FROM THE LIBRARY OF REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON, D. D. BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO THE LIBRARY OF PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY ^■^ Vvai'^ MEMOIRS THE LIFE AND WRITINGS RALPH WARDLAW, D.D. MEMOIKS OF THE LIFE AND WRITINGS RALPH WARD LAW, D.D. WILLIAM LINDSAY ALEXANDER, D.D. Equidem beatos puto quibus datum eat aut facere acribenda, aut scribere legenda; beatissimos vero quibus utrumque.— Pij»j(/J, ep. vi. 16. EDINBUEGH: ADAM AND CHARLES BLACK, NORTH BRIDGE. MDCCCLVI. PREFACE. When the representatives of the late Dr. Wardlaw first requested me to become his biographer, I felt con- strained to decline to undertake the duty. To this I was moved, not by any insensibility to the honour which the making of such a request conferred upon me, still less by any unwillingness to do aught that lay in my power to serve the memory of that honoured and beloved friend, but by two reasons of a kind which seemed to disqualify me for the office I Avas invited to assume. The one of these was, that I had already upon my shoulders a burden of engagements, official and literary, which seemed to preclude the possibility of my accomplishing the work required within any reasonable period ; the other was that, holding upon several points views different from those advocated by Dr. Wardlaw in some of his published writings, I feared lest, in describing his literary efforts, I should be constrained to display a greater amount of dissent from his opinions than is desirable on the part of a biographer in relation to his subject. On stating these reasons, however, to the friends who had requested VI PREFACE. ine to write his Life, they did not appear to them to possess sufficient force to constrain me to decline that duty, and they accordingly again pressed it upon me. Thus urged I consented ; and I refer to this matter now simply for the purpose of accounting for two things which, to some of Dr. Wardlaw's friends, may seem to require explanation — the one the length of time which has elapsed between his decease and the publication of these memoirs, the other the freedom with which I have criticised some of his published opinions. The former I could not possibly help ; the latter I have used as sparingly as a regard to my own convictions would allow. In attempting to discharge the duty which had thus been laid upon me, I have found greater difficulty than I anticipated. Dr. AVardlaw on principle kept no diary or journal, not even of the simplest kind, and though multitudes of his letters remain, yet they seldom contain anything about himself. This, which is characteristic of the man, with whom self was ever an object invariably postponed to other considerations, has cut off from his biographer a fruitful source of interest in works of this kind, and has impeded his path with many difficulties. With these I have contended as I best could, drawing from his letters what few incidents they contained, and piecing together the dis- jointed fragments of information I have been able to gather from this and from other sources into such a continuous narrative as I could frame. I have sought PREFACE. VI I also to give interest and variety to the narrative by insertino' numerous extracts from Dr. Wardlaw's con-e- o spondence. In selecting these from the immense mass of letters which I have had before me, I have been guided principally by a regard to the light they were calculated to throw on the personal history, the habits, the character, and the opinions of the writer. " As the life of a great man," says a recent writer, one of the few remaining lights of Italy, '' is in the general composed of the history of his thoughts and his actions, that of a great writer in particular is com- posed solely of the history of his thoughts."* This remark holds strictly true of such a life as that of Dr. Wardlaw. His biography is the history of his mental efforts, whether from the pulpit or the press. To give the history of his mind then — the history of his training, his studies, his opinions, his labours as a preacher, and his publications as an autlior, is most effectively to write his Life. This it has been my supreme aim to accomplish, without neglecting those events which constitute the history of his outer life, or overlooking those minor incidents which often so strikingly elu- cidate character. To the many friends of Dr. Wardlaw who have kindly aided me in my undertaking by submitting to my inspection and use letters of his in their possession, I beg to express my sincere obligations. My thanks * Come la vita de un grande uomo in generale si compoiie della storia de' suoi pensiere e della sue azioni, quella de un grande scrittoi-e in particolare si compone dolla storia solamente de' suoi pensiere. — Ant. Eanieri Vit. di Leopaedi, p. 28. viil PREFACE. are especially due to the Rev. Dr. Muir of Glasgow — the oldest of Dr. Wardlaw's surviving acquaintances — to the Rev. Dr. Burder of London — his faithful friend and correspondent for nearly half a century — to the Rev. Dr. Morison of Chelsea, the Rev. J. Ken- nedy of Stepney, the Rev. Dr. Macfarlane of Glasgow, the Rev. Dr. M'Kelvie of Balgedie, Wm. Wardlaw, Esq., Glasgow, and the Rev. John Smith Wardlaw of Bellary ; who have materially assisted me either by their reminiscences of the deceased, or by procuring for me important information respecting him. I issue this volume with feelings that lead me to say most unaffectedly, "Would it were worthier!" Most gratefully, at the same time, would I acknow- ledge the grace which has sustained me under the accu- mulated labours amidst which I have had to compose it ; and now that the work is done, I sincerely thank those who urged me to undertake it, and who have thereby privileged me to unite my name with that of one of the best men and greatest theologians of the nineteenth century. Pinkie-Burn House, 2M January 1856. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. 1779-1795. Birth and Birthplace of Dr. WariUaw His Ancestry and Family His Early Years His Father . His Boy Life Enters the University Professors Richardson and Young College Verses Professor Jardine Reminiscences by Dr. Muir . Ethical Class Natural Philosophy and Mathematics Not a Mathematician, and why The Philosophical Society Debating Clubs CHAPTER II. 1795-1800. Choice of Profession . Devotes himself to the Ministry Early Piety Enters the Hall at Selkirk Dr. Lawson and his Class Student Life at Selkirk Letter to his Father . Controversy regarding the pow.ei' of the Civil Magistrate in Doctrine of the Confession of Faith thereon Porteous on the New Lights Porteousiana ..... Rise of Congregationalism in Scotland ]\Ir. Wardlaw becomes a Congregationalist things sacred 24 25 26 27 28 30 31 32 33 35 37 39 45 CHArTER ITI. 1800-1803. Begins to Preach .... Stationed at rcrtli .... Visits to Dundee .... Itinerant Labours .... Invited to Settle in Perth Proposal to Build a Chapel for him in Glasgow- Temporary Residence in Dumfries . Letters from Dumfries Returns to Glasgow Visits Edinburgh .... Makes the Acquaintance of Mr. Fuller Chapel in Glasgow completed Cordiality of Mr. Ewing Formation of a Church, and Ordination as its Pastor Compiles a Hymn Booh . . . . CHAPTER IV. 1803-1808. Difficulties at first ..... Purity of Communion and Denominational Liberality Marriage to Miss Smith Duties and Encouragements Village and Street Preaching " Wardlaw's Brigade'' Early Ministiy Preaching and Pastoral Visitation Private Studies Letter to J. Ogilvie, Esq. Birth of a Daughter Messrs. Payne, Fletcher, and Burder Dr. Burder's Reminiscences Mr. Wardlaw's First Visit to London Fuller's Last Visit to Scotland Birth and Death of another Daughter John Walker of Dublin Christian Forbearance Letter on Paedobaptism to A. Smith, Esq. Publication of Three Lectw-es on Ravi. iv. 9-25 Maclean's Reply Births of Children . Letter to W. Wardlaw, Esq. George Cowie .Tiihn Wardlaw goes into the Army Glasgow Literary and Commercial Society Letter on the Weekly Observance of the Lord's Sui)i)cr CONTENTS. CHAPTER V. 1808-1812. Discussions and Dissensions in tlie Churches Trouhlous Times ...... Differences hetween the Churches in Glasgow Paper on the Relations of Sister Churches . Order and Harmony restored .... Contributions to the Missionary Magazine Prayer for Britain ...... Essay on Lancaster s Improvements in Education, and Sermon on Christian Mercy ....... Meeting in Glasgow for the Resumption of Itinerant Preaching Formation of Glasgow Theological Academy Mr. Wardlaw elected Professor of Systematic Theology Sermon at the Formation of the Academy . Travels for the Academy in the North Travelling Experiffnces ..... Vigour and Activity ..... Dr. Morison's Reminiscences .... A Christian Mother on the Death of her Child Lancasterian Schools ..... Itinerancy in Ayrshire and other Places Death of Captain Wardlaw .... Sermon on the Doctrine of a Particidar Providence Literary Labours ...... CHAPTER VI. 1813-1819. Unitarianism in Glasgow Discourses on Socinian Controversy Tour in Ireland Death of Mr. Ewing Maclae Correspondence with Mr. Yates Yates's Vindication of Unitarianism Brown's Strictures on Yates Unitarianism incapable of Vindication Yates's Sequel Payne's Remarks Testimonial on resigning Secretaryship of Society . . . , Visits Lancashire Poetical Epistle Punctuality Birth of a Son Letter to his Aunt . Sermon Reading Sermon on the Scriptural Unity of Churches Invitation to Hoxton Academy Letter of Declinature the Literary and Commercial Address from liis Church The very Man to Visit Africa Essay on Benevolent Associations for the Poor The State of Church and Academy . Sermon before London Missionary Society Strictures on Hume Death of Dr. Balfour Funeral Sermon for Dr. Balfour Letter on the Death of Joseph Hardcastle, Esq. Portrait in Evangelical Magazine CHAPTER VII. 1819-1824. Diploma of D.D. from Yale College Sermon on the Truth, Nature, and Universality of the Gospel West George Street Chapel opened Radical Disturbances Sermon on Civil Government Sermon on the Divine Purposes to the Seed of Abraham Oban Controversy Reviewing .... Death of Mr. Wardlaw Senior Light in the Valley of Death Expository Lectures on Eeclesiastes Death of W. F. Durant Sermon on the Vanity of the Earthly Hopes of Man Gifts from Bible Classes, &c. Letter to Mr. E. Henry Sermon on Love to Christ Sermon on the Early Siiccess of the Gospel London May Meetings Letter to Rev. D. S. Wayland Letter to R. Dewar, Esq. Contributions to Literary and Commercial Society CHAPTER VIII. 1824-1829. Dr. "Wardlaw's Family Home Life . Sketch by Dr. Morison Mr. J. S. Wardlaw's Reminiscences Domestic Characteristics Innocent Amusements SjTnpathy with his Children Charades Piety and Cheerfulness Has his Reward CONTENTS. CHAPTER IX. 1824-1826. Public Life .... Pulpit Efforts Dissertation on Infant Baptism Argument from the Abraliamic Covenant Eeply to the Letter of Rev. J. Birt . Divine Dissuasive to the You7ig, a Sermon Man Besponsihle for his Belief, two Sermons Correspondence with Brougham Argument of the Sermons Metaphysics of Belief Wayland's Missionary Sermon Second Edition of Sermons on Responsihility Letter to Burder .... CHAPTER X. 1825-1828. British and Foreign Bible Society Apocrypha Controversy .... Edinburgh Christian Instructor Fourth Edition of Discourses on Socinian Controversy Collects in London for Congregational Union Chair of Moral Philosophy in London University Invitation to Rotherham College Death of Mrs. Ewing .... Funeral Sermon for do. . CHAPTER XL 1829-1832. Introductory Essay to Doddridge, and Sermons Marriage of his Eldest Daughter .... Letter to Dr. Woods ...... . to Rev. H. F. Burder ..... to a Young Friend ...... Charge to Mr. John Beid ...... Letter to Mr. John S. Wardlaw ..... to Mrs. Reid ....... Erskine's Essay on the Unconditional Freeness of the Gospel Faith of Assurance ....... Essays on Assurance of Faith and Extent of the Atonement and Universal Pardon ........ Opinions of Calvin, &c., on Faith ..... Extent of the Atonement ...... Funeral Sermon for Bev. John Hercus .... Sabbath Question ....... Introductory Essay to Clark's Scripture Promises . Do. Do. to HalVs Contemplations Failing Health ....... Discourses on the Sabbath ...... Sabbath Legislation . .... CHAPTER XII. 1830-1833. Anti-Slavery Movement Wrath of the West Indian Party Various Trials Page 297 299 301 "The Aula Faitlier" 302 First Visit of the Cholera 303 Voice of the Spirit to the Churches 303 Letter to Dr. H. F. Burder . 304 to Mrs. Dewar - 305 to Miss Agnes Wardlaw 306 to Miss Wardlaw 307 to Miss Eeid 308 to Rev. D. S. Wayland Tried by the Word of God 310 Congregational Lecture Voluntary Church Controversy Letter to Rev. Dr. Heugh . Civil EstaUishments of Christianity 311 312 316 319 Letter to Rev. Dr. Burder . 320 Album Verses 321 A Family Picture 323 CHAPTER XTII. 1832-1834. Delivers his Congregational Lecture in London 325 Engagements in London .... 326 Christian Ethics .... 327 Reply to Edinburgh Reviewer 329 Strictures ..... 330 Morell's Criticism .... 333 Renewal of Invitation to Rotherham 334 Letter to Mr. and Mrs. Reid 335 Centenary of the Secession Church . 336 Bitterness of the Voluntary Controversy 337 Expositre E.riwsed, in reply to Anglo-Scotus 338 Speech at Voluntary Church Meeting 341 Manchester LiberaUty 343 The Jubilee: A Sermon 344 Letter to Miss Agnes Wardlaw 345 Rev. Dr. Burder 345 Rev. Dr. Woods 346 CHAPTER XIV. 1835- 1838. Misunderstanding with the Voluntary Association Scottish Congregational Magazine . Two Lectures on the Voluntary Question Sketch of Dr. W. as Theological Professor . 349 350 350 350 CONTENTS. Letter to Miss Agnes Wardlaw Treatment of Servants .... Removes his Residence to the Country Friendly Letters to the Societ;/ of Friends Letter to Mr. J. S. Wardlaw ... Invitation to Spring Hill College Appeal of the Church for his Remaining Letter to Rev. T. East .... Testimonial ....... John Morell Mackenzie . . . . , Dwight's Hehreiv Wife, loitJi Introductory Essay . Voluntary Controversy .... Church Extension Struggle . . . , Deputation to London .... Dealings with Ministers and Members of Parliament Presented to the Queen .... Letter to Rev. J. M. Mackenzie Anti-Slavery Convention .... The Importance of the Church Controversy, &c., a Lecture Invited to Lecture in reply to Dr. Chalmers Marriage of Miss Agnes Wardlaw CHAPTER XV. 1838-1840. Preparations for London Lectures delivered .... National Church Establishments examined Merits of the Work Office of the Civil Magistrate in Religion Engagements in London Sketch of the Life and Character of Dr. M'All The Ilinistry of the Gospel the Service of Clirist, a Cliarge Mr. J. S. Wardlaw resolves to be a Missionary Marriage of Miss Jessie Wardlaw Death of Mr. Reid . Letter to Mr. J. S. Wardlaw State of Health Leaves Ijinn for Barlanerk CHAPTER XVI. 1841-1844. Mission Prize Essays ...... Letters to the Rev. H. M'Neile on his Lectures on the Church of England Services in Lancashire The Revived of Religion, a Sermon Ordination of Mr. J. S. Wardlaw Funeral Sermon for Rev. Greville Eicing Proposed Resignation of Pastoral Office Invitation to Lancashire College Lectures on Fenmle Prostitution CONTENTS. Family Changes .... Letter to Rev. J. S. Wardlaw, Bellai y Sermon on Christian Communion Atonement Controversy Funeral Sermon for Dr. Fletcher . Do. do. for Rev. J. M. Mackenzie Letters to Dr. Heugh and to Eev. J. S. Wardlaw CHAPTER XVII. 1844-1848. Heretical Tendencies among the Students . Correspondence on the New Views Memoir of the Rev. John Reid Tlie Ldfe of Joseph, and Last Days of Jacob Funeral Sermon for Rev. A. Campbell Efforts for Unity ..... Return of Mrs. Gunn and Mr. J. S. Wardlaw Letter to Mr. and Mrs. William Wardlaw Funeral Sermon for Dr. Heugh Strictures on Dr. Halley's Views Severe Illness ..... Lecture on the Headship of Christ Resolutions of Sympathy from different Bodies Congregational Ind&pendency the Church Polity of the Neio Contributions to Congregational Magazine . Choice of Eev. S. T. Porter as Colleague How the Church apportioned the Salaries of its Pastors Testament CHAPTER XVIII. 1849-1853. Letter to Mr. and Mrs. Gunn to James Ogilvie, Esq. Death of Mrs. Thompson Dr. Wardlaw's character assailed Proceedings in consequence . Conduct of Mr. Porter Vindication of Dr. Wardlaw Iniquity of the Attack His Demeanour under this Trial Evil Overruled for Good Visit to London, and Reception there The Call to Repentance : A Sermon What is Death? Funeral Sermon for Dr. Philip The Christianas Final Home: Funeral Sermon for Rev. C. Ande Treatise on Miracles Preaches in London for the Jews Letter to Rev. Dr. Macfarlane Dr. Morison's Reminiscences Jubilee Celebration . CONTENTS. xvii Page Growing Infirmities . 469 Closing Scenes •170 Last Official Acts . 470 Closing Hours 473 Death and Funeral . 474 CHAPTER XIX. Characteristics 476 APPENDIX. A. Dr. WarJlaw's Descent from James V. B. Porteousiana C. Hymns Composed by Dr. Wardlaw D. Hints on Controversy E. Character of Walter Ewing Maclae, Es( F. Remarks on the Views of Malthus G. Copy of Diploma from Yale College H. Voluntariness of Belief . I. Luther's Views of Faith . 495 496 500 509 510 512 515 516 518 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAAV. CHAPTER I. A. D. 1779— A. D. 1795. Ralph Wardlaw was tlie son of William and Anne Wardlaw, and was born at Dalkeith, in the county of Mid-Lothian, on the 22d of December 1779. The place of his nativity is a respectable country town, the centre of an extensive and wealthy agricultural and mining district. It lies about six miles to the south of Edinburgh, and has a weekly market at which a considerable amount of business is transacted, especially in the sale of grain. Dalkeith Palace, the seat of the Dukes of Buccleuch,with its magnificent parks and gardens, adjoins the town. On the site of the palace, which is picturesquely placed upon a rock descending almost perpendicularly to the river Esk, stood the ancient castle of Dalkeith, the residence of the noble family of ]\Iorton for several centuries. Hither the able but unprincipled Regent Morton retreated when driven from power by popular odium and the machinations of his enemies. Here many refugees from the disastrous battle of Pinkie found protec- tion, until the garrison, closely besieged by the English and straitened for provisions, were obliged to capitulate. Here also, at a later period. Monk fixed his head-quarters, when left by Cromwell in Scotland to complete the work which the battle of Dunbar had begun. The place has thus somewhat of historical, as well as of commercial interest, whilst the beauty of the sur- rounding scenery adds to it attractions of another kind. But of those who read this book, perhaps the greater part will be of B 4 MEMOIUS OF DR. WARULAW. partner's maiden name was Hannali Laurie ; she was a daughter of Gilbert Laurie, Esq. of Crossrig, and half-sister of Gilbert Laurie, who was Lord Provost of Edinburgh in 1766 and 1767. They were married in March 1766; she only survived about two years, leaving at her death two sons, of whom the eldest w^as afterwards a merchant in Glasgow.* ^h: Wardlaw's marriage with ]\Iiss Fisher took place in February 1773. Their family consisted of seven sons and one daughter, viz., 1. William, born 1774; died July 1796. 2. Jeanie, born 1775; died 1777. 3. Walter, born 1777 ; died February 1836. 4. Ralph, the subject of this memoir. 5. Robert, born 1781 ; died March 1839. 6. John, born 1782 ; died June 1812. 7. James Fisher, born 1784 ; died 1789. 8. A twin-brother of the last, who did not survive. Of this large family, it Avill be seen, only five attained matu- rity ; and of these, William, the eldest, was cut off in early manhood, just as he was embarking in business, and after giving excellent promise of a life adorned with many graces and virtues, had he been spared.f Walter and Robert were also engaged in mercantile pursuits ; the latter was, for a number of years, con- nected with the management of the Herald newspaper, and for some time was a partner in that property. John, after being occupied for some time in business, entered the army, and was killed at the battle of Salamanca, under circumstances which will * Hannah Laurie's mother was Mary Gillespie, daughter of Thomas Gillespie, Lrewer in Peffer-Miln, and sister of the Eev. Thomas Gillespie, who was deposed by the General Assembly from the parish of Carnock in 1752, for refusing to concur in the settlement of a minister in opposition to the will of the people. He was afterwards, for several years, minister at Dunfermline, and died in 1 774. f The following notice of this amiable youth appeared in one of the journals of the day :— " Died on the 29th July 1796, Mr. Wm. Wardlaw Jun., of Charlotte Street, a young man of distinguished worth and excellence. Though only in the noon of life, his mind was richly stored with various and useful knowledge. His manners were gentle and engaging ; his air and personal appearance in a high degree modest and graceful. Deeply convinced of the truth of Christianity, he manifested its benign influence in a cheerful serenity of temper, diffusive benevolence, and genuine, unaffected piety. These, embellished by other pleasing and ornamental accompHshments, form the outlines of this singularly amiable character, which will long remain deeply impi'intcd in the memory of his friends, and of all who knew hira." EARLY YEARS. 5 be noticed subsequently. The subject of this memoir survived the entire family of which he was a member. It may be proper here to notice, as there will be occasion afterwards to refer to the connection, that a sister of Mrs. Ward- law, Margaret Fisher, was married to Walter Ewing Maclae, of Cathkin, Esq., who thus stood in the relation of uncle to Mr. Wardlaw's children. About six months after the birth of his son Kalph, Mr. Ward- law removed to Glasgow, where the remainder of his life was passed. He became a burgess and guild brother of that city in 1786, and a matriculated member of the Merchants' House in the following year. Univeiisally respected as a citizen and as a mer- chant, he attained civic honours as one of the bailies of the city, at a time when such honours were a tolerably certain index both of personal character and social status. Of Ralph Wardlaw's early years 1 have been able to collect only a few scattered notices. His education was conducted at the public schools of the city. His first teacher was a Mr. Cunningham, whose school was reached by a street bearing the unpropitious name of " Balaam's Passage ; " and here he learned his alphabet, on the same form with a little girl who afterwards became the endeared partner of his life.* He entered the grammar school when eight years of age. Here he was under the instruc- tions of Mr. D. MacArthur, a diligent teacher, as well as a sound scholar. To what extent his studies were carried in this insti- tution 1 am not able precisely to state ; but I presume that, in addition to the ordinary elementary branches, he Vvas conducted some length into the domain of classical learning. That he was a well conducted scholar, whose attendance was punctual, demeanour respectful, and appointed work conscientiously pre- pared, is attested by the prizes he won, and the commendations he received from his teacher. His severer studies were diversified by lessons in drawing, of which he was very fond, and in which he gave promise of excellence had he continued to cultivate the * Ficcnlk'ctions of Dr. Wardlaw, in the Glasgow Young Men's Magazine for February 1854. 6 .AIKMOIUS OF DR. AVARDLAW. art. As a trait of his earl}'' consciciitiuusuess, it is reiiieiiiberet-l, in connection with his attendance at the drawing-school, that he would never say that any drawing was his, if the master had d(jne anything to it, though it were but the adding of a few strokes. There is something fine in this as showing in the boy that spirit of independence and high sense of honour which, in after lile, became so conspicuously displayed in the man. Man or boy, it was in hin)self as he was, and not as adorned by another man's plumes, that he wished to be known. The must important part of a child's education is that which he receives in the domestic circle. The lessons of the family- board and the fireside sink deepest into the heart and exert the most powerful and lasting influence upon the future charac- ter. There may be little of the form of teaching — the less, perhaps, the better ; but no child can live in a household, and come under the influence of older minds in the free and loving- intercourse of i'amily life, without receiving impressions and con- victions which will powerfully mould, for good or for evil, his whole mental and moral development. The domestic influences under which lialph AVardlaw was placed were of the happiest kind. It was his misfortune, indeed, at an early age to be deprived of his excellent mother, who died with her twin child in 1784, when lialph was only in his sixth year ; but, during these tender years, there was time for many sweet and hallowed impressions to be left by such a mother on the mind of such a child. Her place in the household was sup- plied by an unmarried sister of Mr. Wardlaw, to whose mother- like kindness, good sense, enlightened piet}^, and wise discipline, her nephews owed much both of juvenile happiness and of future excellence. But it was from Mr. AVardlaw himself that his sons, especially Ealph, received the most important mental and moral influences. He was a man who united, in a remarkable degree, tenderness of affection and cheerfulness of temperament with conscientious attention to duty, earnest and deep-rooted piety, inflexible rectitude in all his modes of thought and conduct, and ini[>ertui'bable firmness in tlie management of all uiallers HIS FATHER. 7 that came under his hand. He was also a man of more than usual intellectual culture ; was fond of books, and knew how to use them ; could appreciate the treasures of classical literature ; and was so familiar with the New Testament in its original tongue that he used to have it read to him every morning whilst he was engaged in the process of dressing. To the courtly and somewhat formal manners of the old school he added a cheerful vivacity which saved them from all stiffness ; whilst there was an activity and progi'essiveness about him which bespoke a living- sympathy with the energetic, questioning, and ad^•ancing age to which he had survived. Among other excellent qualities which, as a business man, secured him the confidence and i-espect of those with whom he came in contact, ^vas his strict punctuality. On this head I find the i'ollowing anecdote of him, recorded by his son in a letter to his own grandson, under date of February 16th, 1846. " When he was President of the Committee of the Glasgow Missionary Society, he happened one day to be at the place of meeting first, and was in his seat before any of the members appeared ; the first that entered bowed, with a friendly smile, and paid him this handsome compliment : — ' Tell me whei'e he should he, and I will tell you where he is."'' After the death of his mother, Ralph was for many years much with his father, who assisted him in his studies and laboured anxiously to store his mind with useful knowledge and pure and holy f)rinciples. Nor was this labour bestowed in vain; the good seed fell into good soil. Gifted with a quick intelli- gence the child early appreciated the wise counsels and synapa- thized with the literary tastes of the parent ; and when, after he had sufficiently become master of the Greek, he assumed the post of reader of the New Testament dm-ing his father's morning toilette, the exercise gave birth to observations on the part of the senior which sank deep into the heart of the boy and became the germ of his future religious life. A strong bond of love and piety seems ever to have united the two. The father's affectionate care was met and responded to by the most assiduous tenderness and olicdience on the I'art of the sou. 'J'o 8 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. this i\Ir. NV'ardlaw gave a striking testimony at a later period, after bearing liis sou preach a sermon on the duty of obedience to parents. The preacher having, in the course of this sermon, depicted, in strong and graphic terms, the misery, as well as guilt of disobedience, his father turned to ]\Irs. ^Vardla^v, who was sitting by him in the pew, and exclaimed, " He never learnt that by experience, for he was a child who 7iever disobeyed me, or gave me one moment's nneasiness." To his aunt, also, his attentions were most affectionately rendered. This excellent lady's eyesight was imperfect ; and it was the pride and plea- sare of her nephew to be her guide, as occasion demanded, through the streets. A lady still living tells me that she has a vivid recollection of seeing him, a sprightly and graceful boy, thus engaged, and admiring how carefully and kindly he guided his aunt, timing his steps to hers, and leading her round any impediment that lay in the Avay — a service much more necessary at the period referred to, when the streets were not well paved or cleaned, and outer stairs and jutting steps encumbered the path, than it would be now. His sweetness of temper, indeed, and gentleness of bearing to all were so conspicuous, that, though not -the youngest in the family (to whose lot such pet titles usually fall), he went by the name of " the lamb" in his father's household. ^\e shall err, however, if we suppose that this gentleness and orderly submissiveness were secured by the sacrifice of that vivacity, playfulness, and activity which are the natural as well as the precious heritage of a child. I cannot think of him as one of those tame, pithless, spiritless boys, who are always quiet and well-behaved ; who preserve throughout the day a spotless dress and an unrumpled collar; who are the pride of prim nur- sery-maids, the joy of aged unmarried aunts, and the favourites of self-indulgent bachelors ; who have a precocious percepticm of the proprieties, and a premature tendency towards the sublime of mediocrity. I rather picture to myself a bright-faced, merry boy. full of energy and fun, Ibnd of nmscr.lar activity, an adept at bat and ball, not innocent of a few tricks and i)ractical jokes at times, but ever open and truthful, ever ready to consultlhe THE BOY AND THE YOUTH, 9 wishes of those to whom he owed obedience, with a manly sense of duty restraining- and regulating his native vivacity, and with a deep fountain of natural affection which made it a pleasant thing for him to subordinate personal inclination to tlie conve- nience or comfort of those around him. I arrive at this belief, on the principle that the " child is father of the man," from certain characteristics which were not far to seek in his matured development, and also from the opinions he was wont to express as to what he thought desirable in the habits of children. In a letter to his grandson, written when he was far advanced in life, he thus unfolds his views on this subject : — " Persevere, my dear boy. You have not trifled, and you will not trifle. And when I say this, you will not suppose me so unreasonable as to expect that you should be always at the desk. I don't wish that. I would command the contrary. Your esteemed teacher knows well how essential health is to study — the sanum corjms to the Sana viens. I'll tell you what I like. I like to see a boy put sjnrit into both his learning and his recreation — his books and his play ; so that he can nut only put the books out of his mind Avhen he is at the play (there is no great difficulty in that), but put the play too out of his mind when he is at the books. This is the way to make both serve most effectually their respective ends."* These are wise, no less than kind words; and I quote them here, because I believe that what he thus declares he '' liked" at the age of 64, was very much what he had practised when himself a boy. After remaining four years at the grammar school, he entered the University of Glasgow, at the commencement of the session in October 1791. He was at this time not quite twelve years of age. To enter college at so early an age, may appear preposterous to those who are not aware that at that time (and still, unhappily, to a great degree this is the case), the Latin and Greek classes in the Scottish Universities supplied the place of mere higher schools, where the elementary tuition commenced in the gram- mar school was carried forward a few stages. To remedy the * Letter to Mr. AV, Wardlaw Keid, 19tli September 1843. 10 MEMOIRS OF Dli. WA15DI-AW. evils uF such a system, juid to atTunl something that should be entitled to the name of academical prelection in these depart- ments, some of the more zealous ])rofessors, who were imbued with a love of learning- and had themselves advanced beyond the frontier provinces of classical literature, added to their pub- lic classes a private class, in which the higher branches of plii- lology and' the reading of the higher classics were attended to. Happily, at the time Ralph Wardlaw entered the University, both the classical chairs were occupied by men of this stamp. Professor Richardson, who filled the chair of Humanity, and whose province embraced the Latin language and literature, was, if not a profound, an accurate and elegant scholar; and, as a professor, seems to have possessed the enviable talent not only of commanding the respect, but of engaging the affections and awakening the energies of his pupils. His colleague, Professor Young, who filled the chair of Greek, was one of the few men of wdiom Scotland can boast, in modern times, as sustaining her ancient reputation for classical learning. Enthusiastic in his admiration of the literature of ancient Greece, on the beauties of which he would dilate until the tears ran down his cheeks and his whole frame quivered with emotion, he was not less exact in his acquaintance with the grammatical structure and idioms of the noble language in which these treasures are contained. He had thought much on the philosophy of language in general, and was full of ingenious and learned speculations which he applied to the illustration of the Greek language in [articular. Unfortunately, he never gave his views to the public in any per- manent form, and his lectures having been delivered extempore, it is only from the reports of his students that any evidence can be iiathered of his claims to rank among philosophical philolo- gists. By his pupils, he appears to have been enthusiastically admired. " John Young," writes the poet Campbell, " witli the exception of Millar, was the ablest nuui in the college ;" * and I have heard others, who studied under him in his best days, express themselves in still stronger terms of his genius and learn- ■^ lAiX' liy P-fattic, v.l. i. j). 'jl. PKOFESSORS RICHARDSON AND YOUNG. 11 iiig.* Certain it is, that he succeeded in difiiisin*^- an enthusiasm for learning, and for classical learning in particular, among his pupils, and gave an impetus to classical studies in Scotland, the effect of which is yet felt. To both of these professors Mr. AA^ardlaw Lecame strongly attached. Professor Richardson he admired, and perhaps un- consciously imitated, as a model of correctness and elegance in respect of style, as well as gracefulness of elocution. His attendance on the Greek professor was extended over four ses- sions, an unusually protracted course. This argues such an interest in the subject of the class as cannot but justify the belief that he was a diligent and meritorious student. This is farther attested by the number of prizes which he gained, each of wliich was bestowed as " diligentiae et virtutis premium simul ct monu- mentum."t At the close of the session 1791-92, he carried off the Muirhead prize in the Humanity class. In the inscrip- tion on this. Professor Richardson signalizes him as " elegan- tioris ingenii dotes diligentia gnaviter excolens." Though nearly all his college papers were destroyed by him, there still remains one volume which affords evidence of his diligence and ability as a student in the Greek class. It is entitled, " Notes on Young's Lectures on the Prepositions ;" is written carefully in a clear and fine hand ; and appears to have been a later transcript from some ruder notes taken at the time. From the nature of the subject, and the wide range of philological illustration by which Professor Young sustained his views, as well as from that ex- cessive refinement which has been pronounced his " only fault,"| it could only be by a very attentive and intelligent student that so full and accurate a report of his prelections could have been * " The person who shall succeed the late Mr. Young in the Greek Chair at Glas- gow," says a writer in the Edinhiirgh Iveviow for July 1821, shortly after his death, " will find it a most arduous task to support the fame which that Chair has acquired from the lectures of so distinguished a professor. Few, indeed, can hope to rival the splendid ahilities and profound erudition of a man who reflected so luueli lustre upon his own situation, and the University in general." t These prizes consisted cliielly of copies of the exquisitely printed editions of chissical authors issued from the press ol' the IMessrs. Foulis of Glasgow. I Edinburgh Review, vol. xxxv. p. :m>. 12 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARr>LAW. made as appears in these notes. I i)resinuc it must have been in the last session of his attendance on this chiss, which was the session 1796-97, that these notes were taken. Besides philological studies and readings in the classics, those who attended the classes of Professors Richardson and Young were exercised in the composition of English themes. These were not always in prose ; on the contrar}-, there seems to have been a disposition on the part of both the classical professors to stimulate their students to the exercise of such powers of versi- fication as any of them might possess, on the principle, probably, vu which Dr. Watts recommended the reading of poetry — viz., that "it tends to furnish our tongues with the richest and most polite variety of phrases and words, upon all occasions of life or religion."* Among Mr. Wardlaw's fellow-students there appear to have been several on whom, if not the " mens divi- nior," yet certainly the " os magna sonaturum" had been con- ferred ; and there was one especially who was not only the facile princeps among his youthful competitors for poetic honours, but whose name now stands high on the list of British poets. I refer to Thomas Campbell, whose curriculum at the Glasgow University synchronized with that of Mr. Wardlaw, and whose biographer tells us that the approbation of Professor Young, bestowed on a particular occasion, " stimulated him to such increased diligence in his study of Greek, that he soon gave proofs of his proficiency by those elegant translations which still maintain a place among his published pocms."t To what extent Mr. Wardlaw engaged in these exercises of the class, I have not been able to ascertain ; but that he did engage in them, incited by the fine example rather than repressed by the pre-eminent abilities of such a competitor as Campbell, is certain ; and it is not less so that his exercises possessed such merit as entitled him to stand in the list of prizemen for the same year in which Campbell won his laurels for his translations from the Greek. Of these exercises, only one is extant, preserved from a general incremation to which the author had consigned * Improvement of the JiinJ, p. i. c. 20. f Life by Beattie, vol. i. p. 65. COl.LEGE VERSES. 13 Ills juvenile productions by the pious zeal of his oldest son, who happened to enter the room at the moment. It is without any title, but is e^'^dently designed to be a translation of the 14th Olympic Ode of Pindar. I subjoin it as the only existing spe- cimen of Mr. Wardlaw's early efforts in versification. " Primos infantis miisae ne spenie lahorcs." Scorn not the struggles of the infant muse. Ye sister Njmphs, ye Graces fair, To you I send the poet's pray'r ; Ye who the verdant margin tread Of smooth Cephissus' wat'ry bed, Who, gently flowing, winds his way, Pleased with your more gentle sway : In whose rich land the noble horse Train'd for the many-doubling course, Is taught unspurred to leave behind, With flying feet, the flect-wing'd wind : Ye lovely queens, far famed in song. Who rule the Orchomenian throng, Bright guardians of old Minya's line, To hear my voice your ear incline. Each sweet delight which men pursue With wishful fondness, dwells with you ; Yours are the gifts that form the sage, Admir'd in youth, revered in age ; Immortal fame your smiles bestow, Or make the flowers of beauty blow. In heaven itself when powers divine Around the festive board recline. With graceful elegance and taste, Your hands arrange the sumptuous feast ; Or when the brisk notes of the lyre With livelier mood the gods inspire. When, gaily blyth, the choirs advance, With buskin'd feet you lead the dance. Handmaids of Jove, their sire's fair pride, O'er heav'n's rich treasury who preside. Near Phoebus of the golden bow. Who shoots his silver darts below, Your lofty circled thrones ye place ; And heart-replete with heavenly grace. With sweet melodious voices sing, Th' eternal praises of your sire and king. Aglaia, belov'd with awe. And music-charm'd Euphrosyna 11 MiarOlRS OF I»l!. WAIIDLAW, Fair daughters of the king of might, Now lot my words your ear invite ; Thalia, whose melodious tongue Is tun'd to music's sweetest song, Thither, goddess, haste thy way, To crown with joy the festive day . Come and join my Lydian song, And lead the measur'd verse along ; Fill thine eye with pleasure's gleam, For youth victorious is my theme : Asopichus, the brave, the young. Is he for whom my lyre is strung ; His fame I wish to send afar, Young victor in the Olympic war ; Who, led by thy propitious hand, Brought glory to the Mhiyan land. Come and raise the chorus high, Till swelling notes ascend the sky ! Tale-telling Echo catch the sound ; O'er hill and valley fleetly bound ; Speed thee to the dark domain, Where Pluto holds his gloomy reign ; To each wild rock and chequer'd shade Repeat the tale, ere memory fade ; Around the seat of black-rob 'd night, Seek Cleodamus' wand' ring sprite. And whisper in his ravish'd ear. The gladsome tidings which you bear : " Asopichus, thy youthful, gallant son On earth a race of glory has begun ; Already he has won th' Olympic prize. And blooming laurel shades his glistening eyes ; Already he has gain'd immortal fame, And Pisa's records bear his honour'd name : Asopichus awakes the poet's lyre, And fills his soul with music's holy fire ; For thee, too, deathless glory he has won. The fiither's honour'd in the honour'd son." Tell all the brightening glory of his boy, And fill his 2>arent heart with bursting joy. Wlieii tliis version is compared with the original, it must be allowed to be sufficiently free ; indeed to be rather a para- phrase than a version ; and besides, that a sense not strictly accordant with the author's words has, in one or two instances, been given. In some of the lines, also, there are evident marks of juvenility, in the use of feeble expressions and redundant epithets, as well as in defective rythms and imperfect rhymes. PlvOFESSOR .TARDINE. 15 On the whole, however, the versification is spirited ; some of the lines are exceedingly vigorous ; and the whole shows a command of words which, in a boy of thirteen or fourteen, is remarkable. The evidence, also, which such a version displays of proficiency hi Greek is deserving of notice. " Non cuivis contingit adire Corinthum," it is not every man who is Grecian enough to grapple with " the immense Pindar ;" and to transfuse his rapid and swelling verse — Monte decurreiis velut amnis, imbres Qiiem super notas aluere ripas — into adequate English is a task which has yet to be performed, though it has been tried hy several who were both ripe scholars and skilful versifiers. Under these circumstances, the preceding lines cannot be looked upon without interest, as affording excel- lent promise in so young a student. In the fourth year of his curricvdum, 1794-95, Mr. Wardlaw attended the class of jMr. Jardine, Professor of Logic. Though the duties of this chair consist properly in the exposition of the philosophy of mind and of the formal laws of thought, Professor Jardirie chose rather to give a practical than a speculative turn to his prelections, and laboured assiduously to apply the elementary principles of psychology to the training and disciplin- ing of the minds of his students. When it is remembered how youthful the great majority of these were, the wisdom of such a course must appear conspicuous ; for not oidy in this way were studies which the class could appreciate substituted for inquiries with which onl}^ a matured understanding is competent to grapple, but the immense benefit was conferred upon the students of having their faculties invigorated, and habits of mental discipline formed such as were calculated alike to faci- litate the subsequent study of philosophy, or to secure success in the active pursuits of life. In this department Professor Jardine was eminently successful. His views of the proper end of education, and the best method of securing that end, were founded on an accurate acquaintance at once Avith the instru- ment on which the educator has to operate, and the kind of 16 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. cultivation which best fits a man fur the duties uf life. His ftivouritc text-book was the Novum Or^-anuni of Bacon, and by thoroughly drilling his students in this, lie took the l)est means for laying the basis of all subsequent success in the pursuit of truth or the management of affairs ; for tlie inductive method is applicable alike to the researches of science and the business of life. He bestowed great pains also on the written exercises of the students, not only carefully correcting all errors of expres- sion, but pointing out inaccuracies of thought, and fallacious or defective reasoning whenever they occurred. His name does not stand among those who have enlarged the bounds or added to the resources of philosophy ; but, as a master of the science and practice of education, he occupies a place of the highest dis- tinction. Few men have sent forth a larger number of pupils who have risen to eminence ; and perhaps no teacher ever received more gratifying acknowledgments of the benefits his instructions had conferred, from men whose position and reputa- tion made their acknowledgments of real value. It was to him that Lord Jeffrey, the first of Scottish critics, referred in his Inaugural Address as Lord Rector of the University of Glasgow, when he said, " I cannot resist congratulating myself and all this assembly, that I still see beside me one surviving instructor of my early youth, the most revered, the most justly valued of all my instructors — the individual of whom I must be allovrcd to say here — what I have never omitted to say in every other place — that it is to him and his most judicious instructions that I owe my taste for letters, and any little Hterary distinction I may since have been enabled to attain." Under such a teacher, a student like Mr. Wardlaw could not but largely profit. Diligent, conscientious, and docile, as well as naturally acute and reflective ; already quickened into mental activity by the stimulus imparted through the admirable instruc- tions of Professors Richardson and Young; with aspirations stirring in his bosom after literary distinction, caught from former successes and the noble enthusiasm of teachers whose soul was in their work ; and with a felt consciousness of power — that REMINISCENCES BY DH. MUIli. 