bearers of the congre- gation and his brethren in the ministry and his own afflicted MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 8l flock, but of persons of all denominations, shewed that his death was regarded not only as a sad bereavement to his friends, his congregation, and his church, but as a public loss of no ordinary nature." Extract from Memorial Notice of the late Dr. Bay fie, by the Ra>. A. C. Geikie. "Dr. Bayne's intellect was pre-eminently mass've. — There are many quick men, and many clever men in the world ; there are few strong men. His frame was of un- usual muscular force, and his mind of like capacity. Calmly it looked at, went up to, walked round, handled what stood or came before it, and the calmness was that of a strength never paraded and little thought of. While the true soldier will know his courage, but scarcely thinks of its existence, so surely must Dr. Bayne have known something of his power, but so surely did the inarticulate knowledge give him no concern. Those who knew him felt his power, yet it was never his intention they should do so. But strength of the mental kind cannot be hid any more than light. It is a fact which writes its exist- ence on all the motions of its possessor. It is seen in the untroubled eye, the unchanged voice, the steady hand, the resolute fronting of difficulties in thought or action. So far as he had any consciousness of power, probably this was indefinite, we are certain it was very inadecjuate, for no theatre on which he was called to act fully disi)layed, far less exhausted him. We have seen him occasionally IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I ^ Ilia '- m 1^0 IIM 112.2 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 'm 6" — ► O^M Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WIST MAIN STRE( T WIBSTIR.N.Y. MSBO (716) 873-4303 '0".A ^.Jf<> '^ fA fA $2 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. tested, but the strain was soon removed, that it wis rather by the mode in which he planted his feet than by the work done, that we saw of what he was capable. Still none could fail to feel in his society that he stood in the presence of a mind of extraordinary grasp. In stating his own view or listening to the view of another ; in pulsing action or in calm repose, there was a solidity about him which few cared to strike, and fewer still to be struck by. " He was marvellously acute and clear. We say acute and clear ; for some are acute with no clearness. Their minds, like some ceaseless machine, are forever making punctures, while after all, unlike the machine, they are never doing anything. It was not so with our subject. His eye passed slowly over, and under, and around a dif- ficulty, and when it had done so, turned steadily to the propounder, ever indicative of a successful inspection, but seldom exhibiting the elation of a triumph. Scarcely ever have we seen him hindered by a sophism longer than was necessary to probe it. We never knew a sophism proof against the temper of his spear. Ithuriel did not more certainly make the Fiend stand confessed than did Dr. Bayne lay bare the most delicate intricacy of error. Sharp to disentangle each ravelment, he was clear and strong in laying out every portion which he had untwisted, and with guiding finger, showing whence it came and whither it led. His was the acuteness of the scalpel in the hand of patient science, which lays bare alike round muscle and delicate nerve, and never returns to its sheath •until the strongest or the tenderest organization has been MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 83 traced to its furthest source. It has been our astonish- ment that those affecting to know him have ventured the assertion that his statements were sometimes obscure, and his conclusions sometimes inconckisive, for we are very certain that he always thought too lucidly ever to speak hazily, while if his premises were granted, his was too severe and skilful a logic, to admit of giving forth an un- contained conclusion. Possibly, however, a diseased eye may lament the dimness of the sun, all unconscious that its own opaqueness cannot admit the light. " " His mind was unusually active, as well as massive, acute, and clear. Some minds of extraordinary strength have been rendered greatly useless by habitual indolence. The mind of Dr. Bayne was ever busy. Whether with a book, or with itself, a steady, unhurried march of thought scaled heights or explored depths, played with fancies or indulged in theory. He rested ; but his rest was found in what change provides, not in a cessation from work. With Cowper he could have said : ' A want of occupation is not rest ; A mind quite vacant is a mind distressed.' " But more ; his mind was as delicate as it was strong. It often happens that the vigorous, the acute, the massive, lack those tender perceptions which grace the man, and often despise what they lack In such cases the charac- ter is apt to grow hard, and the man to be much more useful than agreeable. But he of whom we now speak, delighted as much in the graces of the poet as in the speculation of the metaphysician, and was as much at 84 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. home in criticizing Keats, as in solemnly surveying the profundities of Butler or Hamilton. We have seen on his table a treatise on the higher mathematics, and beside it a volume of nursery rhymes. "He had a perfect scorn for meanness. Wherever he saw it, in rich or poor, friend or foe, it excited his disgust, filled him with distress^ and called forth his denuncia- tions. From his mouth these words had issued well : •' Mine honour is my life ; both grow in one, Take honour from me and my life is done.' " ^n Church Courts he revolted from trickery ; in a de- bate he loathed intentional sophistry ; in matters of or- dinary conduct he was scrupulously fair ; the rights of friendship he held sacred. He was a very Bayard in such respects, I^ess high-minded men found him repellant ; but had they known it, they would have blushed to dis- cover the cause. A mean and dishonourable blow stung him to the (juick, but he never paid back those who sin- ned most against him in kind. He kindled no less quick- ly at any semblance of injustice or oppression, and the surest way to lead him to throw his shield over an oppo- nent, was to do that opponent a wrong. Often have we heard him dwell on the conduct and character of men from whom he had bect)me estranged ; but never did we know him, as he indicated their faults, fail Hkewise to ex- hibit their virtues. As for his friendships, these were things very little spoken of, but precious. His tongue dealt in no compliments, but his life told what he felt. To intimacies dissolved by death he seldom referred ; but MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 85 when he alluded to them, one saw how deep they had been, and how strongly their memory was cherished. Slow to trust himself with another, he yet, when his con- fidence was gained, trusted thoroughly. His heart then opened, and he who enjoyed his aft'ection felt that he had won a treasure, which only his own misdoings could ever send away. His regard was no streamer, which fluttered over its object while his course stretched across a sum- mer sea ; rather did it resemble the massive anchor, seen but little, always ready, and never false in the night of darkness and danger. And if, on a subject so sacred, we may for an instant touch, we would say, that the ties of relationship held him with a tenacity which never allowed his heart to wander from the loves of his childhood, and from the graves of his household. And now at last, this mournful yearning is satisfied, and these sighings are end- ed in the Home where that household, slowly gathering, is now well nigh gathered, ' No wanderer lost, a family in heaven. ' " In conversation he was peculiarly fascinating ; his manners in society were easy and graceful, his anxiety to please always apparent, and his readiness to be pleased no less remarkable. A genuine modesty checked any- thing like display, and the naturalness and simplicity of his character often deceived the undiscerning as to the extent of his resources. Wherever he came his visits shed gladness, the old delighting in his wisdom, the young in his freshness, and the godly in his counsels. 86 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. Nor did the least thoughtful ever presume upon him. His natural dignity checked the forward, without chilling the respectful, while increasing intimacy disclosed a keen sensibility, which secured his friend while it sheltered himself from the word or thought which might give pain. " His opinions were deliberately formed, conscientiously held, earnestly promoted, and resolutely defended. Slow to decide, cautious in settling down in a conclusion, he was all the more tenacious when a conclusion was arrived at. Then, the firmness for which he was so remarkable became apparent. Once satisfied that he was in the right on a matter of importance and principle, he might be vanquished, but he never yielded. Majorities might be overwhelming, but this did not affect him, for he aimed at truth, not majorities. Hard things might be spoken about the stand he made, but he did not make a stand in order to hear smooth things. The sneer of the weakling might mark the smallness of his following, but this did not disturb him, as he sought followers for far higher purposes than to win power. He was not indiffer- ent to success, but if he wished it, he did so for no personal triumph, but the triumph of the cause he had espoused. For popularity he cared absolutely nothing ; contrariwise, he almost suspectfxl a cause which was generally popular, and that swerving from long-cherished principle in order to win the applause of the crowd, so common in our day, deeply depressed him, as he was prepared at any time to journey alone in what he con- sidered the path of truth, abandoned, misunderstood, MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 87 misrepresented, and blamed, rather than to win a vociferous triumph, if doing so involved the slighest deflection from the right. Strangers might call him bigoted, and unthink- ing opponents did call him factious, but all such designa- tions were harmless, indicating in those who made them, either profound ignorance of the man, or a palsied in- ability to understand why any one should have sufficient faith in his own opinions, or sufficient earnestness about anything, to induce him to oppose numbers, and miss the sweet incense of multitudinous and unreflecting praise. Of later years his grief on account of passing and coming events was unfeigned; for he believed that on more than one vital point the testimony of his Church was in dan- ger, and had he lived, he was quite prepared by speech, and if needful, by action, to protest against the evils he feared. No small share of the spirit which fired John Knox burned in the heart of Dr. Bayne, and of the latter as of the former, it may indeed be said by those who visit his honoured grave, — ' Here lies one who never feared the face of man.