17 delicious feeling which, in the youthful breast, is the grand prompter to activity ; he was exactly the person, and just in the condition, to appreciate and profit by the sagacious instruc- tions and wise discipline of such a teacher as Jardine. It is to this period, accordingly, that w^e are to look as to one of the crises of his intellectual history. Hitherto he had occupied himself chiefly with the thoughts of other men, and from such studies he had obtained a store of elegant sentiments, a copious vocabulary, and refinement of taste, especially in the selection of words and the arrangement of these in sentences. But now he was taught to think for himself, to discriminate accurately between thought and thought, to reason consecutively, to weigh and estimate with patience and nicety conflicting posi- tions or judgments, and to set forth in just order, and with proper effect, his own conclusions, with the grounds on which they rested. I have no doubt that it is to this period of his progress that we are to trace the commencement of that decided impulse towards the study of subjects resting upon moral evi- dence which continued with him through life, as well as that sobriety, sagacity, and critical acuteness by which his pursuit of such studies was so felicitously distinguished. In the Logic class, Mr. Wardlaw carried off tlie first prize for an Essay on Abstraction. To these brief notices of the earlier years of Mr. Wardlaw's academic life, I am happy to add the following from the pen of one who w'as his fellow-student at this time, and who is still permitted to remain on the field of labour, where, wuth almost unabated vigour, and with undiminished reputation, he discharges the functions of a minister of the gospel of Christ. Writing to Mr. William Wardlaw, the Rev. Dr. Muir of St. Enoch's, Glas- gow, thus records his pleasing reminiscences of that time : — Garnet Hill, Glasgow, 10th February 1854. My dear Sir — In requesting me to favour you with some short account in writing of my early recollections of your venerated father, Dr. Wardlaw, deceased, when he and I were fellow-students in the University of Glasgow for four or five consecutive years, from and after the year 1791, you awaken in me feelings the very opposite of those which Queen Dido, in ancient C 18 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. classic story, excited in ^Eneas, the son of Anchises, when she bade him relate to her the history of the Trojan War — a ten years' conflict — in which he, her guest, had recently been engaged, and the ultimate Fall of Troy. He, in compliance with the Queen's request, began by saying — " Infandum, Rcgina, jubes renovare dulorcm ;" Giving her to understand that he would feel pain in the recital ; but I, in compliance with your request, begin by saying — " liaec olim meminisse juvabit ;" Giving you to understand that I have pleasure in the recollection. The truth is, when Rodolphus Wardlaw and Joannes Muir, for these were the names we respectively went by in the catalogue which was called every day in the various classes, sat together on the same bench, as we did in the Greek class for two successive years, and admired, as we both did, the readings, and prelections, and dignified demeanour of Professors Richardson, and Young, and Jardine, in those days the College, and its studies, and its pleasant walks in the College garden, were — " Seats of my youth when every sport could please." They were at that time equally delectable to young Rodolphus Wardlaw ; for buoyancy of spirit, and cheerfulness of disposition, as well as a taste for studies, characterized him in those early days. I well remember the favourable impression made upon his youthful mind by the elegant language in which the lectures of Professor Richardson were clothed, when he lectured to us in his private class on Criticism and Belles Lettres, and by the courtly manner in which those lectures were pro- nounced and delivered by him. Mr. Wardlaw's looks and words bespoke his admiration of his teacher ; and, as we cannot but copy what we very much admire, he seemed to me, from the very outset of his academic career, to have formed his style on that truly excellent model. Nor did he seem to be less enamoured of the manly sense and critical acumen displayed by Professor Young, when he, in the private Greek class, gave us weekly prelections on the Iliad of Homer. In short, Rodolphus Wardlaw was always prepared, when called up to be examined on the business of the class, whether in the Latin, or the Greek, or the Logic, and never failed to be ranked " inter primores," both by the Professors of those branches of polite literature in our College, and by the students them- selves. Ill his fifth session (1795-96), Mr. Wardlaw attended the Ethical class, conducted by Professor Arthur, the successor of Reid. Like his illustrious predecessor, Mr. Arthur did not con- fine himself to the subject of ethics, brt included within the range of his prelections the philosoph}^ of mind as well as that of morals. Though not distinguished for any contributions to philosophical science, he has left behind him the reputation of being a faithful and successful teacher, whose instructions were NOT A MATHEMATICIAN, AND WHY. 19 niiicli valued by the better order of his students. Tn this class Mr. Wardlavv succeeded in carrying off a prize. In the following year he completed his academical curriculum by attending the c^ass of Natural Pliilosophy, under Professor Meikleham, He had previously attended the mathematical classes in the university, I have no doubt, with his usual fidelity and diligence, but without any marked success. It is rarely that a mind fitted for, and addicted to moral speculation, possesses much aptitude for mathematical studies ; and, on the other hand, those who devote themselves to these studies, very seldom possess or retain much capacity for pursuits where conclusions are to be reached through the balancing of probable evidence. It would be going too far to say, with Warburton, " that the oldest mathe- matician in England is the worst reasoner in it;"* but the concurrent opinion of all the most competent judges, from Socrates downwards, will fully bear out the statement of the same writer, " that long liabit in this science iricapacitates the mind for reasoning at large, and especially in search of moral truth."! Here and there a notable exception occurs, as in the case of Pascal, who was alike eminent as a mathematician and as a moralist ; but such cases are extremely rare ; and it may be questioned whether even Pascal would not have escaped some intellectual weaknesses wdiich detract from the perfect symmetry of his mental development, had he been less addicted in early life to mathematical pursuits ; and certain it is, we have Pascal's own strongly expressed judgment in favour of the general incompatibility of the two mental habits-t 1 have little doubt that the subject of this memoir could have easily mastered the mathematical sciences had he given his mind to them ; but his early bias towards moral reasoning sufficiently accounts for his comparative neglect of this department, and the * Julian, Prcf., p. 20; Works, vol. ii., p. 346. t J^i^l V- ^'■^■ \ II est rare que Its geometres soient fins, et que les esprits fins soient geonietres, a cause que les geometres veulent traiter geomctriquement les clioses fines, et se rendent ridicules, voiilant commencer par les definitions et ensuite par les priiicipes, ce qui n'est pas la maniore d'agir en cette sorto de raisonneinent. — Pensces, Pre- miere Partie, Art. 10, § 2. 20 MEMOIRS OF Dl{. WARDT.AW. veiy clonbtful cffoct of mathematical studies on the disciphne of the mind renders it subject of congratulation that it was so. He learned enough of mathematics, pure and applied, for all practical purposes, and beyond this he did not seek to proceed ; in this following the prescription of Socrates, of whom his disciple relates that though not himself unskilled in the higher geometry, he dissuaded from the study of that science, beyond what was required for practical purposes, being unable to see the utility of such study, and because it hindered many other useful acquire- ments.* In addition to the classes forming the regular academic course, Mr. Wardlaw attended the classes of Botany and Ana- tomy for more than one session. This he did, partly from a desire to acquire interesting information, and partly also because he had, at an early stage of his career, some intentions of pur- suing the medical profession. He continued to retain his attach- ment to both these departments of physical science, though the occupations of after life prevented his paying more than an occa- sional attention to them. He also attended, for two sessions, the lectures of the divi- nity professor as a voluntary student. In the Scottish Universities, it is usual for the students, besides attending to the duties imposed in the class, to become members of some society or club, where exercises are undertaken by them, according to the rules of the institution, with a view to still further quicken and cultivate their mental powers. Such were the Discursive Society and the Debating Club, mentioned as subsisting among the Glasgow students at this time in the Life of Thomas Campbell ; such was the Speculative Society in Edin- burgh at which Jeifrey, Horner, Brown, and Brougham first tried their powers in the conflict of opinion and of oratory ; and such were and are several besides, some of which have lasted for generations, and have a history of their oAvn not unworthy of * Xenoph. Mem. 1. 4, c. 7. The reader will fiiul the whole suhject of the value of mathematics as an instrument of edueation fully and most ahly discussed by Sir William Hamilton in bis Discussions on Philosoiihy, &c., p. 2G3, ff. 2d edit. THE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, 21 being told. Whether Mr. Wardlaw was a member of any of the more public societies in the University during his student life, 1 have not ascertained ; the only evidence leading to the belief that he was is furnished by the existence of an essay on " The Credibility of the Gospel History," written by him in 1794, and indorsed " for a society ;" but the records remain in his own handwriting of one of a more private kind, into which he and a select body of his cotemporaries formed themselves, and of which he acted as secretary. This society was formed in the end of 1795, and consisted originally of six members, who were in the course of the session joined by eight others.* At their first meeting they resolved to exclude theological questions from their debates ; but, after some hesitation, concluded on permitting the discussion of political topics, on the ground that " politics are a part of philosophy," and in the hope that " the prudence and discretion of the members" would sufficiently determine " how far it was proper to enter into these topics." It was further agreed, " that as the subjects of their researches were chiefly in philosophy, the society should be denominated The Plulosopliical Society.'''' The meetings of the society were held in the Materia Medica class-room of the University every Friday evening ; and the usual routine consisted in the reading of an essay by one of the members to be criticised by the rest, and in the conducting of a debate on some question previously fixed upon, and on which the members had to take opposite sides according to order — the president for the evening being the umpire, by whose decision it was determined which party had the victory. Of this society Mr. Wardlaw was an active and useful member. Besides discharging the functions of secretary with a fidelity to which the neatness and accuracy of the minute-book kept by him bear witness, he opened their proceedings by read- ing the first essay, the subject of which was " The Nature and * Their names were James Curkiiidale, Ra]ph Wardlaw, Alexander Carson, .Tames Fulton, John Brown, John Steele, Hew Thomson, Andrew Taylor, William Clark, Eohert Kobison, Josias Gamble, Henry Simson, James Lindsay, Robert Mackenzie. 22 WKMOIUS OF DR. AVAUDLAW. Constitutes [sic] of Happiness ;" and during tlie «essiun he does not appear to have been onee absent, or to have missed taking a leading part in tlie debate. I can easily believe that he very much enjoyed these friendly encounters, and that he reaped advantage from them, both as a dialectician and as a public speaker. I question, however, whether his maturer judgment would have wholly approved of such societies, especially of that part of their method which consists in appointing the members to take and support parts in the debate utterly irrespective of Avhat in their own candid judgment they may consider truth. In looking over the minutes of this society, I find that the sub- jects were for the most part such as involved no very important truth in pliilosophy or morals, and on which, therefore, it did not very greatly matter what opinion was adopted ; still, the habit of taking up a side, irrespective of conviction, and con- tending for that side merely for the sake of victory, is pernicious, as calculated to enfeeble the love of truth for its own sake, and to cultivate rather a faculty for special pleading than a capacity for sound philosophical research. In one instance the question brought under discussion was too solemn to have been treated in this fashion, viz. — " Is the soul immortal ?" On this occasion, Mr. Ward! aw was appointed to defend the negative side of the question, and thereby to advocate an opinion which I am quite sure he not only never held, but which he would in serious earnest have repudiated as false and pernicious. To him the whole thing was, of course, a mere intellectual exercise, at the close of which his real convictions remained as before ; but I cannot help thinking, that he must have suflered some self- condemnation when he looked back upon the debate ; and when I perceive that his side was declared victorious, and that the result held to be established was that " that the soul is mortal," I cannot but feel that the risk of such discussions is very great, and that in minds not firmly established in the truth, they may cast in seeds of doubt, uncertaint}^ and scepticism, of which the fruits shall be found embitteruig and poisoning the man's whole after \[\'c. DEBATING CLUBS. 23 Mr. Wardlaw's colleague in this debate was Alexander Carson, wlio was also a very active and industrious member of the society. Between these two, indeed, the chief labours and honours of the meetings were divided ; and when they both were on the same side, that side was almost sure to be victorious. They are the only two whose names have subsequently attracted public attention, and as they came latterly into somewhat fierce collision on the field of controversy, it is not without its interest to find them thus proving their armour and testing their skill in the mimic encounters of the debatinir dub. 24 CHAPTER IT. A. D. 1795— A. D. 1800. We have now followed tlie subject of this memoir to the termi- nation of his juvenility. We have seen him, as a child, growing up under the benignant influences of a cheerful, refined, and pious home ; and we have followed him, as a youth, through the aspirations and attainments of academic life. The season of preparatory education is past ; that of active application of the resources and energies thus acquired to some of the great interests of life is at hand. In what department of activity shall these energies and resources be employed ? A grave question ! from a mistaken answering of Avhich, in regard to themselves, many have been doomed to a comfortless, unsatisfying, profitless life, who might otherwise have proved both useful and honoured members of society ; many, of good natural powers, good character, and good inclinations, to spend their strength in eftbrts which, like those of Sisyphus, simply exhaust, and never either please or profit ; many to go through the dull routine of drudgery in their in-o- fession, but to do no one noticeable or useful thing in this world, who might have been serving their generation, and gaining credit and profit to themselves, had they but engaged in callings for which God had given them a natural fitness. On this important question Mr. Wardlaw appears, wisely, to have been left to follow his own inclination and judgment. For a while, as has been already stated, he felt disposed towards the medical profession ; but though that profession had many charms I'or him. and thonuh he felt an interest in the studies on which DEVOTES HIMSELF TO THE MINISTKY. 25 it is founded, which he retained through life, he ultimately decided to devote himself to the ministry of the gospel. For this, his fitness, even at that early period, was so apparent, that all who knew him must have rejoiced that he had come to such a reso- lution. His career at the university had abundantly shown that his natural abilities w^ere both great and varied, and that to these he added the necessary quality of decided and persevering appli- cation. His genius, at once vigorous and sprightly, fitting him alike for the refinements of philosophy and the graceful pursuits of literature ; his temper calm, reflective, and amiable ; his powers of expression, by voice and pen, such as few of his age exhibit ; and his general bearing, at once sweet and noble ; all conspired to indicate the post of a public teacher of religion as that in \vhich he was most fitted to excel. But had he at this time the highest quality of all — that without which all gifts of intellect and graces of manner are but as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal ? Was his own heart right with God, that he should ventin-e, in God's name and in Christ's stead, to plead with other men to be recon- ciled to God ? Had he himself accepted those overtures of grace, which it is the main design of the Christian ministry to announce to, and urge upon, the world? Was he himself within the embrace of that new and everlasting covenant, of which he was about to offer himself as a minister ? Happily, to these questions, anxious, and pious, and judicious friends, who would have felt that the greatest unkindness they could do him would have been to encourage him to enter the ministry if destitute of such qualifi- cations, were enabled, with hopeful confidence, to give answer in the affirmative. At what time Mr. Wardlaw underwent that great change, without which there is no true piety, it is impossible to say. Brought up in a Christian household; surrounded from his infancy by godly influences ; familiar from the dawn of intelligence with the truths of the Bible ; accustomed to the habit of religious worship and observance ; naturally of a serious and thoughtful spirit ; and from his youth up of pure manners, virtuous associ- ations, and religious sympathies ; in his case the passage from 26 jiEMOins OF mi. ^vARDLA^v, death unto life was not likely to be made by any violent, or even noticeable transition. That a transition had to be made by even such a youth, none would more earnestly have asserted than him- self; his theology and his experience alike taught him this. But with such as he, the change must, from the nature of the case, be one gentle in its nature, and imperceptible in its pro- gress. Estimated at longer intervals, the evidences of its exist- ence become clear and distinct ; but the successive steps are, from a minuteness which eludes our notice, not traceable by us. Words that have been spoken in quiet seasons of domestic instruction, or have fallen from the lips of the public teacher in the sanctuary, and which at the time seemed to produce little or no impression, have yet sunk deep into the heart, and are seen yielding their blessed results many days afterwards — just as seeds long before cast into the soil silently germinate, and open for their shoots a little pathway to the surface, and at last are seen putting forth the blade, and giving undoubted evidence that they have not perished. In such cases there is no sudden change, no vehement struggle, and no tumult of feeling ; nor can the party himself say, with any degree of precision, when or how his conversion took place. All that he can venture to pronounce upon is that a change has taken place upon him — a change which, from its characteristic effects, he is led to believe is that " new crea- tion" which it is the special work of the Divine Spirit to produce. But whilst Mr. Wardlaw's initiatory religious impressions were thus, to use an expression of his own, "of dateless origin, and of imperceptibly gradual development,"* there can be no doubt that he owed them principally, under God, to the faithful and affectionate counsels and instruction of his father. The time which they usually spent together in the morning, and those studies of the Greek New Testament in which the son acted the [)art of reader and the father that of expositor, appear to have been especially blessed to him. These were seasons of hallowed enjoyment to which he ever afterwards referred with emotions of delight and gratitude. * LifeofM'All. p. xvi. ENTERS THE HALL AT SELKIRK. 27 The religious body to which Mr. Wardlaw senior belonged was that with which he stood hereditarily connected, viz., that section ot" the Associate Secession Church which, on the occasion of the separation caused by the controversy concerning the bur- gess oath, took the distinctive name of the Burgher Synod. The minister on whose teaching he attended was the late Rev. Dr. Kidstone ; and it was by him, consequently, that the subject of this memoir was first introduced to the communion of the Christian church. Dr. Kidstone lived to a very advanced age, and had the happiness, not only of seeing the youth whom he had introduced into the church rising into usefulness and honour, but to be asso- ciated with him as a minister of the gospel in the same city for nearly half a century. After passing the necessary examinations prescribed by the church to which he belonged, Mr. Wardlaw was accepted as a student of theology, and authorised to attend the hall of the burgher synod. The site of this theological school was, at that time, at Selkirk, and its president was the late venerable Dr. George Lawson, the successor in that post of the well-known and widely honoured John Brown of Haddington. The entire business of the seminary was conducted by Dr. Lawson himself, who was a man in many respects singularly fitted for such an office. As a biblical scholar his attainments were very high ; his familiarity with both the Hebrew and Greek texts being- such as to give rise to the tradition among his students, that he could repeat the entire Bible in the original. In theology his reading was extensive, and he had so meditated upon all that he had read that his mind was full of theological truth, and he had only to unlock his mental repositories to pour out upon his hearers a copious supply of sound and rich thought upon every branch of this subject. With sincere piety, humility, and a certain child-like simplicity, he combined no small measure of shrewdness and quiet humour, after a fashion which I venture to call peculiarly Scottish. As illustrative of the man, I may be permitted to record an anecdote, which I have on more than one occasion heard related with admirable eflect by a living 28 ]\IEMOII!S (IF Rli. WAKDLAW. minister, and professor of the same clim-ch. Having occasion to travel to Edinburgh by the common stage, the venerable pro- fessor found himself in the society of two young gentlemen who had imbibed infidel sentiments, and whose talk indicated that their morals were as loose as their principles were unsound. Vexed and disgusted with their profane and impure language. Dr. Lawson at length interposed a gentle but firm expostulation, which drew upon him the surprised and contemptuous regards of his fellow travellers. Exceedingly plain and rather unclerical in his dress, as well as somewhat rustic in his personal appearance, they set him down for some small country farmer, and thought they would amuse themselves by perplexing him with their sceptical sophistry. They very soon found, however, that in this matter they had counted without their host, and it was not long before they began to feel that, whether in argument or in repartee, they were no match for the simple-looking stranger whom they had so gratuitously attacked. At length one of them said, in a somewhat petulant tone, " Oh ! I suppose you are one of those who think nobody will get to heaven but them- selves. Now do you really think that, if there is a heaven, you will have a place there, and such men as Socrates, and Plato, and the other great and good men who have done so much to enlighten and elevate the race will be cast out?" "My young friend," replied the professor, " that is a question with which I never trouble myself. If, when I get to heaven, I shall find Socrates, and Plato, and all the other great and good men, as you call them, there, I'll be very glad to see them ; and if I don't find them there, I'm sure to get a very good reason for their absence." Of Dr. Lawson's method of conducting the business of his class, the following account is extracted from a memoir of him, published soon after his death, in the Christian Repository. It will be perused with interest by all who are desirous of tracing the influences under whi(;h the mind of Mr. Wardlaw developed itself in its progress to maturity.* * 1 iiiu indebted for tliis extract to Dr. Jl'Kcrrow's History of tlie Secession Church, p. 789. DR. LAWSON. 29 " The plan of Dr. Lawson's theological class was simple and judicious. It was his wish that every student, during the period of his attendance at the Hall, should have an opportunity of hearing his whole course of lectures on theoretical and practical divinity. For this purpose, though each session continued only nine weeks, he regularly went over his whole course on the system in five sessions. The students were regularly examined on the subject of the lectures which they had heard, — a practice admirahly calcu- lated to secure their attention, and to j^romote their improvement. " The Dr. was accustomed also, every session, to make his pupils read with him, and critically analyze a part of the Holy Scriptures in the ori- ginal Hebrew and Greek. Pertinent questions were proposed by him, on such occasions, leading, at once, to the formation of the sound critic, and the edifying practical expositor of the divine word. The continued study of the original languages of the Holy Scriptures, and of their criticism, and of the practical use of the sacred volume, were thus strongly recommended. A laudable ambition to excel in these important exercises was excited and kept alive, and, in many cases, led to very valuable results. " During the course of his first session of attendance, every student was required to prepare and deliver a homily on a subject rssigued him by the Professor ; and generally to prepare two, and sometimes three, discourses, each of the other four sessions. All the subjects were assigned at the close of one session, on which discourses were required to be ready for being delivered the session following. Of these discourses, some were lectures, others sermons ; some critical and others practical ; and one or more of them popular, to be delivered, not only before the Professor and the students, but before all the j^eople who chose to attend. " Before delivering his own remarks on these discourses, the Professor gave every student who chose, an opportunity of offering his criticisms on what he had heard. Veneration for the enlightened and liberal tutor was found sufficient, in almost every instance, to prevent hasty and imcandid remarks. Few availed themselves, prematurely, of the privilege ; but almost all were zealous in preparing themselves for doing it wisely. It was, gene- rally, by those who had attended for three or four sessions, that observations on the discourses were made. Always kept under proper regulation, by the superintendence of the Professor, this exercise became a source of much improvement among the young men. " No time or pains, which might promise to be useful, were spared by the venerable guide of their studies. On Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, he convened his pupils twice a-day, and once on Wednesdays and Saturdays : so that his ordinary sederunts with them, every week, were ten, or ninety in the course of each session. For the most part these sede- runts were long ; not a scanty hour, but whatever portion of time was requi- site for the important object in view was cheerfully bestowed. On those days on which the Professor met only in the forenoon with his students, they either met in the afternoon by themselves, to deliver, hear, and criticise essays on important subjects, for their mutual improvement, or in the even- ing along with all the Christian people who chose to attend. These public meetings were held six times during each session ; at every such meeting, three of the students, in rotation or by appointment, gave out, each, a psalm or hymn, and prayed ; and two others delivered short prepared and prac- tical discourses or addresses. Often the whole, arid always a part, of the 30 IMEMOIRS OF DU. WARDLAW. exercises at these meetings, was connected with the great and most inte- resting subject of evangelizing the world, by the dissemination of the divine word among all nations, in their vernacular languages, and by the labours of Christian missionaries. As long as his bodily strength enabled him, the Professor attended these meetings, to render them as useful as possible by his presence. He always spoke last himself, on these occasions, and con- cluded with prayer. These meetings were well attended and highly useful, it is believed, both to the students and people. They tended to cherish devotion and a missionary spirit in all, and to form the young men for addressing a public audience with ease and readiness. " Every meeting of the Hall was begun and closed with prayer. With great fervour of devotion, the Professor himself opened the first, and closed the last sederunt of each week, and the students, by rotation, opened and closed the other meetings with prayer. " Such is a general outline of Dr. Lawson's mode of conducting the studies of the young men put under his care. There were occasional variations, according to times and circumstances, and to serve important purposes. To this plan, however, so comprehensive, so judiciously adapted to circum- stances, and so well calculated, through the divine blessing, to form his pupils for being able, pious, and useful ministers of Christ, Dr. Lawson adhered, in its substance, for the thirty-three years of his professorship. In pursuing it, the whole circle of human learning was ever at his command. The powers of original and transcendent genius were ever manifest. The most profound discussion became always simple and plain under his manage- ment." Of this exemplary and able instructor, ]\Ir. Wardlaw became a pupil in August 1795, and he continued to attend the Hall for the prescribed period of five sessions* Of this portion of Mr. Wardlaw's history, hardly any record remains. That he must have been a diligent student, his subsequent career as a preacher and a writer sufficiently proves ; and the recollection of one of his fellow-students, who still survives, attests that among them he was held in respect for his abilities and attainments. A native of Selkirk, who recollects him whilst a student there, has told me that he was noticeable by the townsfolk, among his fellows, for the neatness and grace of his dress, and especially that he caused no small talk among them by the extravagance, * Among those who were admitted to the Hall along with him, were two who afterwards were associated with him as ministers of that denomination which he subsequently joined, William Ballanfinc, for some time pastor of the Independent Church at Elgin, and who, at a later period, emigrated to America, and John Cleg- horn who, after being for some time pastor of the Independent Church at Wick, became one of the pastors of the church in Edinburgli, which had been collected by Mr. Aikman. Over this church he continued to preside, in much esteem, until his death in 1844. LETTER FROM SELKIRK. 31 as they viewed it, of a silk umbrella ! This slight reminiscence gives note both of the individual and of the age. Among the few records that remain of his student-life at Selkirk, is the following letter to his father, which presents more than one point of interest. Selkirk, 27th August '98. My dear Father — During the slumbers of yesterday morning, I was employed in reading a letter from Glasgow ; but I awoke and behold it was a dream ! I wrote Miss W. on Thursday se'ennight ; and when Thursday last failed to bring the expected answer, I rested in the certainty that my dream should be realized this forenoon. But our waking hopes are often disappointed as well as our dreams. With respect to the unknown cause of my present disappointment, it is needless to speculate, let time unriddle. Lee came out with Mercer, on Friday, to stay a few days. I was afraid at first that the benefit of his company and conversation might not compen- sate for the loss of time he might occasion. Happily, however, he is not very much in the house. Some days ago a committee was appointed in the society to consider of measures for carrying on some friendly intercourse with the hall at Whit- burn ; not with a view to bring about a unity of principle, though there is already no difference, but merely to express our good wishes for their general welfare and the success of their studies ; to show ourselves not disaftected towards them by vulgar prejudice. Whether we shall be well received, the experiment will prove ; at any rate we shall console ourselves with the honour of having made the first address. Some time ago two or three of us went out to the country and spent an evening with Mungo Park.* He is a very agreeable young man.t He pos- sesses the esteem of all who know him. They say he is the same Mungo Park that left them, unchanged by absence and the various fortunes he has past. In his countenance he bears some resemblance to Humphrey Ewing. He is modest and unaffected in his manners, familiar and communicative in conversation ; possessed of extensive knowledge, unspoilt by the slightest tincture of pedantry or forwardness. When he told us what he had seen, he seemed unconscious that he knew more than ourselves. The same quali- ties which we admired in him forbade us, as we were utter strangers, to introduce directly the subject of his African adventures ; the more especially as they are to be published (about April next). J From what I have heard since I came, it appears, in general, that the story of the great city is in a great measure a fabrication,§ that he has been no stranger to hardships and * At that time recently returned from his first journey into the interior of Africa. f Park was at this time twenty-seven years of age ; he probably looked somewhat younger. | The first edition of Park's Travels appeared in April 1799. § It is probably to some story of this sort that Park alludes in his preface, when he says, after referring to encouragements he had received, " Thus aided and encouraged, I should deliver this volume to tlie world, with that confidence of a favourable reception, wliich no merits of my own would authorise me to claim ; were I not apprehensive that expectations have been formed by some of my subscribers of 32 MEMOIRS OF DR. WAllDl.AW. fatigue, and that he is not very strongly inclined to explore a second time that inhospitable country, his farther progress in which was prevented by the prospect of certain death. He is away to England t'other day, and is next, if I am rightly informed, after the publication of his African travels, to visit New Holland. I hear the jingling of cups. Popular discourses immediately after tea. Must, therefore, conclude with kind love to all at Glasgow, Gourock, and elsewhere, from, my dear Father, &c. The Hall at Whitburn, mentioned in this letter, was the theological seminary belonging to the Associate or Antiburgher Synod, at that time under the charge of the Rev. Archibald Bruce. What became of the overture of peace and friendship made to its students by those of the Hall at Selkirk at this time I know not ; but it is interesting to observe that, even so early as 1798, a movement towards reconciliation between the two bodies had been made, and that this first step towards so desirable a result was taken, as students, by those who must, as men, have been among the main agents in effecting that union of the two sections of the Secession Church which took place so happily twenty-two years afterwards. During the period of Mr. Wardlaw's attendance at the Hall, the religious body to which he belonged was much agitated by internal controversy regarding the doctrine of the Confession of Faith as to the office and power of the civil magistrate in several matters. Wliilst that formula asserts, as a general principle, that " God alone is the Lord of the conscience, and hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men," yet this is so explained as to admit of its being at the same time most plainly and unequivocally affirmed that it is the duty of the civil magistrate, as such, and by the use of force, to take order for the prevention of heresy and the maintenance of orthodox belief. In respect of such as, " upon pretence of liberty of con- science," shall presume to depart from the accredited dogmas of the church, it is ordained that " for their publishing of such discoveries to be unfolded wiiieli I liave not made, and of womlrrs to Le related of which I am utterly ignorant." It is possible, however, that the reference in Mr. Wardlaw's letter is to the city of Timbuctoo, round which no small mystery was thrown for many generations, but which has been repeatedly visited by Europeans since Major Laing first succeeded in reaching it in 1826. DOCTRINE OF THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 33 opinions, or maintaining of such practices as are contrary to tlie light of nature, or to the known principles of Christianity, whether concerning faith, worship, or conversation, or to the power of godhness, or such erroneous opinions or practices as, either in their own nature or in the manner of publishing or maintaining them, are destructive to the external peace and order which Christ hath established in the church, they may lawfully be called to account, and proceeded against by the cen- sures of the church, and by the power of the civil magistrate."* Still more explicitly is it declared in another place that the civil magistrate " hath authority, and it is his duty, to take order that unity and peace be preserved in the church ; that the truth of God be kept pure and entire ; that all blasphemies and heresies be suppressed, all corruptions and abuses in worship and disci- pline prevented or reformed, and all ordinances of God duly settled, administered, and observed." t Such statements very clearly assert that not only has the civil magistrate much to do circa sacra, but also that he has not a little to do in sacris ; and those who declared their adherence to them could hardly do so conscientiously without believing that the right of judging what opinions and practices are consistent with the will of God rests with the civil magistrate, and that on him lies the obligation to use his power to the uttermost for the prevention or extirpa- tion of whatever modes of faith or worship he may conclude to be heretical. At the time of the rise of the Secession, this subject had not probably occupied the attention of its ministers and members, and the Confession of Faith had consequently been retained in whole, and without qualifications, as the stan- dard formula of their church. In course of time, however, many began to see that such doctrines were not only in themselves unscriptural, but that they were utterly inconsistent with the pri- vileges which they themselves claimed, as seceders from the church which the civil njagistrate had established. In consequence of this. Presbyteries were continually called to license and ordain men who declared that they could not conscientiously adhere to * Ch. 20, g 4. t Ch. 23, § 3. 34 MEMOIRS OF DU. WARDLAW. the doctrhie of the Confession on this subject ; and as many of the Presbyteries ventured to relax the terras of admission rather than refuse men otherwise every way quahfied for the ministerial office, a somewhat disorderly state of things had gradually crept into this part of the church's discipline. In order, therefore, to bring the standards of the body more into accordance with its actual practice, it had been proposed to make the question respecting the power of the civil magistrate in religion a matter of forbearance ; that is, to allow each man to hold his own opinion regarding it without prejudice to his ecclesiastical status. It was proposed also that the same principle should be applied to another subject on which there was a difference of opinion in the Synod, viz., the perpetual obligation of the National Cove- nant and of the Solemn League and Covenant.