* " We have lingered long over this labour of love, but we cannot close our remarks without saying a word about his Christian character. His piety was as deep as it was retiring. Those who heard him in the pulpit felt that he felt all he said ; and those who listened to him for years, saw the deepening hues of his spirituality. In the sacred desk he sought not fame, but as he himself said, his only remaining wish was to preach Christ. How faithfully, fully, tenderly, powerfully he disclosed the whole counsel 88 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. of God to his flock, all know now, and generations yet unborn will testify hereafter. And, if we pass from his public ministrations to his private walk, we find that what the Sabbath disclosed, the week day confirmed. Alone, he was much on the Mount ; in the society of his friends, ever delighted to speak of Him who had loved him, and who, delivered for our offences, had been raised again for our justification. His faith, simple and clear, was in vigorous exercise. Doubt did not come between him and the Cross. Ever bewailing indwelling sin, ever re- cognizing the Divine sovereignty, and adoring the Divine love, he had calmly taken his place on Calvary, to travel hourly between his own emptiness and Christ's fulness. Excitement he avoided, frames and feelings he did not indulge. The only peace he valued was derived from faith in action. The words of Charles Wesley peculiarly fitted his case : — ' Other refuge have I none,' &c. " To do less than indicate his close and constant walk with God, were to wrong the cause he loved ; to dwell long on that which, while living, was so much a matter between God and himself, would be an intrusion not demanded, and which his memory forbids. The writer can only add the prayer that the Eternal Spirit may lead all who knew him as friend or pastor, to follow him as he followed his Lord ; and that in the Church to which his graces lent even more strength than his gifts, ministers similarly imbued with the mind that was in Jesus, may be MEMIOR OF THE RF""^. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 89 multiplied, that so we may ever have amongst us 'epistles of Christ, known and read of all men.' " Our task is now done, would that it had been better accomplished. We have sought, however, to mark truly some leading points in the character of a Prince in Israel, and an honoured and beloved friend ; and, if our eulogy has been unbroken, it has been so because we knew not at what point praise should have given way to a different strain. We believe that none who knew him could have spoken in other tones than our own. He now rests from his labours, and his works do follow him ; but he has left a blank in his congregation and his Church which will long be seen and felt, and which, by all who knew either, will be sorrowfully acknowledged. His sun has gone down while it was yet day ; let us imitate him by acknowledging that all has been done well, by one who cannot err. We add but this — * Life's duty done, as sinks the clay, Light from its load the spirit flies ; While heaven and earth combine to say, — * How bless'd the righteous when he dies.'" IS MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS BELIEF? A LECTURE DELIVERED BEFORE THE MEMBERS OF THE HAMILION MERCANTILE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, ON THE EVENING OF THE i8tH OF FEBRUAKV, 1851. BY THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, OF KNOX'S CHURCH, GALT. mmmmm PREFACE. LECTL) RE on man's responsibility for his be- lief, herewith submitted to the PubHc, was de- hvered to the young men of the " Hamilton Mercantile Library Association," as one of a series for which the members of that Association, with a ', V commendable desire to find suitable occupation for ^ their leisure hours, and with a view to their intellec- tual and moral improvement, had secured the ser- vices of various ministers and other individuals, during the past winter. Soon after its delivery, the managing Committee of the Association, requested the author to allow them to publish it in pamphlet form. This request he felt that he could not refuse. In acceding to it, however, he explained to the Committee, what he would now also explain to those who may honor it with a perusal, that it was i. ^^t composed v/ith a view to publication, and that, had he been appearing before the II ^4 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. public of his own accord, he would have felt it c'^sirable to illustrate, and fortify at much greater length, his views on some of the controverted points of which it treats. Within the compass of a single lecture, it was possible for him to do little more than sketch the outline of his argu- ment, — rather suggesting to his hearers the mode in which the subject should be investigated and decided, than pro- fessing to exhaust it. As it is, however, its brevity may be a greater recom- mendation in the view of some to its perusal, than it was in the author's to its publication. And it is now submitted to those who take an interest in such subjects, in the hope that it may serve to confirm the opinions of those who agree with its conclusions, and that it may direct those who are still inquiring, to such a solution of the question dis- cussed, as shall stand the scrutiny of that day, when only truth shall abide. In preparing it for the press, a few alterations have been made, but these will be found immaterial. IS MAN %t&^ansihU fax His §tluf? HE question which, as you are aware, I am now to discuss, — the question, " Is man re- sponsible for his belief," is not merely as some "are apt to fancy, a curious and somewhat abstruse question in Ethics, but a question of immense prac- tical importance ; in which all have an interest, on t which all, too, must in one form or other, come to a decision, and the decision come to on which must necessarily exert a powerful influence, either for good or evil. Whatever the origin of our beliefs, espe- cially of our beliefs on moral and religious subjects, it must be plain to every one, who has ever studied his own mental history, or traced the secret influences in . men's minds, which mould the character of succeeding 96 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. generations, and determine the destinies of the world, that such beliefs have a most important influence in the formation of our moral and religious character, and not less so in the regulation of our conduct, in the highest of all departments of duty, that viz. : which relates to our preparation for eternity. And the view which we take of the responsibility connected with beliefs, — thus exert- ing an influence so vast and eternal, — must necessarily aflect the formation of our beliefs themselves. Consciously or unconsciously, it will tell on our mode of dealing with the evidence on which truth is presented to us ; it will tell, too, on our mode of contemplating the truth itself. It were at variance with all experience to suppose, that the man who goes to the investigation of truth, under the solemnizing influence of the feeling that he is responsible to God, for every conclusion at which he arrives, every opinion which he forms, will not be more likely to arrive at the knowledge of the truth, than the man who goes to the investigation, imagining that belief, however erroneous, if only sincere, can involve no criminality, and expose to no condemnation. Fortunately the great majority of men, however inade- quately they may be impressed with a sense of their responsibility, assent to it, as an almost sdf-cvident truth, that man is responsible for his belief; and this assent, originating in the clear testimony of unbiased conscience is sanctioned by the explicit declarations of the word of God. But a sceptical philosophy has often started doubts on the subject ; and names of high authority in MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 97 de- heir |ith, nit, \ce of [ted in literature and science have openly avowed the opinion that man is not responsible for his belief, and have attempted to defend it on philosophical grounds. Among the supporters of ultra liberal views in politics too, the favorite maxim, that man is not responsible to man for his belief, — a maxim which, with certain qualifications, is sound, and important as the only basis on which religious toleration, or rather, equality among the members of the same commonwealth, can be adequately secured, — is not unfrequently advanced in a form or advocated on grounds which imply, that if man is not responsible to man for his belief, so neither is he responsible to God. While among the young whom thoughtlessness or vice has inclined to infidelity, the doctrine is often employed as an excuse for their indifference to all rehgion, — either avowed explicitly as a tenet of their infidel creed, or more vaguely under the plea, that they are honest in their con- victions, and cannot be blameable for holding, or for acting on honest convictions. The question is thus one which is well entitled to care- ful consideration among a body of young men, met as you are for intellectual and moral improvement, — who are either forming their opinions on many of the most important questions with which immortal beings can be occupied, or exposed in holding the opinions which they have em- braced, and in which, perhaps, by godly parents they have been reared, to the assaults of infidelity. And a clear and thorough conviction of the responsibility to God, under which every belief is formed and held as H 98 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. well as acted on, cannot fail to be of immense importance in enabling you to discharge aright your duty, in dealing with all those questions of vital interest, which impera- tively demand the investigation of intelligent and immortal beings, and a right solution of which is an essential element of that godliness, which has the promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which is to come. In endeavoring to assist you in coming to a right deci- sion on this question, we might examine it, either in the light of reason, or in the light of revelation, or in the light furnished by both ; and in either, or in both of these ways, the doctrine which it is our wish to impress upon you, might, we think, be incontrovertibly established. Time, however, would fail to enter on a field so extensive, and we propose to consider the question chiefly as a question in Ethics, and to show you on considerations of natural reason, that man is responsible for his belief ; and that the grounds, on which the opposite opinion is advocated, are unphilosophical and untenable. This may have the advantage of disembarrassing your consideration of the question, of the jealousy which is not unfrequently entertained of Theological dogmas, as well as of better assisting you in meeting on their own ground the advocates of man's non-responsibility, who, unable to grapple with the clear and explicit testimony of Scripture on the subject, usually take refuge in the dim and broken light of reason, or in what they pompously term, the enlightened philosophy of modern times. And first, and before entering on the more rigid exami- MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 99 iami- tion of the question, there is a preliminary remark as to a consequence inevitably resulting from the doctrine of man's non-responsibility for his belief, to which it will be of use to call your attention, as being fitted both to show you the extensive and vital bearings of the question under discussion, and to prove, as by a simple redudio ad absurdum, the untenableness of that doctrine, — and that is, that if man be not responsible to God for his beliefs, then there is scarcely any thing for which with consistency, he can be held to be responsible. In religious matters especially — the most important of all — a man's habitual feelings and conduct must be chiefly determined by his beliefs. Nay, it might easily be shown, that certain feelings and actions, corresponding with the beliefs cherished, must as necessarily flow from these beliefs, as belief itself is supposed necessarily to flow from the manner in which the evidence of truth presents itself to the mind. Who can for a moment doubt, that the beliefs which a man entertains in relation to the questions, — whether the Bible is the word of God, or whether Christ is the son of God, and the Saviour of sinners, or whether man is here on trial for eternity, — an eternity which, terminating the evanescent distinctions of earth, shall know but two classes of men, — the good and the bad, the inhabitants of heaven, and the inhabitants of hell, — must of necessity tell, and powerfully tell, alike upon his feelings and his life ? Now, if there be no responsibility for belief, on what principle, or with what consistency, can a man be held lOO MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. responsible for the feelings or actions which flow from that belief, and which are only the necessary effect, the simple, natural, inevitable product of that belief With regard to actions in particular ; whenever belief is the source of action, if the belief itself be neither good nor evil, and not the subject of responsibility, it seems plainly absurd to hold that action, which is but the expres- sion or embodiment of that belief, can be possessed of such a moral character as to render him who performs it subject to responsibility. This were to reverse the axiom, that actions have no moral character in themselves, but only in so far as they are the acts of an intelligent and moral agent ; and that the good or evil which we ascribe to them, and which renders him who performs them praiseworthy or blameworthy in their performance, pro- perly lies not in the actions, but in the principles, — the views, the feelings, the affections, the motives by which the agent has been actuated. This were to suppose that God looks to the outside alone, in dealing with his crea- tures as responsible, and overlooks the inward springs and sources of their conduct, — the view of Him, the feel- ing toward Him, the object or end in reference to Him, — all which are involved in belief, — by which that con- duct has been determined. This were to imply, that should a man believe in his heart, the most High God to be a being like unto himself, or a hard and rigorous and cruel master, he could only be punishable for avowing or acting on such belief, but would at the same time be held MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. lOl IgS jel- im, )n- lat to Ind or leld guiltless for harboring the foul and dishonoring source of his practical ungodliness in his bosom. It is true, that those who deny man's responsibility for his belief, do not usually admit, or, at least, do not usu- ally advert to t^ns necessary inference from their own doc- trine ; but on the contrary admit, that man, though not responsible for his belief, is still responsible for his ac- tions ; and one hears this curious theory of responsibility, not unfrequently avowed in such remarks as these, " It matters little what a man believes if his conduct is good ;" or " His creed can't be wrong, whose life is in the right ;" or " Men are Christians or Mahommedans just as they are trained ; the great matter is an honest life." But the admission thus made, and which we have never seen even plausibly attempted to be shown consistent with the de- nial of man's responsibility for his belief, is usually made in a very qualified form ; — made so as to admit of the con- demnation of sins against society, whatever the belief in which they originate, but qualified so as to allow of most philosophical indifference to sins against God ; — made so as to admit the condemnation of crimes, such as flowed from the creed of the Anabaptists of Germany, or would mevitably follow the ascendency of the doctrines of So- cialism ; but qualified so as to warrant the utmost com- placency, in speaking of the genteel vices, that spring up unchecked, under the negative creed of the infidel ; the practical ungodliness which results from the creed of the Socinian ; or the degrading idolatry which is encouraged by the creed of the Church of Rome. , 162 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. Indeed, without some such qualification, their doctrine, taken as a whole, would not subserve the purposes for which it seems to have been devised ; and the only effect of admitting man's responsibility for his actions, while de- nying his responsibility for his belief, would be, that the one part of the doctrine would neutralize and nullify the other, and leave the whole subject of man's responsibility involved in inextricable confusion. Holding man to be not responsible for his beHefs, but responsible for his ac- tions resulting from these beliefs, they would plainly free him with one hand only to hold him fast with the other ; — they would assure him, you shall never be condemned for thinking that to be truth, which God has declared to be error, or that to be lawful which he has pronounced to be sin, but you shall infallibly be condemned for acting on that opinion ; — they would deliver him from all fear of punishment for I ''^. beHefs, but leave him haunted with the fear of punishment for actions to which these beliefs inevitably led ; — and the only solace that would thus re- main to the infidel or heretic would be, that arising from the consideration, that he was placed under the govern- ment of an omnipotent Judge, who cared nothing for what he believed, but who, at the same time, might seize on him as a debtor to justice for allowing his beliefs to in- fluence his life. In a word, deny man's responsibility for his belief, and we do not see where you can stop, till you have freed him from all responsibility, or at the least, from all re- sponsibility for actions flowing from belief, and till you MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 10^ have arrived at the conckision, that the sceptic or the Pantheist, who believes that he has no duties to God, is innocent in neglecting every duty which God has en- joined. ' ' V But we come to the more rigid examination of the question. And first, it is of importance that you understand dis- tinctly and definitely the doctrine which we are to contro- vert, with the grounds on which it is usually made to rest, as well as the opposite truth which it is proposed to es- tablish. The doctrine of man's non-responsibility for his belief, it would have been desirable to present to you, in the words of some ofits most distinguished supporters. That doctrine, it may here be mentioned, was the doctrine of the ancient philosophers, who, according to Sir J. Mcin- tosh, " from Plato to Marcus Aurelius, taught, that error of judgment being involuntary^ is not the proper subject of moral disapprobation." In the d ^ys of the Schoolmen, it was revived — or at least the leading principles on which it is usually rested — by the celebrated Scotus, who, accord- ing to the same authority, "contended at great length that our thoughts (consequently our opinions) are not subject to the will.'"* And as already intimated, it has in various * It would appear that S. did not explicitly state the conclusions to which his own principles, logically carried out, would have led him. The language of Sir J. M., on this point is, " on'^ step more would have led him to acknowledge that all erroneous judgment is involuntary, and therefore inculpable and unpunishable, however pernicious." 104 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. forms been avowed or insinuated in modem times. We have not, however, been able to fall in with an exposition of the doctrine so brief, and at the same time comprehen- sive, as to enable us to present it to you in the words of its defenders, and we must endeavor to lay it before you in our own. And the following propositions appear to us to embody, fairly and fully, the substance of the doctrine, with the grounds on which it is commonly rested, — or in other words, to present syllogistically the argument by which man's non-responsibility is supposed to be proved. 1. And first, grounding on the axiom, that belief is the assent of the mind to the evidence, by which any propo- sition submitted to it is established, it is assumed, that a man necessarily believes according to the view which his mind takes of the evidence, — or in other words, as one writer has expressed it, " that beUef must necessarily, cor- respond witTi the perception of evidence, it being in the nature of things impossible, that the mind should believe or disbelieve, otherwise than as evidence is or is not dis- cerned." 2. Secondly it is maintained, that a man is only respon- sible, when he has control over the operations of his mind, — or in other words, when the will is concerned in them. 3. And thirdly it is argued, that as a man's will is not concerned in his beliefs, as they are involuntary, as they spring up spontaneously and hold their place in his mind, whether he will or no, according as the evidence connect- MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. I<5S ed with their object has been discerned ; or "as he," as Lord Brougham expresses it, "can no more change them than he can the hue of his skin, or the height of his stat- ure ;" that therefore he cannot be responsible for them, and they cannot be made legitimately the subject of praise or blame. This we conceive a fair statement ; and at first sight we frankly admit it appears not a little plausible. But in answer we shall endeavour to establish the following posi- tions, involving the proof of the directly opposite conclu- sion, — viz. : that man is, and that most legitimately, the subject of responsibility for every belief which he enter- tains. I St. That the above statement of the mode in which belief arises, and exists in the mind, — especially in so far as belief on moral and religious subjects is concerned, — is partial and defective, and overlooks an essential ele- ment involved in belief, and to which alone it is intended that responsibility attaches. 