* Of this it had been the law of the church that an acknowledgment should be exacted from every candidate for ordination — a law which, like the former, certain Presbyteries had ventured to neglect, in compliance with the scruples of brethren who could no longer conscientiously make such acknowledgment. The proposal that on these matters free scope should be left to individual judg- ment was as moderate and as reasonable a proposal in the cir- cumstances as could well be made. To some, however, such a concession to what they thought latitudinarian and dangerous sen- timents appeared too great to be yielded ; and accordingly the proposal met with determined opposition in the Synod, and led to a controversy between the " Old Lights" and the " New Lights" (as the opponents and the supporters of the proposal respectively were called), which was protracted through several years, not without some bitterness especially on the side of the former. The more liberal party at length carried their point in 1799, upon which certain of the opposite party withdrew from * It may be needful for some of my readers to state, that the National Covenant was the covenant or bond adopted by the Presbyterians in 1G38, and that the Solemn League and Covenant was that adopted by them in 1 643-. The purport of both these documents was essentially the same. They were a firm and determined protest against Popery, Prelacy, and tyranny, and in favour of the civil liberties iind religious predominance of Prcsbj'tcrians. More perhaps than any documents of tlie kind, Ihey are entitled to be reji-arded as "national." PORTEOUS ON THE NEW LIC4IITS. 35 the communion of the Associate Synod and formed themselves into a separate body, afterwards known as the Old Light or Original Burghers. I have entered into these det^iils because I believe that this controversy exercised no small influence upon the future career of the suhject of these memoirs. To students any agitation of this sort is apt to become a subject of only too engrossing interest ; and we cannot suppose that the young men of Selkirk were indifferent spectators of the conflict by which their church was agitated, especially as their Professor Dr. Lawson had taken a promi- nent- part in the discussion. That Mr. Wardlaw at any rate was deeply interested by it, we have documentary evidence in a production of his pen, to which an event arising out of this division of the Associate Synod gave birth. The event to which I refer was the attack made upon the Synod by the Rev. Dr. Porteous, one of the ministers of Glas- gow, in a pamphlet entitled, " The New Light Examined ; or Observations on the Proceedings of the Associate Synod against their own Standard." Dr. Porteous was one of those men who, when they are wise, enjoy quietly the good things which Provi- dence has cast into their lot, but who, when they are suffered to go demented, are tempted to be officious, to meddle with things that belong not to them, and so become as one that taketh a dog by the ears. A heavy, obtuse, self-important man, with enough of bad temper to be malicious but not enough of wit to be either amusing or dangerous, he was every way unfit for the office he chose to assume as a critic of the proceedings of the Associate Synod in the matter referred to. These proceedings had been conducted by men of great acuteness and energy, and they related to a question for the due settlement of which calm reflection and clear discrimination are especially requisite. With such men, and in such a cause. Dr. Porteous was not the man to cope in fair debate ; and therefore as might be expected his pamphlet was a piece of mere pompous insolence, and scurrilous misrepresentation. Li ordinary times, such a production would have been simply contemptible ; it would have fallen to the 36 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. ground as a " telnm imbelle," and the body against which it was levelled might have left it to rot ^vhere it fell. But it appeared at a time when the state of the public mind made it dangerous. These were the daj'S when men in authority were frightened out of their propriety by dread of revolution ; when state prosecu- tions were instituted against those who had been guilty of any, the slightest, eifort to efiect a reform of existing abuses ; when men of education and good standing in society were dealt with as common felons, because they had spoken or written on the side of popular representation in Parliament; and when the faintest whisper affecting the prerogatives of the civil magistrate was apt to be magnified into an act of desperate disloyalty and treason. At such a time a publication proceeding from the pen of a clergyman of the National Church, the design of which was to affix the stigma of political disafiection, as well as ecclesiastical laxity upon a body dissenting from that church, could not be treated with indifference ; the more especially as charges of a similar kind had been insinuated against that body in the highest judicial court of the realm, and had been received with more than toleration by the bench. It became therefore necessary for the Synod to issue some defence against such serious and false charges. In the Court of Session their innocence was openly proclaimed by the highest crown officer, Lord Advocate Macon- ochie, who, after a full investigation of the whole case, declared their loyalty to be above suspicion. A resolution expressive of their abhorrence of sedition and avowing their imdeviating loyalty was issued by them. And their defence against the attack of Dr. Porteous was undertaken by a young minister, then recently settled at Edinburgh, the late Avell-known and much- venerated Dr. Peddie. The vindication was as superior to the attack in vigorous ability as it was in moral earnestness and truthfulness. It excited much attention at the time as an admirable specimen of dignified severity, conclusive reasoning, clever sarcasm, and manly eloquence. Before the withering fire of such an antagonist it was not a man of Dr. Porteous's calibre that was able to stand. It drove him, with the scorched and POKTEOUSIANA. 37 blasted laurels of his short-lived popularity, into an obscurity fi'om which he was wise enough never again to venture forth. The indignation wliicli thrilled through every member of the Associate Synod at the unprovoked and malevolent attack of Dr. Porteous found vent in Mr. Wardlaw's case in the composition of a satirical poem to which he gave the title of " Porteousiana," and which though never published was handed about a good deal in manuscript and excited considerable notice. It is a piece of some length, written chiefly in the Hudibrastic style, but with passages in the heroic metre and in the ballad metre interspersed. It displays great facility in versification — perhaps at times too much of what Byron calls " the fatal facility of the octosyllabic measure " — along with great powers of biting sarcasm and keen retort. Some passages it must be confessed are marked by the absence of that delicate propriety of expression which adorned the author's maturer style, and in some instances he has de- scended to personalities which, in a young man writing under the excitement of strong feeling, may be forgiven but cannot bo commended. For such blots Horace's apology will suffice—-- Me quoque pectoris Te ntavit in dulci juventa Fervor, et in celeres iambos Misit furentem — * and it is important that this feature of the piece should be noted, because it shows that if in after hfe the author was to an almost unprecedented degree abstinent from all coarsenesses of expres- sion, and everything like personality or sarcasm in controversy, it arose not from any peculiarly sensitive refinement of mental constitution, nor from any want of powder to handle an adversary roughly had he chosen, but from a prevailing sense of duty, leading him to keep his own spirit in subjection, and to serve the cause of truth at the least possible expense of personal feeling to his antagonist. As this piece belongs to the history of its author's mind, and as it enjoys a sort of traditional reputation which makes people often anxious to procure a perusal of it, I * Od. i. 16, 24. 38 JIEJiumS OF DR. WAUDLAW. shall place in the appendix a brief analysis of it, with sncli ex- tracts as appear best adapted to give the reader a just idea of the merits of the piece.* The composition of this Jeu cVesprit may be viewed as its author's farewell service to the ecclesiastical body it was designed to vindicate. Even whilst writing it his mind must have been wavering in its allegiance to that body. The discussions con- cerning the power of the magistrate in sacred things, by which it had been agitated, had carried him to a point somewhat beyond that at which the majority of the Associate Synod then saw reason to stop ; and had, in conjunction with other influences, prepared him for listening favourably to the opinions of another religious body then recently organised in Scotland, and of which ultimately he was destined to become one of the main pillars and the brightest ornament. This body had arisen in the north, not in consequence of any departure on the part of its leaders from the doctrinal standards of the Established Church, nor from any speculative preference of a different form of church polity from that which hereditary attachment and the memory of past struggles and endurance, as well as conscientious conviction, had so endeared to the people of Scotland. Nor, in retiring from the communion of the National Church, did the fathers of Scottish Congregationalism for a moment dream of assuming the position which it has been usual for seceding bodies, however small numerically, to assume in Scotland — that, namely, of a body protesting, on the one hand, against the Na- tional Church, as having swerved from the faith or practice to which by its standards it was pledged, and claiming to be the true and genuine Church of Scotland, on the other. Of such things the good men who instituted the Congregational system hi Scot- land had not the least thought. Theirs was from the beginning a movement of a purely spiritual kind. Like Methodism in England, the secession which they headed had its source simply in a craving for more life, more energy, more spiritual freedom and difliisive- ness than they could find in existing systems. They felt a need * Sec Appeudix B. KISE OF CONGREGATIONALISM IN SCOTLAND, 39 for a higher kiud of spiritual nourishment than they had been accustomed to, and for more of warmth and heartiness in the proclamation of religious truth to men than the fashion of pulpit address at that time permitted. They mourned over the want of Christian fellowship, sympathy and co-operation in the churches, all of which had come to wither under the blight of a stiff and jealous officialism. And they sorrowed most of all for the multi- tudes who were living around them in ignorance and in sin, misled by unsound teaching, or left to perish without teaching of any kind. Could they have found the remedy of these evils and the securing of the desiderated benefits in religious societies with which they were already connected, it was not in their minds to have ever forsaken these. On the contrary, they rather clung to them with filial affection ; nor was it until they were treated as un- worthy and rebellious children — their requests refused, their longing desires scorned, their evangelistic efforts repressed and punished, and the whole machinery of ecclesiastical despotism put in operation to suppress or terrify them — that they asserted their rights as men whom the truth had made free, and availed them- selves of the liberty conceded to them by the laws of their country, to unfurl the banner of an independent communion, unfettered either by state control or ecclesiastical domination. Their adoption of the Congi-egational form of church polity was the result of subsequent investigation and study, to which they were led partly by the circumstances in which they were placed, and partly by the counsel and instructions of ministers from England, holding these views, who came to countenance and assist them in their evangelistic efforts. The history of the rise and early progress of Congrega- tionalism in Scotland has of late been so frequently and so fully told, that I do not feel myself called upon to attempt any repe- tition of the narrative here.* It may suffice for the purposes of * See Memoirs of Greville Ewing, minister of tlie gospel, Glasgow. By his Daughter, 8vo, Lond. 1843. Memoirs of the Lives of Robert Haldane of Airthrey, and of his brother James Alexander Haldane. By Alexander Haldane, Esq., of the Inner Temple, Barrister-at-law, 8vo, Lond. 1852, 5th ed. 1855. Life, Times, and Missiimary Enterprises of the Rev. John Campbell. By Robert Philip, r2mo. 40 MEMOIRS OF DI^. WAEDLAW. the present record to state generally, that at the time to which the course of our narrative has brought us, Congregationalism had secured for itself a footing in several of the principal towns of the northern part of the island, and had been the object of no small measure of public interest and excitement. This it owed partly to the zealous and unprecedented exertions of its founders, and partly to the angry measures resorted to by those whose monopoly of ecclesiastical influence it threatened to assail. Mr. James A. Haldane had boldly led the van as a lay-preacher, and in this capacity had visited several districts of the country where he addressed immense multitudes of people and excited the deepest interest by his lively, earnest, and evangelical dis- courses. Mr. Robert Haldane had munificently lent himself to promote the cause by the erection of suitable places of worship, by bearing the expenses of ministers brought from a distance to occupy these, or to itinerate as preachers of the gospel through the country, and by instituting and supporting a seminary for the education of suitable persons for the work of the ministry. The Circus at Edinburgh, a building capable of holding 2500 persons, had been opened as a regular place of worship, and subsequently the Tabernacle, a building capable of containing upwards of 2000 persons ; and such men as Rowland Hill, Dr. Bogue of Gosport, Matthew Wilks, the Rev. Greorge Burder then of Coventry afterwards of London, and many others of like excellence, were invited to occupy the pulpit. Crowds attended wherever they preached ; indeed such was the excite- ment produced, that no building could adnn't the multitudes who pressed for admission, so that recourse had frequently to be had to meetings in the open fields. On such occasions not fewer than from 15,000 to 20,000 persons were sometimes computed to be present, and from 5000 to 10,000 was the usual range of Lontl. 1841. Tbe Jubilee Memorial of tlie Scottish Congregational Clmrclies, p. 8vo, Edin. 1849. Fathers of Independency in Scotland ; or Biographical Sketches of early Scottish Congregational Mini.sters, a.d. 1798-1851. By R. Kinniburgh, p. 8vo, 1851. Memoir of the Rev. John Watson, late Pastor of the Congregational Church in TMusselburgh, and Secretary of the Congregational Union for Scotland. Bv W. L. Alexander, 12mo, Edin. 1845. KISE OF CONGREGATIONALISM IN SCOTLAND. 41 the numbers assembled. Places of worship oii a plan similar to that in Edinburgh had been opened at Glasgow and Dundee ; in the former of whieli Mr. Greville Ewing, and in the latter Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Innes, both of whom had voluntarily resigned their office as ministers in the Established Chm'ch, officiated. V'^isits had been paid to almost all the towns and many of the piincipal villages of Scotland by Mr. J. A. Haldane and his associates in missionary labour, Messrs. Aikman and Rate, as well as by Messrs. Ewing and Innes, and by Mr. Hill and some other of the ministers from the south. The extraordinary results of these efforts roused to indignation some of the existing religious bodies, and led them to adopt measures which had only the effect of serving the cause they were intended to injure. The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland deen:ied it proper to issue a pastoral admonition to the people under their charge, in which the ]\Iessrs. Haldane and their coadjutors are described as " a set of men whose proceedings threaten no small disorder to the country," and it is broadly insinuated that under the cloak of religious zeal they were seeking to further designs against the established institutions and good order of the country. By this intemperate and feebly written document no advantage what- ever was gained to the side of its authors ; it was universally felt to be in no way creditable to the National Church ; and it only excited curiosity and sympathy towards those against whom so angry and at the sametime so impotent a bolt had been dis- charged. In the wake of the Establishment followed the Anti- burgher Synod, which besides passing a resolution against missionary societies and lifting up their testimony against co- operating in religious matters with persons not of their body, excommunicated one of their ministers, the holy, devoted, and useful George Cowie of Huntly, for having heard Mr. Haldane and Mr. Hill preach in the course of one of their itinerant ex- cursions. The Relief body also, forgetful of their own early history and of what they owed to the English Dissenters, levelled their edicts against the countenancing of any as preachers who had " not attended a regular course of philosophy and divinity 42 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. in some of the iiniversitics of tlic nation, and wlio had not been regularly licensed to preach the gos})el." Of these proceedings no man stands forward now as the apologist ; and they are worthy of being referred to purely for their historical impor- tance, partly as indicating the state of religious opinion and feehng in Scotland at the beginning of the nineteenth century, partly as affording evidence of the extraordinary interest which the movements of the Haldanes and their friends had excited throughout the country. For that interest there is only one vray of accounting. When a great matter is kindled by a Httle fire, one is naturally led to suppose that the matter was prepared for kindling, and that circumstances were favourable to the conflagration. The operations of the early Congregationalists in Scotland were in themselves of no very gigantic or startling kind. At the pre- sent day they would hardly excite any peculiar notice. A lay gentleman or two migiit travel now through the length and breadth of the land, and preach at every market-cross or village- green, without exciting more than a passing interest. The most popular preacher in England might come to Edinburgh now without finding it at all necessary to adjourn to the Calton Hill in order to find space for the crowds who were anxious to hear him ; or if he preferred preaching in the open air might do so without incurring any risk of having to exert his voice so as to brhig within its reach beyond a few hundreds of auditors. Why then did the itinerancies of ]\Iessrs. Haldane, Aikman, and their companions, little more than half a century ago, set the whole country in a blaze ? or what was there in the preaching of Mr. Hill and those who came with him from the south, to attract such unparalleled crowds to listen to them ? We cannot account for this difference by alleging a diminished interest on the part of the people of Scotland in religious matters ; for the very opposite is the case. Nor will it suffice to say that the mere novelty of the thing was the cause of the excitement which attended the efforts of the Haldanes and their friends ; for, with the single exception of laymen preaching, there was nothing RISE OF CONGREGATIONALISM IN SCOTLAND. 43 novel ill the procedure they adopted ; to say nothing of the fact that it is not by the attractions of mere novelty that the cautious spirit of the Scots is most easily assailed. The true cause must be sought much deeper, and it will be found, 1 believe, in the state of the public mind at the time, suddenly roused as it had been by the shock of the French Revolution and the events which followed, to a consciousness of wants of which, in the apathy that had before prevailed, it had not been sensible. After the excitement of the Rebelhon of 1745 had passed away, a period of national torpor ensued. The nation was in fact in a chrysalis state, undergoing one of those great social transformations, wdiich mark the stages by which people advance to maturity. Everything was more or less aflected by a spirit of repose. Political enthusiasm or activity there was none. Commercial enterprise was only beginning to look languidly around for openings through which it might exert the strength it was as yet carefully husbanding. Literature showed most life ; but it was of a quiet and graceful kind, eminently conser- vative of the proprieties, and afraid to trust its wings beyond the sound of the critic's whistle. In this general stillness and torpor religion shared ; indeed, one might almost say that hers was the deepest slumber of all. In the National Church the long reign of Moderatism had done much to extrude all vital godliness, and to reduce the Christianity of both pastors and people to the lowest possible degree of attenuation compatible with the retention of the name. The majority of the ministers were avowedly Arminian, if not Pelagian, in their doctrinal views ; not a few of them were Crypto-Socinians ; and it was even insinuated that some, holding no mean place in the Church, were more than imbued with the scepticism of Hume. A few noble spirits still held aloft the banner of Evangelical Ortho- doxy, and stood valiantly by it ; but they formed so slender a [iroportion of the whole that their efforts could do comparatively little towards counteracting the unwholesome influence of the 44 MEMOmS OF DR. WARDLAW. majority. In the disseutiug churches, the state of things was undoubtedly greatly better ; for in them no toleration was given to unsound doctrine, and the tone of religious feeling and senti- ment was much higher than in the Establishment. Still there was but little of energetic piety even among them ; little of aggressive activity in the propagation of the gospel ; little of what Shaftesbury derisively and yet most truly called " the heroic passion of saving souls ; " and along with this there was a much too prevalent disposition to set the mere apparatus of ecclesiastical order above the great ends for which such is alone valuable. And as religion shared in the general apathy amidst which the eighteenth century was advancing to its close, so it shared also in that sudden awakening which the startling events in the neighbouring country had produced. Men, roused out of their long repose, became painfully aware of necessities which craved immediate relief. They felt that hunger of the soul for suitable spiritual food which naturally follows a long period of spiritual destitution or inadequate supply. And as the existing ecclesiastical bodies were not sufficiently elastic — did not quickly enough expand to meet the new and enlarged capacities and wants of the people, the latter impetuously rushed forth to find elsew^here what was denied them at home. Hence the crowds that followed IMessrs, Haldane and Aikman in their first tours of preaching through Scotland. Hence the thousands upon thousands that covered the slopes of the Calton Hill to listen to the preachers from England. And hence the almost instan- taneous rise into considerable strength of a new religious body hitherto nearly unknown in Scotland, and for which, as sub- sequent events proved, the Scottish mind was not in reality cordially prepared. The new wine could not be stayed in the old bottles, and so when it burst forth it was caught and kept by those who alone at the time were prepared to receive it. Whilst this excitement in the religious world of Scotland was going on, Mr. Wardlaw was pursuing his theological studies, H not unobservant or unconcerned witness of what was happen- BECOMES A CONGREGATIONALIST. 45 iiig; and when these studies were finished he found himself too deeply interested in the new movement, and too strongly drawn towards it to allow hira to proceed to apply for license in the church to which he had hitherto belonged. " I have not," he vv'rites to a friend* in February 1800, " yet assumed the pontificals. I am in some measure conscious of wasting time which might have been better occupied in attemjjtmg at least, so far as in me lies, to promote the glory of God and the most important inte- rests of mankind. Many things, however, have of late divided my mind, and it is not impossible (don't gloom !) that I may be sucked in by the vortex of the Tabernacle." It would have been interesting to have been able to trace the workings of his mind on the question which at this time was evidently deeply occupying his attention, and to describe the process by which the leanings he thus playfully acknowledges ripened into decided convictions, and led him to yield himself cordially to the seduc- tions of which he was at this time sensible. But unhappily no records exist putting us in possession of the necessary informa- tion on these points. All that we can with certainty affirm upon the subject is that whatever attractions the zeal and fervour of the Tabernacle party might have for a mind full of youthful ardour, it v^^as not by them that he was ultimately " sucked in." The cast of his mind was too deliberative and calmly logical to be determined to so important a step as a change from one religious body to another by influences less solid and permanent than such as arise from intelligent conviction. It was only, therefore, when he arrived at a persuasion that the form of church polity which b}^ this time that party had avowedly adopted, was the form sanctioned by the authority of the Apostles and the prac- tice of the early church, that he resolved to unite himself to it. To this conclusion he was mainly brought by the perusal of Prin- cipal Campbell's Lectures on Ecclesiastical History — a statement for which we have his own authority. In a letter addressed * His cousin, the late James Ogilvie, Esq., accountant, Edinburgh, who at the time the letter above cited was written was resident at Nassau, New Providence. 4() MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. to a relative* from whom lie had borrowed that book he says, under date August 12th, 1801, " It is a book from which I derived much entertaiuuieut, from which I expect to derive more instruction, and which did more towards making me a thorough- paced Independent than anything I had formerly seen or heard." It is not surprising that the perusal of that book should have had this effect ; for no writer has more unhesitatingly avowed, or more ably supported the opinion, that the form of polity instituted by the Apostles, and universally followed by the first Christians, was the Independent or Congregational, than has its learned author. How he was able to reconcile his con- victions on this subject with the retention of his preferments in the National Church, it may be difficult to conjecture. His secret, whatever it was, he has not at any rate divulged ; and therefore his pupil, convinced by his arguments, had nothing for it but to follow the course which, under that conviction, a regard to consistency seemed to prescribe. In the course of the year 1800, consequently, he announced himself what Dr. Campbell's book had mainly contributed to make him, a decided Indepen- dent, and forthwith miited himself to the Congregationalists by becoming a member of the church recently formed in Glasgow under the pastoral care of the Rev. Greville Ewing. There can be no doubt that, whilst many rejoiced, not a few who were much interested in his w^elfare were grieved and vexed by the step which he thus took. At the sametime none who knew him doubted the sincerity of his conduct, or augured other- wise than favourably of his future career. When some one annoimced to the venerable Dr. Lawson that Ralph Wardlaw had left the Secession and become an Independent, the good old man was at first startled and pained by the intelligence, but after a moment's pause he said, " Well, it doesn't much matter : Ralph Wardlaw will make a good anything." " Have you heard," said a gentleman at a party one night, " that young Mr. AVardlaw, Baillie Wardlaw's son, is already on the brink of Socinianisni ?" * Tlie late Arcliibalil SidiIIi. F.^q.. accountant. Eclinlinrt;li. GOOD MEN GIVE PLEPGES FOR IITM. 47 " You needn't be afraid," said the excellent Dr. Balfour who was present; " I by no means approve of what iMr. Wardlaw has done; but I know him well, and I think I may pledge my word that he will not go far wrong either in doctrine or in life." Both these excellent and amiable men were spared long enough to see their anticipations amply fulfilled and the pledge they had given more than redeemed. 48 CHAPTER III. A. D. 1800— A. D. 1803. The state of uncertainty in which Mr. Wardlaw was placed while engaged in examining the conflicting claims of Presbyterianism and Independency had prevented his taking any steps for appear- ing before the public as a preacher. This impediment, however, having been removed by the decision at which he had arrived, he lost no time in availing himself of the opportunities which the connection he had entered afforded to him of exercising his talents in the sphere to which he had so long looked forward, and for which he had been so carefully educated. After some occasional exercises in different places, he visited Edinburgh towards the close of 1800, and w^as employed for several Sabbaths in preaching in that city and the neighbourhood. A relation of his, writing to another, under date 2d December 1800, says, " Our amiable friend Ralph has preached thrice — twice on Sunday, in the Circus in the afternoon, and at the Water of Leith in the evening ; and to-night at Leith. His subjects have been — ' I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, &c. ;' ' Christ hath loved us, and given himself for us ;' ' Rejoice evermore.' I have heard him twice with great pleasure." The writer of this was an attached and partial friend, and was therefore more readily pleased than a stranger would have been. On the public generally, it must be confessed that Mr. Ward- law's appearances as a preacher at this time do not appear to have produced so favourable an impression. " We did not think much of hira," is the record of one* who heard him at this time * I\ev. Christopher Anderson ; Memoir, p. 16. BEGINS TO PREACH. 49 preach in Edinburgii ; and this probably exi>resses tlie estimato formed of him by all except a few partial, and a few far-dis- cerning judges. Those still alive who remember his first public appearances in Edinbm-gh concur in attesting that his discourses, though carefully prepared, were deficient in interest — that his manner was constrained — and that his enunciation was mono- tonous and occasionally hesitating. There is even a tradition to the efiect that once, whilst preaching in the Circus, he fairly broke down, and being unable to recover himself had to retire, while another minister finished the service. Such mishaps are not nnusual at the commencement of their career with men destined to eminence ; they are less likely to happen with those whose standard of excellence is low, or whose self-compla- cent mediocrity preserves them from any over-sensitive dread of acquitting themselves worse than they had purposed.* Success in public speaking depends, not more on natural fit- ness for the exercise, than on the possession of skill in so adapt- ing the materials and mode of address to the capacities and con- ditions of those addressed, as to produce on them the desired effect. This can be acquired only by experience ; and as expe- rience is obtained as much through failures as through successes, it is no misfortune but the opposite for a young preacher to have a few rebuffs and disappointments in his first eflbrts to attract the attention of the public. Such, when wisely laid to heart, help him to a knowledge of himself which will be of vast service to him in future, and give nerve and vigour to powers which an uninterrupted course of success at the outset of his career would only tend to relax and mar. The wise and affec- tionate counsels of judicious friends are also, to a man of the right sort, of great use at such a season, ]\Iany a preacher, on whose lips admiring crowds have hung, has had to look back * To those who have liad the misfortune to " stick" in public, it may be some consolation to know that even the prince of orators, Demosthenes liimself, did not escape this humiliation. His rival J^^schines glories over him for this : — " o 3', as Ktti tkXiv xiytiv \'!rix,i'pr,^ell-composed discourse, and in that respect did you great credit ; but there wasn't a word in it for the poor old woman in the duffle cloak." This was " a word in season." The young- preacher, fresh from his literary and scientific studies, and with the examples of learned professors and profound divines before his mind as the models of excellence, had fallen naturally into the error of supposing that the sort of thing Avliich w^ould have commanded plaudits in the class-room was equally suited to meet the demands of the pulpit. It was kind to undeceive him on this point ; his uncle's strictures did so ; and from that time for- Avard he erred in this way no more. In the early part of the year 1801 Mr. Wardlaw engaged, at the request of Mr. Haldane, to supply the church assembling in St. Paul's Chapel, Perth, with sermon for a few Sabbaths. This church had recently sustained a severe loss by the death of their first pastor, the pious and devoted James Garie, which took place on the 24tli of January of that year.* They very soon after gave an unanimous invitation to the Rev. R. Little of Hanley-Green to be his successor ; but as that gentleman's answer was still in abeyance, they were anxious in the meantime to be supplied with sermon. It was under these circumstances that Mr. Ward- law went to them. His engagement was at first for only " two * See Memoirs of ?.[r. r4an'e and Kinnibxirgli's Eiographical Sketches of early Scottisli Con2.-rc2:ational Ministers. STATIONED AT PERTH. 51 or three Sabbaths," beginning about the middle of February ; but from various causes his stay in Perth was extended, with occasional short interruptions, till the middle of October, when, after much negotiation, Mr. Little was at length induced to per- mit himself to be settled as pastor of the church. Whilst at Perth Mr. Wardlaw was accustomed to preach three times on Sabbath, as well as occasionally during the week. Hitherto his discourses had been delivered from memory ; but the large amount of duty imposed upon him now led him to adopt occa- sionally the plan of preaching from a skeleton. He tried this experiment on the first day of his preaching at Perth, which happened to be on the fast-day before the sacrament in the city. " Yesterday," he writes to his father in a letter which has no other date than " Friday, February — I forget the day — 1801 " but which bears the post-mark of the 14th of that month — " yesterday we had sermon in the chapel forenoon and evening. In the forenoon I attempted to speak from a sheleton, framed on the Wednesday, and found it just tolerably easy." On this experi- ment it would appear that the old gentleman did not look with even as much complacency as his son ; for in a letter written by the latter to his aunt, dated February 20, he thus refers to some cautionary strictures which his father had seen it desirable to address to him on the subject. " My dear father need not be much afraid of my exceeding the bounds of his caution at present in the use of the skeletonian method of sermonising. I would not have used it on Thursday had it not been that I wished to say some- thing or other connected in some way with the occasion. To pick dry hones is no doubt very unprofitable, and must be very sore for the teeth ; but very often the great difference between an extempore and a prepared sermon consists merely in the connection and superior preparation of the bones. In the one case we take them up as we find them ; in the other we present them bleached, varnished and jointed." Mr. Wardlaw' s labours at Perth were diversified by occa- sional preaching excursions into the surrounding country as well as by exchanges with brother ministers in the neighbour- 52 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. hood. In this way he was frequently at Diinkeld and at Dun- dee. At the former place, he was present at the ordination of ]\Ir. Campbell, the first pastor of the Congregational Church there, which took place on the 6th of May, when "Sir. Wardlaw "began the service by singing, and reading the Scriptures."* At Dundee he found congenial society and the comforts of a kindly and well-ordered household in the abode of Mr. Innes, then pastor of the Tabernacle Church there. Another church had also at this time been formed in that town, the meeting- place of which was the West-port Chapel, subsequently for so many years the sphere of pulpit labour of the late excellent, able and devoted Dr. Russell. The pastor of this church at the time of Mr. Wardlaw's visits to Dundee was the Rev. Thomas Durant, afterwards for so many years the well-known and much esteemed pastor of the church at Poole. An acquaintance was thus formed between the parties which led to much close inter- course in after life, and was the beginning of a friendship which was interrupted only by death. The following extracts from letters relating to his visits to Dundee contain some notices of historical interest, at least to Congregationalists : — To HIS Father. March Zd, 1801. — The Tabernacle there [Dundee] is doing very well, though by Mr. Innes's account there are few places Avhere there prevails more indifference about religion, particulaily among the higher circles. The house is large and well laid out — seated so as that all look straight to the pulpit. The church now consists of eighty members. . . . The Lord's Supper is to be dispensed as with us every Lord's day. I jireached there forenoon and evening — thin in the forenoon, well filled in the evening. Mr. Innes supplied Mr. Durant's chapel in the forenoon, which made an equal division of labour among the three. I preached, at Mr. Durant's request, in his chapel on Monday evening." To HIS Aunt Miss Wardlaw. Dundee, March 9th. — According to a preconcerted plan, Mr. Innes and I met half way on Saturday. I rede his horse back to Dundee and he mine {shanks' naffff)/) to Perth.. . . . The West-port Chapel was built for the * Missionary Magazine, vol. vi. p. 305. NOTES OF VISITS TO DUNDEE. 53 Relief connection. Mr. Innes had a call to it about the time when his in- tention to leave the Mother had crept abroad. Before that it was occupied by Mr. Douglas of the Relief, who had himself sunk „£500 in the building of the house. He lost his popularity by preaching democratic politics. The congregation decayed ; the stipend of course could not be paid ; and Mr. D. was under the necessity of withdrawing. Some of the people kept by the Relief and bought the old j^lay house. The rest became Independents, kept the chapel and filled the pulpit with ministers from England. Of these Mr. Duraut was one. lie had been here on a trial formerly and was brought back to settle ; staid some time, and was very much liked, as indeed he seems to merit ; but from some causes not being fond of the place himself, he has left it, as he purposed, since I was here. A Mr. Hartley from Lon- don whom I have not yet seen, now fills his place on trial. I have been obliged to give you all this history for an intelligible answer to Father's question, TF/'o's this Mr. Durant ? To HIS Father. Perth., March Ylth. — Whether Durant's leaving Dundee be sufficient to fix upon him the charge of volatility, depends on what circumstances they were which influenced him in taking the step ; and of these I am ignorant. He appeared to me a very fine fellow ; and I am sorry to understand that a vessel which sailed lately from Dundee having a missionary minister* on board — which can be no other than poor Durant — has been captured by the French. Hartley I did not see, but heard him described as a little man about the bulk of Johnny Campbell,t remarkably lively, and tinctured with Rowland's manner. To HIS Father. Dundee., April 2d,th. — You will I daresay be a little surprised at the superscription of this letter. Dundee ! What is he about there now 1 I was desired by Mr. R. Haklane when I passed through Edinburgh to exa- mine five or six young men in Perth and neighbourhood, who had given in their names with the view of becoming Lads.,% and to send those whom I should think fit for the class to Mr. Innes, for examination by him this day. As, for very obvious reasons, I rather preferred having a colleague in such a task, I came down for this purpose yesterday afternoon ; and we have been occupied with them almost all this forenoon, and are to be again at it in the evening. My object was also to give I\Ir. Innes such information re- specting any of them as I had been able to collect from others. Like all the early Independent preachers ]\Jr. Wardlaw de- voted part of his time to village and itinerant preaching. This * So the independent preachers were styled in Scotland at the commencement of their labours. The name arose from their itinerant labours in preaching. f The Rev. John Campbell, afterwards of Kingsland, and the African traveller. For anecdotes touching his " hidJc," see Lockhart's Life of Sir W. Scott, vol. iii. p. 195, and Philip's Life of Campbell, p. 345. I A name by which the students at Mr, Haldane's classes were familiarly de- signated by the people. 54 MEMOIUS OF DR. AVAUDLAW. was greatly needed at that time in Scotland in consequence of the indolence of the clergy and the distance of many of the people from any place of worship. The following extracts from I\Ir. Wardlaw's letters at this time furnish some vivid illustra- tions Loth of the religious state of the country and of the sort of work in which the itinerant preachers had to engage, even under the most favourable circumstances. To HIS Father. ISOl, March 31s'. — In this place there is no doubt much room for more of the gospel, not from the waut of it and abundance of error, but chiefly from the way in which it is administered. The clergy here are indolent in the extreme. They have a practice of exchanging pulpits, every man going his round. One text, by means of subdivisions and recapitulations, lasts them in this way six or eight rounds. And as by the time they get through it, it may be supposed the people must have forgot the beginning, they can then set to the same again, or if this be too much, they take one which is not much older. And thus two or three lectures and sermons serve them for years, to " ring round the same unvaried chimes." There is a weekly ser- mon on Thursday to which the people are sometimes assembled by the bell, and find the doors shut, while he who should have preached has been found sauntering about the fields. This indolence is more remarkable in one than in the rest. But their texts and peculiar phrases, both in prayer and in preaching, are used as byewords among the people, some of whom express the disgust which many more feel. I went up to Moulin from Dunkeld on Monday, on a beast which I was obliged at length to dismount and whip and drag four miles. Such things itinerants must submit to, as the word from its derivation seems to imply. Some travelling preacher had been reduced to such extremity, as to be seen " eatin' a runt," and hence the title, corrupted in the spelling, expressive of the lowliness and hardships of the station. This circumstance however was fully compensated by the pleasure of the visit, the particulars of which I cannot enter upon. I got the beast back to Dunkeld next morning with great ado in three hours ; came to Perth that day ; and preached by the way at a country village by appointment. This is quite the style. 1801, JvJy dith. — I suppose you may have heard ere now that I got safe to the neighbourhood of Stirling. I did not stop at Rosebank but went straight into town, where I found Mr. llarvie waiting my arrival, and my name and intention to preach that evening at six o'clock pasted up in various quarters of the town. I accordingly preached at the time appointed in the Traders' Green to 200 to 300 people I supjiose. After sermon called on Mr. Smart. Found Mrs. S confined with a headache and troubled with her breast, having just weaned her child. Should have breakfasted there in the morning, but her complaints continuing to confine her, Mr. S. came out to Rosebank, whither 1 had gone the night before immediately after leaving him. Was happy to find the worthy and kind Grecian in pretty good spirits, and by his own account a great deal better than he had been. lie had been offi- ITINEllANT PREACHING. 55 elating in public for the last two Sabbaths. I expected to find him un- changed in affection and was not disappointed. He bears however more of the marks of frailty, the efiects of his complaints. He is clear that I should have the pulpit of mj great progenitor, if I return that "way. I doubt if he will be able to accomplish this. He says he'll try. Nothing was wanting to bring me an audience six times as great as I had, but that I should have been designed in the intimation" grandson of Mr. Fisher, and great-grandson of the illustrious Eben. Erskine." IMr. C. and Robt. are both well. I left Stirling in the morning after 11. on horseback for Auchterarder. By the recommendation of Mr. Harvie, ISir. Smart called at Ardoch on Mr. Logan, minister of the Chapel of Ease there, who from our short intercourse seems a pleasant, sensible, good man — Mr. Balfour, I suppose, can speak of him more particularly, " gif ye want for till know." I went out with him to survey the remains of a Roman camp in the vicinity of his house, said to be per- haps the most comijlete in the island, and indeed it is very distinct, and gives a very accurate idea of their mode of entrenchment. The central area is surrounded by five ditches, with an outer mound. There are four oppo- site entrances. In the centre space is the site of the general's tent, and the station of his guards, and at one end of it a small artificial elevation, where many a century ago, probably was displayed the eagle of Rome ! /Sit laus Deo ! tempora mutantur. With Mr. L. proceeded to Auchterarder. Re- turned my beast by a man who had come on foot before me for this purpose from Stirling (21 miles). No hacks to be got, and not much disposed to trudge, I hired what was called a cart-horse, being at sametime informed by the owner that I might lay my account with taking at least three hours, and probably a half more, to make out the remaining 14 miles. After drinking tea with IMr. Duncan, the minister, Mrs. Laing, my landlady's brother, where I found her and her sister, I brought the said cart-horse, or rather he brought me to Perth, over an up-and-down road, within the two hours ; and here I am well, and so — Perth, August 6ih, 1801. — According to appointment I went up to Dun- keld on Saturday. Mr. C. brought back my beast and returned with him on Monday, and that evening I rode up to Moulin, intending to spend the latter part of Tuesday with jMr. and Miss Stewart, but to my disappointment was informed on the road that he was to be dovvn early next morning to a meeting of Presbytery ; and on my arrival there (about nine) found that Miss S. and a niece who was with them were also prepared for flight. They accordingly set out all three in a cart next morning, and I accompanied them like the '• King of Prussia walking on horseljack." Stept into the church at Dunkeld and got John Orr's share of part of Mr. Kays Trials for Settlement at Kinclaven, which I suppose will in due time take place though it Avill be rather against the grain to most of the members of the Presbytery, who are no better than they should be. I had engaged to preach at Dowally (five miles on the road from D. to M.) that evening, but (I suppose from the heat of the ride from M.) was seized with a pretty severe headache attended with a slight stomachic afi:ection Avhioh prevented me. ]\Ir. C. went in my place, This too was rather a disappointment to me, as I wished to give them a little advice so far as I could relative to their situation, which is somewhat pecu- liar. There has been there, for some time past, a considerable stir about religion, but it is all among the young people, which circumstance, accoiding to our Lord's prediction, has produced a good deal of division in diiitrent 56 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. houses, which has not at least been alhiyed by the interference of the parish minister, who is rather disposed to encourage the parents in opposing their children — so that the young converts there stand much in need of encourage- ment and of caution. On Wednesday at one o'clock I preached at Auchter- gaven, where I again met with Miss Stewart and her niece, a pleasant young lady of the same name, but I forget of what place. They were on a day's visit to the lady of a Captain Stewart in that neighbourhood — a lady who it seems has for several years been in a state of perplexity and indecision on religious matters, and being immersed in the world and receiving no encouragement from her husband, is indeed not in a situation very favourable to speedy determination. Miss S. had corresponded with her, and was now conversing with her, so far as she could find opportunity, with what effect re;aains to be seen. She did not prevail on her or her husband, as she had expected, to come to sermon. Drank tea in the evening by invitation, in company with the Moulin ladies, in the house of another Captain Stewart, whose lady attended sermon, and though in circumstances somewhat similar to the former, appears to be decidedly serious. The Captain being from home, we had some very pleasant conversation. Miss S. seems a truly valuable woman. You may think me too particular, but I was struck in these instances with the sovereignty of divine grace, " which takes one of a city and two of a family, and brings them to Zion." At the same time I think there is nothing in this to support the absurd sentiment, as it seems to me, that a person brought up in a religious family, by Christian parents, is not in a more hopeful way than one reared in the midst of debauchery and wickedness. A religious education has always been considered as a blessing ; if this be the case it can be none. A plant in a kindly sheltered spot is more likely to thrive than in one that is scanty and exposed. Many other causes may kill it in the former situation, as many causes may also j^rcvent the good effects of education ; but still the probability of its thriving in that situation is greater than in the latter one. The demand made upon Mr. Wardlaw for pulpit service at Perth was such as to impose a severe tax upon his energies and resources. He, however, acquitted himself so well that not only did the people to whom he had come to minister use every means to retain his services during the long interval that elapsed between their sending a call to Mr. Little and the settlement of that gentleman as their pastor ; but an effort was made to induce him to remain in Perth and endeavour to raise a new cause there. The circumstances under which this proposal were made to him were these : — During the ministry of Mr. Garie the church over which he presided had assembled in a place Avhich they hired for the purpose known as St. Paul's Chapel ; but before his death they had begun to erect a new and more commodious place. This became ready for occupation in May PROPOSAL TO SETTLE IN PEUTIL 57 1801, and the congTegation accordingly moved into it then. The proprietors of St. Paul's Chapel, however, still wished to see that place used as a place of worship in connection with the Congregationalists, and knowing the favourable impression which ]\Ir. Wardlaw's preaching had made in the city, they were anxious to persuade him to make the attempt to draw together a new congregation there. The first notice of this is contained in a letter written by IMr. Wardlaw to his father under date of March 17th, in which he says — " I have had a proposal made to me by the proprietors of the present chapel which is now occupied at an annual rent of £70. It will be thrown empty at the term when the new one is to be opened. The proprietors wish me to come back and take possession of the empty house at the term, and gather a congregation, while in the meantime I am to have the chapel free of all rent. When the congregation is such as to afford me a respectable maintenance, then, and not till then, the overplus to go for discharge of debts, &c., and the church to be just a sister to the other, precisely on the same footing 1 did not give them any flattering hopes of my acceptance of their proposal, though the scheme will in all pro- bability prove successful. I am to receive their proposal in black and white for consideration." A few days after the date of this letter he accordingly received a formal document from the proprietors placing the chapel at his disposal under the terms above described, and specially intimating that they left him " at liberty as to order and formation of the church in the way he shall judge best — only understanding it to be upon sound evan- gelical principles." The proposal thus made was undoubtedly a creditable one to the parties, as well as highly honourable to Mr. Wardlaw ; but after duly considering it he saw meet to decline. While these negotiations were going on in Perth a move- ment had been coming to a head among his friends in Glasgow, tending to the providing of a sphere of ministerial labour for him in that city. This proposal of the proprietors of the cliapel at Perth seems to have brought the matter to a decision. It 58 ]\rEMOius OF mi. wardlaw. was natural that his father and his other relatives and friends in Glasgow should earnestly desire to have him stationed near them ; and as they knew well the real power that was in him, they could not but wish to see it developed and exercised in such a sphere as that great and growing city presented. It was accordingly proposed among them to erect at their own expense a place of worship where he might minister, and where gradually he might collect a church ; and of this it became necessary to apprise him when it was made known to them that negotiations were on foot with a view to fix him elsewhere. The proposal seems to have taken him entirely by surprise ; but though it was alto- gether in accordance with his strong home affections, as well as in other respects a most desirable one, it was not all at once that he could see his way clear to embrace it. His state of mind in reference to the subject at this time the following extracts from letters to his father will best explain : — Many a time, my dear father, have I doulited whether I should ever have beeu what I now am, a preacher of the gospel of the blessed God ; and never more than when I read some parts of the Memoirs of S. Pearce — from this you may guess the cause. Yet when I have begun to suppose myself in other professions, I find in them all a kind of biank, and am somewhat encouraged to hope that I may not be altogether " a cumberer of the ground." I wish for some more settled sphere of usefulness ; the disposition of my mind being in my own opinion more suited to this than to a state of peri- grination I pray that I may be taught to be pleased with all that pleases my Master. I wish to feel more of my own weakness and to have more simple reliance on Him. Prudence and delicacy have made me hitherto avoid saying anything on the interesting subject which forms the chief part of its (his father's letter's) contents. But now that matters have gone so far, and you wish to know " how my pulse beats," I may speak my mind freely. Far from being disposed to treat the subject with any degree of indiiference or levity, I reckon the present one of the most important periods of my life, whether viewed in relation to private happiness or public usefulness. I may begin by avowing without disguise that my desires accord with those of yourself and other friends. And I am much inclined to think that if I am to be useful at all, the probability of success is at least not smaller on the favourite side than on the other. But then I am aware how strongly the private feelings of the heart are apt to influence the judgment, and am therefore not a little jealous that there is more of self comes into view in the question than oi pure regard to the honour of my Master and the good of men. My private inducements to prefer a station at home are suggested by the very word. Not among the least are the society of friends and Christian acquaiu- A CHAPEL BUILT FOR IIIM IN GLASGOW. 51) tance, the correspondence of a colleague * whose habits of thinking I have all along found to coincide so much with my own views, and the immediate counsel and direction of a father, whom I have good cause indeed to love as a parent and to esteem as an instructor. But how far these and similar considerations should be allowed to operate in cases like the present is a point that " gives me pause." Were I convinced that (if God is pleased to shew at all by my means that "his weakness is stronger than men") the honour of the Redeemer would be more effectually promoted by my remain- ing here, I hope I should be able to consider even such things as these to be iu the balance "lighter than vanity." But on what footing is the chapel you speak of to be built ? If it is purposely intended for me, here is patronage or something at least of the same nature, the very semblance of which I hate. If it is reared for the accommodation of a sister church, the members of that church will of course have the choice of their pastor, and who can say on whom that choice will fall 1 The same difficulty seems at first view to lie against the scheme of the managers [of the Perth chapel] ; there is, however, this difference : — In the one case I take the risk of gathering a congregation after the present su-ar}]i lias fled ; in the other there is to be a hind of division of the 2^ resent church. The allusion in the close of this extract is to the separation of members from the church under the care of Mr. Ewing who were to form the nitcleus of the new chm-ch proposed to be formed in the chapel to be built for Mr. Wardlaw. This was almost sure to take place, as many of his OAvn connections and friends — some the very parties who were most active in seeking the erection of a chapel for him — were already members of Mr. Ewing's church, and there were doubtless others who, apart from any considerations of preference for one preacher over another, must be counted on as likely from various motives of convenience to exchange the old fellowship for the new. No wonder, there- fore, that with his views of the rights of Christian churches, and with his delicate regard to the feelings of others, he should have felt a difficulty arising from this source to lie in the way of his at once closing with his father's proposal. Subsequent corre- spondence, however, tended to obviate his scruples on this score — a result which was materially promoted by the lovely and generous spuit in which Mr. Ewiug viewed and sought to advance the proposed scheme. Difficulties of a practical kind such as all schemes of church building are exposed to, also arose * The reference here is to the Rev. Greville Ewing. GO JIEMOIRS OF DU, WARDLAW. to cast temporary impediments in the way ; but these too were in succession overcome. A piece of ground was advantageously secured in North Albion Street ; plans and estimates were agreed on ; and it was thus at length settled that his permanent ministry should be commenced in the city where he had spent all but the whole of his preceding life. Having been relieved of his duties at Perth for some weeks in the autumn, he went to spend the interval partly with his friends at Glasgow. Whilst enjoying this seasonable relaxation he was induced to spend two Sabbaths at Dumfries, in order to relieve ]\Ir. James Haldane who had engaged to supply the pulpit of the. Independent chapel there, but had been obliged to return to Edinburgh before his engagement was fulfilled, in consequence of the illness of one of his children. During this brief visit Mr. Wardlaw made so favourable an impression on the church as well as on the people of the town generally, that a desire was expressed by the members of the church that they might have him as their settled pastor ; and when it was found that this was precluded by the arrangements already entered into with reference to Glasgow, an earnest effort was made to induce him to spend the ensuing winter in Dumfries. With this request Mr. Ward- law saw proper to comply; and accordingly on the second Sabbath of December he commenced his ministrations at that place. The history of his residence and labours in Dumfries at this time will be best given by extracts from his letters to his friends written whilst there. The extracts I am about to give will also serve to illustrate some of his opinions on subjects with which his name as an author was afterwards to be closely associated. To His Father. Dec. 2\st, 1801. — On Wednesday last I breakfasted by invitation in Mrs. Gordon's, your worthy correspondent's* mother. The company consisted of her, her two daughters, her son Sir Alexander Gordon, his lady, and their * This was Miss Wilhelmina Gordou, who bad written to Mr. Wardlaw senior, earnestly lu'ging him to counsel his sou to comply with the wishes of the people at Dumfries to spend the winter with them. Miss Gordon was a most zealous and active member of the church there at this time. RESIDENCE AT DUMFRIES. Gl two daughters. After breakfast in comes the Doctor,* to whom I was of course introduced by our friend Miss W. He is a big, stout-looking, purple, frank, sensible, intelligent man. He and I came oft' together. He told me he meant to have waited on me had he not met me there ; but that day- being a kind of Saturday with him, he was going out again to Holywood instantly after settling the business on which he had come into town. He gave me a hearty general invitation to come out and see him, of which I shall certainly make use On Thursday [the sacramental fast-day] I was employed afternoon and evening. In the forenoon I went to hear Dr. B . He preached from these words : — " 0 give thanks to the Lord, for He is good " He began — " All that I intend from these words is, Jirst, to prove the proposition that God is good ; and secondh/, to point out the effects which the consideration of this should have on cur temper and conduct. Two arguments have been em- ployed by writers on the first of these points ; the one more abstract drawn from the nature and perfections of the Deity, the other more familiar de- duced from the consideration of his works." As the former would have led him into deep philosophical speculation, he confined himself to the latter, on which he, of course, took a very common-place survey of the whole creation from the universe down to our world, and from our world at large down to the blades of grass and the insects ihat dance in the sunbeam. He dwelt on the dignity and happiness of man who is made " wiser than the fowls of heaven, and with more understanding than the beasts of the field," &c. &c. The inference he drew from all this fine description was a very plain false- hood— " that the world as we now see it, including man, is exactly such as we should a priori have expected to proceed from an infinitely benevolent Being ! " A man might have sat and followed every sentence with a parody proving the directly contrary ; for there was not a word about the effects of sin in poisoning the sources of happiness. The world as it is was just as it should he — a very nice world. He stated our national blessings, and touched on the specialties of the day. He could not well omit, among the blessings which proved God to be good, the redemption by Christ. Having heard that he once preached the gospel, I wished particularly to hear his creed on this subject. It was in substance, and nearly in his own words, as follows : " It is our duty to serve God our Creator and to keep his commandments, and we cannot reasonably expect happiness but in so doing. As I have shown that God is a Being of infinite compassion. He will pay a due regard to, and make all allowance for our frailty ; and though our virtue be im- perfect, it will certainly be accepted through the all-prevalent mediation and intercession of Jesus Christ, and we shall be admitted into his kingdom which he has prepared for all the good and worthy among mankind." From the first part of the discourse he inferred under the second the common duties of gratitude, praise, liberality, &c. The whole discourse, which he read, was iincommordy common, and we were not an hour altogether in church. The improvement which I made of the sermon — for I think my attendance was not without profit — I shall leave you to guess at, and to suggest also what you think I should have learned from it. I can only * The Eev. Dr. Bryce Johnston, minister at Holywood, near Dumfries, and one of the principal leaders of the Evangelical party in the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. G2 MEMOIRS OF DR. WAKDLAW. assure you I heard with regret and vexation rather than with critical cen- ^oriousness. To THE Same. Dec. 29iA, 1801. — According to an agreement made with Miss W. Gor- don I walked out with her this morning to breakfast with Dr. J. and his sister at Holywood. Our skqy-dash visit was received with the most cordial hospitality. The Dr. was as kind and attentive as I could have wished. We had a variety of conversation. I had been informed of some peculiar topics on which he was fond of insisting ; and some of these, I accordingly found, soon started into view — chiefly respecting remarks of his own on certain words and phrases used in Scripture which had escaped others ; and in the illustration and confirmation of these he was so very eager and so ex- jmnsive that it was not easy to get a remark thrust in. On one or two of these I ventured to drop a word in opposition — I need not say ventured in- deed, for though foud of holding forth on favourite points, his manners are the very opposite of forbidding. In my objections I of course thought myself right ; but I found the truth of the old saying " De gustibus non est dis- putandum" as it is translated by Tristram Shandy "There is no disputing against hobby-horses." The Dr., as I am informed, seldom comes down from the pulpit without having taken a gallop on one or other of his favourites. I was much gratified however by my visit, and hope it will not be the last. The manse is most pleasantly situated, commanding an extensive prospect not only over Dumfriesshire and Galloway, but also into Westmoreland and Cumberland ; while the floor of the dining room is but 12 feet above the level of the sea at high tide. The remains of a Druidical temple are visible in the vicinity from the window ; and from the sacred grove the place de- rives its name. To HIS Cousin Archibald Smith, Esq. Dumfries, January l~)th, 1802. — Pray what is it in your present situa- tion as to lodging and housemates that is so disagreeable, as only to be suffer- able for the short time you mean to stay 1 This I recollect was the subject of conjecture at Glasgow, but I never heard with certainty. Good companions are indeed an article that gives a great zest to life. To have none at all, however, is better than to have bad ones. Vice is a plague whose poison is most insinuating. I have known by experience the truth of an observation made by our old friend Dr. Henderson, that the conversation and conduct of the wicked, though it should not shake a man's principles yet will leave such an impression as pollutes the memory. Such was his expression, and it implies a great deal. Nor is the evil of our associating with such characters confined to ourselves, it extends to them. Either we must speak or we must refrain speaking ; if we speak to them faithfully we may rest assured we shall not be long their intimates.. If we do not speak to them we of course do everything in our power of a negative kind to harden them in iu- diffei-ence and wickedness, by leading them to think that the difference betwixt us is not of very great importance. This perhaps will hold with peculiar strength with regard to the making companions of infidels who are even outwardly moral and decent in their character. I know from my own expe- rience that the circumstance of outward decency only renders the danger to LETTERS FROM DUMFRIES. 63 ourselves in this latter case the greater. We are apt to lose sight of the vast importance of the difference between infidelity and the faith of Jesus when habits of virtue derived from education perhaps and maintained bj- regard to character and other considerations present the former to us under its most favourable aspect, while in the midst of all this decency the heart is not right with God and there is an utter disregard of what we must ever consider as the only genuine source of virtue — devotion to God. A man may be very decent outwardly and yet a very impious ungodly man, "not having God in all his thoughts." Finding my triple services on Lord's day beginning rather to weaken my bodily frame, I last Sabbath announced the suspension of one of the diets, complying with the desires and solicitations of friends both at a dis- tance and here. As to poetry — I had not altogether forgot your request ; I had some- times thought of compliance and wished to gratify you, but somehow Lady Muse has never been pleased to smile upon me. The truth is my talent for rhyming, if any I have, lies almost entirely in the ludicrous and burlesque line. My attempts at serious poetry I really think are awhcard. To HIS Fatiikr. Dumfries, Fehrnar^j 3, 1S02. — As to the right and general propriety of ministers being supported by the people, it is plainly declared by the head of the church himself, Matth. x. 10, Luke x. 7; by Paul, Gal. vi. 6, 2 Thess. iii. 9 ; and is defended at large in the 9th chap, of 1 Cor. It seems plain indeed from everything Paul says on this subject, that in working Avith his hands for his support he acted from motives of expediency, which were at that time peculiarly urgent. And the same conduct would be equally becoming still in similar circumstances, where the contrary would evidently tend to hinder the Gospel of Christ either by exciting the prejudice vt'hich seems then to have prevailed, arising from the idea that the preacher's design was merely to make gain, or by being burdensome to people who really could not afford an adequate maintenance. Still, however, the obli- gation lies on them ; and in my view it should not only be considered in the light of a duty but of a pleasant privilege. If I esteem my pastor very highly or love him for his work's sake, as not only an honourable work but a labour of love to me, I should like to have it in my power to shew my sense of obligation by imparting to him of my substance, that he may have the fuller leisure to prosecute this work ; from the same principle which would make me pleased when I found an oppoitunity to lighten the burden of gratitude by rewarding a benefactor. As to the text in Acts xxvi., I shall only make a query which I have not room to discuss. Do the words " so labouring" refer to the Apostle's working with his hands or to the general example he had given the bishops of the Ephesian church, of labour in the gospel, explained in the preceding verses 1 Read the Greek and let me know your opinion. Mr. WarcUaw remained at Dumfries till the month of J\Iarch, when the state of his health became such as to compel him to retire for a season from active labour and to seek renewed vigour 64 MEMOIRS OF Dl?. WARDLAAV. amid the quiet am;! repose of home. It was with great reluctance that he came to this resohition. There was mncli to induce him to prolong his residence at Dumfries. He was lodged in the house of cliristian people who sedulously cared for his com- fort ; he was surrounded by affectionate and admiring friends who appreciated his worth and sought his society ; and above all, his ministry had been attended with the most encouraging success. " If," he wrote to his father, " kindness and unre- mitting attention and comfortable accommodation in board and lodging and every other article, could insure health and strength, 1 certainly ought to have been both healthy and strong." " The crowded attendance," he says in another letter, " especially on the Sabbath evenings, wdien numbers are obliged to go away unable to get in, and many are discouraged by this circumstance from coming to attempt it, make me reluctant to quit the field." It was manifest, however, that in the state of health in whicli he then was, the duties of the post were too severe for him ; and this made retirement from it, for a season at least, an imperative duty. Mr. Wardlaw remained in Glasgow for the four months fol- lowing his return, occupied in private study and occasionally engaged in preaching. In the month of July he visited Edin- burgh, chiefly with the view of supplying the place of Mr. Aikman who was laid aside by sickness. Here he remained for some time, during which he preached frequently in the Taber- nacle and other places, as well as in Mr. Aikman's. Amongst other services in wdiich he was at this time invited to take part was the ordination of ]\Ir. ]\laclae (now Dr. Maclae of New York) over the church in Kirkcaldy. On this occasion Mr. Wardlaw conducted the introductory devotional exercises in the morning and preached in the afternoon. That he should have been asked to take such a share of the services in the presence of several older ministers and whilst he himself was yet unordained, shows the high esteem in which he was already held by his brethren. Since his previous visit to Edmburgh indeed he had made great advances in acceptability as a preacher. The good use he had MEETS MR. FULLER. 65 made of the opportunities he had enjoyed at Perth and Dumfries of making proof of his ministry had been such that his projfiting was apparent to all. " Since then," writes the same critic whose words I have quoted on a previous page as expressing the impression produced by his previous visit, " Since then he has risen in the estimation of every one — deservedly I think. The last time he was in town 1 liked him vastly."* On his return from Kirkcaldy he had the happiness of making the personal acquaintance of the Rev. Andrew Fuller, of whose writings he had been long an admiring reader. This great and good man visited Edinburgh in the autumn of 1802, for the pur- pose of pleading the claims of the Baptist Missionary Society, of which he was secretary, and of which he had been the suc- cessful advocate in Scotland some years before. The pleasure of this acquaintanceship seems to have been mutual. " This young man," ]\Ir. Fuller records in his diary, " is a promising character." f " From Fuller," writes Mr. W. to his father under date September 7th, 1802, "we got a charming repast on Sabbath forenoon from the 67th Psalm. He preaches to-morrow night in Mr. Aikman's ; goes to Dalkeith on Thursday, whither I in- tend to accompany him ; returns on Friday to preach in the Tabernacle at night ; and in the same place. Sabbath evening, the collection is to be made." To Mr. Wardlaw's great satisfaction he was requested to be Mr. Fuller's travelling companion for the remainder of his tour in Scotland. " On Monday morning," he continues to his father, " by an arrangement into which I entered with eagerness that I might be ' somewhat filled with his company,' he and I leave this together for Dundee, Perth, Stirling and Glasgow, meaning to reach you in the end of the week. I first intended putting him into the coach at Stirling for Glasgow and returning myself to Edinburgh, but I wish to get forward with him for a particular purpose which shall be fully explained viva voce, when we meet," At the close of this letter ?dr. Wardlaw says, " Upon looking barli * Rev. Chr. Andevso:). Memoirs, p. 10. t Life of Ryland, p. 30}. F G6 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. on what I liave scrawled I am diverted with the idea of mjjndtinf/ Mr. Fuller, a man of three times my age and as many times my size into the coach, as a father would speak of his little boy ! Common forms of expression are thus rendered ludicrous by the circumstances of the case in wdiich they are used." After fulfilling his engagement in Edinbtu-gh JMr. Wardlaw revisited Dumfries, where he spent some Sabbaths towards the close of the year much to the refreshment and edification of the church. This and his former visit appear to have left a peculi- arly pleasing remembrance in the minds of Christian people in that place. His nephew^ writing from it some twenty years after- wards says, " The angelic doctor of George Street Chapel is held here in the most honourable remembrance Indeed all whom I have seen mention him in the highest terms of regard." In the beginning of 1803 Mr. Wardlaw returned to Glasgow to await the completion of the chapel which was building for his occupancy, and to prepare himself for entering upon the duties which were to devolve upon him there. The feelings with which he watched the progress of the building were those of mingled desire and anxiety. " This is a prospect," says he in a letter to a friend,* " to which I look forward, as you may well suppose, with strongly mixed emotions — pleasure and awe, tre- pidation and satisfaction — ready at times to recoil with, ' Who is sufficient for these things?' — at another longing for the time when, in a more settled sphere of employment, I may, through the blessing of Him who hath said ' My grace is sufficient for thee,' be in some degree useful in spreading the knowledge of the Redeemer among my fellow-sinners." Happily, wdiatever other causes of anxiety might press upon his mind, there was none arising from the dread of any unplea- santness being produced by the step he was about to take either in the church already existing in Glasgow or in the mind of its pastor. Never was a matter of this sort conducted with more kindly feeling on both sides. Mr. Ewing, with that largeness of heart which was characteristic of him, entered not only without * Archibald Smith, Esq. CORDIALITY OF MR. EWING. 67 reluctance, but with cordial delight, into the proposed withdrawal of a portion of his own church, to form the nucleus of a sister society under the pastoral care of Mr. Wardlaw ; indeed, had the new chapel been intended for himself, and the new congre- gation been about to be placed under his own superintendence, he could hardly have manifested a more lively and kindly interest in the proceedings than he did. Being absent from home at the time when it was necessary that arrangements for the forma- tion of the new church should commence, he transmitted the following intimation — the original copy of which in his own handwriting is now before me — to be read to the church of which he was pastor : — Intimation which Mr. Greig will be so good as read to the Chukcii at their next Meeting. Mr. Ewing requests me to inform the Church, that he understands our Brother ^Yardlaw's meeting-house will be opened about the middle of next month — an event in which he hopes the Church will unanimously and sin- cerely rejoice. He is extremely happy in being able to state that Mr. Wardlaw and his friends are and desire to continue on a brotherly footing with this church, and that though from local situation or other circum- stances many of the members may be induced to withdraw from the church in Jamaica Street and join that in Albion Street, there is no separation in principle or in the bonds of Christian love. He is desirous, therefore, that such members as may incline to take this step should enjoy the most per- fect liberty, and should allow no feeling of delicacy which they may expe- rience to distress their minds. As Mr. Wardlaw wishes to see such as desire to join the proposed sister society, they may have an opportunity of speaking with him, on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9 o'clock; and Mr. Ewing requests they will also give in their names, either to himself, or to the deacon in whose bounds they reside. Mr. Ewing was engaged to go to the country before he knew the expediency of having this intimation made to-night, which is the only reason he has not made it himself, but he hopes to have another oppor- tunity of addressing the Church on the subject of it. A copy of this was accompanied by the following letter tu Mr. AVardlaw : — My dear Brother — I hope what is written on the other leaf will meet your ideas. It may be read either in the open meeting or privately, as you please. If any alteration or addition be thought necessary, let it be made under your own inspection, without taking the trouble of sending it to me. About the rules we can talk when we meet. 68 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. IMrs. Ewing is getting much better, and joins me in Christian love to you and all friends. I am, &c. Greville Ewing. Ardgowan, 12th January 1803. P.S. — Don't you think the intimation may be read in the open meeting, as there will be no private meeting unless one should be held for the pur- pose ? Under these auspicious influences the -new church was formed ; and, the chapel having been completed, it was opened on Wednesday the 16th of February 1803 ; on which occasion the church was formally constituted and Mr. Wardlaw ordained to be its pastor. The ministers who took part in this service were Mr. George Kobertson, pastor of the church at Auldkirk, after- wards of Thurso, Mr. Greig, who was then assisting Mr. Ewing, Mr. Ewing, Mr. Aikman of Edinburgh, and Mr. M'Lae of Kirk- caldy. Mr. Greig preached the introductory discourse, Mr. Ewing offered the ordination prayer and gave the charge, and Mr. Aik- man addressed the people. Mr. Innes, who was prevented by family affliction from being present, sent his fraternal gi-eetings by letter. Fifty years afterwards, when the jubilee of this day's trans- actions was celebrated, he who had been the principal actor in them recorded his reminiscences of that period of his history in the following words : — " The church at its formation consisted of 61 members. The day of our commencement was ' the day of small things.' The church was an offshoot from that which now meets in Nile Street under the pastoral care of the Rev. A. Eraser, but which then assembled in what w^as in those days called the Tabernacle in Jamaica Street, and over which presided the emi- nent and excellent Greville Ewing. But the shoot from that vineyard was not broken off by the hand of factious violence ; it was severed deliberately and spontaneously by the willing hand of love, and under the impulse of zeal for the augmenta- tion in the city of the means of grace. And with all cordiality did the keeper of the former vineyard lend his hand to the plant- ing of it. He prayed the ordination prayer, and gave the youth- ful pastor his charge. Of the other ministers who took part in ORDINATION AT GLASGOW. 69 the services there survives but one ; who after a long course of laborious and faithful service is now by disease and infirmity laid aside, and in peaceful and humble hope waiting the Divine Mas- ter's ' Come up hither.'* AVell do I remember the day; I see before me in my mind's eye the countenances of friends and brethren, by far the greater proportion of whom are fallen asleep. It was a cold, dark, sleety, wintry day ; there was nothing from without to cheer us ; but there were warm hearts there, and these both of my own and other communions, although since that time the freedom of intercommunion among fellow-christians of different denominations has made — and it is one of the delight- ful features of the age — immense progress. . . . And there was with us, I trust, what is best of all, the presence of Him who hath said, ' Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them ;' and the blessing of Him whose prerogative it is to send prosperity." f Whilst waiting the completion of the chapel to commence his stated labours as a Christian pastor, Mr. Wardlaw had, at the suggestion of his cousin Mr. Archibald Smith, occupied him- self in the preparation of a selection of hymns to be used by the congregation in public worship. The selection previously in use among the Congregationalists in Scotland, and known by the name of the Tabernacle Selection, was a very imperfect instrument of devotional exercise. The number of hymns was not large ; many of them were unsuited to the purposes of wor- ship ; they were thrown together without any principle of arrangement ; and alterations had been very freely made upon them, which, as they proceeded on the general principle of exscinding everything that savoured of the poetical, left this book as destitute of what could refine the taste as it was of what could kindle or sustain devotion. A new and better selection was loudly called for, and to supply this desideratum Mr. Wardlaw set himself assiduously for nearly a year. He was much encou- * This excellent man, the Eev. George Robertson, was very soon after the.se words were uttered called to his rest. t Speech at the public meeting held to celebrate the jubilee of Dr. A\'ardlaw"s pastorate. 70 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. raged and assisted in this work by Dr. Charles Stuart of Dunearn, who lent him a large collection of hymn books which he had gathered, and by his advice and otherwise materially furthered his endeavours. His father also contributed not a Httle to aid him in this work, partly by lightening his labour in collecting hymns, partly by bringing his sound taste to bear upon the choice of the most suitable, or the alteration of such as required to be amended. At the advice of Dr. Stuart the principle was adopted of arranging the hymns in the order of the passages of scripture on which they are founded, or the sentiment of which they express ; an arrangement which I cannot but regard as unfor- tunate in several respects — first, as necessitating the exclusion of all hymns, however excellent in themselves, which are not imme- diately based on some part of the Bible ; secondly, as leading to the separation of hymns the subjects of which are identical or closely allied, and to the juxta-position of hymns on subjects having no special affinity ; and thirdly, as greatly adding to the difficulty of finding a suitable hymn for any occasion or subject — a difficulty not much alleviated by an index of first lines, seeing it is precisely where one is ignorant of these that the difficulty is most felt. I am disposed also to reclaim against not a few of the alterations which have been introduced into the hymns, and Avhich are so numerous and extensive that the selector has assigned that as a reason for not appending the authors' names. There is nothing in literature so ticklish as an attempt to amend another man's verses ; and even where this is done most felici- tously it may yet be doubted whether the respect due to genius and to the integrity of literary property should not forbid all such alterations, except in cases of necessity. Of course, if the alternative be either to alter or to reject an otherwise admirable hjmiri for the sake of one or two objectionable lines or phrases, few would be so scrupulous as to object to the alteration if skilfully performed ; but bating such cases it seems desirable to maintain that each hymn should be given in the state in which its author issued it. Let it be further said that as the gratitude of the church is due to the men who, under God, supply them COMPILES A HYMN BOOK. 71 with fitting vehicles of worship, it is an injury to both parties to withhold the names of the authors : to the authors themselves because it deprives them of their just meed, and to those who use their compositions because it prevents their discharging a duty alike becoming and pleasant. AVhatever deductions, how- ever, may be justly made on these grounds from the value of the selection of hymns prepared by Mr. Wardlaw, it cannot be doubted that his was an immense improvement on the hymn book previously in use, and that he conferred a great boon on the Congregational churches of Scotland by preparing it. The first edition of this selection containing 322 hymns was published in May 1803. Some years afterwards a supplement was added containing 171 additional hymns, making the number in all 493. Of these 11 are of the editor's own composition ; and they are not only among the best in the selection, but they are among the best which the English language possesses. Though issued anonymously, several of them have found their way into most of the principal hymn books which have been collected since both in England and Scotland.* This selection is now in the twelfth edition. Two of the hymns contributed by Mr. Wardlaw to this selec- tion had appeared previously in the Missionary Magazine, vol. viii. p. 48. * The reader will find these liyuins in the Appendix C. 72 CHAPTER IV. A. D. 1803— A. D. 1808. Though Mr. Warcllaw had commenced his labom-s in North Albion Street Chapel with a very respectable body of friends and adhe- rents, his enterprise could be regarded only in the light of an attempt to raise an entirely new cause. This is always a matter of difficulty and uncertainty, especially in a place like Glasgow where the supply of preaching is already large and of superior quality. Peculiar circumstances may tend to lessen the initiatory difficulty of such an undertaking and to abridge the period when success shall crown and sanction the effort ; or the preacher may, by the startling novelty of his doctrines, the popularity of his style, or even the quaintness and oddity of his manner, draw around him a hasty crowd of those — alas! too numerous in all large cities — who delight in nothing so much as in hearing some new thhig, or who are attracted much more readily by what pleases, amuses or excites for the moment than with what permanently instructs and edifies. But in the absence of such influences the process is usually a long and an anxious one. We need not be surprised, then, to find that Mr. Wardlaw, whose peculiar ecclesi- astical views had by this time ceased to be strange or novel to the people of the western metropolis, and whose great strength lay in the gravity of his matter, the clearness of his reasoning and the graceful correctness of his language, rather than in impressive declamation or in any striking peculiarities of manner and enunciation, should have laboured some time without producing any great sensation or receiving any rapid accessions to his flock; the more especially as the importance attached by him to purity ADVANCES SLOWLY BUT SURELY. 