2nd. That it is not true, that in the formation of our beliefs, the will is not concerned ; but that on the con- trary, in reference to our beliefs on all moral and religious subjects, the will is concerned, and so far concerned as to involve the responsibility, which is admitted to belong to the products of the will. And, 3rd. That even if it be conceded, for the sake of argu- ment, that the will cannot conclusively be shown to be , concerned in belief, that still this would not exempt be- lief from responsibility ; but that on the simple assump- lo6 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. tion, that God has presented evidence of any truth, the belief of the opposite must necessarily involve criminality and sin. I. It is assumed then, as the basis of -the argument for man's non-responsibility, that a man necessarily believes, according as evidence presents itself to his mind. And undoubtedly, so far as belief is the product of mere intel- lect or reason, as contradistinguished from the e?notive element of man's nature, and of that reason exercised about objects which address themselves to reason alor.e, the assumption is just. In such a case, belief is clearly the natural and necessary effect of the apprehension of the evidence by the reason. The examination of that evidence may, or may not, have been the product of will ; but the belief itself, is just the irresistible assent of the mind to the evidence within its view. A man, for in- stance, cannot examine the records and the traditions of Canada, without believing it to be a fact, that the General, whose monument still crowns the heights of Queenston, actually lived, and actually was slain in batttle. No one can go intelligently over the steps of a demonstration in Euclid, without assenting to the truth of the proposi.ion, which that demonstration establishes. Nor can any one master the details of astronomy, and learn how the theory which has immortalized the name of Newton, explains and harmonizes the facts of that science, without assent- ing to the soundness of the theory. And so in other cases. ' ' And if this were jail that is involved in every belief; if MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 107 this were a correct and full account of the process by which every belief is forrricd, we do not see how it would be possible to resist the conclusion, that man cannot be held to be responsible for his belief. • ' It appears to us a self-evident truth, that responsibility cannot justly attach to an act, or product of mere intel- lect or reason, altogether detached from, and unconnected with, any movement of the emotional element of our na- ture. Suppose for example, a simple and uncompounded intelligence, — a bein[ with reason, but utterly without emotion, affection, conscience, or will, what would the knowledge, or belief of such an intelligence amount to ? Why, to the mere passive reflection, according to its pe- culiar properties, of the objects set before it. The intel- lect of such a being would but receive as passively as a mirror, the Ukeness or conception of the things brought within its view. Its conceptions would of course be more or less accurate and true, that is, more or less in corres- pondence with the reality conceived of, according to its own perfection or imperfection, — just as the reflections of a perfect mirror will be perfect, while in the case of an imperfect, it will be broken by flaws in its substance, or distorted by inequalities on fts surface, or vitiated in col- oring, by defects in its tran^iparency ; but still they would be as passi /e, as necessary, as completely beyond its own control, as are the reflections of the mirror. Not indeed that there would be no movement, no activity in an intel- lect of this kind ; but it would be movement or activity, so to speak, according to fixed laws, operating as if from 108 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. ; ' without ; not movement or activity, directed by a govern- ing power in the mind itself. Introduce into such an in- tellect, inclination or choice one way or other, — introduce in any form, a governing power such as we are able to form any conception of, and you just invest it with emo- tion, desire, will. And to the opinions or beliefs of an intellect thus passive, we do not see how responsibihty could possibly attach ; and in the same way to mere naked, uncompounded acts of reason in man, it seems as unreasonable to attach such responsibility. What renders man a responsible being is not the simple fact that he has reason ; but the fact, that in his nature, the element of reason is combined with an emo- tional element, — the fact, that he not only thinks, but that he has also feeling, affection, conscience, will. In a word, it is the emotional element in his nature, as exist- ing in combination with the intellectual, that is the moral and responsible element. In confirmation of this conclusion, it may be also well to remind you of what is universally conceded, that intel- lection or thought alone, is not, and cannot be the source of action. A mere intelligence, never liking or disliking, never approving or disapproving, never willing^ would, of course, never be prompted to action ; — or if we could con- ceive of such a being in action, it would seem impossible to ascribe to such action any moral character, or to award it I ither praise or blame. So that if we overlook the emo- tional element, there seems no basis on which responsi- MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 109 bility can rest, either for belief withitiy or for action with- out. An unwarranted advantage, accordingly, is given to the advocates of man's non-responsibility for his belief, by al- lowing them, as is often done, to rest unchallenged in the assumption which we are considering. And what we as- sert in opposition to this assumption is, that in relation to moral and religious subjects, the emotional or moral element, — that is the emotional excited about moral or religious objects, — does always enter into the belief, and thus renders it legitimately the subject of responsibility. I. And first, we apprehend there could be no concep- tion even, much less belief, in respect of moral and reli- gious subjects, without the presence and movement in the mind of this emotional or moral element. It seems a simple impossibility, that a being without affection, — without love or hatred, benevolence or justice, could con- ceive of such affections and sentiments ; or that one with- out conscience could conceive of the distinction between right and wrong, virtue and vice, or of the feelings of ap- proval and disapproval, always involved in the apprehen- sion of that distinction. It seems impossible, in a word, that a being without emotions could entertain any of the radical ideas, which enter necessarily into every concep- tion, as well as behef, ;n moral and religious subjects. As well might a man born blind be supposed to conceive of color, or one born deaf, of sound. Indeed, only suppose the conception of love or hatred, benevolence or justice, approval or disapproval, and the very conception implies no MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. either the past or present consciousness of these feelings in the mind. Without this, conception would plainly want its vital element. Nay, more than this, to accurate and vivid conception, not merely the past or present con- sciousness, but a healthful susceptibility of such emotions in the mind, at the time of forming the conception, would seem to be indispensable. A defect in respect of the soundness of such susceptibility, by vitiating, so to speak, the elements or materials out of which conception is form- ed, would affect the accuracy of the conception, a defect in respect of liveliness or intensity, would in like manner affect its vividness. And hence, it may be here remark- ed, a simple and philosophical explanation of a doctrine, often cavilled at, but not the less true on that account, — that a defect in the moral elements within, — that is, in a man's own breast, — incapacitates for a right conception of moral objects without, — such as the character and law of God ; and that a man's moral nature must be rights that he must be pure in heart before he can see God. For on the principles which we have explained, as with- out a sense of benevolence and justice, and the kindred moral emotions in his own bosom, a man cannot conceive of the corresponding qualities in God, so in proportion to the purity and strength of these feelings in the mind, must be the correctness and liveliness of his conceptions of the moral character of God. 2. But secondly we remark, that from the natuieofthe object before the mind when contemplating moral and re- MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. Ill ligioiis subjects, the moral element in the mind, cannot possibly be in a state of indifference. We may conceive an individual going for the first time to the examination of the demonstration by which some proposition in Euclid is established, without being biassed by his feelings, — his liking or dislikings, one way or an- other ; and v, e can conceive the assent of his mind being given to the truth of the proposition, without the concur- rence or revolt of a single moral emotion with or from that assent. It may be a pure act of intellection. But it cannot be so, when the mind deals with moral or religi- ous propositions. As certainly as the intellect is affected one way or another, by the presentation of intellectual truth, so must the moral nature be affected one way or another, by the presentation of moral and religious truth. Just as the intellect assents or dissents, so must the moral nature like or dislike, approve or disapprove, embrace or spurn. Constituted as man is, it is impossible that the moral element in his bosom will not be at work, accord- ing to its peculiar properties, in dealing with such ques- tions as these ; — with the question, for instance, which, in a mercantile community like this, may often suggest it- self, whether a merchant pressed by business, may with- out violating the sanctity of the Sabbath, work up his ac- counts, or read his business letter^ on that holy day ; or with the question now agitating the neighbouring Union, whether the fugitive slave-law is reconcilable .with the principles of immutable justice ; or with the question of wider importance, and eternal interest, whether the way 112 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. of justification revealed in the Bible is by faith alone ; or with that question which has made such havoc of the peace of the Churches, whether the doctrine of election is the doctrine of God. Whatever may have been a man's previous training, the simple presentation of such ques- tions to his mind, will set in motion the moral elements in his bosom, and consciously or unconsciously, there will be a moral bias, inclining him to one side or the other. And not only so, but in deciding upon them, not merely the intellect, but the moral nature also, will, so to speak, sit in judgment. Nor will it be possible for him to come to a decision on either side, involving full, — that is settled and operative belief, — which does not carry with it the assent of the moral nature, — the approval of the heart. Nay, such is the present state ofour peculiar compound nature, that it is a notable and notorious fact, that in deal- ing with questions like these, the intellectual and moral elements do not always work in harmony. The emotive may mislead and overpower the intellectual, producing