73 of communion led him to be scrupulously careful whom he admitted to the fellowship of the church. " The church," he says (to Mr. A. Smith, May 9th, 1803) " is increasing very slowly, but I trust surely ; and this I hope will ever be my chief concern which no worldly consideration shall supersede. In societies constituted as ours is, purity is absolutely indispensable to comfort and edifica- tion. Other societies may flourish, i. e., increase and prosper outwardly, with less attention to it, because there is less inter- course among the members, who have also little concern in the discipline exercised, such as it is. But in societies where the church is the church, and a few lords over the heritage are not substituted in its place — where the members associate for mutual exhortation and discipline as well as meet statedly for public wor- ship— where there subsists necessarily much more frequent and intimate fellowship, it is impossible we can prosper, in the right sense of the word, without strict attention to purity of com- munion and the cultivation of fervent brotherly love ; a principle by the bye, which, from the frequency and urgency of the apostolic exhortations respecting it, seems to have been more needful for the prosperity of churches as then constituted, however that was, then, it is for churches constituted on different principles from ours. They w^ho need this principle most for their order and prosperity are probably nearest, therefore, to the apostolic plan." From the principles and convictions enunciated in these sen- tences the writer of them never swerved during the w'hole course of his ministry. On the contrary, he to the last regarded purity of communion as one of the great fundamental principles of apostolic church order, without attention to which no church could really prosper ; and one of the principal services which he considered the Congregational churches to have rendered to the cause of Christ in Scotland was their having recalled this principle into prominent notice from that obhvion and neglect under which it had been allowed to fall. Strictness in the matter of purity of communion must not be confounded with denominational narrowness. Of this theri^ was nothing in Mr. Wardlaw's mind, and from the first it had 74 MEMOIRS OF PR. WARDLAW. no part among the characteristics of his church. Whilst the church was ruled and its affairs administered on the principles of Congregationalism, adoption of these was never made a term of communion. Among the earliest of its members were some who still adhered to Presbyterianism in principle, and of these one of the most prominent was his own venerable father. And here I may introduce an anecdote pertaining to this excellent person illustrative of the point in hand. His brother-in-law the Rev. Mr. Smith was the successor of Ealph Erskine at Dunfermline, and thither " old Bailie Wardlaw " — I use the words of the Rev. Dr. Macfarlane of Glasgow, son of Mr. Smith's successor at Dunfermline, to whom I am indebted for the anecdote — " used to go to the sacrament every summer. After he joined his son's congregation in Glasgow, Mr. Mac- farlane in joke said to him when he arrived as usual, ' Well, Bailie, I am not so sure about admitting you now. You have gone out from among us.' ' No, no,' said the good old man, ' you must just let me hold fellowship with you as of old. I could not resist sitting under my son's ministry, but I said to him when I joined him. Now, Ralph, you must just take me, Presbyterianism and all.' The matter was soon settled. They were Christian men." Whilst thus engaged in laying, in sound scriptural teaching and adherence to apostolic precedent, a solid and enduring basis for the society he hoped gradually to collect, Mr. AVardlaw's thoughts were turned to another connection, which according to the usage of the Protestant churches seems to be deemed almost indispensable to the completeness of ministerial fitness. " I sup- pose you have heard," he says in the close of the letter last quoted, " of a house having been taken for your humble servant, in prospect of a connection, which I know has your verdict of approbation, and which, considering the duration and steadiness of previous attachment, and other circumstances which will readily occur to you, I flatter myself promises as fairly as in most instances to be a happy one. John Reid'''' is now set to * Thi- sessiou-clcik, I presume. SETTLED TO HIS HEAHt's CONTENT. 75 work — Q. F. F. Q. S.* 1 desire ever to remember my dependence and that we know not what a day may bring forth." The object of the attachment thus referred to was his cousin Miss Jane Smith, daughter of the Rev. Mr. Smith of Dunfermline and sister of his correspondent. They were united in marriage on the 23d of August 1803. Mr. Wardkiw was now settled to his heart's satisfaction. An important and widening sphere of public usefulness demanded and encouraged his exertions ; a circle of attached and admiring friends, many of them the companions and some the guardians and counsellors of his earliest days, surrounded him with the congenial delights of affectionate intercourse ; and a home gladdened by the presence of one whom he had long and truly loved, and Avhose heart beat in fullest sympathy with his own, aftbrded him repose from the toils, and sweet solace amid the anxieties of public life. Surrounded by such circumstances his life glided easily and honourably on ; with a current which, for several years, was unbroken save by such transient interruptions as the ordinary occurrences of domestic experience, and of a Christian minister's hfe supply. The principal part of his time was occupied in the studies and activities connected with his office. He preached twice, often thrice every Sundaj^ and presided at a meeting held on each Friday evening, partly for the transaction of church busi- ness, partly for the purpose of listening to addresses from mem- bers of the church. This latter usage was for a season a very favourite one in the Congregational churches of Scotland, and was by some contended for as a positive institute of the Christian church, under the mistaken notion that it is to this sort of thing that the apostles refer when they recommend brethren to " ex- hort one another." It has long since all but died a natural death, though not without a protracted struggle in some quarters, whilst in others it even yet starts up in periodical fits, like the paroxysms of the ague, aspiring to recover its hold and lay its chilling grasp on the energies of the church. * i. e. Quod faustum felix que sit. 76 MEMOIRS OF DE. WARDLAW. Besides his stated elibrts in the pulpit, Mr. Wardlaw laboured much at this period of his ministry as a village, and even as a street preacher. " There are few villages," it has been said, " around our city [Glasgow] that have not their reminiscences of the young minister of Albion Street, preaching at cross-roads, in fields, barns, school-rooms, and kitchens. A regular station of his during many years was the top of Balmanno Street, where, on Sabbath evenings, mounted on a chair, he proclaimed the unsearchable riches of Christ. Nor were these labours unrewarded ; for a congregation as attached as ever pastor pos- sessed soon gathered round him. It is worthy of remark, that of his early church a considerable proportion were weavers from Bridgeton. At that time weaving and weavers were in their palmy days. Bridgeton was then more than now separated from Glasgow. The Independents residing in the village, con- strained perhaps by a feeling then running strong against their principles, kept much by themselves. On Sabbath mornings they were accustomed to meet, to ' go up' in company, to Albion Street ; and in the same manner to return. Their de- parture caused quite a sensation in their quiet neighbourhood, and as they passed might be heard the remark, ' There goes Wardlaw's brigade.'* Frequently the Doctor visited that locality, and, as old people tell, it was a great day when the pastor came to converse with the parents, and catechise the children of the families under his charge. Only one of the ' brigade' remains — frail and deaf now. Almost the last visit the Doctor * It was probably one of these whose " experieuce" was narrated to his pastor in the following terms : — " Come awa, Doctor, I maun just tell ye a bit o' my experience. When I was a young man, I sat and heard Dr. , but it was puir stuff; there wasna picking for a ewe ; and ane o' my neebours advised me to gang and hear Dr. Balfour ; it was gude feeding there, a man micht wade up to the belly amaug rye grass and clover. I thocht mysel real gude then, I was weel pleased wi' mysel, and I began to mak family worship, and a honny booch I made o't. Somebody spoke about you, and I thocht I wad gang and hear ye. And oh. Doctor, naebody ever rippet up the monieplies o' my heart as ye did. Ye showed me what a puir sinfu cratur 1 was, ye didna leave me a fut to stand on ; and noo I'm lying here, doctor, just trusting to the righteousness o' Christ, and waiting his time to free me frae a' my sins." HIS EARLY MINISTRY. 77 made was to this old man. How interesting that meeting to one of sensibihties so fine as his ! Deafness prevented mucli mutual conversation — but there was the affectionate look and the warm grasp of the hand, and perhaps a reflection on the time when, fifty years ago, the weaver lad and the young pastor met. On rising to depart the old man said, ' Will you pray, Doctor?' 'No,' was the reply, 'pray yourself for us both, for you know, Alexander, I can hear you, but you cannot 7iow hear me.' " From the commencement of his ministry, Mr. Wardlaw fol- lowed the goodly practice universal in the Scottish churches, and borrowed from the usage of primitive times, of devoting one part of the Lord's day to the regular and continuous exposition of one of the books of Scripture. To this usage, affording as it does so much scope for the elucidation of divine truth in the form in which it issued from the inspired pens, and constraining the speaker to withdraw from mere general disquisition or de- clamation, and to follow the footsteps of the divine teacher, must be ascribed principally that extent and accuracy of scriptural knowledge in which the Scottish people as a mass undoubtedly surpass all other nations. It is usual to devote the forenoon of the Lord's day to this service, whilst the afternoon is set apart for a sermon according to the usual model of such discourses. This plan Mr. Wardlaw pursued throughout his ministerial life. It was his habit at this period of his ministry to deliver his discourses either from memory after he had written them fully and carefully out, or from meditation after having put down in writing an outline of what he meant to say — the latter being by much the more frequent plan with him. Discourses so delivered were probably wanting in that' minute accuracy and grace of expression which characterised his later compositions after he adopted the plan of reading whatever he uttered from the pulpit ; but I have heard those who were in the habit of listen- ing to him at this time express their regret at the absence from his later discourses of that pungency and animation which his earlier discourses seldom wanted. " I have heard individuals," 78 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. says the Rev. J. S. Wardlaw, " speak in glowing terms of the ' extem])ore sermons' of these early days. Many greatly re- gretted his taking to reading his discourses, and I remember his telling me of some worthy member of his congregation who said that for long after he began to ' use the paper,' he always felt ready to cry out to him in the words spoken of Lazarus, ' Loose him and let him go.' " In connection with this the following anecdote has much interest : — " At an early period of his ministry he w^as selected to preach a charity sermon in the Old Chapel of Ease. AVlien, on the appointed Sabbath evening, he reached the place, the build- ing (then the largest in the city) was crowded to overflowing. AVhether it was the sight of the crowd that startled him out of self-possession, or one of those fits of tremor to which most preachers are at times exposed, we know not — but he lost all recollection of his discourse. He did not at that period use ' notes,' and great was his alarm. With no very pleasant feel- ings he was walking up and down the vestry, when Dr. Balfour, of the High Church, entered to bid him God speed. He at once explained his position, and urged him to take his place. ' No,' said the old Doctor, in his own earnest way, ' No ; go up, my son — go up, my son, and your J\laster will go with you.' He, however, commenced the worship, to give the preacher a little time for meditation ; but still his mind remained a blank ; and not till he ascended the pulpit and engaged in prayer, did the whole flash upon his memory, and, with great power, he delivered a most eloquent discourse."* But whilst he used this method of free speech so extensively in his early pulpit addresses, the natural tendency of his mind was from the first to the correcfTand the polished rather than to the energetic and the forcible in public discourse. His former class-fellow Dr. Muir gives a recollection of one of his earlier sermons, which he happened to hear, as follows : — " When first he began to preach I went as his early class-fellow to hear him in his Albion Street Chapel His text was, ' He is despised * Recollections of Dr. Wardlaw in the Young Men's Magazine for Feb. 1854. PREACHING AND VISITATION. 79 and rejected of men;' and I thought I heard Professor Richard- son himself in the pulpit, whilst his former pupil Mr. AVardlaw elegantly described the pride of rank and riches — the pride of self- righteousness — and the pride of worldly wisdom, as the ordinary hindrances in our day to men's receiving Christ and the truth as it is in Jesus. These things I mention," he adds, " to show that the classic eloquence of style, and the philological knowledge for which his writings in riper years are distinguished, were qualities which he imbibed in early life, as well as qualities which grew with his growth, till he died."* At the commencement of his ministry, and for many years afterwards, Mr. Wardlaw attended most conscientiously and regu- larly to the visitation of his flock. " My dear father," writes Mr. J. S. Wardlaw, " attached great importance, in connexion with his ministerial work, to pastoral visitation. He thought it was attended with great advantages both to the j^astor himself and to the people of his charge ; and in former years he carried out the practice in a most regular and systematic manner. Besides visiting the side as occasion required, he devoted a day every week during a considerable part of the year — if I mistake not — to the specific purpose of going amongst the members of his flock, inquiring into their circumstances, and those of their respective families, imparting such counsel as was needed, read- ing a portion of Scripture, and praying with them and for them. The disorder from which in later years he suffered rendered it necessary for him in some measure, if not entirely, to abandon this practice — confining himself chiefly to the visitation of the sick ; and in no way did he feel his affliction so much a trial, as in being thus obliged to give up what was, in his view, so interesting and useful a department of ministerial duty. A day of pastoral visitation was with him a day of really hard labour ; and he got through a good deal each time — for he was natu- rally of a very active habit, and capable of nmch greater physical exertion than might have been supposed. He not unfrequently * Letter to W. Warrllaw. Escj. 80 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. walked four or five miles into the country, visited some eight or ten families, and then walked back to a late dinner." Much of his time was, during the earlier years of his minis- try, devoted to systematic study. His reading was pursued on plan, and with a definite object. It was chiefly theological, but embraced also courses in ethics, philosophy, and history. He read largely at this period in a department to which, at a later period, he did not attach much importance, the works of the Greek and Latin fathers. Perhaps he had satisfied himself, that for the kind of theology to which his convictions and inclinations called him, these writings are of but small value. In connection with his other studies, he began at this time to contribute to the pages of the Missionary Magazine, to which he had formerly sent some hymns, articles of a didactic and theo- logical cast. His first contribution appeared in the number for January 1804; it is entitled, " Observations on Eccles. vii. 16," and is in substance the same as he afterwards published in his exposition of this passage in his Lectures on Ecclesiastes. Sub- sequent contributions will be noticed in due course. The following letter belongs to this period of his life : — To James Ogilvie, Esq., Leith. Glasgow, 26th July 1804. My dear James — Yours of the 5th which I duly received gave me, you may readily believe, very peculiar satisfaction. The thought of having been, through the blessing of the Lord, the instrument of good to your soul brought the tear of heartfelt joy to my eyes. You never told me this so plainly till now, and strong as my regard and aifection for you were formerly, this has produced a tenderness of attachment which I am sure will be reciprocal, and which I think is fully warranted by several parts of Paul's epistles to his converts. I feel with regard to all my flock, but iieculiarly towards you and one or two more, the deep interest expressed in these words, " Now we live if ye stand fast in the Lord." " What is our hope or joy or crown of rejoicing % Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming ? For ye are our glory and joy ! " Yet the thought of being made the instrument of spiritual good to others, while it is joyful and en- couraging, is also very humbling. It leads to searching of heart. Our great danger is that of getting into the habit of studying for otlters, and forgetting to put the question to ourselves, " Do I feel the power of that truth which I preach to others ? " The Lord make and keep me more humble-minded and self-vigilant, keep me from envying the success of others, or from feeling any improper exultation in my own ! "Net unto ns, CORRESPONDENCE. 81 jiot unto ?/5, but to till Name give glory, for thy mercy and for thy trutlis sake !".... You ask nay opinion of the sentence you quote respecting Cowper. I have no doubt that Cowper's gloom was in some measure increased and confirmed by unscriptui al views of the faith of the gospel, which is so simple in the Bible, but round which such a mystic obscurity has been so often thrown by men ; to whose ingenuity the simflicitu of the truth gives too little exercise. The idea of faith as an inexplicable labour, or a course of various indescribable actings, must ever keep the mind in bondage ; and a sentiment of Pirie of Newburgh fully meets my approbation — " If a man be right in that which he believes, there is very little fear or danger as to the manner of his believing it." As to the sentence you quote, it does not seem that the false idea ascribed to Cowper is approved by the writer, but rather the contrary ; though the connection and scoj^e of the passage must determine the author's views and not a detached sentence. I hope you will be on your guard with and . Study by all means to impress their minds with the infinite importance, and to lead them to consider the simplicity of divine truth. ' But,' as I said before, so say I now again, " beware of disjnttation.'" See to exhibit the blessed influence of the truth in your manner of speaking about it as in every thing else. Shew them that you feel its supreme importance and preciousness to your own soul, and that you are particularly concerned for the welfare of theirs. Remember always that you may silence a person in an argument, and yet do his soul no good, perhaps harm. Let brotherly affection guide all your words and conduct towards them. And let the Truth, rather than any of its aiypendages, however important iu their place, be the first subject in your conversations. And may you have the great happiness of seeing them " walking in the truth." .... On Monday or Tuesday night last some sacrilegious villain or villains have found their way into Albion Street Chapel and made off with the candle- branches at the pulpit and precentor's desk, and the collection plate ! ! ! Enquiry is making to-day, as the matter was not discovered till last night. I have no hope of success, as all ere this are probably broken into old pew- ter and brass and sold as such. I do not recollect if you had left us at the time A. S. was admitted. Very soon after his admission he fell before his old habit (tippling) in a very grievous degree, and accompanied this sin with lying and swearing. We were under the necessity of cutting him off; he is displeased at this, and his subsequent conduct has fully justified the sentence. He professed at his admission to have undergone a saving change, and seemed to have much simplicity about him. We conceived him, in having abstained from liquor for nine months before, to have been acting under the influence of the truth, or at least for the three last months. Since, however, we have found that his abstinence was the result of a resolution made and written out ; extending y«sit to the time ivhen he fell ! After his fall he wrote out another similar resolution, and broke it immediately ! I took it up on the ground that from ignorance of circumstances we had mistaken his character at his admission, &c. We are, however, going on pleasantly. Brotherly love continues. Bless the Lord ! A collection was made last Lord's day, in the Tab., for the Ulster Ev. Soc. — about i'40. There is to be one next Sab. in A. St, Ch. 82 mej\ioies of dp., avardlaw. He preached a very good impressive sermon with us last Sabbath evening from " Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these ?" With kind love to all friends, &c., I remain, &c. Ralph "Wardlaw. In ]\Iay 1804 Mr. Warcllaw received into liis family as a boarder a son of his friend Dr. Charles Stuart. This was the commencement of a practice which he continued for many years, of receiving a very limited number (never I believe at any time exceeding two) of such boarders into his house. To some of these we shall have occasion afterwards particularly to refer. In October of this year Mr. Wardlaw became a father by the birth to hira of a daughter. Of his feelings on this occa- sion no record remains ; but those who know how deep and full was the fountain of parental tenderness in his bosom, can easily imagine with what thrilling emotion the first opening of that fountain must have been accompanied. At the commencement of the College session 1804-5 a pleasing addition was made to the circle of Mr. Wardlaw's society by the arrival of three English students, Messrs. Fletcher, Payne and Burder, who having finished their studies at Hoxton Academy, came to Glasgow to enjoy those further advantages of literary and philosophic culture which the universities of their own country denied to Dissenters from the Established Church. This was a novelty in those days in Glasgow ; and the arrival of the three strangers for such a purpose seems to have produced some little excitement in the social and literary circles of that city. To Mr. Wardlaw the event was one of peculiar interest and of permanent consequences. It brought to him new im- pulses, surrounded him with new and congenial associates, and was the commencement of friendships of the closest kind which lasted for life. " We somehow," says he himself in reference to this period and these friends, " took mightily to each other. I look back," he adds, " with a pensive pleasure on those bygone days. They were days of real pleasure. We enjoyed their society and they ours. They knew and felt that thc}^ were always welcome — the door at all seasons open to them. And ENGLISH STUDENTS. 83 many were the liappy evenings, when the business of their classes (to which they all applied themselves with such exem- plary and successful assiduity) permitted, which we spent toge- ther in easy, friendly, lively intercourse — conversing on every variety of topic, lighter or more serious ; and blending and relieving conversation with interludes of music, in which they were all adepts in their respective parts, and formed a first-rate trio in singing ' the songs of Zion.' "* In subsequent years, other students from the south came to Glasgow on the same errand ; and although there were among these some " who were neither less eminent, less intimate nor less loved, yet the num- ber increasing, and the attachment necessarily becoming to a certain degree diluted by diffusion," it was wont to be a common saying in his household with respect to some, '' they were honourable among the thirty, but they did not attain to the first three," For the strong, intim.ate and lasting attachment formed between Mr. Wardlaw and these three brethren from the south, there were many things to account. All were nearly of the same age ; all were engaged in the same pursuits ; all were men whose temperament inclined them for friendship ; and all had a certain congeniality of taste and talent, along with just enough of diversity to make each independent of the rest arid capable of communicating something specially his own to the common stock. In all of them a bias towards philosophic pur- suits was strongly developed, but this was modified in each by tastes or habits peculiar to himself. In Payne, the purely meta- physical element predominated ; his genius was pre-eminently dialectic and analytic ; imagination he had none, and of fancy just enough to enable him to utter pungent and sometimes sar- castic criticisms ; but his subtlety was prodigious, and in the conflict of pure reason his acumen was hardly ever at fault. In Fletcher there was more of the literary element ; he had a fine sense of the beautiful in thought and expression ; his taste was exquisite, and his imagination, if not rich, was full of graceful * Keminiscences of Dr. Payne ; Payne's Life by Davies, p. cxxxiv. 84 MEMOIRS OF UB. WARDLAW. images and analogies ; his incursions into the field of general knowledge were large and fruitful ; and though he was inferior to the former in subtlety, there was a certain breadth and mas- siveness in his thinking which compensated for any deficiency of mere logical precision with which occasionally it might be chargeable. In Burder the qualifying element came from the practical side of his nature ; he valued philosophy chiefly for the aids it furnished to mental culture and the great purposes of life ; and if he did not shine in dispute or dazzle by his elo- quence, his sagacity, his prudence and his fine sense of pro- priety gave weight and dignity to all he uttered. In the subject of this memoir all these peculiarities by which his friends were distinguished were in some measure united. In metaphysical hair-splitting he had as great a delight as the first ; in literary culture and taste he at least equalled the second ; and in prac- tical wisdom, prudence and knowledge of human nature he was not far behind the third. In him, therefore, each found a con- genial centre, whilst there was something derived from his Scot- tish shrewdness and his Scottish training that gave him dis- tinctiveness of mental character as compared with them, and enabled him, whilst he sympathised with all of them in their favourite pursuits or modes of thought, to preserve his own individuality, and in consequence to add to them something which none of them possessed. Of this band of brothers, all of whom have risen to emi- nence as authors and as ministers, and all of whom have been honoured as professors in institutions for the education of young men for the ministry, only one now survives, the Rev. Dr. Burder. From him I have been favoured with the following communication, relating principally to this period: — To THE Eev. Dr. W. L. Alexander. You have requested me, my dear brother, to send you some reminiscences of my beloved friend Dr. Wardlaw, especially in relation to the period during which I was a student at Glasgow University. This is a request with which it gives me pleasure promptly to comply. My recollections of the three years I spent at Glasgow are so associated with pleasurable impressions, that every effort of memory is still an element EEMINISCENCES BY DK. BURDEK. 85 of delight. The scenes and the engagements of that period of study are even now so vividly before me, that I am really astonished to find that fifty years have rolled away since, with my beloved and lamented fellow-students, George Payne and Joseph Fletcher, I first arrived in Glasgow. Having with me a letter from my revered father to the Rev. Greville Ewing, we called ou him as soon as we had reached our destination. His kindness and friendliness were of no common order ; for he not only invited, but constrained us to spend a week at his house before he would allow us even to make inquiries for apartments. The kindness and friendliness of Mrs. Ewing were also above all praise. We were without delay introduced to Dr. "Wardlaw, who had just become a father, and had recently entered on his pastorate at Albion Street Chapel. It would scarcely be possible for me to speak too strongly of the kindness and hospitality of Dr. and Mrs. Wardlaw. During the whole of our college course we felt towards Mr. Ewing as towards a father, and we regarded Dr. Wardlaw as an elder brother. I believe I may truly say that scarcely a week elapsed during ovir residence in Glasgow, in which we were not cheered by the hospitality, and edified by the conversation, either of Mr. . and Mrs. Ewing, or of Dr. and Mrs. Wardlaw. We were deeply indebted to both these distinguished and enlightened ministers of Christ for the benefit we derived from their pulpit discourses. We had usually the pleasure of hearing each of them once on the Lord's day ; and occasionally we heard other ministers of some eminence in Glas- gow, particularly Dr. Balfour, who was distinguished by the power and the eloquence of his faithful ministrations. We had the benefit of hearing a considerable number of two courses of expository lectures — the one by Mr. Ewing and the other by Dr. Wardlaw. I refer to Mr. Ewing's lectures on the book of Genesis, and to Dr. Wardlaw's on the Epistle to the Romans. Each of these courses of lectures was distinguished by peculiar and charac- teristic excellences. I was very earnestly desirous, both at that time and in subsequent years, that these lectures ou the Epistle to the Romans should be committed to the press. I am happy to think, that although I could not prevail on my valued friend to publish them during his life, yet after delivering them, I believe, a second time from the pulpit, and reading them in his theological lectures to the students, he was induced to prepare them, to some extent, for the press, and that they will shortly be given to the public. I shall regard them as his richest legacy to the church, and especially to its rising ministry. I retain a grateful sense of my obligations to these two eminent and devoted ministers of Christ, for most valuable aids, both from the pulpit and from conversation, in the endeavour to attain clear and scriptural views of the economy of redemption, in its essential truths, and in their various bearings. I think also I was much assisted in forming correct views of the constitution and discipline of a Christian church, so far as we may gather from the New Testament, the instructions and the practice of the Apostles. Both Mr. Ewing and Dr. Wardlaw evinced a lively interest in our college studies ; and so desirous was Dr. Wardlaw of retaining the freshness of his own attainments in the Greek language, that he attended with us, during one session, the entire course, which was called the private Greek class of that distinguished scholar the late Professor Young. Not unfrequently, daring the latter part of our college course, weie 8G I\IEM011{S OF DR. WARDLAW. my two associates in study and myself, kindly invited, both by Mr. Ewing and by Dr. Wardlaw, to assist them in pulpit services ; and, under their auspices we were often engaged on Sabbath evenings in giving addresses to Sabbath-schools, or in preaching in neighbouring villages. The entire period of our course of study at Glasgow was one of intellec- tual, social, and religious enjoyment and improvement ; and through the kindness of Mr. Ewing, Dr. Wardlaw, and Dr. Balfour, we were introduced to a large circle of intelligent, educated, and Christian friends, from whom we received an extent of kind hospitality which I can never forget. The correspondence by letter with my beloved friend Dr. Wardlav/ was kept up throughout all the years which succeeded my studies at Glasgow ; and although, as he often acknowledged, he was dilatory in reply, yet his letters, when they arrived, amply compensated, by their interesting con- tents, and their admirable felicity of tone, of spirit and of expression, for the procrastination confessed. Great and invariable was the delight imparted to myself and to Mrs. Burder whenever Dr. and Mrs. Wardlaw visited om- metropolis, as they were kindly accustomed to favour us with as much of their company as was com- jjatible with other claims, and to regard our house as one, at least, of their Loudon homes, where they well knew that they would receive a most cor- dial welcome. It may well be supposed, that after a friendship so matured and so endeared, my sympathies with my bereaved and beloved friend Mrs. Wardlaw and her mourning family, have a depth and a tenderness which only such a friendship could produce. May the richest and the strongest of all consolations be poured into their hearts by Ilim who has most mercifully engaged to be a husband to the widow, aud a father to the fatherless. In the spring of 1805 Mr. Wardlaw paid his first visit to London, where he remained several weeks. His object appears principally to have been to attend the meetings of the great religious societies annually held in that city in the month of May. These, at any rate, occupied the chief part of his atten- tion and interest, and it is to them that his letters to his friends at home chiefly relate. Soon after his arrival he attended a meeting of the Committee of the Bible Society, at which it was mentioned that " the accounts of the society present upwards of £1200 of annual subscriptions, and £5000 and above stock in hand." It is amusing now to find him, after reporting this, adding, " This is very well ; it is an object for which there cannot be too much."* What would he have said if he had been told that he should live to see that same society with an annual income, from contributions, of upwards of £50,000, besides an ccpial sum from the sale of bibles and testaments ? At the " To his father, April 22, 1805. FIEST VISIT TO LONDON. 87 public meeting of this society he seems to have been somewhat discomposed by the multitude of votes of thanks that were passed. Thanks to the secretaries, thanks to the chairman, thanks to this donor and the other donor, thanks to the Presbytery of Ghxsgow, thanks to all dissenting congregations that had sup- ported the object in England, Scotland, and Wales, &c. &c. A perfect deluge of gratitude seems to have swept over the meet- ing, a little overwhelming to the inexperienced and unsophisti- cated Scotchman. He mentions. However, the pleasure he derived from Dr. Steinkop's brief reply in acknowledgment of the vote of thanks to the secretaries, whose " few sentences," says he, " spoken with much simplicity and pathos, coming- warm from a simple affectionate heart, and expressed in broken English, which, added to the interesting effect, made a very pleasing impression."* One meeting which he appears to have peculiarly relished, was the breakfast meeting of the Tract Society. These morning gatherings are now, I believe, no longer held ; but Mr. Wardlaw is not the only one who has celebrated their praises. To all who have had an opportunity of being present at them, they form the subject of peculiarly pleas- ing reminiscences, as, if not the most imposing, certainly the heartiest and most exhilarating of all the religious anniversaries of the metropolis. Whilst in London on this occasion Mr. Wardlaw had the opportunity of making the personal acquaintance of several of the distinguished and excellent men who then sustained leading posi- tions in the religious society of the metropolis. The thrice- venerable John Newton was still upon the field, and though Mr. Wardlaw was disappointed on going to hear him preach to find a substitute for him in the pulpit, he had the satisfaction of being introduced to him, and visiting him in his own house. The singing in Mr. Newton's church attracted his attention by its antiquated character and its dulness. " 1 heard in Mr. Newton's church as antiquated singing as ever you heard in Scotland. You might have taken the clerk for an old woman from the * To his father, May 7, 1805. 88 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. pulpit stair in Dunfermline, dressed up a-purpose. He sung one of tlie oldest Scotch tunes and in the oldest Scotch Presbyterian style, except that he read two lines at once."* Among those whose acquaintance he formed at this time occur also the honoured names of Dr. Simpson, President of Hoxton College; Captain Wilson of the ship Duff; Joseph Hardcastle, Esq.; Rev. M. Wilks ; Rev. Geo. Burder ; Rev. Dr. Haweis ; Rev. W. Roby of Manchester ; and others. In the society of such men and of many old friends who had gone to reside in London and whom he delighted to meet again, he spent hours of refreshing and reviving intercourse that proved alike beneficial to body and mind. Of the "sights" of London he seems to have run through the usual routine, but without being very greatly enraptured in consequence. The palace of St. James's he thought a very poor affair — " a building on which you would look for some such inscription as ' these extensive alms-houses were built and endowed by King Henry the Eighth.' " Carlton House he thought much more noble, though the front struck him as rather low, and the stone appeared black and sombre. The front of the India House pleased him better; but Somerset House outstripped all he had seen in grandeur of appearance. At a review in Hyde Park he saw the King (George III.), the Prince of Wales and the Dukes of York and Kent, &c. &c. What he exclusively notes of this occasion is that the day was blowy and the dust insufferable, and that the King, for all his majesty, got as much of it as any of liis subjects. In passing he made a run into St. Paul's but could not ascend the stairs, as service was going on ; so after traversing the area he came out and " went to see a panorama or two." It is evident that it was not for sights and shows of this sort that he had travelled to London, and that such things had few attrac- tions for him and left little impression upon him. Mr. Wardlaw returned home in tlic end of May, and in July he had the satisfaction of again meeting with ]\lr. Fuller, who this year paid iiis last visit to Scotland. His object was as before, the promotion of the interests of the Baptist Missionary Society, and * To Mrs. Wardlaw, Apiil 28tli, 1805. FUI.LElt's LAST VISIT. 89 ill behalf of this he preached several times in Glasgow. AVritiiig to his wife, Avho was at this time at Helensburgh, ]\Ir. Wardlaw says,* " You will have heard from Mr. Fletcher of Mr. Fuller's Friday evening sermon. We had a very sweet, refreshing and impressive discourse from him yesterday forenoon from John XV. 7. It was truly ' a feast of fat things.' He preached in Mr. Deakin's meeting in the afternoon In the Tabernacle (Mr. Evving's) in the evening he had some of his master strokes from Rev. i. IS.f The collections, all things considered, were iconderfid. We had in the morning £77 : 6s., and in the Tabernacle throughout the day, £100 : 2s. In Mr. Deakin's from £8 to £9." After giving a list of the collections in different towns where Mr. Fuller had preached, and of the places where he purposed to preach on his way home, he adds " Hard work ! May the Lord prosper hi im I The lively interest which Mr. Wardlaw took in i\Ir. Fuller's labours and success on this occasion was prompted jmrtly by his affection for the man, partly by his love for the cause which he came to plead. It is the more worthy of being noted, how- ever, at this time, because there were reasons which might have induced Mr. Wardlaw rather to deprecate than to court Mr. Fuller's presence in Scotland. ]\Ir. F. it is well known was a zealous Baptist, and as Baptist sentiments were just at this time beginning to agitate the Congregational churches of Scotland, the visit of so able and so venerated an advocate of these sentiments could hardly be regarded without some anxiety by those who were opposed to them. In Mr, Wardlaw's bosom especially such feelings might have arisen, for not only was he warmly opposed to tlie views of the Antipa^dobaptists, but he had ex- perienced some vexation from the agitation of the question in his own church, and from these views having been embraced by some of his dearest friends and relatives. No feeling of this si)rt, however, appears to have, even for a moment, passed across his spirit. Everything of mere personal or denominational in- * July 22, 1805. f Sec notes of a sermon on this text in Fuller's Worivs, vul. v. p 278. 90 MEMOIRS OF PR. WARDLAW. terest was absorbed and lost in his admiration of tlie preacher and his desire for the success of his mission. In October 1805 another daughter was born to Mr. Wardlaw, This child was only spared a few months ; in June 1806 she was removed by death, and her parents learnt for the first time at once the bitterness and the blessedness of such a trial — bitterness because of the bond that has been wa-enched asunder — blessedness because of the abundant assurance which Scripture supplies that those who die in infancy are not only taken from the evil to come, but are gathered as lambs into the bosom of the Great Shepherd. In the beginning of 1806 Mr. Wardlaw resumed his contri- butions to the Missionary Magazine, which for some reason he had intermitted after his first paper in January 1804. The fol- lowing are the titles of the articles he contributed this year : — On Lying, in the February number ; Ohservations on 2 Cor. v. 1-4, April number ; Hints in familiar verse on the Conduct of Re- ligious Controversy, May number ; Remarks on Romans v. 12, resj)ecting Original Ouilt and the Nature and Extent of the Curse connected loith it. Of these papers the most remarkable is the one in verse ; not certainly for its poetical qualities, but for the principles which it enunciates as to the proper method and spirit of religious controversy — principles which the author was as care- ful to practise in his subsequent career as he had been anxious in the outset of it to recommend to others.* In July of this year Mr. Wardlaw, whilst spending a few weeks in Edinburgh, met for the first time John Walker of Dub- lin. This remarkable man, whose splendid abilities and whose great attainments in almost every branch of academical learning- made him the pride of his University, had some time before this resigned his fellowship in the University and his preferments in the Church of Ireland, in obedience to conscientious convictions which forbade him to regard ecclesiastical establishments as accordant with the will of God. Unhappily a tendency to ex- treme opinions led him on from this point to an almost entire separation from Christian fellowship ; it being only with the few * The rcadc-r will lind this pifcc in Appendix D. JOHN WALKER OF DUBLIN, 91 who agreed with him ou every point — that is in point of fact, the few who would consent to receive impKcitly the views which he himself had embraced — that he deemed it right to hold com- munion in any religious exercise. Notwithstanding this exclu- siveness in the matter of Christian fellowship his natural temper was genial and friendl}'", and his great accomplishments render- ing his society highly attractive, he not only drew around him a body of attached disciples so that he became the founder of a sect — that of the Separatists — but also for many years was a welcome and influential visitor in general society. Mr. Wardlaw was charmed with his presence but repelled by his principles. " He is truly a pleasant man," he writes ; " has an open coun- tenance, manly yet mild in its expression ; a soft, mellow, rather plaintive voice ; is courteously yet unaffectedly polite ; is fond of free communication on religious subjects ; speaks with calm, temperate deliberation ; hears with patient and seemingly can- did attention. I cannot but feel deeply grieved, after what I have seen of him, that he should have gone so far wrong as he seems to me to have done, not only in his ideas of marked sepa- ration but in what is connected with it, his intolerably contracted notions of Christian communion. He avows that his sentiments carry him the full length of holding no visible fellowship with any who differ from him as to anytMng which he conceives to be of Scriptural obligation. I have purposely asked him this more than once."* How alien such sentiments were from his own views and feelings on the subject of Christian fellowship the following extract from a subsequent letter will make apparent, whilst it will at the same time supply a still fuller exposition of Mr. Walker's opinions : — " I have been informed of what I ex- pected, indeed, to hear, that Messrs. B. and IM. have been im- mersed since I left home. I cannot but feel grieved at the extension of sentiments which I am more and more convinced are in pointed opposition to the general tenor of Scripture and to many of its express declarations ; yet, while I see reason to believe that any one is in this matter conscientiously following * To his father, 24th Jalv 18U6. 92 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. the convictions of his mind from examination of tlic Word, 1 can- not find in my heart to say, ' Stand by thyself.' If IMr. Wal- ker were at my elbow looking on, he would turn up his large eyeballs and say in a plaintive but firm tone of solemn concern, ' Ah ! my good friend, you are all in the wrong.' Well, if I be wrong on one side I am stive he is wrong on the other. What I am going to mention will shew you his views as exemplified by himself. You must know that a set conference took place on Tuesday at Portobello on matters of difference : Present, Messrs. Walker and his friend Robison, Dr. Stuart, Mr. [J. A.] Hal- dane, Mr. Aikman and myself. I should always wish to hear such subjects discussed in like manner, with calm, patient, mild deliberation. The result, however, so far as yet appears, was non-conviction on either side. Mr. Walker, I understand (for I was obliged to go before the termination of the meeting), said in reply to a question by Mr. Haldane, that he would have had no objection to having prefaced the conversation with prayer to God for direction ; on the contrary, that he had himself once thought of proposing it, which Mr. H. was prevented from doing by supposing it would be unpleasant to him. Well ; last night Dr. S. sent by Mr. Robison an inquiry to Mr. W., whether he would have any objections to meet for prayer in ]\Ir. Aikman's this morning, to which the reply was, in substance, that with a grieved heart he was obliged to answer in the negative ; that though he would with pleasure have joined previous to our con- versation in seeking the divine blessing on our communications, yet after having stated his view of the mind of God, as we did not submit to it, but persisted in what he considered as error, he could not have fellowship with such ! Yet he views us as partakers of the same grace and lovers of the same Saviour, and therefore surely must expect to join with us in singing the praise of God and the Lamb for ever. This appears to me very awful. From such views 'Good Lord deliver us.'"