what is termed moral blindness ; or even aftei* the intellect has been satisfied, and compelled to give assent, or at least brought into a state of conscious inability to set aside the force of the evidence, and there has been fas- tened in the mind what we call a secret conviction of the truth, the moral element may still dislike, still hate the truth, and stand out in an attitude of proud and obstinate hostility. Who, for instance, has not met with a case, where a regard to self-interest was so obviously mislead- ing, in spite of the convictions of a clew understanding, MEMIOR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. II3 that we have been compelled to say, that the error was not in the understanding, but in the heart. Or who has not been conscious in his own history, of evil inclinations, not only overbearing the authority of conscience, but the clearest convictions and beliefs of his understanding it- self. It is also of importance to observe, that even in looking at the mere evidence of truth, it is not the intellect alone that is concerned. This is ofttn found convenient, by the assertors of man's non-responsibiUty for his belief, to assume, in order that the intellect may be described, al- most as if compelling belief through the views taken by it of the evidence of truth, irrespective altogether of the moral nature, or the estimate formed by that nature. But it should not be overlooked, that the evidence of moral and religious truth is not like the evidence of an indiffer- ent historical fact, or of a geometrical proposition ; but includes more or less in all cases, and in some cases ex- clusively consists of, moral elements, and appeals direct- ly to the moral nature. Take, for example, the evid'^nce of many of the most important conclusions of Natural Theology ; or take, above all, what are called the " Inter- nal Evidences of revealed religion," and it is plain that these cannot be apprehended, nor their force felt, except through the moral elements in a man's heart, — nay, that to a proper decision concerning them, there is required the nicest exercise of moral discrimination. And such evidence will always appear stronger or weaker, according to the state of the moral nature, and indeed take its whole ■■'■ • r ■ : V ■' '". ^ ; ■ ' 114 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. coloring, from the healthy or unhealthy, sound or unsound state of the heart. It seems then clear, that belief in respect of moral and religious subjects, must always involve a moral element, — nay, more, if our statement has been sound, that full belief must involve, not only the assent of the understand- ing, but also of the heart, — the harmony of both elements of our compound nature with the truth. And if so, we see why belief may^ or rather, why belief must be subject to responsibility. It involves necessarily a moral element^ A LOVE OF THE TRUTH, OR A HATRED OF THE TRUTH ; and unless we exclude all that makes us moral beings from responsibility, we cannot exclude belief And not only so, but we may now see 7vhy it tSy that whatever the convictio~>s of the understanding, an unsound belief must be evil, and therefore punishable. From the very passiveness of mere intellect in assenting to the evi- dence before it, of which the assertors of non-responsibil- ity try to make so much, we may infer, that the usual conditions admitted on all hands as being essential to re- sponsibility being satisfied, viz. : the reason being ade- quate to the investigation, — an opportunity of investiga- tion being given, — and sufficient evidence being present- ed, — the only cause which can lead to an unsound belief must be the moral element, — the opposition of the heart to the truth, — a hatred of the thing to be believed. Take away this hindrance, and mere reason would present none. An V her the unbeliever stand at the porch of the ter f .rufh, refusing assent to the evidence before MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. II5 him, or within the precincts of the temple itself, intellec- tually convinced, but still in heart refusing homage to the truth which is there enshrined, his unsound beliefs, no matter what plea of honesty he may urge on their behalf, must be regarded as punishable sins. II. But secondly, it is argued by the assertors of man's non-responsibility, that responsibility can only attach to what is voluntary, or to acts of will ; that the will is not concerned in the formation of our beliefs ; that they are involuntary ; and therefore that our beliefs cannot be subject to responsibiHty ; and we are now to endeavor to show, that the will is concerned in our beliefs. I. But first I must qualify my assent to the principle, that responsibility can only attach to what is called vol- untary. This principle seems to be very frequently conceded, though not always explicitly announced, by Ethical writ- ers, and conceded in a very broad and unciualified form. And we find even Dr. Chalmers laying it down as an "all- important principle, that nothing is moral or immoral which is not voluntary."* Now, if the principle be ap- * Dr. Chalmers appears to us to have been led into error in laying down the principle here referred to, from his desire to establish the position, that emotions inclining to good, if not cherished and nt)t acted on by the will, are worthless. This position he has estal)- lished with his usual clearness and force, but he has erred, we con- ceive, both Ethically and Theologically, in assuming or seeming to assume, that the converse position is also true, and that emotions in- clining to evil, which arc not cherished or acted on by the will, are not evil. The reason why emotions in the first case are worthless, is, that the action of the will determines whether good or evil has (■■■p 116 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, B.b. plied to actions alone, we fully concur in it ; in this sense it is only a familiar axiom universally recognized and act- ed upon in the world. But if it be extended so as to in- clude the emotions, or what some writers term the patho- logical or pathematic elements of our nature, we hold it to be unsound and untenable. Where desire is regarded, as is the case with some writers, as identical with the will, or where, as with others, desire is at least included under the term will, because an element essential to every voli- tion, the principle might indeed be explained in a sense comparatively harmless ; but where, as is usually the case, the will is regarded as a distinct faculty, and by what is voluntary is understood acts or decisions or the products of such acts or decisions of the will, the principle we deem to be as dangerous as it is unsound. The simplest and most spontaneous, and most involuntary affection toward, or desire for, what is morally evil, we hold to be itself morally evil and culpable, — nay, to be the very root and germ of all sin in the heart. The simplest rising of such a feeling in the heart, — as for instance, of enmity or hat- red to God, or of the desire to escape the restraints of His law, — however speedily it may sink to rest under the rebuke of conscience, and although the only act of voli- tion which may have taken place in connection with it. the ascendancy in the heart, and in this case its action shows that evil, not good, has the ascendancy. But it does not follow that be- cause emotions inclining to evil may be shown by the action of the will not to have the ascendancy, bat on the contrary to be success- fully resisted, that therefore these emotions are not in themselves evil. MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, DbD. 117 may have been an act directed to its suppression, — must, we conceive, be regarded as rendering a man criminal be- fore God. Deny this, and you just deny that the germ of sin is sin ; and that that is evil and culpable, without which there would not, and could not be, an evil act of will. And irrespective, therefore, of all reference to the will, if we have succeeded in showing, that a moral element is always involved in belief on moral and religious subjects, we would hold that man's responsibility for his belief has been established. But we think it can be shown, that the will is concerned in belief 2. In order, however, to our illustration of this point, it will be of use here to refer to a distinction which is sometimes attempted to be drawn by the advocates of man's non-responsibility. It is the distinction between man's responsibility for his mode of dealing with evidence, and his responsibility for belief itself By some, his re- sponsibility in the former case is admitted, while, in re- spect of the latter, it is denied. And as undoubtedly the will is, if not chiefly, at least most palpably concerned in the treatment of evidence, a neglect to dispose of this dis- tinction might weaken the force of our proof Now we maintain, that we cannot thus dissever the dealing with the evidence on which belief must rest irom the belief itself The one is an essential preliminary to the other ; they are related as cause and effect ; and the moral character which attaches to the former, must neces- sarily attach to the latter. Thus if an individual's dis- Il8 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. honest dealing with the evidence of truth, — prompted too, as may be the case, by his hatred to the truth itself, lead to an unsound belief, does not such dishonesty leave his unsound belief without excuse ? — nay, entitle us to charac- terize it as in reality dishonest ? Or if a wilful searching for evidence on one side of a question, and a wilful neg- lect of the evidence on the other, — and this too prompted by the desire to establish some foregone conclusion, — leave a man in unbelief regarding it, how can this unbelief be estimated ; but as wilful blindness ? The language of every day life in estimating the opinion;* of those, who, in a question of practical duty, have allowed their judgments to be biassed by self-interest, shows what is the universal feeling on this point. Keeping this in view, let us then see to what extent the will is concerned in the formation of belief I St. And first, we observe, the will is confessedly and necessarily concerned in the examination of the evidence of truth. Truth is not found by simply opening the eyes. It has to be searched for as we search for hidden trea- sures. He who expected to know all that it was essential he should know, by simply looking around him, would be as wise, as the man who should expect to understand the whole state and constitution of the world, by merely looking at the objects within the range of his own narrow horizon. Now the power of making the search after truth, is a power we are universally conscious of possessing. The power of directing the attention, we all feel, is a mat- ter of will. We can go as we will to the examination of MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN 13AYNE, D.D. 119 the evidence, on which any truth is presented to us. We can go, or we can refrain. We can adopt one mode of conducting the examination, or we can adopt another. We can be painstaking, or we can be careless in the examination. And when at any time we are satisfied with our examination of evidence, cease further inquiry, and thus settle down in any belief — is it not by an act of will that this is done? Nor is it by an act of will, in which no regard is had to the moral aspects of the sub- ject, that our dealing with evidence is thus regulated. On the contrary, in dealing with the evidence of moral and religious truth, the action of the will is always chiefly excited by the moral aspects of the subject under review. As we have already seen, the moral nature is not, and cannot be, in a state of indifference in such a case, and thus the examination is always, not only directed by will, but by will under the influence of the emotions, proper to the moral nature. This peculiar action of the will may be especially noticed, when an attempt is made to convince an indivi- dual of any truth which he is unwilling to believe. In such cases, the action of the will, in dealing with the evi- dence, is notorious. As an excellent writer on this subject remarks, " Who indeed is there, who has not had the ex- perience of how easy a task it is to convince a man by argument, when inclination has been first gained over; — and how hard and hopeless the task to satisfy him, when the will is in opposition ? — how light the assault required to storm the citadel of the understanding, when the aflfec- I20 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. tions and desires have once capitulated, and how desperate the resistance, how determined and pertinacious the hold- ing out, when the heart is hostile to the offered proposals, or to the grounds, however just and unexceptionable, on which they are presented ? — " Why do ye not understand my speech?" said Jesus to the Jews, "even because ye cannot hear" (that is ye cannot bear) " my words."* 2nd. But again, while the will is thus invariably con- cerned in the formation of belief, no less invariably snd necessarily does it accompany, nay, incorporate itself with, every act of belief It appears to us that the province of will has, in general, been unnecessarily restricted, and that the will has to do as directly with belief on subjects of the kind we are re- ferring to, as it has with action ; or in other words, that there is as much an act of liking, of preference, of choice, in the one case, as in the other, — and neither more nor less of necessity in the determinations come to. The con- nection, between the discoveries of the intellect and the decisions of the will, appears to us to be substantially similar to the connection, which subsists between the decisions of conscience and the decisions of the will. As the decisions of conscience do not always carry with them the assent of the will, so neither do the discovcrisjs of the intellect. And as we do not consider the mere decision * Dr. Wardlavv ; whose excellent lectures on the subject under discussion, — although chiefly confined, as being originally delivered from the pulpit, to the religious and practical bearings of the ques- tion, — we would recommend for perusal. MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 12 1 of the conscience, on the side of right, to be the full ap- proval of what is right, and do not look on the approval as full, until the will has decided in its favour ; so neither can we call that full belief, which consists merely in an intellectual conviction of the truth, but where the will refuses its assent. But whatever may be thought on this point, which is too extensive for discussion at present, the fact which we have generally illustrated under the previous head, that the assent of the moral nature is always implied in full belief, necessarily involves the conclusion, that belief car- ries with it the assent of the will. For just suppose, that the assent of the will is withheld in belief, then one ele- ment of the moral nature, and that an index to the state of all the rest, would not be in harmony with the convic- tions of the understanding, and the belief therefore would not be full. But the necessary connection of the will with belief, will be seen demonstratively, we apprehend, by attending to one important aspect, in which the objects of belief, on moral and religious subjects, must ever be contemplated, viz. : the practical, — or the bearings of the thing believed, on that province over which the will has confessedly a supreme control. In moral and religious subjects, full belief, — including the assent of the moral nature, as well as of the intellect, must always point to action, and must thus include the decision of the will in reference to such action. In deal- ing with mere intellectual truth, as with an historical fact, 122 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BaYNE, D.D. or a geometrical demonstration, the belief fonned may have no reference to acti-^n ; and the will may thus be conceived to uc at rest with regard to it ; but in dealing with moral and religious truths, it cannot be so. Such truths not only invariably unfold direct practical obliga- tions, but they necessarily require, for their full apprehen- sion, a reference of the mind to the obligations thus un- folded, and to the idea of action, in harmony with, or op- posed to, these obligations. Let this aspect of these truths be overlooked, and then the whole truth is plainly not before the mind. It is impossible, for instance, to conceive of a man making up his mind on the questions, whether the Bible is a Revelation from Heaven, or whether it reveals a way of salvation for sinners ; or, — to take particular questions referable to the decision of the Bible, — whether it is lawful in any circumstances to mis- state the truth with a mental reservation, or to do that which is in itself evil that good may come, without having the practical bearings of such questions prominently in his view. And in coming to a conclusion upon them, in entertaining a full belief, on the one side or the other, there must therefore be involved, an adoption or repudia- tion of the obligations connected with the truth, and a determination of the will, as to a certain course of action to be pursued. It is true that popularly, the term belief is applied to the convictions of the understanding alone, without refer- ence to the state of the will. But while this may be cor- rcct in speaking of the conclusions of the understanding, TTT ••. ^ to to kfer- :or- fng, MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 1 23 in reference to subjects addressing themselves to reason alone, it is incorrect in speaking of such conckisions or convictions, in reference to moral and religious subjects. It is an error to call such convictions full belief ; similar to what it would be, to call mere convictions of consci- ence the full approval of what is right, while overlooking the mode in which the will was deciding. To full belief on such subjects, there must be a concurrence of the will with the understanding. In the formation of such belief, the decisions of the one are so incorporated with the con- clusions of the other, that take away the approving deci- sion of the will, and you inevitably destroy full belief, and leave only that kind of belief in which there is a disrup- tion and contrariety bctvveen the intellect and the moral nature, the head and the heart. Let us suppose, for ex- ample, that a man holds it as a speculative belief, that it is his duty to embrace, and obey, and openly profess, the Gospel ; but suppose, that there is no corresponding de- cision of his will, actually leading him to carry out his be- lief in action ; is it not perfectly legitimate to infer, that his belief is not of the right kind, that it is not /«//, that he is still not really decided in his b*^ lief on the subject. Only when his will is so decided in favour of the practi- cal obligations involved in his professed belief, as to ren- der him prepared to act upon them, can we ascribe to him full belief? Nay, so essential is this action of the will to full belief, t'^at even in the case of beliefs which we feel to be evu, and where we are least ready to sus- pect a contrariety between the moral nature and will, cs od 124 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. ' the thing believed, we are accustomed to say, when a man recoils from acting out his belief, that his belief is not thorough. Thus let an individual speculatively believe, that the word of God sanctions the extermination of here- tics, after the manner of the Church of Rome ; but let his moral nature dissent, let his will recoil from the prac- tical enforcement of such a belief, and we should feel at once that his belief wanted a vital element, and that it could not be termed full. And if an act of will, deciding with reference to the practical bearings of the thinrj believed, is thus incorpo- rated with belief, in the very act of its formation ; still more clearly is it incorporated with every recognition of the belief, when it becomes a positive source of action. It is only through the will, that belief, or anything else in the mind, can become a source of action. And it matters not what may be the view taken of the nature of the will, or of the mode in which its decisions are come to, whenever a belief leads to action, there must precede it, an act of will, involving a decision in favour of the whole thing believed. To deny this, were to suppose, that the will might be determined by a belief, while yet there was no moral harmony between the will and the thing believed ; — a supposition which would reduce the will to the condition of a mere blind unconscious execu- tor of belief; — and which would take away every thing like a basis for man's responsibility, and furnish as good reason for freeing him from responsibility for his acts of will, as for his beliefs themselves. • MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 12^ In fact, it is only by this conjunction of an approving decision of the will, with the convictions or conclusions of the understanding, that belief can become, what full belief is universally acknowledged to be, an operative practical principle. When once the will has assented to the conclusions of the understanding, when once, in other words, belief is /////, the belief naturally and inevitably comes to operate, as a motive in determining the future decisions of the will ; or rather the belief now takes its place in the mind, not in the form of a mere intellectual cc.T'iction, with which the will may be at war, but in the foriu ^ a conviction, accompanied with a fixed and set- tled purpose of action in the mind, — or, in other words, as an operative practical principle. But before the assent of the will has been given, the belief cannot thus have any influence on action ; and the will must first decide in harmony with the conclusions of the understanding, before the belief can be possessed of the power, or entitled to the name of a principle. Thus to recur again to the case of religious belief, or belief in the Gospel, what is it, th.at i ; commonly called speculative belief, as distinguislu^d ftom full, or as it is sometimes termed by Divines, saving belief Is it not just a belief, which has its scrit in the : a Jerstanding merely, which consists only in certain convictions of the