* One can readily imagine how sincerely and earnestly a man of Mr. Wardlaw's * To bis father, 31st Julv 1806. CHRISTIAN FORBEARANCE. 93 spirit and principles would utter such a prayer ; and yet, though abhorring Mr. Walker's sentiments he did full justice, both in his own soul and in expressions to others, to the excellence of the man. " I esteem him after all highly," he writes, " as a lover of the truth and a clear and earnest preacher of it ... . I believe him to be conscientious and to act in love, and that ho really is convinced of the truth of what he says, that forbearance has done as much if not more harm to the church of Christ than Antichrist ! and that mutual communication of views with refe- rence to the Word of God, such intercourse as we had witli him in Edinburgh, generally prevailing among Christians, with 7io forhearance, is the only way in which that visible unity oi the church prayed for by our Lord in John xvii. is likely to be effected."* The adoption of Baptist sentiments by several members of his church, and the agitation of otlier differences of opinion on religious questions among the Congregationalists of Scotland, which had at this time begun to prevail, must have given pecu- liar interest to these conferences and discussions on the subject of forbearance in the mind of Mr. Wardlaw. He felt that the subject was not altogether free from difficulties ; and, however his own feelings might induce him to carry forbearance to the fullest extent in the matter of fellowship with Christians diffe- rently minded from himself on minor points, there were many considerations which as the pastor of a church where all were not prepared to go the same length in Hberality either of senti- ment or practice with himself, it behoved him carefully to ponder before he assumed any very decided course of action. " Bap- tist sentiments," he writes to Mr. Burder, " have been rather gaining ground in Albion Street Church. Your friends Mr. and Mrs. B., D. M., together with H. L., and two or three more, have lately been rebaptised. They hitherto, with one or two exceptions, continue amongst us. There is, however, some demur on this subject, arising among some of the members, who now begin to think and feel differently from the danger, as they apprehend there is, of the leaven leavening the lump * To Eev. H. F. Burder, 8th August 1806. 94 TJEMOIES OF T)V^. WARDLAW. The matter is to come before us to-night. Some of the bre- thren are very decided against their remaining, and what may be the final result is more than I can at present with any clear- ness foresee. ]\Iy own mind is the same on this subject as formerly." What his own mind on the subject was may be gathered from the passages above cited from his correspondence, and from the following sentence in the same letter : — " There are extremes on both sides ; and I know few subjects more per- plexing than the boundaries of Christian forbearance." How the question was settled in the church 1 cannot exactly state ; but I believe the less liberal side prevailed, so far at least as to produce a sort of compromise to the effect that persons holding Antip?edobaptist sentiments might be admitted to the Lord's table with the church, but not to all the privileges and immu- nities of full membership. In connection with this subject the following letter will be read with interest as containing Mr. Wardlaw's views on the authority for infant baptism at this period. To Archibald Smith, Esq. Glasgow, March 28tli, 1805. My Dear Ai'chy — I have been much too long of complying with your request in one of your letters to John, to give you my opinion on a subject which has of late occupied much of your attention. Instead of vainly attempting to account for this delay I shall now proceed to offer a few remarks for your consideration, although your letter I must confess does not inspire me with very sanguine hopes of convincing you ; for he who attaches to one side of a question the phrases "boasted argument," "air of triumph," &c., it is very plain that he himself has come the length of making a -floitrish on the other. On which side of this question there has been the largest measure of vainglorying I could almost leave it to yourself to say. You observe that reasoning from analogy and inference is inadmissible as to a positive ordinance. Take care that this principle does not carry you too far. The command to circumcise children, it is true, teas clear and express. So was the command to observe the seventh day. Sabbath. I do not think you will say that the command to observe the first day noip is as clear and express as that to observe the seventh was of old. But upon your principle, it ought and must have been so to give us any warrant for our practice, /think indeed there is a precept for this in Heb. iv. 9, but still this is not so clear but that many untrammelled searchers of the Scriptures understand it differently. All that remains with regard to the sanctification of the first day of the week in place of the seventh is inference, from hints which require considerable supplement. For observe, I disclaim, as I hope LETTER ON INFANT BAPT]P:\[. 95 you do, the loose modern Glassite view of the Lord's day as differing from other days only in the circumstance of the disciples ou that day coming together for worship. You say " what cannot be proved from the writings of the Apostles no. man has a right to establish from the book of Genesis." This is a mere bravado. If there is, as will be admitted, a universal harmony in the Word of God, does it not follow that whatever is established from one part of it is as really and effectually established as it could have been from any other ? If I attempt to prove from Moses anything opposite to the writings of Paul I am wrong ; but if you make Paul inconsistent with Moses you are equally wrong. I do not at present say that the Baptist scheme does this ; but only that from the universal concord of the Word of God, we have a right to draw our evidence from every part of it, even the remotest book, and that as to every sentiment and every practice. To me it appears to be of the greatest importance in reading the New Tes- tament that we should understand and attend to the state of things previous to it. The reason is obvious. The language of the New Testament we should expect to be modified in some measure by these existing circumstances ; and a variety of the expressions used we shall be unable rightly to appre- ciate without taking into view a reference to what already existed and was known, and the existence and knowledge of which rendered greater enlarge- ment and minuteness unnecessary. If I find anything existing for many generations before the introduction of the N. T. D., upon your principle of the necessity of express precept, I am warranted to expect a clear and formal repeal. This is as much s. positive thing as its previous existence was. It is fi2}ositive change. As to the connection between believing parents and their seed in former ages being, of the same kind with that for which Paedobaptists contend as existing noiv, this may be matter of after consi- deration. But supposing this similarity to be well-founded, as I do, I find no express declaration of a change in this respect in the New Testament. The rite is altered, but this remains. Taking these remarks, as to previously existing ideas and circumstances affecting the language of the New Testa- ment speakers and writers along with me, I think there are passages and facts which obviously in my mind, though more and less so, favour the prac- tice of infant baptism. I, (Acts ii. 38, 39) " Your children," in this pas- sage, say Baptists, signifies " as many of your adult descendants as may hereafter believe." It is true that the term children may signify adult descendants. But the question is — " Is this the most natural interpretation of it in this text % " 1. Is not this language such as Peter's present audience, considering the ideas they were accustomed to entertain, would understand in a very difierent sense 1 And is it possible that Peter should use expres- sions which to his countrymen, who were then his hearers, were calculated to convey, at the very outset, false ideas of Messiah's kingdom ? 2. Is it naturcd to suppose their children to be mentioned in such a sense as that above ; while in this view their parents had no more connection with them than with the inhabitants of China and Japan 1 Mr. M'Lean remarks, what indeed must strike every one, that Peter makes the promise to his auditors as extensive as their imprecation (Matt, xxvii. 25). But did not that imprecation include, in the first instance, their present offspring, their little ones ? As to the promise, it makes very little difference as to the question whether it be understood of the promise made to Abraham — " I Avill be a 9G MEMOIRS OF DH. WARDLAW. God to thee and to thy seed after thee ; " or of the promise of the Sj^irit, which is the immediate subject in the context. Understanding it of the latter, the extent of its application shows that it cannot be limited to the miraculous gifts of the Spirit. And it must be considered as including the whole of salvation, connecting it with verse 2lst. Of this salvation it is at once a part and a pledge. The promise of the Spirit is a leading part of the promise of,the new covenant, and is there too connected with the remission of sins (Heb. viii. 10-12 ; Ezek. xxxvi. 25-28 ; Jer. xxxi. 33, 34). It is a leading part too of the blessing of Abraham which is come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ (Gal. iii. 13, 14). This very promise was made of old in prophecy to believers and their oifspring (Is. xliv. 3, 4). And that believers and their seed were under the new dispensation as well as of old to be connected together in the promises of the covenant appears also from Is. Ixv. 23. Their offspring here, says Dr. Watt in last Edinburgh Evangelical M-igazine, are their s^iccessors in the faith. Is this not n-arfing the Scriptures { In the text their offspring happen to be " vith them''' You think the phrase "As many as the Lord our God shall call" signifies " As many of you and your children, and those that are afar off as the Lord shall call." On the contrary, it seems to me that the promise is in \h.e first instance declared to be to them and to their children, as Jevss, the 2'>€ople of God, the seed of AhraJtam ; and in the second place, it is intimated, that it was not to be confined to them, but to extend to the Gentiles who were to be called into the church, and to p;-rtake of the blessings in the divine promise on the same footing with them. Agreeably to this view, remark, 1st, That the promise of the new covenant to be made in the last days is said to be to the House of Israel and the House of Judah (Heb. viii. 8, 9). It was accord- ingly in the first instance fulfilled to them. This agrees with Peter's address to the multitude of the Jews (Acts iii. 25, 2G), and in no other view, as appears to me, and as I may endeavour afterwards to shew, can that address be naturally explained. Thus then Peter says, 1st, The promise is to you and your children. He then intimates, 2d, an enlargement of the Church by the call oi the Gentiles. It matters not whether he fully understood it so or not. He spoke by the Spirit — " And to all that are afar off," &c. ; and as the Gentiles are united into one church with the Jews, and that too not a new church, but the same which existed before Messiah came (see Eph. ii. 12, 13, 17, 19), it must be on the same footing ; the promise is to them and their children. I may have occasion again to touch on the same- ness of the church before and after Christ's coming, though in the latter period it is in many respects more perfect, and to point out more passages in confirmation of it, though I fear if I go on at this rate I shall never have done. II. I shall now advert to the argument founded on the baptism of house- holds. It appears to me almost impossible to deny that there is something peculiar and singular in the modes of expression on this point. " When she was baptized and her household " (Acts xvi. 15) sounds in my ears, though I know you will say from prejudice, very like an intimation by the by, that it was a thing usual and to be expected. " Thou shalt be saved and thy house" (xvi. 31) looks very like xome kind of connection between a believer and his family ; considering the words as used -previously to the faith of either, and without reserve or explanation. A modern Baptist would certainly have been inclined to make the usual commentary to pre- LETTER ON INFANT BAPTISM. 97 vent mistakes — " on their believing." See too 1 Cor. i. 16. This language must, according to a former remark, be connected with previously existing ideas and circumstances ; and perhaps I may even say that, taking these into view, the general mention of households is all the evidence we could reasonably have expected in the case. What our Lord says to Zaccheus seems to me to be a strong confirmation of the idea that these instances are to be referred to the existing and admitted connection between believing parents and their seed (Luke xix. 9). The blessing of Abraham came to Zaccheus, the jailer, Lydia, &c. — " I will be a God to thee and thy seed after thee." How could you explain the passage last referred to ? It does not follow that the adult part of families are to be baptized on the faith of their respective heads. The Jewish children were circumcised in connection with their parents ; adult Jews were circumcised by their own voluntary consent, and on a profession of their faith (Deut. xxix. 10-12 with Josh. V. 2, &c.) But to all this you reply — " The case of the jailei-, so much talked of by Paedobaptists as proving their side of the question, appears to me to prove the very contrary ; for we are told that Paul and Silas spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all that irere in his hoiise, which supposes them capable of understanding and receiving what was spoken to them," &c. From this you and others conclude with certainty that there were no children in this family. It seems to me to be a very slenderly-founded conclusion. Such general expressions, you cannot deny, are quite common both in con- versation and in writing. Either in the one or the other I would say, " I spoke to all in the hou.^e, to the whole family," without ever deeming it needful to make formal exception of infants who might form a part of it. That the expression here used is no evidence that there were no children here, admits of still clearer proof. Compare Deut. xxxi. 9-13 ; children formed a part of the assembly to which the Law was to be read. On the same principle they might form part of a family to which the word of the Lord was spoken. As to the jailer " believing with all his house," you know that the words might as naturalhj be rendered " believing in God, he rejoiced with all his house." But retaining them as they stand, they are to me on the above principle no decisive proof. " The ichole family have of late become serious," I should without hesitation say of a family where there were children, and never think it needful to except them. The same remark applies to the description of the household of Stephanas, 1 Cor. xvi. 15. And as to the house of Lydia being the same persons with the brethren in Acts xvi. 40, it is perfect childish trifling. It is taking for granted the most improbable thing imaginable that the household of Lydia were the only other converts made at that time in Philippi. The succinctness of the history, which is in some other cases even greater, leaves me at full liberty to conclude that there were many more. To you I need not quote such instances ; one only I shall notice. In Acts xviii. 23, it is said Paul went over the countries of Galatia ;ind Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples. All that had been said of these countries before is in ch. xvi. 6. Thus it appears to me that the fact of the baptism of households, taken in connection with previously existing ideas and circumstances, leaves the ])robahility on the side of infant baptism. To me the probability seems strong, and it is confirmed almost into absolute certainty when connected with the early history of the church immediately after the apostles. Don't H 98 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. scout at this. It deserves very particular notice as to facts, in every case where it does not contradict the New Testament. The Baptists shew no objection to it themselves when it suits their purpo.se. Let it be observed the subject of proof is in this instance a ru'ftter oifact. The earl}' prevalence of absurd opinions as to the nature of baptism, &c. &c., does not affect the evidence of the fact that baptism was, from the earliest times of the Christian era, administered to infants. It is alluded to, and directly spoken of by the earliest writers, never as a thing that was or had been cjuestioneil, but uni- formly as a matter the existence of which from the beginning was undis- puted. It seems to me impossible indeed that such a change as this could have "crept in unawares." The fact is, that the early history of the church gives no intimation of the origin of the practice of baptizing infants as being subsequent to the time of the Apostles. The way in which Mr. M'Lean gets over the argument from ancient history is by an unfounded asstimjjtion, a mere theory — a very ingenious one no doubt for his purpose, but that does not give it validity. An opinion, according to him, began to prevail about the end of the second century of the necessity of baptism to salvation. Parents took the alarm for the safety of their children, and hence arose infant baptism ! Now it is true that such an opinion did prevail at that time, but the conclusion drawn from it is a mere gratuitous assumption, an ingenious ipse dixit, but unworthy of the man who makes it. For, I. There are allusions to infant baptism previoK.s to this. And 2. If it were my business, which it is not, to assign an origin to the above mentioned opinion, I should certainly trace it to the very practice of infant baptism itself. For this of all other things might most j^lausibly lead into the idea of the necessity of baptism to salvation. I might dwell on particulars here, but the instances must be familiar to you. Wall's History of Infant Baptism gave my mind complete satisfaction as to the matter of fact, so far as it depends on ancient history. I draw my conclusion, as to the evidence from historical facts, from what is said respecting the baptism of households in the New Testament, and respecting salvation coming to a believer's house, connected with the previous and suhseqrient history of the church. When I began to write I meant to have entered at some length into the subject of the Abrahamic covenant. And I shall still do so, if you wish it. J. O.'s letter, however, received this morning, induces me to send you immedi- ately what I have written, being extremely vexed at myself for delaying so long. I entreat you yet, my dear brother, to reconsider this part of the subject. Mr. Aikman's principles appear to me scriptural ; and if they are, the whole Baptist scheme rests on a foundation of sand. It appears to me capable of full proof that the covenant made with Abraham, which is expressly said to have been " confirmed of God in Christ," is the same with that which now exists ; that circumcision was the seal of this covenant ; that the fleshly relation to Abraham was included in the expression thy seed ; when the blessings of this covenant were promised, spiritual blessings mean that the temporal blessings were promised on the same ground with the spiritual ; that circumcision was of old the seal of this covenant, as baptism is now, &c. Whence I am persuaded that so far from wanting precept and example for infant baptism we have it from the d;iys of Abraham downwards. And this view is the only oue that is consistent with many passages, and with the general tenor of the New Testament. I pray you not to be precipitate as to your baptism, if you have already intimated your resignation as a FIRST PUBLICATION. 99 member to Mr. A. Let me know immediately if I may prosecute the sub- ject. I am lost in wonder, for the more I think of the question my convic- tion is increasingly clear. — Believe me, &c. Ralph Warplaw. The agitation of the Baptist controversy gave occasion to Mr. Wardlaw's making his first appearance before the public as an author. Engaged in expounding to his . congregation the Epistle to the Romans he was led to dwell on what the Apostle says in ch. iv. ver. 9-25, respecting the covenant with Abraham, with a view of showing the connection between that cove- nant and infant baptism. His exposition of this passage ex- tended through three lectures, and these in an enlarged form he committed to the press and published under the following title, " Three Lectures on Romans iv. 9-25, designed chiefly to illus- trate the Nature of the Abrahamic Covenant, and its Connection with Infant Baptism. With an Appendix on the mode of Baptism. By Ralph Wardlaw, Glasgow." This work appeared in the beginning of 1807, and was dedicated by the author to the church of which he was pastor. Of the three lectures which it contains, the first is chiefly devoted to the consideration of the nature and purport of circumcision as a sign and a seal, and especially to the vindication of the opinion that it had respect to the spiritual no less than to the temporal part of the cove- nant made with Abraham. In the second lecture the author proceeds to argue from the Apostle's language that the pro- raises of the Abrahamic covenant were made to the same seed and on the same footing, not the temporal promises to the natural posterity, and the spiritual to the spiritual seed of Abraham, but both to the latter, though they had also a primary respect to the fleshly seed, implying that among them there should be a seed to serve the Lord. In the third lecture the author applies wdiat he has previously adduced to the subject of infant baptism. Here he contends on the ground of what he has already proved that there is no absurdity in the practice itself of infant baptism — that circumcision and baptism signify or represent substantially the same things, viz., the taking away of sin in its guilt and its pollution by the blood and spirit of 100 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. Christ ; and that seeing circiuncision, the sign and seal of the covenant of old, was administered by God's command to the children of those who professed the faith of this covenant, and became to them in their turn, when its import was understood and believed, a seal of the righteousness of faith, and seeing no change in the constitution of the covenant, or as to the extent of the application of the sign of the covenant, can be pointed out, but the contrary, it follows that baptism is to be adminis- tered to the same class of persons as that to which circum- cision was administered, viz., the infant offspring of believers and to adult converts. In an appendix the author discusses the mode of baptism, and argues in favour of affusion or sprinkling. As respects the argumentation in favour of infant baptism contained in these lectures all remarks may be advantageously deferred until we have occasion to notice the reproduction of it in an expanded and improved form at a later period of the author's life. Suffice it in this place to say that the lectures, viewed simply as expository discourses on a difficult part of Scripture, are worthy of all commendation for the perspicuity and fulness with which they unfold the Apostle's meaning, as well as for the profitableness of the uses to which his statements are applied. In the composition of the book we miss that ease and fluency and grace which characterise the maturer style of the author ; but no one can fail to recognise in the more controver- sial parts a large measure of that dialectic sagacity, acuteness and ingenuity of which in after life he proved himself so eminent a master. The appearance of this work excited considerable interest, as it was the first, and for a long time the only really vigorous attempt to arrest the tide which had begun to flow among the Scottish Congregationalists in favour of the opinions of the Antiptedobaptists. From many quarters the author received congratulations and thanks ; and it is a little amusing to observe that some of the warmest of these were from brethren who ere long themselves became Baptists. " I was eagerly expecting them," writes one, " and have perused them with great avidity REPLIED TO MACLEAN. 101 and much pleasure I think you have taken a position from which the united strength of the Baptists will not easily dislodge you." In less than three years from the date of the letter containing these words, the writer had himself joined the Baptists, and was busily engaged in writing a book by which he hoped by his own arm to subvert the position which he had thought so impregnable ! From his friend Dr. Stuart, to whom he had sent a copy of the Lectures, Mr. Wardlaw received a most characteristic reply. " Accept," says he, " my best thanks for the present of your Lectures. I have read them with attention, and I hope with- out prejudice ; and I think I could show a good many flaws in the reasoning, although I acknowledge that in general they are plausibly and w^ell written, and with a meek and quiet spirit. I hope they will be carefully examined and answered in print. I rejoice at the publication ; 1 hope it will bring us nearer before that period when distance and darkness shall be no more. If no one publishes, and if I hear of no one publishing, if the Lord will, I will try to lend my attention to it ; but I have sent copies to Mr. M'Lean and to Mr. Fuller, and I hope one or other will sit down to a task for which they are better quali- fied than I am." The good man seems to have thought it a positive pleasure to an author to have his book replied to, and to have felt painfully solicitous lest his friend should lose this satisfaction ! Was it a strange pugnacity and love of conflict which dictated these sentiments ? By no means ; they issued from an earnest conviction that discussion is the proper method of eliciting truth, and that " Truth, like a torch, the more it's shook it shines," and that Christian love and unity among Christians will be best promoted by shaking it well. What use Mr. Fuller made of the copy that had been sent to him remains unknown ; but Mr. M'Lean responded to the appeal of Dr. Stuart, and published towards the end of the year a review of the work in an octavo volume of some size. To this i\lr. Wardlaw was deterred from re]ilying, not because 102 MEMOIRS OF DR. AVARDLAW. he tbougbt any of his main positions shaken by the reviewer, but Irom the consideration of " the time it would necessarily occupy which," he thought, " might on the whole be more profitably employed"* — a judgment of which afterwards he felt inclined to doubt the correctness. Mr. Wardlaw's interest in such a subject as Infant Baptism could not fail to be quickened by the claims of his now rapidly increasing family. His book had only a few weeks quitted the press when his third child was born, who was a son. This event took place on the 16th of February 1807. Another child, a daughter, was added to his family on the 30th of October in the following year. Whilst thus relating events referring to his domestic life, it may not be amiss to introduce the following letter addressed to his father during the absence of the latter from home on a visit to Edinburgh. The " heraldic" allusions which it contains have reference to the Herald newspaper, of which his brother was at this time the editor, and in the manage- ment of which his father took some share. To His Fathek. Glasgow, Friday afteruoon.l My very dear Father — Although I have nothing whatever that is parti- cularly interesting to communicate, yet both duty and affection dictate the propriety of writing you, were it but a single line, to let you know how matters are among those whom you love in this quarter. I write under your own roof, where I try in some respects to occupy your place — to fill it in any respect is tar above my thoughts. If ever I should flatter myself with the idea of filling a similar situation for such a length of time, with the same, or anything like the same uniform dignity, undeviating propriety, and univer- sal approbation and love, I should be " thinking of myself much more highly than I ought to think." 3fy Heraldic Recreations have been attended to with all due punctuality; and the thought that I was working for you has given them a stronger claim to the appellation than they seem to possess in their own nature, rendering them truly pleasant, giving interest even to the wisdom of Dr. Solomon him- self. The hoardly, blooming Editor accej^ts the labours of your understrap- per " always with all thankfulness." I threw over the table to him the first day I was there, to his no small entertainment, your paper of instructions for the guidance of the deputy corrector. He sends you, addressed to Dr. S., a copy of to-day's Herald, to shew you how it prospers in your absence. The number of advertisements you will find more than usually encouraging. * Preikce to Disscrtatirm on Infant P>aptisni. t This is the only date on tie letter, but the post-mark beat's date 17th Jul.v IWi . MISCELLANIES. 103 I have to-day received an invitatiou from George Robertson* to preach at Paisley on Tuesday next, being the town fast. Being reluctant to refuse, I have asked Robert, and obtained his ready assent to act for that one day as sub-sub-corrector, in which I trust I shall have the equally ready concur rence of my lord-suijerior. Cowie t left us on Tuesday morning. On the preceding evening he had a nice meeting of young people and others in the chapel, and was in fine spirits. I am very fond of the man, though not of his manner as a preacher. Phillips assists me again on Lord's Day afternoon. Jeanie and her little ones went down the way as proposed, on Monday morning. I shall long, of course, for the week after next. Gilbert does not go down till to-morrow morning, being engaged with the Birkbecks, half-a-dozen of whom, male and female, are dining in John's to-day. They go to Hamilton to-morrow, their visit, I presume, being one principally for pleasure. The monthly meeting is in the Tabernacle to-night, and it now wants less than half an hour of the time, so that when I have got my dish of tea it will be time for me to move. The Index to the hymns is now at press. Remember me warmly to Dr. S. and family. Enquire at him about Mr. M'Lean's pamphlet, and tell him I hope to have a few lines from him by you. Will you write how you do — and what day you mean to be here, that we may receive you with all the honours. Warmest love from all. — Yours, &c. Ralph. The feelings of the family circle of which ]\Ir. Wardlaw senior formed the centre, were at this time called into somewhat * Pastor of the Congregational Church at Paisley, afterwards of Thurso. t The Eev. George Cowie, pastor of the Congregational Church, Montrose, a man of no small genius, considerable eccentricity and boundless humour. His style of preaching it would be difficult to describe ; it was as changeable as an April day, and ranged from the sublimest eloquence and the most overpowering pathos to the lowest depths of dull and pointless commonplace. His discourses were very uncon- nected, and were almost entirely extempore. " If a hare starts up in my path, why should I not follow it?" was his plea when defending this feature of his pulpit addresses; and follow it he assuredly did, over rough ground and smooth, solid and swamp, hill and plain, though often when bis race was ended, the result by no means was equal to the pains. His spirits were very unequal, and this usually affected his preaching ; though frequently a fit of deep depression was the precursor of one of his most brilliant or most pathetic orations. I never knew any preacher whose power of unlocking the fountain of tears in his audience was so great ; and when his theme led him in this direction, he obeyed to the letter Horace's counsel — " Si vis me flere dolendum est Prinium ipsi tibi" — not as a piece of art, but simply because his own soul was absorbed and melted by bis subject. When in a happy mood he used to pass gradually from the tone of a speaker into a measured chant, somewhat like that still practised by tbe Welsh preachers, and then those who knew him prepared themselves for a treat. In ))ri- vate, his "infinite humour" carried all before it ; it mastered himself, and made sub ject all who were within range of bis voice. 104 MEMOIRS OF 1)K. WAliPLAW. painful exercise l)y his son John deciding to go into the arnn'. This meant at that time exposing himself to the toils of actual warfare, and to dangers of the most imminent kind in that fierce conflict in which the nation was then engaged. His mind, how- ever, was bent on entering this profession, and accordingly a commission was procured for him in the 52d regiment. Re- ferring to this in a letter to his father, of the date March 26th, 1808, ]\lr. Wardlaw says, " I cannot but earnestly wish that his application [for the commission] may be successful ; for however painful in many respects the prospect of such a line of life may be, yet it really appears, from the state of John's inclinations, to be the only situation in w^hich he is likely to act with credit or with profit. I pray God to open up in his providence for all my dear brothers such sources of employment as shall render them comfortable as to a present world ; and that they may be all partakers of a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, and that the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, may keep my dearest father's heart and mind by Christ Jesus." From the doniestic circle the transition is not great to that of literary association and the fellowship of kindred minds bent on the acquisition and communication of knowledge. Glasgow, though eminently a connuercial and manufacturing city, has at all times felt and owned the influence of her University, in dif- fusing a taste for the more refined pursuits of literature and science among the upper and middle classes of her population ; and at a period when the manufacturing towns of England were characterised by the rudeness and illiteracy of even their wealthiest inhabitants, there might be found in Glasgow not a few to whom (jven the higher walks of intellectual pursuits were famihar. In such a community, associations for literary purposes naturally spring up ; and of those of which Glasgow was the seat at the commencement of Mr. Wardlaw's public career, none occupied so famous a jtlace as that designated " The Glasgow Literary and Commercial Society." This society was originally organized in 1745 by some of the Professors in the T'niversity, and its meetings were first held within the walls of the College. It then LITERARY AND COMMERCIAL SOCIETY. 105 bore only the designation of " Literary ;" but towards the close of the century, having been reconstructed on a more enlarged basis which admitted of men engaged in business becoming members, it took the more extended designation above given. The society after this met in a hall hired for the purpose, but their meetings continued to be regulated by the University ses- sions, beginning in November and terminating with April. Within this society almost all the higher intelligence of Glas- gow was to be found ; and before it have, in the first instance, been laid nearly all the important speculations and discoveries which since its origination have proceeded from men resident in or near that city. Amongst its earlier members, the names of Francis Hutcheson, Adam Smith and Joseph Black are to be found ; and it is more than probable that those profound and (.n'iginal speculations which have shed such lustre on these names, and have contributed so materially to advance philosophi- cal knowledge and to create the modern sciences of political economy and chemistry, were first submitted to the criticism of the members of this society. Here also James Watt first unfolded the results of his experiments and inquiries concerning steam — that mighty agent which has, through means which he was the first to devise, been brought so wonderfully under human control, and has produced such a marvellous change in almost every department of human activity. Among the later celebri- ties of Glasgow, literary, scientific and political, hardly one is to be found whose name does not appear on the roll of its members. In literature and philosophy it can boast of Richardson, Young, Jardine, Milne, Campbell, Chalmers, Motherwell, Atkinson, and Sheridan Knowles ; and of men eminent as merchants, politi- cians or men of science, it can point to the names of Kirkman Finlay, Colin Dunlop, James Ewing, James Oswald, Dr. Cleland and Dr. Robert Watt, as, amongst others, men of whose asso- ciation any society might be proud.* * Some zealous citizens of the western metropolis luivc boasted that the name of Edmund Buike is to be added to the honourable list of members of this society. This could hardly be. Burke was never resident in Glasgow ; and the story of his having- been once a candidate for the Chair of Logic there is probably a |iiiro fable. 106 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. Of this society Mr. Wardlavv became a member some time in 1805 or 1806. He soon came to take an active part in its affairs, and, eminently fitted as he was to excel in such a sphere, he was not long of becoming one of its main supports. On the 12th of ]\farch 1807 he read a paper on " The propriety of giving a more Liberal Education to the Female Sex." In the beginning of the following .year he read a pajjcr on "Eevenge;" and in 1809 he read two papers, one on the 12th January, entitled " Some Observations on the Nature and Effects of Party Spirit," and the other a fortnight later, on the 26th, entitled " Observa- tions on the Law of Divorce." At the close of the session of 1808-9 Mr. AVardlaw was unanimously appointed to the office of secretary to the society, on the retirement of Mr. J. Bell, who had before held that office. The duties of this post he dis- charged for the next six sessions with unabated zeal and interest. His minutes begin with the meeting of November 23, 1809, and close with that of April 1815, and extend through 73 pages of small but beautiful writing. In 1807 he contributed to the Missionary Magazine papers on the following subjects :— In the numbers for March and July, " Re- marks on Romans v. 12, respecting Original Guilt, and the Nature and Extent of the Curse connected with it," being a continuation and completion of a paper contributed to the volume for the pre- vious year ; in the number for August a brief defence of Systems in Theology, in reply to a certain A. B. who had in a previous number been allowed to indite a good deal of pious nonsense on this head ; and in the number for September a paper on Romans xii. 16, on '* Being Wise in our own Conceits." To the volume lor 1808 his contributions were numerous. They were as fol- lows : — "Thoughts on 1 Cor. vii. 29-31," February and March ; " On Meekness," May and June ; " Notes on Romans iv. 1-8," in reply to some strictures by J. M.,* July and Au- gust ; " On the necessity of Love in the Christian Character," * Thu Lite Rev. John Muiiro of Kiiockaiulo, a man of great shrewdness and foiec of mind, as well as of apostolic piety and zeal. LETTER TO MR. BURDER. 107 October ; and " On the Properties of Christian Love, No. I.," December. This chapter may be fitly concluded by the following letter: — To THE Rev. H. F. Burder, Glasgow, August 8th, 1806. My dear Friend — The cordial afiection which your last letter breathed certainly merited very different treatment than allowing an interval of two months to pass before it has received a reply. And now lest long apologies and other matters should leave me no room for complying with the request alluded to, I shall if you please attend to it wvprimis. I cannot in the bounds of a letter enter at any length into the various matters more or less remotely connected with the subject of the duty of weekly communion in the Lord's Supper. I shall only, and that as brieily as possible, leaving your sagacity to fill up and follow out the argument, mention what occurs to my memory as the substance of what I stated in Mr. Buchan's on the night you refer to. The strength of my argument depends much on connecting \\^Qnature of the thing itself with the hints we have as to what was the matter of fact in pri- mitive churches. If it can be made to appear that it is natural to siij^pose it should be so, then there arises, from the nature of the thing, a likelihood that it was so ; and this previous probability founded thus in the nature of the thing gives additional weight to any hints as to the matter of fact, which otherwise perhaps might not appear so conclusive. We do not require the same clear and forcible assertions in support of that which is in its own nature probable, which we need to confirm what is in itself very unlikely. This I think you admitted, and indeed it is abundantly obvious. Now there is nothing that to my mind seems in itself more natural than that Christians assembling on the first day of the week should statedly observe this ordi- nance. Because, 1st, The death and resurrection of Jesus form together the ground of our hope towards God ; the latter as the glorious proof of the full eflicacy of the former, and the blessed pledge of our enjoying its eternal benefits. How natural then does it seem, that on the day on which our Lord rose from the dead, we should join with the remembrance of his resur- rection the commemoration of his death. You will not, I am sure, fritter away this observation by the observation which some have made upon it, that it proves the propriety of our observing the ordinance at all our meet- ings on that day. This seems to me trifling, for though, from motives of obvious convenience we assemble on that day more than once, yet the grand purpose of the day itself is one. 2dly, The Lord's Supper is " the commitmion of the body and blood of Christ," 1 Cor. x. 16. Now if Christians assemble on the " Lord's Day " for the purposes of holding /e^^?ts/«^> with one another in him, does it not seem natural that they should not omit an ordinance in which the glorious bond of their union is so impressively and interestingly exhibited % and the frequently renewed exhibition of which in this social observance is so eminently calculated to " knit their hearts together in love." 3dly, We '-'do this in remembrance of him.'''' I have sometimes in this view of the ordinance mused on the circumstance as a "marvellous thing," that a lover of Jesus should be found objecting to the practice lam pleading for. I think somehow that such a one, feeling aright, should wish to find nothing against it ; that lie t^hould rejoice to find a simple permission or even the 108 M k:\ioiks of dr. wahdlaw. absence of a positive prohibitiou, that be migbt enjoy tbis privilege as often as possible — tbe frequent refreshing of his memory by the lively emblematic exhibition of the broken body and shed blood of that dear Redeemer whom he feels himself so sadly prone to forget, and on his constant remembrance of whom depends the steadiness of his hope, and comfort, and joy, and pro- gress in the divine life. I esteem for my own part weekly communion as a privilege, and should feel inclined to be satisfied if it were only not forbidden. 4thly, I can divine no reason for having this ordinance one Lord's Day at any given distance of time, and not on those days which intervene. What good reason can be assigned for observing it on the first Sabbath of the month that does not apply to the other three 1 Every returning Sabbath brings the same blessed events to our remembrance ; and what suits one equally suits all. If you say (and I know of nothing else that can be said) that "frequency begets contempt," I answer you are inconsistent in confining this remark to one institution or observance, which, if it has force as to any, has force as to every religious exercise ; and likewise in not allowing others to carry out the principle to a greater degree. Our good Scotch Presbyterians argue (and in my judgment the force of the argument increases in exact propor- tion with the length of the interval) on this very ground for annual and half- yearly communion. You think you have hit the proper medium ; but others think two, and others three, and others four months a more natural medium. All this is the power of custom. The proper medium between frequency and infrequency, no man can possibly calculate for others. I shall thank you, my very dear friend, for a reason why you sat down in the Tabernacle here on some Lord's Days, and not on others ? If you give me a good one, I confess I shall be surprised. Having made these few previous remarks, I shall now proceed to explain the light in which the passages of Scripture usually quoted in proof of the state of the fact in primitive times appear to my mind — omitting to notice at all such as, being in my apprehension irrelevant, have tended rather, as very often happens, to weaken than to establish the cause they have been adduced to support. 1. From Acts ii. 42, I do not directly infer the practice of weekly com- munion ; for I have not yet been satisfied that the liistorian, in the four articles there mentioned, and the praise of Ood afterwards noticed, v. 47, designed to enumerate for our imitation the five stated observances of the church at Jerusalem when they met on the first day of the week. I think the contrary capable of being proved, although even the acute M'Lean and others are against me. This much, however, I think is fairly inferred from the passage, that the " Breaking of bread," which, in this connection, I suppose you will allow me to consider as meaning the Lord's Supper, was a frequent, an ordinary exercise, in which, immediately after their conversion, they manifested their separation from the world, and declared their faith in the crucified Jesus. It is surely mentioned by the historian as a feature in their character which it took no length of time to discover, that they " continued stedfastly" in this exercise. But if it had not been a frequent, a usual thing, this could not have been immediately apparent. All I infer from this passage, then, is that the "Breaking of bread" was certainly a frequent exercise. a,ndi ])robably iro-m the connection in which it is mentioned, a stated part i>f their ordinary social worship as a church. Connect this with the jrrer inns prnhability formerly mentioned. WEEKLY OBSERVANCE UE THE LORD's SUPPER. 109 2. Acts XX. 7. This passage, I think, you could not see to be at all con- clusive. I hope you will bear it in mind as a necessary principle in the interpretation of Scripture that the question is not, " What meaning may this passage bear?" but "What is its fairest and most natural import?" Now, although it would perhaps be too much to say that the inference which I draw from the expression here used is an absolutely necessary and unques- tionable one, yet it seems to me to be simple and natural ; and this is to my mind quite enough to found my conviction and my practice. Read the passage, omitting the words to break bread — '' On the first day of the week, when the disciples came together, Paul preached to them." Don't you think, now, it would be very natural to infer from such an expression that they were accustomed to meet on the first day of the week? It is upon this and similar expressions that the argument for the observance of that day is commonly founded. Well, what would you think of the reasoning of a man who should say, " Oh ! it does not at all follow that to meet on the first day of the week was their constant practice. No more can be inferred from such an expression than that Paul happened to be there when their meeting-day occurred." — Such reasoning would not satisfy your mind, but only prove him who should use it disinclined, for some reason or other, to make a diffe- rent inference. But if the passage without the omitted clause would afford an argument of any force at all in favour of its being the usual practice to assemble on the first day of the week, it furnishes one, when the clause is retained, precisely of the same weight, in behalf of their assembling on that day /or the purpose stated. The connection of the passage seems likewise to prove that it was not the practice of the church at Troas to observe this ordinance on other days of the week. For Paul, as has often been observed, waited from Monday preceding ; compare verses 6 and 7. And this he did, at least probably, to enjoy the fellowship of the church on the Lord's day, and strengthen the souls of the disciples. Carry this last remark forward to the next argument. 3. 1 Cor. xi. 18, &c. The argument from this passage may be stated very briefly. The church at Corinth are blamed because they came together not for the better but for the worse. The reason assigned for this is the abuse that prevailed in the observance of the Lord's Svipper, arising from the divisions that crept in amongst tbem — verses 20-22. Noav I suppose I shall be allowed to take it for granted that they were in the custom of assembling statedly on the first day of the week, and that by divine appointment. Yet the Apostle says of their coming together, without limitation or distinction, that it wa,a for the worse, assigning for it the above cause. You have not quite forgot, I suppose, your '■^Barbara celarent^'' Take the argument, then, in this form : — " The church at Corinth assembled by divine authority every first day of the week. But they are l)lamed because they came together for the worse, owing to the corruptions in the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. Therefore, they were accustomed to observe this ordinance statedly when they came together on that day." I see no way of getting rid of this argu- ment ; for even the reply which I once got to it from Mr. Fuller, viz., That it proves too much ; " because," said he, " it proves that at all their meetings, on other days as well as the Lord's Day, even whensoever they came together, they observed the Lord's Supper" — I say even this, were it granted, would not, it is manifest, exculpate those who have it seldomer than every Lord's Day, but only give a share of blame to such as have it not stilJ oftemr. But 110 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. the truth is, we have no accounts given us of such week-day meetings of the churches, or of what was clone at them. We are bound only by what they do on the footing of divine prescription. Such was their observance of the Lord's Day. As to other meetings which might be held, none are spoken of as stated or enjoined. We may hold such meetings or not as suits our convenience. But the observance of the Lord's Day is admitted to be of divine appointment, and we are surely safest, and acting most for edification, when we are observing it, as far as we can, according to the practice of the apostolic churches. Such is the outline of the reasons which weigh most strongly in my mind in favour of the weekly observance of the Lord's Supper. Little as you may think is said directly on the subject in the New Testament, that little, you should consider, is all on one side. I have uniformly observed that the argu- ments employed by those who do not see weekly communion to be a duty, are all of the negative, indirect kind ; rather in the way of apology and defence than of positive proof — bearing the form, not of evidence on the one side, but of objection to the validity of evidence on the other. There is hardly any consideration directly brought to support the propriety of less frequent observance of this ordinance, except the general i^rinciple that " frequency produces indifference." And I cannot but think that if you will allow your mind to weigh this with candour in all its bearings, you will perceive it at once to be hollow ground. in CHAPTER V. A. D. 1808— A. D. 1812. The serene and profitable pursuits in which at the close oi' the preceding chapter Mr. Wardlaw appears engaged were not the only matters which at this time engrossed his mind. Others of a very different nature forced themselves upon his attention, and both occupied his time and vexed his spirit. For several years the Congregational churches had gone on in peace and unity, devoted to the work of extending the gos- pel both in their own country and in foreign lands, and sedu- lous for the purity, the vitality and the growth of their own fel- lowship. This happy state of things, however, was brought to an end by intestine quarrels which arose about matters of compa- ratively trifling moment, but were unhappily prosecuted with an acerbity which rent the denomination and threatened for a while its very existence. The first bone of contention that was thrown into the churches respected the pastor's or elder's office in a church of Christ, and in this dispute views were maintained which went entirely to supersede the pastoral office, and to introduce a wild and licentious anarchy in the place of that rule and order which Christ has appointed to be observed. A spirit of this sort once let loose in a community knows not where to stop ; and accordingly in a short time everything became matter of discus- sion, and a restless cupidity of novelty raged in the bosoms of many of the most influential members of the Congregational churches, and infected even some of the pastors. In the Taber- nacle Church at Edinburgh this state of things rose to its height in consequence of Mr. Robert Haldane and his l)rother having 112 .MK1\I()IUS OF DR. WAllDLAW. adopted many of the new opinions as well as having become Bap- tists. A disruption of this church was the consequence ; many of its members returned to the Church of Scotland ;* some joined Mr, iVikman's church, which was for the most part opposed to the new views ; and a considerable body formed themselves into a new church and met for worship in a public hall denomi- nated Bernard's Rooms. The denomination had thus unavoid- ably been split into two, for it became ne(;essary for the other churches to determine with which of the churches in Edinburgh they would continue to hold fellowship. Mr. Wardlaw was from the first opposed to the new notions, and allied himself with Mr. Ewing and Mr. Aikman in offering an uncompromising resistance to their progress in the churches. In the spring of 1808 when the discussions in the Tabernacle were at their crisis he happened to be in Edinburgh, and he thus describes the state of things in a letter to his father dated 26th March of that year : — " Matters here are now come to their crisis. There was a second meeting last night at the Taber- nacle, which ]\Ir. R. Haldane opened, after the ordinary worship, with a speech of an hour and three quarters in length!! de- livered with the utmost deliberation. ?Ie was interrupted to- wards the close by the pertinent (juestion, whether the whole meeting was to be occupied with his charges, &c., without any opportunity being given for vindication and reply. One of the brethren, (Glover) spoke in answer to him three quartei-s of an hour. Several others said a little ; and a number more could not get their sentiments delivered but simply declared them- selves oft". ]\Ir. Aikman and I though absent came in for our share of the criminating charges. We dine with him to-day and shall probably have some of the matters overliauled. AVe had a long conversation with him on Thursday. Bernard's •* Among these was one iiidiviJual who, in his early zeal for the Tabernacle, had indulged freely in strictures of a very bitter kind on the Established Church. On his return to that communion he joined the congregation of the late Dr. Davidson, who is reported thns to have addressed him on becoming aware of his intention : — " Well, Mr. I am glad to see you back again ; but let mo tell yon the Cluirsity of '■'■forcing myself^'' and making a sacrifice, to which my friends will not assent with greater reluctance than myself. To Mrs. Wardlaw. Inverness, Tuesday Night, June 11, 1811. It is now a quarter-past twelve o'clock, and Mr. Thomas who has just jumped into bed, says it is impossible for me to write to-night, and my eyes, which begin to get chaff y, almost say Amen to his declaration. But to write I am resolved, as we must be ofi" in the morning, about six or seven o'clock, and at none of our stages between this and Wick can I venture to trust for time. You will therefore I am sure excuse my brevity, and you will also tell our dear Marion that my promise to her in my last letter to you must of neces- sity be deferred We proceeded on Wednesday from Crichie to Peter- head, and Fraserburgh ; on Thursday from Fraserburgh to Banfli" ; on Friday from Banff to Elgin ; and on Saturday by a retrograde movement, the reason of which I have not time to explain, from Elgin to Huntly. The ride that afternoon was the most uncomfortable we have had, being in the face of a bleak cold wind, with a heavy lashing rain, the drops of which seemed all to be angular. It was like a shower of pins, point foremost. At Huntly I preached thrice on Sabbath — Mr. Thomas going to the country ; yesterday came on all the way to Forres (39 miles) and preached in the evening ; and to-day came forward first to Nairn, where I preached at half-past twelve, and thence in the evening to this place, which we did not reach (our horse being naturally inclined to laziness, and withal somewhat fagged, with the journey of yesterday) till half-past nine. We had then some inquiries to make after another horse, from apprehension that the one we have might not be able to stand the fatiguing journey before us. These inquiries were unsuccessful, from the great additional expense to which we found it would expose us to take a fresh horse, even although we should leave the one we have with a friend free of charge You have learned by this time my resolution to be another Sabbath absent. I have altered my determina- tion still further, not as to the time of my absence from home, but as to my K 130 MEJIOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. route from this homeward. My present plan is to leave this on the morn- ing of IMonday se'ennight by the Perth coach to Dalnacardoch ; to come from that on horseback or on foot, as I may find convenient, by Aberfeldie, Acharn, Killin, and Callender (at each of which places there is a church) to Stirling, which I hope to reach on the Thursday evening, and to come forward by the coach to Glasgow on Friday night. To THE Same. Inverness, June 22, 1811. On returning from the ends of the earth I found the v/elcome letter of my beloved awaiting my arrival Betwixt this and Wick I had no opportunity of writing ; nor indeed when I reached it. And, although I had had it in my power, to have written thence would have been very vain, because we have travelled in returning quicker than the post. We reached Thurso on Saturday afternoon, and I shovild have proceeded, or rather have come so far on my way back as to Wick that evening, leaving Mr. Thomas to preach at Thurso on Lord's Day. From the descriptions given of it, however, I was particularly anxious to visit Holborn Head (some remarkable rocks on the sea coast, two or three miles from Thurso). Thither accordingly we went, and the sight was not only worth seeing, but well worth going to see, had the distance between Thurso and it been ten times greater. To pretend to describe it, especially in the short time I have before the post hour, would be to pretend to the powers of Milton or an archangel. I shall try to give you some notion of it when I see you. For this time I do long vehemently ; and trust that the gracious providence which has hitherto kept me from evil, will in due time " grant me my heart's wish." Then too I may relate to you the various particulars of our journey through scenes of dreary mountainous desolation and hope- less sterility ; and by roads — I had not gone through Caithness when I wrote of the road between Lethem and Dundee, that never wheel rolled over a worse. The roads through Caithness are bestudded and bestrewed vnth fine pebbles, some of them very small, not much larger than Sir William Wallace's putting-stones, others immenseli/ large, as hig as 'i^y head. For about twenty miles we had to walk, leading our horse almost every inch of the way, at the rate of little more than two miles or two and a half in the hour. I do not mean that we went all this at one stretch. As to the general aspect of the country, I think if one had the horse of knowledge in the gig, and could trust him to choose the best parts of the road, the pleasantest mode of tra- velling through it would be with the eyes shut. Dr. B[ryce] Johnston somewhere says, that " cursed is the ground for thy sahe,^'' means for thy good, because industry is so beneficial to fallen man, and idleness the bane of even that share of temporal happiness which the fall permits him to enjoy. If this idea be correct, the greater part of Caithness and a large portion of Sutherland have been cursed too much ; for human labour would in such places be almost expended in vain. Even in this widely extended waste, which does not even yield the produce of the curse, thorns and thistles, nothing thriving but unprofitable brown heath, there are some fields of gi'een pastures and cultivated land, which form a delightful relief to the eye, when weary with contemplating the abomination of desolation. These put me in mind of evangelised spots among the desolate heritages of the Gen- tiles— of such places as Bethelsdorp, for instance, among the Hottentots. THE STRONG MAN. 131 Appended to this letter are a few lines to his daughter in fulfilment of his promise to " print " a letter for her. Time, how- ever, failed him before he had finished it, so that he had to resort to the cursive hand and refer to IMrs. Wardlaw as an interpreter. It will be seen from these extracts that Mi: Wardlaw was capable at this time of considerable physical exertion. Several weeks of such travelling as he had to go through on this journey would have prostrated any man of feeble constitution, to say nothing of the frequent demands made upon his strength by preaching. At this time, however, Mr. Wardlaw's powers of bodily activity were such as those who knew him only in later years would hardly have supposed. Few men could equal him as a pedestrian, and he sometimes put his powers of walking to the test in a way that would appal preachers of the present day accustomed to all the enervating appliances of steamboats and railroads. " What think you," writes his son Mr. J, S. Ward- law, " of a stretch from Glasgow to Helensburgh on Monday morning before breakfast, after preaching twice, or it may be, three times on the preceding Sabbath? This was a common thing with him in former days when the family were at Helens- burgh during the summer months, before steamers made their appearance on the Clyde. 1 have heard so at least ; it was before my time." To the notices above given of this expedition I am able to add some graphic sketches from the Reminiscences of Dr. Morison, who had the happiness to make the acquaintance of Mr. Wardlaw whilst on this tour, and who was from that time united to him in the ties of an intimate friendship. " It was in the summer of 1811; when I had completed my eighteenth year, that I first saw Dr. [then Mr.] Wardlaw, in the pulpit of the Congregational Chapel, Banff, where I was then residing. His general appearance, the penetrating glance of his eye, the tasteful expression of his mouth and chin, and above all, his noble and expansive brow, realised at once the conceptions I had endeavoured to form of one ' whose praise in the gospel' was already ' throughout all the churches.' He 132 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. must have been at that time about the age of thirty * and was altogether one of the finest samples of a Christian gentleman I thought I had ever seen. After prayer by the late Dr. Philip of Cape Town, then of Aberdeen, Mr. Wardlaw took his text from John xvii. 3, from which he delivered a discourse as remarkable for the exquisite beauty of its composition, as for the critical accuracy of its theology and the warmth of its Christian feeling. " In after years I made him and his family very merry at their own fire-side, by telling them of two circumstances connected with that memorable sermon. From his clear and somewhat metaphysical mode of distinguishing between the simple act of faith and the states of mind which either precede its exercise or are its immediate and necessary efiects, my venerable father, whom Mr. Binney, in a notice of his Memoirs in the Eclectic Review, denominated ' one of God's nobility,' with all his admiration of the preacher, had no little suspicion awakened in his mind, that the Doctor was slightly tinctured with what he deemed the heresy of John Sandeman ; and expressed some concern to his pastor, the Rev. Joseph Gibb, that so bright an ornament of the churches should have any sympathy with ' that cold and lifeless tiling.'' An interview, however, afterwards with Mr. Wardlaw led him to modify his impression ; and he became one of his warmest and most intelligent admirers. " The other incident was somewhat more ludicrous. Mr. Wardlaw was on a tour through the north of Scotland, and was by no means strictly clerical in his costume, but wore topped boots and other articles of dress corresponding to the necessities of a journey on horseback. This circumstance, added to the remarkably elegant appearance of the preacher, rather stumbled the faith of Mrs. M , one of the old school. She looked wonders, as she saw the young minister ascend the pulpit stairs; but as he entered on his subject, she was seen to become most grave and attentive. When he had finished his discourse, she looked round to Mrs. S , a person of an exceedingly differ- ent cast of mind, and exclaimed, ' 0 woman ! was na that a * He was in his thirty-second year. W. L. A. INCIDENTS AT BANFF. 133 great sermon for sic a young mmi ? But, 0 he s o'er hraw and oer honny ! ' ' O'er hraw ! ' replied Mrs. S , ' Fat signifies a maris clae's, if there he jylenty o furniture ins raind ? And to find faut toith tlie dear young man, hecause he's honny, is some- thing very much like a refection on the Creator himseV " This visit of Mr. Wardlaw to Banff was a great refresh- ment to very many ; and it may be well questioned if ever such a discourse had been preached in that county town before. All the distinguished persons of the place came out to hear him, and the sermon was the subject of eulogistic remark for weeks after. " There were events, however, connected with his visit to Banff which made it peculiarly memorable to me. For more tlian two years I had been actively occupied in various walks of usefulness, and particularly in the Sabbath schools, which had become attractive and even popular. Too highly estimating, perhaps, my earnest endeavours to benefit a large circle of young people, ranging from twelve years of age to twenty, my excellent pastor, the Rev. Joseph Gibb, had more than once expressed a decided wish that I would turn my thoughts towards the Chris- tian ministry. I could not, however, feel that I had any satis- factory call to so responsible work. But in deference to the judgment of one whom I so greatly respected, I had entered, by his recommendation, upon a course of Biblical and other studies, which were prosecuted four mornings in the Aveek, at his house, from five to seven. The effort was neither without pleasure nor advantage ; and certainly the impression began largely to prevail in the circle of my friends, that I ought to yield to the wishes of my pastor, so that I became literally much perplexed in spirit, and was greatly disturbed in my general health. I sought direction of God earnestly, but could not perceive distinctly the path of duty ; I had a dread of adding one to the numerous class of ineflScient ministers. " When the visit of Messrs. Wardlaw and Philip was an- nounced, it was proposed to me by Mr. Gibb and others that my case should be submitted to them, v, ith the understanding that I should abide by their advice. 1 reluctantly consented to 134 MEMOIRS OF DR. WaRDLAW. the terms ; and was invited to meet these honoured servants of Christ at Mr. Gibb's house after the pubhc services of the day. The impression 1 had received of Mr. Wardlaw's standard of mind from the discourse of the morning, rendered the idea of meeting him for such a purpose very formidable ; but, with the exception of his resigning the conduct of family worship into my liauds, his personal demeanour was so sweet and gentle and winning, that all my fears 'were in a moment dissipated. His interrogatories too were so wisely selected and so kindly put, that I felt no difficulty whatever in laying open my heart to him ; and the arguments he employed to convince me of what he deemed to be the path of duty, had the effect of bringing over my spirit a new feeling of responsibility, from which I found it next to impossible to escape. His prayer also, at the close of the conference, went into the very depths of my soul, and bound me to him by a mysterious tie, which, thank God ! was never severed. I requested that I might have till nest morning to consider all that had passed, promising that I would then give my reply in writuig. I passed a sleepless night ; but one perhaps of the most profitable in all my early years. Thrice, at break of day, did I write my promised reply, and thrice com- mitted it to the flames. But later in the morning, as I was laying hold of another sheet of paper, a note was sent to me from Mr. Philip, enclosing one from Wardlaw, which rendered it impossible for me to hesitate any longer. ]\Ir. P.'s com- munication was as follows : — When, my dear Morison, you read the enclosed, from such a man as Ralph Wardlaw, I flatter myself that your path of duty will be clear. In two hours from this time, (8 o'clock A. m.) we must be on our journey ; so there will be but little time for delay ; and, indeed, I wish to know your decision that I may, as soon as possible, endeavour to prepare the way for your admission into Hoxton College. I trust you will hear a voice behind you saying, " This is the way, walk ye in it." Many of the Lord's people here, including jour gifted pastor, are praying that you may be directed to such a course as may be for the glory of God and the good of souls. You must not fight against those prayers. " Mr. Wardlaw's note, enclosed, was brief, but to me exceed- ingly affecting : — THE DIFFIDENT YOUTH. 135 My dear young Friend — From what I saw of the state of your mind last evening, I suspect you are somewhat in danger of looking for such proofs of a call to the work of the ministry as are not ordinarily to be expected, and which are in no case necessary. You may with safety dismiss the appre- hension of seeking to obtrude yourself into the Lord's vineyard, as the thought of your becoming a preacher of the Word did not originate with yourself but with others. But, my friend, may you not err in another direction, by failing to perceive the intimations of the divine will, as conveyed to you through the earnest and harmonious convictions of others who have watched the development of your character, and can have no desire to mislead yovi in your course ? I sincerely think you may so err. I will only add, that both Mr. Philip and myself entii-ely concur with Mr. Gibb, as the result of our last evening's conversation, in the cordial impression that you ought at once to enter on a course of study preparatory to the sacred office ; and, should your decision be to this effect, I beg to say that it will afford us sincere satisfaction to unite with your pastor in recom- mending you to some of the theological seminaries in the south. Cheer up, my man ! these scruples of yours will but only make the path of duty more clear for the future. May the divine Master fervently incline you to his own work, and mightily constrain you by his own love ! Such is the prayer of, my dear young friend, yours sincerely, Ralph Wardlaw. '* When I read this letter, which proved the commencement of a friendship of more than forty years' standing, I felt as if all my perplexities had vanished at once ; and instead of writing, as I had promised, I hastened to Mr. Gibb's house, and threw myself unreservedly into the hands of my friends, to do with me as seemed best to them. It was to me a moment of intense emotion ; and the parting prayer of Mr. Philip I can never for- get. It seemed as if I had already received my solemn charge in reference to a work to which I only then looked forward in distant perspective. Mr. Wardlaw's emphatic words, as he shook hands with me in parting, convinced me that he had a heart overflowing with the milk of human kindness. ' My dear lad,' said he, ' I sympathize much with you ; but hope, and not fear, is my feeling in reference to the future.' " During my student life I met Mr. Wardlaw twice, and had two very kind letters from him, which I greatly prize. I allow myself to believe that he never lost sight of the perplexed youth he met at Banff, and sure I am that he never ceased to think of him with reverential love ? * * Reminiscences of the Rev. Ralph Wardlaw, D.D. By John Morison, D.D., LL.D. 136 MEMOIliS OF DK. "WAKDLAW. From his long and fatiguing journey to the north Mr. Wardlaw returned refreshed and invigorated to his ordinary duties. During the ensuing winter he had little to do with the students who had been admitted into the academy, as they were occupied then principally in prosecuting their literary studies at the university or under private teachers. The period at which the tutorial labours of Mr. Ewing and himself began was not till the ensuing summer. For some time past he had had much to encourage him in connection with his pastoral and ministerial work. " We have been," he writes to his friend Burder in January 1811, "for some time past enjoying peace and comfort in the church, and have had some very pleasant additions to our number, several of them such as have obtained good to their souls by the ministry of the gospel in the chapel. Thanks be to that God who giveth the increase ! " This happy state of things continued during the following year, for in writing to the same friend in October 1812 he has the same good news to communicate, with the addition that of those admitted to the church a considerable number had been from the Sabbath evening schools. At this time he was engaged in delivering to his flock lectures on Ecclesiastes. To this, he says, he was induced by " the gloomy state of the times in a mercantile view, the low ebb of commercial credit and the many and various lessons which Providence is at present teaching of the instability and unsatisfying nature of earthly good.* In the study of this book, he says that he " had found much pleasure and satisfac- tion" to his own mind. Though, however, he had reached the middle of the 7th chapter by the beginning of 1811, and must have finished the exposition of the whole book by the middle of that year, the idea of preparing his lectures for the press does not appear to have presented itself to his mind till some years afterwards. At this time it was the Epistle to the Romans on which his thoughts were bent as the theme on which he desired to address the public through the press. * licttor to Rev. H. F. Burder, 12th Januarv 1811. A MOTHEll's DIRGE. 137 In 1811 his only contributions to the Missionary Magazine were two pieces of poetry ; the one entitled " A Christian mother on the death of her darling child," composed " as a soothing expression of sympathy with two dear friends (Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Wardlaw), whom God in his providence had bereft of a darling infant ;" the other a hymn beginning "See the Sou of Truth arise," which he subsequently inserted in his collection of hymns, and which the reader will find among the rest in the Appendix. The former of these pieces is inserted here ; it has been extensively circulated both in manuscript and in prints and has ministered consolation to many a bereaved and sorrowing heart. There was the parting sigh ! With that the spirit fled, And wing'd its flight on high, And left the body dead ; No prayers, no tears, its flight could stay, 'Twas Jesus called the soul away. 0 how shall I complain Of Him who rules above ? Who sends no needless pain, Who always smites in love. Who looks in tenderest pity down. Even when He seems to wear a frown. The eye of Jesus wept ; It dropt a holy tear, When Mary's brother slept, A friend to Jesus dear : — Delightful thought ! — that blessed eye Still beams with kindness in the sky ! 1 know my babe is blest, Her bliss by Jesus given ; She's early gone to rest. She's found an early heaven. The sigh that closed her eyes on earth, The moment of her happier birth ! But ah ! my spirits fail ; I feel a pang untold ! — Those ruby lips so pale — That blushing cheek so cold ! And dim those eyes of " dewy light," That smiled and glanc'd so sweetly bright. 138 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. To lay that lovely form, So lovely even in death, Food for corruption's worm. The mouldering earth beneath ! 0 worse to me than twice to part, Than second death-stroke to my heart ! As summer flower she grew, Expanding to the morn. All gemm'd with sparkling dew, A flower without a thorn ; A mother's sweet and lovely flower. Sweeter and lovelier every hour. But ah ! my morning bloom Scarce felt the warming ray ; An unexpected gloom Obscured the rising day. A dreary, cold and withering blast. Low on the ground its beauty cast. Its glist'ning leaves are shed. That spread so fresh and fair. The balmy fragrance fled. That scented all the air. And lowly laid its lifeless form, The gentle victim of the storm. But why in anguish weep ? Hope beams upon my view ; 'Tis but a Avinter's sleep, My flower shall spring anew ! Each darling flower on earth that sleeps. O'er which fond memory hangs and weeps. All to new life shall rise. In heavenly beauty bright. Shall charm my ravish' d eyes. In tints of rainbow light ; Shall bloom unfading in the skies, And drink the dews of paradise ! 0 this is blest relief ! My fainting heart it cheers ; It cools my burning grief. And sweetens all my tears. These eyes shall see my darling then, Nor shed a parting tear again ! And while I feel at heart, The blank of comforts gone, LANCASTEllIAN SCHOOLS. 139 I only mourn a part — I am not left alone ; — Though nipt some buds of opening joy, How many still my thanks employ ! And thou, my second heart, Loved partner of my grief, Heaven bids not thee depart, Of earthly joys the chief ! A favoured wife and mother still. Let grateful praise my bosom fill. In March 1812, the Glasgow Auxiliary to the British and Foreign Bible Society was formed, and Mr. WardlaAv was ap- pointed to the office of secretary. This post he held for twenty- seven years, keeping the minutes of the Auxiliary, writing the annual reports, and taking a leading share in the management of all its concerns. Of the parent society he remained to the last a steady and zealous friend. In the early part of this year Mr, Wardlaw was much en- grossed with the arrangements connected with the establishment and opening of several Lancasterian schools in Glasgow. Writ- ing to his brother-in-law Mr. Smith, he says, (April 9, 1812) : — Since coming home a considerable portion of my time has been occupied about the Lancasterian Schools, which there is every prospect now of our soon getting reduced into first-rate order. We have had Josei^li himself here ; our committee met with him for near two hours and a half on Mon- day ; after which a number of us dined and spent the evening with him in Mr. Sword's, partly in general conversation, and partly on business. Along with Mr. Owen and myself he had previously in the forenoon visited all the three schools here ; and he and I had mutually explained, shaken hands, and got quite great together. Indeed, with all his failings, of which the chief is vanity — vanity natural to him, and cherished by the singular success and large measure of adulation he has met with — I should not like to be on bad terms with a man who has been beyond question the honoured instrument of so much real and extensive good to individuals and to the community. I like him vastly better than I expected in private ; although, no doubt, he is loquaciously communicative, he is yet vastly good-humoured with it, and withal one of the most delightfully amusing specimens of happy self-complacency I could ever wish to see. On his own subjects, and topics connected with them — which of course were the burden of the song — he is very shrewd and sensible, sometimes waggish, but not always with equal success. He lectures to parents, &c. in oui- Calton School Room on Friday evening, in our Theatre here on Tuesday, and on Wednesday is invited by our committee to a^ji^Wic dinner, of which I have this morning 140 MEBIOIKS OF DE. WARDLAW. inserted the advertisement in the papers. So that you see we are all alive and astir, and hope to go on swimmingly. Our new teacher seems to do vastly well ; and one of Mr. Lancaster's principal monitors, whom he has with him (brought down for the service of Mr. Owen in his schools at Lanark), is for a time to remain with him. Mr. L. has for these two days been at Paisley and Greenock. The town has been divided into thirty-three districts, and the general solicitation going on for the A. B. S. The result I cannot yet even guess. At the close of the college session in May 1812, Mr, Ewing and Mr. Wardlaw entered on the more minute discharge of their tutorial duties in the theological seminary — Mr. Ewing devoting himself to the department of biblical literature, and Mr. Wardlaw to that of doctrinal theology ; whilst both at the same time superintended the literary studies of the young men placed under their charge. Mr. Wardlaw does not appear to have made much preparation for his department before commencing work. Writing to Mr. Burder he says, towards the close of the session, " Mr. Ewing and I suspend our lectures during the winter, but meet with the students once a week for reading and speaking from the Scriptures and superintending the progress of their other studies. Except reading to them some of my lectures on the Romans, I can hardly myself be said to have entered on my department. Yet perhaps an illustration of the Epistle to the Romans may be as good a system of divinity as I shall be able to give them." During part of the summer Mr. Wardlaw was from home on an itinerating excursion in company with Mr. Aikman of Edin- burgh, in the course of which they traversed the shires of Ayr, Kirkcudbright and Wigtown, proceeding as far south as to Dum- fries, and taking Sanquhar, Muirkirk and Strathaven on their way home. Their journey occupied four weeks, during which they preached on an average once every day. At the outset Mr. Wardlaw, who was subject to severe bilious attacks, was seriously impeded by one of these, which prevented his fulfilling some of his engagements, but which he would not allow to drive him from the field. On his recovery from this his health and vigour remained imbroken, and he returned home refreshed rather than exhausted by the hard labour in which he and his ITINERANCY IN AYRSHIRE, ETC. 141 companion had engaged. His letters during this tour were few, and contain hardly anything beyond notes of the places at which he and his companion preached. As it may be interesting, how- ever, to many, and perhaps stimulative to some to know the amount of labour through which such men rejoiced to pass in order to proclaim to their fellow-sinners the tidings of salvation, the fol- lowing record of places visited and sermons preached during little more than a single week, is subjoined : — We came to Beith on Tuesday (14th July 1812), where Mr. A. preached ; myself returning to Lochwinnoch and joining him again at Beith after ser- mon. I was intimated for Beith in the morning ; but when the morning came I was not at all well, and preaching entirely out of the question. . . I got a little easier in the course of the forenoon and insisted on getting on, to which Mr. A. at length assented. We were thus obliged to leave out Saltcoats altogether. I went to bed again immediately on arriving at Irvine, leaving Mr. A., who had Mr. Barclay to assist him in making necessary arrangements, to fulfil his engagement, which he did at the Cross. Next morning I was greatly better, and after making a call or two we came forward to this place (Kilmarnock), where I preached last night with much comfort, though to rather a thin audience, in the Burgher meeting- house. Friday the 17th — Came from Kilmarnock to Mauchline, where Mr. A. preached in the morning and myself at Catrine. I preached at Mauchline also on the morning of Saturday. We then came on to Ayr. Mr. A. re- mained and preached there in the evening, and I rode on to Maybole ; preached there that evening and Sabbath morning, returning to Ayr before the afternoon service with a view to preach in the evening, Mr. A. having been employed in the morning and afternoon. On Monday came on again to Maybole, where Mr. A. preached, while I went forward to Kirkoswald and preached, and returned to Maybole. Tuesday — Came forward to Dailly, where I preached in the forenoon ; then proceeded to Girvan, where I left Mr. A. to preach, and having procured a saddle for our horse rode to Barr by a road partly old and partly new, partly good and partly bad — more than six miles — preached and got back to Girvan about twenty minutes after ten. I preached at Girvan next morning (Wednesday) from Numb, xxiii. 10 — a striking and affecting circumstance having occurred the preceding evening, a young man one of Mr. A's. hearers having been drowned in less than an hour after the sermon, in which Mr. A. had particularly pressed on their attention the uncertainty of life, his subject being the axe laid at the root of the tree. Came forward after sermon on Wednesday morning to Ballantrae, Mr. A. dropping me at Colmonell (five miles from it) by the way, where I preached in the evening, and walked on to B., whither Mr. A. had gone to preach. I preached there next morning. We then came on to Cairn, where Mr. A. preached, and thence to this place (Stranraer), where after some delay from difficulty in finding the Magistrates, we obtained the Town Hall, and I preached to as many as it would hold at 8 o'clock. Mr. A. is intimated for to-morrow morning. If it is fair I mean to drive early to Portpatrick to 142 MEMOTIIS OF ])I{. \VAr>DLAW. preach and to return (the distance nine miles), and then we go on together to Glenluce for the evening. Friday (24th June), half-past one. — Just returned from Portpatrick. We are about to dine and get on to Glenluce. One of the places visited by Mr. Wardlaw on this tour was Kirkcudbright. " On arriving at this town I asked," he writes, " the ostler at the inn if he thought I could have a congregation gathered. He stared at me in amazement, when I said, ' I am quite in earnest ; suppose I had a chair placed here, do you think I could have a congregation ? ' ' Ou aye,' he replied, ' for religion is a great deal thocht o' in tMs place.' The bellman was sent through, and in about an hour, I preached to a very attentive and excellent congregation." From this tour Mr. Wardlaw returned home to encounter the tidings of an afflictive dispensation which had befallen his father's family circle. It has been already mentioned that Mr. John Wardlaw had entered the army, and left his native country to join the troops which were at this time engaged in driving the legions of Napoleon out of the Peninsula. IMany an anxious thought, of which he was the subject, disturbed the serenity of that peaceful family circle from the midst of which he had gone out, and many a fervent prayer for his safety and for his best interests was offered both in secret and aroimd the family altar by those who followed him with their love amid those scenes of heroic adventure and incessant hazard through which he was passing. " AVe had a letter a few days ago from John," writes his brother to a friend, " dated Salamanca, November 22d (1808). Since that time, however, affairs in that quarter have experienced a very gloomy reverse, such as ver}^ naturally to renew in a greater degree than ever our anxiety, and especially that of his dear father, for his safety and well-being. Poor fellow ! would to God that the serious work in which he has been or may yet be engaged, may lead him to consideration * and thoughtfulness ! and that his life, if it is spared, may be spared for the service and glory of God, that he may be a good soldier of Jesus Christ, fighting the good fight of faith, and laying hold on eternal DEATH OF CAPTAIN WARDLAW. 143 life."* For a season the anxious prayers of his friends were answered in his continued preservation, though amidst constant peril. He outlived the " bloody day" of Talavera ; he escaped unhurt from the perilous conflict of the light division, under General Craufurd, to which he belonged, when assailed after the capitulation of Ciudad Rodrigo by the whole force of the corps under Marshall Ney ; he came out unscathed from the crowded field of " Albuera lavish of the dead ; " and, though in many other less noted encounters, a merciful Providence still protected him. At length, however, his time came. Having accepted the commission of Captain in the Portuguese Brigade under General Beresford, he had the command of a company of the 4th Ca9adors at the battle of Salamanca on the 22d of July 1812. From sunrise till towards evening he was constantly engaged on that memorable day, conducting himself with such skill and gallantry " as to draw forth," says one who was present at the battle,t " the most unbounded praise I ever heard bestowed upon any commanding officer of a company." About four o'clock, whilst leading his company to a fresh attack, he received a wound which almost instantaneously proved fatal. His superior officer Major Adamson, gives the following account of this melancholy event : — " In front of the village of Arapiles there are some stone walls or enclosures. The advanced party of Captain Wardlaw's company, along with others, were stationed there ; but the enemy pressed in such numbers of sharpshooters and light guns, that after a smart defence our party were forced to give way. The reserves being ordered up, forced back the enemy in their turn ; and at this moment was my poor friend Captain Wardlaw mortally wounded ; indeed he died almost immediately, the ball having entered below his left breast. 