reason, but from which the moral nature and the will dissent ; or with which, at least, they are not in harmony? And what on the other hand is the r^al, or full belief, which is so clearly distinguish- able f*Oi* this merely speculative belief; is it not just 126 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.O, such a belief as involves the harmony of the moral nature with the truths of the Gospel, and the assent of the will to the practical obligations which these truths unfold ; and which has thus an operative power, to regulate and purify the life ? And which of these kinds of belief, are we accustomed to designate, or do we feel to be entitled to the designation of, a principle of belief! Unquestion- ably the latter alone ; — even as we never fail to feel, it is the belief, which alone can entitle any one to be desig- nated a true beliei'er, a true Christian. I doubt not that you can scarcv e failed, to draw this distinction for yourselves between eliefs in reHgion. It may be that some of you have had experience of both kinds of belief in your own hearts ; and we think you cannot refer, either to your observation or experience, without finding evidence of the fact, that the will is necessarily involved in the formation of belief, whether that belief be sound or unsound. On the ground then, that will is involved in every belief on moral and religious subjects, we see why belief must be as much subject to responsibility, as any thing else in which the will is involved. And not only so, but on the principles which we have explained, we are now prepared, more particularly to show you, that every un- sound belief must be the product of an e%'il will ; and as such itself evil and culpable. Those who entertain unsound beliefs, may be ranked among one or other, of the following classes : — Those who are determined not to be convinced, — who MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 127 will not trouble themselves to examine the truth, — and who shut their eyes against the light. Those who, from thoughtlessness or indifference, exa- mine carelessly and superficially, and do not deal with the truth in the way which its high importance, and their own best interests, demand. Those who have made a partial, prejudiced, and one- sided examination. Those whose reinon is unable to resist the force of the evidence before them, but whose hearts still refuse to, submit. And lastly, those who seem to have made thorough and fair examination, and to have honestly arrived at the unsound belief which they entertain. Now with regard to the first four of these classes, there can be no difficulty. No nice analysis is required here. An evil will, so to speak, is written on their foreheads. If their unsound beHefs be not the product of will, and of will deciding on the side of evil, we do not see how anything a man is, or does, can be called a product of his will, and of that will choosing evil. The only apparent difficulty is in relation to the last class specified, — the class who seem to have arrived honestly at an unsound belief, — a class, however, whose representatives arc but rarely to be found. But even their case will be found, on the principles which we have explained, clearly to mvolve an evil will. For the conditions essential to responsibility in all cases, and to which we have already refeircd, being supposed to 128 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. be satisfied, if the will had not misled them in dealing with the evidence of truth before them, a sound conclu- sion, a right belief would necessarily have been come to. Again, in cherishing the full belief of error which they entertain, the will has decided in favor of that which is evil, — there has been a liking, an approving, a choosing of that evil, — and especially, there has been a resolving or determining to act upon the practical obligations, not to good, but to evil, which the object of their belief ap- peared to unfold ; and in all this, there has of necessity been what is sinful, culpable, punishable. Nay, had the will in their case been in harmony with the truth, it could not have decided in favor of error. In the case of a • being whose will was pure, ^^^T^ in perfect harmony with the will of God, all the decisions of the will would neces- sarily be in harmony with the truth of God. It could not approve or choose as good, that which God regarded as e^dl — that which God had revealed as evil — and reject that which He had revealed as good. Or if before pure, the first act of this kind would be the first act of sin. And we art thus shut up to the conclusion, that where- ever an unsound belief on moral and religious subjects is formed, it involves an evil act of the will. In the case of the class referred to, there may be, so to speak, less moral depravity, less strength of evil will, and conse- quently, less of criminality connected with their unsound belief, than in the case of the former; but still their unsound belief is no less certainly the product of will, and no less really, as such, evil and culpable. MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 1 29 III. But this leads us to the last argument which we proposed to illustrate. Many are apt to feel puzzled in attempting an analysis of mental processes, and to think that conclusions, which can only be arrived at through such an analysis, are placed beyond their reach. Now it appears to us, that disposing of the points we have been examining as you may — or at least conceding it, for the sake of argument, to be difficult, or even impossible to determine, whether and to what extent the moral nature and the will are concerned in belief; still there is a short and simple way by which an unbiassed mind may arrive, even on principles of natural reason, at the conclusion that man is responsible for his belief. Let us just suppose that there is such a thing as truth, on moral and religious subjects — that God has furnished us with sufficient evidence of that truth — and that He has given us an opportunity of investigating such evidence, as well as understandings competent to the investigation ; then it appears to us to follow as self-evident truth : — First, that we are solemnly bound to investigate that truth, and, upon the evidence furnished, to receive it ; the fact of God's presenting to us the truth in the way supposed, virtually involving a command to receive it. Secondly, that the failure to receive that truth, and the belief of the opposite, implies contrariety to God — oppo- sition to His will, to His command, to His law. And thirdly, that whatever the particular way in which that unsound belief may have been formed in the mind J 130 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. its simple presence there, implies moral evil — something which in its very nature must be hateful to God, some- thing which He must condemn. Under the government of a wise, holy, and benevolent Being, a rightly constituted mind — a mind in harmony with the mind of the Creator, in harmony, too, with the truths revealed by that Creator — would be prepared to receive and choose and delight in such truths, and in them alone. Such a mind would have no elements within it to harmonize with any opposite errors. The harmonizing with such — the belief of such — can only be accounted for on the supposition of darkness, disorder, moral evil, sin^ that which is justly the subject of punishment. Such is the argument which we proposed to submit to you ; and its weight we must leave to be estimated by your- selves. Had time permitted we should have liked to confirm the conclusion arrived at, by an appeal to the testimony of conscience — to the practical judgment of mankind — and to the explicit statements of Scripture. But we can only say a word about each. T. As to the testimony of conscience, let us take one case. A man finds reason to change his belief about the character of God, or about some important Bible truth. From having the belief about God and His moral govern- ment, which arrays Him in the attributes of a stern and vindictive judge he comes to have the beliefs which invest Him with iiie attributes of a kind and forgiving father -, or, from believing that he must seek deliverance from wrath by his own works, he comes to believe that he MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 131 may find it through a simple reliance on the merits of a crucified Saviour. And what is the decision of con- science about his former beliefs ? All who have under- gone the change will tell you, that it amounts to a most pungent and overwhelming testimony against those beliefs as evil. And similar illustrations might be multiplied indefinitely. It is true that men often seem to have no trouble of conscience about the unsound beliefs which they cherish. But if it be really the case that con- science is thus asleep within them, will not the defect in their moral state, which that unsound belief of itself implies, more than sufficiently account for it ? 2. Again, what is the practical judgment of the world about unsound beliefs ? Do men usually look upon them all as free from moral evil and inculpable, if they are only sincere ? Do not, on the contrary, some beliefs fill us instinctively with horror — and do we not shrink from him who entertains them, as from the touch of a serpent, and all the more vehemently, if we think that he is sin- cere in holding them ? We doubt if the sturdiest assertor of man's non-responsibility for his beliefs, that ever formed the resolution, " henceforward nothing shall prevail upon us to praise or to blame any one for that, which he can no more change than he can the hue of his skin or the height of his stature," could sit beside a sincere Thug — for it would seem that there are really such — however innocent of actual crime, and however little likely to exercise his vocation upon his own person, without feeling in his own breast a testimony to the fact that such belief 132 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. are evil, abominable, nay, vehemently to be condemned. And what is this, but a practical illustration of the fact, that men are sometimes compelled, and that, so to speak, in spite of themselves and their philosophical theories, to feel that there is moral evil in erroneous beliefs, and even to treat them as culpable. 3. And finally, what saith the word of God about belief and unbelief? A few passages will suffice. " And this is his commandment that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ."* " This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."t " Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou Shalt be saved.":): " He that beHeveth and is baptised shall be saved ; but he that believeth not shall be damned. "§ " With the heart man believeth unto righteousness." || '* Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God."^ " This is the condemnation that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."** " Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life."tt " If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God.":}::}: Here we have belief, first, represented as a duty — made the subject of a command — the response to which is an * John iii. 23. f John vi. 29. J Acts xvi. 31. § Mark xvi. 16. II Romans x. 10. IF Hebrews iii. 12. ** John iii. 19. tt John V. 40. Xt John vii. 17. f' - MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 1 33 le In act of will ; secondly, held forth as the turning point of salvation — that by which a man is saved — for the want of which he is condemned ; and thirdly, described as having its seat in the heart, and involving the assent of the heart. Here, too, we have belief traced, first, to an evil heart ; secondly, to the love of darkness or sin ; and thirdly, and most explicitly to the will. And here, too, we are informed that a right moral state is the grand prerequisite to a sound belief And thus we have, as it appears to us, every position, which on grounds of reason have been advanced and advocated, sanctioned and confirmed by the word of God — whose deliverances, as has been well said, will be always found in harmony with the conclusions of a sound philosophy. In conclusion, just allow me as briefly as possible, to refer, as I did at the outset, to the practical improvement to be made of this subject. I know not, my young friends, what are your individual beliefs ; and it is not my province at present, to deal with you particularly about these. But if I have succeeded, to any extent, in the argument now laid before you, there is one lesson grounded on it, which I am warranted to impress upon you all, and that is, — to cherish a deep and habitual sense of the solemn responsibility to God, under which every belief you have already formed is cherished, and under which every belief you may hereafter adopt, while engaged in the investigation of truth, shall be a 134 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. entertained. A sense of this will be your safeguard against many errors, — your surest guide to the knowledge and belief of the truth. It is an idle dream, that there is no moral good or evil in belief ; or that the searcher of hearts can regard with indifference, those potent springs of action, which indicate so truly the state both of the understanding and of the heart in reference to himself and to the truths and which infallibly determine the tenor of a man's life. If reason or revelation is to be trusted to, your beliefs will save you, or your beliefs will damn you. They will determine your character here, they will decide your destiny in eternity. Beware of the levity, the. thoughtlessness, the indiffer- ence, which cannot be troubled to give to the search after truth, and especially the highest of all truth, — the truth as it is in Jesus, — the time, the labour, the patience, the perseverance, which the importance of the object de- mands. Beware of the bias on the side of error, which springs from a defective moral nature and an evil will, and which will be ever ready to seduce you, in the form of the wish,, that what is distasteful, or what would put an arrest on impure indulgences, may not be true, — or the foregone conclusion which must at all hazards be established, — or the desire to be at one with a party, instead of being at one with the truth itself. And above all, beware of that hostility to the truth, which may remain in the heart, after the understanding has felt the force of its evidence, — and which may tempt MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. ^35 you to trample on reason and conscience together, that you may worship some idol in its room. In a word, search after the truth, as for the very springs of life ; — by careful self-government and moral discipline, lay aside the shackles and encumbrances which an undisciplined state of the understanding and the heart never fails to impose on the inquirer after truth, and train yourselves for earnest, thoroughgoing investiga- tion ; — and as fallen and dependent beings, fail not to seek the aid of that divine teacher, — that Spirit of truth, — who is promised to them that ask him, and who will lead you into all truth. Young, ardent, elastic, full of hope, and free ^rom the depressing influence of the cares and disappointments, that never fail to gather around men of advancing years, the present has doubtless many peculiar charms to allure you ; still amidst all your ke«=ri relish of life, keep it ever before you, that you are on trial for eternity. As cer- tainly as you have succeeded the men of a former genera- tion, so certainly will another generation arise to fill the places that you now occupy. A little time, — it may be a very little time, — and you must stand face to face with the God of truth, — the great fountain and standard of truth, — the glorious Being, whose immutable truth is the comer stone on which rests the stability of the universe ; and set in the blaze of that light inefifable, — searching all things, revealing all things, discovering every speck of darkness and of sin. Oh ! never forget, that that only will be found truth in you^ which is in harmony with His mind mum 136 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. and will, in harmony with His eternal truth. Knowing the truth, believing the truth, you will be found resting on that which cannot fail, and in a higher sense than can ever be the case on earth, as pure in heart you will see God. But believing what is not the truth, — resting on what is not the truth, — the very truth of God wh'ch en- dureth for ever, — the foundation on which you have built, must inevitably sink from under you, a mockery, a delu- sion, a lie. ADDENDA. We cannot forbear simply noticing by way of an adden- da, the elucidation which, it appears to us, the principles explained in the foregoing Lecture may be employed to furnish, of some of the most important doctrines of Scrip- ture. I. By these principles, an explanation is furnished of the difference, — referred to in the Lecture, but in a Theo- logical point of view, deserving of special notice, — the difference between a speculative and a saving belief or faith ; a subject about which many persons appear to be puzzled. In real or saving faith, there is a harmony of the moral nature with the truths that relate to the way of salvation by Chris c, including the assent of the will to Gospel offers, and 10 the practical obligations which the Gospel unfolds ; by which the belief becomes an opera- MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 137 tive principle, working by love, purifying the heart, and overcoming the world. In the case of merely speculative faith, there is only the conviction of the understanding, so far as such conviction can exist with reference to moral and religious truth, such as the Gospel reveals, separate and alone ; but there is no harmony of the moral nature, no assent of the will, with the truth ; and the belief thus remains dead, inoperative and worthless. 2. The same principles explain how true faith must al- ways be a spring or source of holy obedience. Implying the assent of the moral nature and will to the practical obligations unfolded in the truths of the Gospel, it must of necessity lead to action in harmony with these truths. It enlists, as it were, on the side of holiness, the whole active powers of the soul, and thus inevitably produces evangelical obedience. 3. These principles also explain the reason of the pro- minence which is given to faith in the Gospel, and in par- ticular, why justification is connected with faith alone. By faith, of the kind which we have described, the soul is brought into harmony with the mind and will of God, and especially with that mind and will in relation to the free way of salvation by Christ, — the way by which " God is just in justifying the ungodly." There is thus, in a vari- ety of aspects in which this harmony may be regarded, what some divines term a fitness or condecency in faith to be the instrument or means of justification. 4. Upon these principles, it may also be seen, why a subjective change, wrought in the heart by the Spirit of 138 MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. ' God, is necessary to the exercise of faith. In the unre- generate state, the moral nature of man is opposed to the truth of God revealed in the Gospel ; — it cannot rightly approve of that truth, and the will cannot, or rather will not, close with the offers of the Gospel, and submit to the practical obligations, the acknowledgment ofwhich a right reception of the Gospel implies \ and till a change be wrought in the heart, there can therefore be no true be- lief. By changing the moral nature, by bringing it into harmony with the mind and will of God, the spirit im- parts the power of believing ; and belief or faith thus comes as a natural and necessary result to be exercised. By the first act of faith, the work of regeneration, begun in the subjective operation of the Spirit in the heart, is completed, the soul being then vitally united to Christ. And under the influence of this faith, now existing in the soul as an operative practical principle, the work of sanc- tification is carried on, — believers being more and more sanctified, through the belief of the truth. 5. On the same principles, we may explain, how faith's being the one only pre-requisite to justification, makes sal- vation /r^^, or how, as the apostle expresses it, " it is by faith that it might be by grace." Faith, as the fruit of the Spirit's subjective operation in the heart, is itself a free gift of God ; in its exercise it implies the reception of salvation as a free gift ; and by its influence it produces the only holy obedience of which a sinner is, or can be, capable, thus making obedience itself, on which sinners MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN BAYNE, D.D. 1 39 are so prone to rest for acceptance with God, a fruit of grace. . 6. And lastly, on the same principles we see, with wha^ justice sinners are condemned for unbelief. Unbelief im- plies a contrariety of the moral nature, and especially of the will, to the truth of God. And it involves a wilful rejection of the free Gospel salvation, and a 7£/;^«/ persist- ance in sin, — attended with the fearful aggravation, of a contempt of the brightest display of God's moral perfec- tions and saving grace ever made to the universe, and a resistance to the most powerful motives ever brought to bear upon the human heart. The members of the Association, which has undertaken the publication of the foregoing Lecture, will, it is hoped, excuse this addition to it ; as it may direct their attention to several new and important aspects of the subject which it discusses, and stimulate them to the investigation of some momentous questions, with which the subject has a natural connection, but of which the Lecture does not di- rectly treat. v. IV. ReiJ, A. A/. Price, $1.00. James Campbell 8j Son's Stmday School Libraries, CONTAINING UPWARDS OF ONE THOUSAND VOLUMES, Carefully selected from all the Religious Publications of Britain, and put up in boxes, varying in prices from One Dollar to Twelve Dollars, and containing from Six to Fifty Volumes each case. These Libraries are now in extensive use throughout the Dominion; are in every way suitable for Canadian Sunday School Children, and supply a want long expressed by Superintendent:. 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