1 had his body carried to the rear and interred in the right hand village of the Arapiles (not the one in which he fell) by an officer and a party. You must be aw^are little time was aflbrded us at the close of a hard fought day." " I, as well as every * To Mr. Ogilvy, December 16tli 1808. t Xieutenant Micldleton, 95th Kegiment. 144 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. officer of the battalion who was favoured Avith his acquaintance." writes the same officer to Mr. Wardlaw senior, " feel his loss and deeply regret it ; but we have this satisfaction that he fell victorious." Such is ever the soldier's consolation, and it is some- thing ; for if one's friends are to fall in battle, one would rather that they fell " with their back to the field and their face to the foe," and that they shed not their blood in vain, but died amid the shout of victory, than that they should have been overtaken in flight, or perished in some inglorious disaster. But to the wounded and bleeding heart of domestic love, some profounder and more abiding consolation must be supplied if it is to cease to throb with the anguish of bereavement ; and to the heart of the Christian whose mind turns chiefly to the solemn spiritual issues of death, nothing but the assurance that those he loves have " fallen asleep in Jesus," will minister any effectual assuage- ment of sorrow. Happily the Wardlaw family were not left without some pleasing grounds for believing that the beloved relative they had lost had not been inattentive to those things which concerned his peace. After the first outburst of grief, therefore, they sorrowed not as those who have no hope ; and at the worst they knew where the only true consolation amid the sorrows and trials of life is to be found ; and they betook them- selves to Him to whom no mourner ever cried in vain. Of the emotions excited by this visitation on the mind of the subject of this memoir, the following extracts from a letter to Mrs. Wardlaw, who was then residing at Helensburgh with their children, will afford sufficient evidence. Glasgow, August 24, 1812. .... My beloved and revered father continues wonderfully composed, experiencing, I have no doubt, the truth of the divine promise, "as thy days are so shall thy strength be." He indulges the wish, and it is a highly natural one — one in which I cannot help joining, to be acquainted with the particular circumstances of the mournful event. It is possible they may he such as, when we have learned them, may make us wish again that we had remained in ignorance. Yet, still conjecture is dreary and unsa- tisfying ; and busy imagination is ever apt to conjure up suppositions more dismal than the reality. We live in the hope of some accounts by the next arrivals. How incredulous we are of what is absent and distant ! I hardly can A brother's grief, 145 bring myself even yet to a conviction of the melancholy fact. But alas ! it is too true. My dear dear brother will never again revisit his native land. All his own schemes and prospects, and all the fond hopes and wishes of his friends have fallen with him on that fatal day, and we shall never see him more ! you will feel along with me an attachment to that unseen spot of ground which now holds his loved remains. The place is consecrated in my affections. The desire to be there has possessed my mind so powerfully that I feel as if I could set out for Spain on purpose to survey the scene and weep over the turf that covers his manly form. But while I feel such attachment to this spot of Spanish territori/, and Avould fondly visit the fatal heights of the Arapiles, neither my attachment nor yours can well be increased towards the Spanish peoi^le. Indeed, amidst all the depression and solemnity of grief, I cannot help at times feeling my spirit stirred in me when I think of the mournful list exhibited in the late Gazette — the blood of so many thousands of British and Portuguese flowing in their service — and amongst these the kindred blood of a dear brother — and about half-a-dozen falling of that very people for whom ail this precious life is expended.* I have never seen so completely unhinged as he has been on this mournful occasion. He is in deep disti-ess. His mind seems to be inces- santly on the Arapiles ; and nothing appears to afford him any sort of enjoyment. These fatal heights he is resolved to see if he lives ; and some memorial of poor dear John must, if it be possible, be placed on the spot where he fell. All this springs from nature, and I admire it. It has been, and is my earnest prayer, that the dispensation which works thus keenly on his natural feelings may be blessed of God to produce feelings of a still higher order. 0 if such an effect as this were to appear we should see a most precious end answered indeed — the natural death of one brother made the instrument of the spiritual life of another. May the God of all grace grant it ! On Sabbath, although I preached only twice, I was thoroughly exhausted; not by the mere exertion of body you may suppose, but my mind had been like a spring wound up by a continued and painful effort during the whole day, especially in the afternoon, when I preached from Matt. x. 29 ; and when I had finished my work it unbent in absolute weakness Amidst all my bitter musings on this trying dispensation, there is one topic that is for ever recurring to my mind, and it is out of all comparison, when it presents itself in certain views, the bitterest of all. You know what I mean. To my dear father I dare not speak of it with any freedom. Any hints I have thrown out have of course been, as far as truth would permit, of a comfortable kind. But oh I if it pleased God to present any more satisfactory evidence of my dear brother's having tasted of His grace, having, ere he breathed his last, commended his departing soul to the Saviour of sinners, what a load of distress would be lifted from my spirit. The cup would be sweetness itself compared with what it is. I have never in the case of so near a relative experienced this feeling before ; and I find that even a doubt here is insvipportable. Yet I would fondly indulge some hope * Not even so many ! The niunbor of British killed and wounded at Salamanca was 2714, and of Portuguese 1552, while only/owr Spaniards were touched. When it is remembered that the battle was fought on Spanish ground and for Spanish interests, such dastardly timidity is without a parallel in history. L 140 MEMOlItS OF DR. WARDLAW. that John was not of late entirely free of serious impressions of those truths which early instruction had instilled into his mind, that the perils and sur- rounding deaths of this last awful battle might strike these home more powerfully on his mind, and that in feeling his life departing he might throw himself on the free and rich mercy of God in Jesus Christ. A state of agonizing doubt like this is inexpressibly painful ; and when it once seizes the mind it becomes absolutely tyrannical, refusing to depart or to be solaced. Mr. Wardlaw reverts to this subject again and again, as if unable to cast it from him. And yet there were circumstances which to a mind less racked with anxiety were calculated to suggest hope. In this light they appeared to his friend ]\Ir. Aikman, one of the most judicious as well as conscientious of men, who, in a letter written on 2d of September to Mr. Wardlaw, thus gives expression to his feelings on the subject: — " I recollected with a degree of satisfaction, after hearing of the event, what you had mentioned to me of your brother's requesting so earnestly that his Bible should be sent him. I felt pleasure in encouraging the thought that you were not utterly destitute of hope in your brother's death. The desire that appears to have been revived in his mind again to return to the living fountain may be regarded, I think, as indicating a state of mind which in the hour of danger would lead with renewed ardour to Him of whom Moses in the Law and the prophets did write. And I have often thought it a most soothing and just remark of Mr. Traill that ' there never perished a sinner who died looking to Jesus Christ.' I hope your dear brother may be found at last amongst this blessed number." The sermon referred to in the preceding letter was preached with a view to improve the melancholy event, and it was after- wards published in a somewhat expanded form under the title, " The Doctrine of a Particular Providence : a Sermon preached in Albion Street Chapel, Glasgow, on Lord's Day, August 23d, 1812, on occasion of the death of the Author's brother Captain John Wardlaw, who fell in the battle of Salamanca on the 22d of the preceding month ;" w'ith the motto, " 0 Jonathan, thou wast slain in thy high places : I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan." This discourse is one of the ablest its author SERMON ON PROVIDENCE. 147 has published ; and the esteem in which it was held at the time of its publication may be judged of from the fact of its passing through three editions — an honour seldom conceded to single sermons, which for the most part die in the cradle. For this it was not indebted to any adventitious interest created by a rheto- rical use of the circumstances under which it was delivered ; for to these the author, with an abstemiousness which is almost excessive, but which was probably rendered necessary by the very depth of his own emotions, hardly ever alludes except in the most distant and cursory manner. The value of the discourse lies in the clear, solid, scriptural and in every respect able exposition and defence which it contains of the doctrine of a particular Providence ; and in the judicious application of this doctrine to the consolation of those who are perplexed and distressed by the calamities of life. From some references to a well-known article in the Edinburgh Review which had appeared shortly before, and which the author, though a clergyman of the Church of England, has since not been ashamed to republish among his collected works, I am inclined to believe that the subject had been for some time previously before Mr. Wardlaw's mind, and that it was in consequence of feeling the preciousness to himself of the doctrine which Mr. Sydney Smith had tried so profanely to ridicule, that he was led to make it the theme of discourse on the occasion of his brother's death. Be this as it may, however, the sermon is no hasty or perfunctory production ; it is the mature work of a theologian and a philosopher, and as such deserves to be perused by all who would have their minds enlightened or confirmed on the subject to which it relates. I may add that it contains some passages, especially in the latter part of it, marked by all the features of that serene eloquence which peculiarly characterised its author's best pulpit efforts. The numerous and engrossing duties in which he had this year been engaged did not prevent Mr. Wardlaw from regularly attending the meetings and taking a share in the business of the Literary and Commercial Society. Two papers were read by him this j^ear before its members ; one on the 5th of March on the 148 MEMOIIIS OF DR. WARDLAW. subject of " Artificial Memory;" the other on the 3d of Decem- ber on the subject of " Divorce," being the second essay on tliat subject which he had contributed to the Transactions of the Society. To the Missionary Magazine also he sent three papers this year, which appeared in the numbers for January, Fe- bruary, and March. They are all on the same subject — " The Supreme Divinity and Distinct Personality of Christ asserted in John i. 1-4." In these papers we have the fu'st rough sketch of thoughts, reasonings and criticisms which were afterwards to be reproduced in a more effective form, in a work which consti- tuted its author's first extended publication, and still constitutes one of his most enduring claims to the respect and homage of the Church of Christ. 149 OHAPTEK VI. A. D. 1813— A. D. 1819. Mr. Wardlaw had now passed through the initiatory stage of his career as a pubKc man. He had succeeded in collecting a congregation, respectable both for its numbers and the intelli- gence and piety of its members. He had outlived the storms and surmounted the difficulties under which not a few of his brethren had sunk. He had obtained a position of influence in the denomination to which he belonged, and had been placed by them in a situation of responsibility and trust as one of the professors in their theological school. And he had made suc- cessive appearances on the field of authorship, by which his name had been carried to many parts of the kingdom where as yet his face and voice were unknown. All the while his own intellectual strength and resources had been increasing, and with these his skill and fitness for the efficient use of his powers and acquirements in the service of his Divine ]\Iaster. The leadings of Providence were about to conduct him to a field where he had scope and occasion for his best efforts in the defence and vindication of his Master's claims. The papers which he communicated in the beginning of 1812 to the Missionary Magazine show that he was at that time engaged in inquiries relative to the scriptural evidence in support of the supreme divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ. To these he was in the first instance led by his official duty as a theological professor, and at first he seems to have had no intention of employing his materials hi any more public service than that of the class-room. In the beginning of 1813, however, being 150 MEMOIRS OF DI?. WARDLAW. anxious to select some suitable subject for a course of lectures to be delivered once a month on the Sabbath evenmg in his chapel, he was induced to fix upon the subject of our Lord's Divinity and Atonement, partly because he had the materials for a course on that subject partially cohected, partly because through the efforts of the Unitarians in Glasgow public attention was already directed to the questions at issue between them and the evan- gelical churches. He accordingly announced a course of lectures on this subject, and delivered the first on the evening of the first Sabbath in March. The interest excited by these lectures was great ; more especially as Mr. Yates, the Unitarian minister, was in the habit of attending on Mr. Wardlaw's lectures and reply- ing to his statements on a subsequent evening in his own chapel. Very much against the wishes of the pastor of Albion Street Chapel he was thus compelled to assume the appearance of a polemic who was engaged in a series of regular pitched battles with an antagonist. Disagreeable as this was, however, he felt that having once entered the arena he must hold on unflinchingly in his defence of the truth. To mitigate as much as possible the appearance of intentional conflict, as well as from some con- scientious scruples about joining or seeming to join in worship with Unitarians, he did not return the compliment of going to Mr. Yates's chapel to hear his lectures. This exposed him in some quarters to a charge of illiberality, under which, however, he sat very easily. With Mr. Yates himself he continued on terms of friendly intercourse ; their acquaintance having com- menced at the meetings of the Literary and Commercial Society ; though the sensitiveness of Mr. Yates and his proneness to regard all the hard hits dealt by Mr. Wardlaw to the Unitarian dogmas and arguments, as intentional insults to the members of that body, had well nigh endangered their amicable relations at the outset of the controversy. Mr. Wardlaw's course was no sooner finished than he received numerous and urgent apphcations to commit his discourses to the press. With this request he complied, and in the preparation of them for publication all his spare time during the ensuing winter SOCINIAN CONTROVERSY. 151 was occupied. They appeared in an octavo volume in the spring of 1814, and were immediately welcomed by the public both in Scotland and England as a most seasonable, lucid and convincing defence of the fundamental doctrines of the Christian system. In the review^s of the day the volume was commended in the strongest terms, and the author received from many quarters letters of thanks and praise that must have afforded him peculiar gratification and encouragement. Among the rest his former professor, the vene- rable Dr. Lawson of Selkirk, wrote him a cordial (though almost utterly undecipherable) epistle, of which I can make out this much, that he could give the lectures "a high degree of almost unqualified praise," and that he thought no answers could be given to the arguments employed " but such as must carry in them plain marks of their futility." In America also the work speedily excited notice and obtained extensive circulation, an edition of 1500 copies being quickly disposed of. The late Dr. Leonard Woods of Andover says respecting it, that it " was of great value in New England. It Avas published," he adds, " at a time when such a work was much needed It was circulated and read extensively, and did much towards strengthening the decided friends of truth, enlightening and confirming the wavering and checking the confidence and zeal of Unitarians."* To the same effect also is the testimony of Dr. ]\Iorse of Charlestown, wdio in a letter to the author, dated February 14, 1816, says, "Never did a work arrive more seasonably. It found us just at the com- mencement of an open controversy on the very points of which you treat, and coming from abroad — from one against whom no personal prejudices had been excited, and happily written in so good a spirit, it had the greater weight and more extensive influ- ence. Very many have reason to thank God for the effects * Letter to Miss WarJlaw, 22(.VApril 1854. Since the date of tins letter the venerable writer of it has been taken to his rest. Between him and the subject of this memoir there subsisted a cordial and admiring friendship which was sustained by a steady epistolary correspondence. In many respects they mentally resembled each other, and it would appear that in outward appearance they were singularly alike, for Mrs. Stowe in her Sunny Memories says, " Dr. Wardlaw is a venerable- looking old man ; we both thought we saw a striking resemblance in him to our friend Dr. Woods of Andover." 152 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. produced by it in establishing and confirming those who are sound in the faith, and in several instances (we know not in how many) convincing those who had embraced error." Of a work so generally known and which has now attained the rank of one of the standard books of British theology it is mmecessary to ofi'er here any analysis ; and any but the shortest critique upon it would be out of place. Suffice it, therefore, to say that whilst it is more popular in its cast, and has less of learning and force than the nearly contemporary works of Horsely and Magee, it is inferior to neither of them in clearness and cogency of reasoning, and is greatly superior to both in suavity of manner, grace of diction, fulness of scriptural illustration, and depth and unction of spiritual feeling.* At the time it appeared it was very much the work that was wanted in this country no less than in America, to counteract the effect on the popular mind of such writings as those of Priestley, Lindsay and Belsham. If the different ground now assumed by Unitarians, who no longer make a fashion of appealing to Scripture as an objective standard of religious truth, but would draw all from within and submit all to a purely subjective test, have rendered it less important in a polemical point of view, to the scientific theologian who is con- cerned to estimate all the forms of religious opinion that have prevailed among men by their relation to the written Word of God, and to the practical Christian who is desirous to possess clear and correct conceptions of revealed truth both in its principle and in its application, the book will continue to possess a more than common value, f * The fourth edition of Magee's work appeared after the publication of Mr. Wardhxw's discourses. In it the learned and able prelate takes occasion to refer repeatedly to them, and always in terms of the highest commendation of their author. He speaks of him as " having treated many points of this controversy with great ability," as one "whose services in the cause of Christian truth are highly valuable," and as one " who ti'eats whatever he handles with singular clearness and good sense."— Works, vol. ii. pp. 174, 205, 257. f The high estimate formed of this work by the late eminent Eobert Hall may be gathered from the statement in his Life by Dr. Gregory, that when strongly urged to"publish some lectures he had delivered at Leicester on Socinianism, he alleged as one principal reason for declining, that " Dr. Wardlaw had so admirably occupied the ground in his sermons, already before the public, that anything he could offer in print would only be regarded as an impertinent intrusion." — W^orks. vol. vi. p. 94. TOUR IN IRELAND. 153 Whilst preparing this vohime for the press Mr. Wardlaw and his partner in hfe were called to experience the mingled joys and sorrows of domestic life, first in the addition to their family of a son, born on the 25th July 1813, and then in the death of one of their daughters, " a singularly engaging and precious little girl of two years and two months of age,"* who was taken from them by measles on the last day of February 1814. The latter of these dispensations was acutely felt, but it was borne with Christian resignation, and with a desire for the due improvement of the trial. " I trust the disciphne has not been utterly ineffectual," he writes, in announcing the event to his friend Burder ; " may it have more and more influence ' through your prayer and the supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ.' " Almost immediately on the appearance of Mr. Wardlaw's discourses Mr. Yates announced his intention of publishing a reply to them. AVhilst this was preparing, Mr. Wardlaw, desirous of some relaxation after the labours he had passed through, and in anticipation of those which in all probability Mr. Yates's volume would impose upon him ere long, left home to make a short tour in Ireland. On this occasion he visited with special interest the capital of that island, and formed or revived acquaintance with several of its religious celebrities, such as Dr. Thorpe, Mr. Walker, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Cooper, &c. He also travelled into some of the remoter districts of the country, and had a survey " of the true aboriginal Irish," as they are found in the province of Connaught. He returned much delighted with his tour. " I enjoyed," he writes, " my trip to our sister island very much, and trust I was the better for it both in body and spirit. I flatter myself the dawn has now broken upon Ireland which will shine more and more rmto the perfect day. May the God of providence and grace send prosperity ! "f These sentences, whatever they may say for the writer's prophe- tical powers, are important as indicating how strong even at this early period was the interest which he felt for the welfare * Letter to Rev. H. F. Burder, April 19tb, 1814. t Letter to Rev. H. F. Burder, 14tli December 1814. 154 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. of Ireland— an interest which remained unabated to his dying day. When he left home, his uncle Walter Ewing IMaclae, Esq, of Cathkin, was in a state of health which excited some anxiety in his mind as to the result, but which was not such as to threaten any speedy termination of that useful life. When in Dublin Mr. Wardlaw addressed to him a letter full of cheerful piety and godly comfort, and concluded by expressing a hope on his return to find his uncle as much better as he wished him to be. This hope, however, he was not privileged to realise. When he was on his way home ]\Ir. Ewing Maclae died, so that he had not " the mournful satisfaction of seeing him before his departure, or even of accompanying his mortal remains to the tomb."* The loss of this valued relation — one to whom he was attached " by the various ties of kindred, of grace and of gra- titude," as he himself expresses it — he felt acutely. On an early opportunity he sought to improve the event from the pulpit ; and the sermon which he preached on that occasion was printed but not pubhshed.t Whilst Mr. Wardlaw was in Ireland, Mr; Yates addressed to him the following letter : — Glasgow, October 17th, 1814. My dear Sir — I am sensible that I have great need of your indulgence for neglecting so long to acknowledge the receipt of your late publication. My delay has been occasioned by a variety of avocations, which prevented me from turning myself to this subject until about six weeks ago. Having now perused your discourses with great diligence, I have the pleasure of thank- ing you most sincerely for your obliging attention in sending me a copy. I shall not in this letter give an opinion of the work, because you will find my thoughts freely expressed both as to its merits and its defects in the reply, which will shortly appear. But I have a request to make of you, the im- portance of which, I trust, merits your consideration. Being exceedingly desirous that our controversy should go no farther, I wish you, if it would not interfere too much with your many useful occupations, to take the trouble of looking over my manuscript before it goes to the press, with the three following views : — In the first place, if I have anyv/here mistaken or misrepresented your meaning, I shall be particularly indebted to you if you will point out to me my error. * Letter to the Rev. H. F. Burder, 14th December 1814. f See Appendix E. CORRESPONDENCE WITH YATES. 155 Secondly, If you perceive any of my own statements or reasonings to be fallacious, and can convince me with convenient brevity of their impropriety, this also will l)e a great favour, and I shall be ready in each instance to make a public acknowledgment of my obligation to you. Thirdly, If you should think that I have detected in your work any in- accuracy, misstatement, inconsistency or false reasoning, and wish to retract what you have said, I shall gladly allow you an opportunity of doing it in my pages, in any way the most agreeable to yourself, which I shall think consistent with what is incumbent upon me in defending my side of the ([uestion. Although I have been under the painful necessity of replying to a con- siderable number of what appear to me to be palpable misstatements of facts and bitter misrepresentations of Unitarianism, yet, believing that these have arisen from no worse causes than carelessness, ignorance and over- heated zeal, and that th.^ friendly expressions in your volume are to be con- sidered as the true index of your heart, I am, dear Sir, and wish to remain yours, &c. . ' James Yates, P. S. — I shall probably prefix this letter to my reply, that if any dis- agreeable consequences do ensue from this controversy, the public may see that I am not responsible for them. To this letter Mr. Wardlaw sent the following reply : — Nov. 7th, 1814. My dear Sir — On my return from Ireland ten days ago I found awaiting me your letter of the 17th ult., my reply to which has been delayed by a variety of necessary engagements since coming home. I feel obliged by your polite acknowledgment of the copy of my work which I had the pleasure of sending you at the time of its publication. But with the proposal which it is the chief object of your letter to make and to recom- mend, I cannot comply, for the following reasons : — 1. Had this proposal been in its own nature reasonable and fair, such compliance would have been precluded by the circumstance that your MS. having now gone to press, I could not have the Avhole of it subjected to my inspection. 2. The hasty perusal of a MS., either already at press, or longing to be there, would be quite incompatible with that mature and deliberate exami- nation which, on a subject of such importance, I should consider requisite to do justice either to myself, or, which is of unspeakably greater conse- quence, to the cause which I have undertaken to plead. But — 3. The proposal in itself is, on various accounts, altogether inadmis- sible. First of all, my reasonings, as you hint, must be stated with " conveni- ent brevit}/" that is, with brevity convenient for you, bvit which might not on all occasions be quite convenient for myself. Indeed, I should feel at a loss to know for my direction in writing what degree of latitude this phrase is intended to allow me. Secondly, while you would "gladly allow me an opportunity" of making my concessions and retractions " in your pages in any way the most agreeable to myself," it must still of course be such a way " as you will think consistent with vjhat is incumbent on you in defending your side of the question^ Now do you seriously think it would 156 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. be quite consistent with what is incumbent on me in defending mtj side of the question, to commit the manner of my reply to the option of my oppo- nent, giving him a veto on my own choice ? 3dly, Am I to understand that you would allow whatever I might think proper to write to be inserted in your pages, tvithout note or comment — without any attempt on your part to invalidate its force 1 Were you to do that, you would, I think, be unfaithful to yourself, and yet were you to do otherwise you would be unfaithful to me. For, to offer any remarks in the way of answer, which were not pre- viously submitted to my revision, would be palpable deceit and treachery, such as might still necessitate on my part that prolongation of the contro- versy which you so strongly deprecate. Who would consent to be a respondent in such circumstances and on such conditions as these 1 I am very sure you would not yourself ; nor do I find it easy to bring myself to the persuasion that you ever could seri- ously indulge any expectation of my compliance. In the P.S. to your letter you intimate that you will probably prefix your letter to your intended reply, " that if any disagreeable consequences do ensue from this controversy, the public may see that I am not respon- sible for them." To what description of disagreeable consequences you here refer I am at a loss to understand. And I am still more at a loss to imagine how the publication of your letter is to exonerate you from respon- sibility as to such consequences, should they ensue. You and I, my dear Sir, are both of us responsible — and responsible to a much higher tribunal than that of the public for every thing we preach and every thing we publish on this and on all other subjects ; and it well becomes us both to preach and to publish under the solemn impression of such responsibility. Whether it will be needful for me, in justice to the cause of truth, to answer your reply, I cannot tell, till I shall have seen and examined it. But the controversy must go on in the usual course. A cojtartnery work such as you propose would be, I presume, quite unique, and in my judgment as unsatisfactory as unprecedented. It is my earnest prayer to God that he may direct both my understanding and my spirit in maintaining his cause. And I trust you will excuse me for just hint- ing that the dictation of a few inaccurate statements or inconclusive reasonings in my volume (if such there be), may leave entii-ely unaffected the great mass and main body of the argument. With the skill of an expert sharpshooter you may descry, and you may disable or kill a de- tached straggler here and there about the walls, while the fortress remains in impregnable possession of the garrison. I trust I shall ever be pre- served from that self-sufficient folly which will contend against convic- tion rather than humble itself to the acknowledgment of an error. The charges, however, of carelessness, and ignorance and bitter misrepresenta- tion, it belongs to you on the present occasion to substantiate. As to overheated zeal, it is my daily complaint to the Master whom I serve that its temperature is so low. The friendly expressions in my volume were used, you may be well assured, bona fide. I cannot be more your friend than by wishing you brought to a change of mind, and to the acknowledgment of the truth as it is in Jesus ; and with the same sincerity that dictated the expressions you allude to, I subscribe myself, my dear Sir, respectfully yours, R. W. YATES S VINDICATION. 157 r.iS. — I take it for granted that if you do prefix your letter to your reply, agreeably to the intention intimated in your P.S., you will feel the propriety of inserting this answer along with it. R. W. It may be taken as an indication of the sort of man Mr. Wardlaw had to deal with in this controversy, that Mr. Yates actually did publish both these letters in his reply. Most men, after reading Mr. Wardlaw's answer, Avould have felt that in making such a proposal as Mr. Yates's letter contains, they had done a somewhat foolish thing, and that the best course would be to allow the correspondence to fall into oblivion. But the same indiscretion which had led to the proposal seems to have prevented the author of it from finding how completely the absurdity of it had been exposed by the party to whom it had been made ; while the opportunity of acting before the public the part of a paragon of courtesy, candour and magnanimity, rendered the temptation to print the correspondence, with such comments as Mr. Yates thought most likely to tell, irresistible. The whole accordingly appears at the end of Mr. Yates's volume, and characteristically winds up that performance. The title of Mr. Yates's volume is, "A Vindication of Uni- tarianism, in reply to Mr. Wardlaw's Discourses on the Socinian Controversy. By James Yates, M.A." He has divided his work into three parts; of which the first is devoted to some general observations on the proper methods of conducting such investigations, and on the Unitarian view^s of the reverence due to Scripture and the propriety of believing in mysteries ; the second contains an exposition of the Unitarian doctrine con- cerning the Godhead ; and the third is occupied chiefly in a reply to the arguments adduced by Mr. Wardlaw in support of Trinitarian views. At the commencement and the close several pages are occupied with matter of a personal kind. It is not to be denied that Mr. Yates shows through this production a considerable degree of cleverness and dexterity, as well as a respectable amount of biblical and classical learning. But no person who reads his volume will rise from it with a very profound sense of the general powers of the author's mind, 158 MEMOIRS OF DH. WARDLAW. either as a thinker or as a logician ; nor is it possible to divest ourselves of the impression that the moral character of the book is not what it ought to be ; for, amid continual professions of candour and incessant protests against the wrong done to Uni- tarians by his opponent, there are so many gross misrepresenta- tions of Mr. Wardlaw's meaning, and so many strange perver- sions of his words, that it is very hard to believe that they could have been unintentional. A certain tone of jauntiness and petulance also pervades the work which does not com- municate a very pleasing impression of the writer's earnestness, and suggests the idea rather of a party advocate than of one pleading in defence of what he himself felt to be solid and im- portant truths. Shortly after the appearance of Mr. Yates's Vindication, it was somewhat severely handled by the Rev. John Brown of Biggar — now the Rev, Dr. Brown of Edinburgh — in a pamphlet entitled, "Strictures on Mr. Yates's Vindication of Unitarianism." These Strictures, originally intended for an article in one of the periodical journals, are chiefly directed against the critical and exegetical enormities of ]\Ir. Yates's volume ; and as they are marked by the same soundness of learning, clearness of discri- mination and precision of statement which lend so much value to their author's maturer contributions to biblical exegesis, they did not fail at the time to be hailed by the friends of the evan- gelical cause, as a very seasonable and a very effective contri- bution to its interests. In the judgment of some, indeed, the writer was thought to have indulged in too great keenness of sarcasm — a judgment in which Mr. Wardlaw seems to have shared, for he intimates, in referring to the Strictures in the preface to his own reply to Mr. Yates, that he was restrained from uttering any censure on his friend's "sarcastic asperity" only by a fear lest he might have himself erred in that way to such an extent as to provoke the retort, " physician heal thyself" I confess I cannot sympathise in this feeling. Mr. Brown's Strictures are undoubtedly sharp and oftentimes sarcastic ; but before this is condemned we must be satisfied that the severity brown's strictures on YATES. 159 was disproportionate to the offence it was designed to rebuke, and that such was not the best way of deahng with the adver- sary whom he had to confute. Mr. Wardlaw admits that the trial of temper to which Mr. Yates subjected his opponents was very severe ; and in such a case it is pertinent to ask whether a good end may not be answered by following the command which the Apostle gives in reference to certain persons who were walking disorderly in the early church, to " rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith."* I can under- stand why men of earnest minds who have swerved from the truth, but are still piously seeking it, should be dealt with gently and persuasively ; but when one enters the arena against a thorough- going combatant such as Mv. Yates, I am apt to think that deli- cacy of this sort may be carried a great deal too far. I even venture to believe that in Mr. Wardlaw's case it teas carried a little too far, and that he would have done his part nothing the worse if he had written less under the restraint which a con- tinual dread of undue severity imposed. This I find was the opinion of one of his intimate friends, than whom few of his contemporaries were better able to judge in such a case, I mean Dr. Charles Stuart. Writing to Mr. W. he says, under date of May 5, 1815, " I have gone over Yates. It is an insidious performance ; but I have been charmed with the coup de grace it has got from Mr. Brown. I wrote him a few lines to express my delight with both the matter and the manner of his Stric- tures, I think he points out a far more excellent way of treat- ing such enemies of the truth than your letters to him — able and exceUent as they are, my friend— exhibit." Mr. Wardlaw's reply to Mr. Yates's Vindication appeared in the summer of 1816, under the title, " Unitarianism incapable of Vindication : a Reply to the Rev. James Yates's Vindication of Unitarianism." It forms an octavo volume of 416 pages ; and is dedicated to the author's father in the following affec- tionate terms : — 160 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. Dear and honoured Sir — I feel peculiar satisfaction in inscribing this volume to you, without your privacy, as a slight acknowledgment of obliga- tions which I am fully sensible can never be discharged. To you, under Divine Providence, I am indebted for all that a son can owe to an affectionate and pious father ; especially for the inestimable blessing of early religious instruction, imparted with tender solicitude, sanctified by fervent prayer, and recommended by the force of consistent example. During a long and chequered pilgrimage you have oft experienced the cheering influence of those blessed truths which in this and a former volume I have endeavoui-ed to defend; and have been enabled "without rebuke" to exemplify their practical efficacy in the faithful discharge of all the personal and relative duties of public and private life. May the God whom you have served from childhood to age gladden the evening of your daj's with "the light of his countenance ;" and, when the hour shall arrive — may it yet be distant ! — that shall close the period of your residence on earth, receive you in peace and triumph to that celestial home which has so long been the goal of your hopes and desires, where the sorrows of time shall give place to the unmingled joys of eternity. With every sentiment of filial reverence and love, I am, &c. Mr. AVardlaw, like his opponent, has divided his work into three parts. In the first he disposes of observations on various topics of prehminary discussion ; in the second he defends the reasonings of his discourses in support of the Trinity and of the Divinity of Christ against tlie animadversions of Mr. Yates ; and in the third he examines the more direct evidence adduced by Mr. Yates in support of the principles of Unitarianism. In the second and third of these parts he enters very fully into the examination of Mr. Yates's reasonings and statements, meet- ing his learning with at least equal learning, and bringing to bear upon him a battery of logical artillery which, both in weight of metal and skill of gunnery, must have considerably surpassed anything he had anticipated when he ventured into the field. ]\Ir. Wardlaw entered on this reply reluctantly, from an unwillingness to be engaged in controversy ; but once em- barked in it, he threw into it all his vigour, and summoned to it all his resources. He wished " to make it a final answer," and he has succeeded. He leaves no statement or argument of his antagonist unnoticed ; and with hardly an exception he disposes of Avhat the latter has advanced so as to render any further investigation unnecessary. The triumph was complete. Mr. Yates indeed still attempted to prolong the struggle by REPLY TO YATES. 161 issuing a Sequel to his Vindication, in which he acquitted himself Avith even greater ability than in his former publication ; but beyond a few points of minor importance, this second assault left his opponent's positions untouched. So much was this generally felt to be the case that Mr. Wardlaw allowed the Sequel to remain without any reply .'^ * The late Dr. Payne in liis Lectures on Christian Theology, vol. ii. p. 118, ff. in reference to one part of Mr. Wardlaw's reply, says, " I am constrained to acknow- ledge that while his critical sagacity sinks on this point in comimrison with his antagonist, his oi'dinary judgment appears in some measure to have deserted him." The point referred to relates to the force of the prepositions ha and ii^o as used to denote agency. Mr. Yates, in endeavouring to set aside the evidence accruing from such passages as John i. 3, 10 ; Col. i. 16, 17, in favour of the supreme deity of Jesus Christ, from their ascribing to him the work of creation, argues that the preposition used is ha, which simply denotes mediate or instrumental efficiency, whereas the preposition which alone is used to denote primary and immediate efficiency is vto. To this Mr. Wardlaw replies by showing that this rule, though expressing a general law of Greek syntax, is by no means universal, for that cases occur in which u^ro denotes instrumental and S/a denotes primary efficiency ; adducing in proof four passages from the New Testament for the former and eighteen for the latter. After carefully considering the statements of both con- troversialists, I can see no ground whatever for Dr. Payne's somewhat severe animadversions. I can detect no sinldng on the part of Mr. AVardlaw's "critical .sagacity," either in the ground he has assumed or in the evidence by which he sustains it ; and in what pai-ticular he has allowed his ordinary judgment to desert him I cannot discover. To me his reply, so far as it goes, seems conclusive and felicitous. He shows that what Mr. Y^ates affirms to be a universal rule of Greek syntax is not so, and he takes advantage of what his antagonist has advanced that is really true to point out that he " has forged a weapon against himself." It is true that oil the instances he adduces are not safe from the detracting influence of a various reading ; but the great majority of them are critically unimpeachable, and sufficient to prove that no such conclusive canon as Mr. Yates has laid down can be admitted. The authority of the best lexicographers and grammai'ians is on Mr. Wardlaw's side ; and indisputable instances from classical authors may be adduced in his support. I content myself with transcribing the following from Kuehner's Grammatilc : — " In a causal relation [?;« with the genitive is used] .... (c) to denote the originator, as §/' lavrou frequently in prose, 2/ s/tou Demosth., S/ Imivou Tliuk." (II. 282) ; and referring to the Wiirterbuch of Pape in voc. for other instances. AVhilst, however, I must maintain that in this discussion Mr. Wardlaw proved himself equal if not superior to his adversary, I feel constrained to add that the discussion itself appears to me superfluous. The idea conveyed by lia. when used with the genitive of a per- son is simply and invariably that of agency. When, therefore, it is said, as in John i. 3, of Christ, that " all things were made, S/' avroZ," the only admissible meaning is that " all things were made by his agency ;" but whether he was a j^rimary agent or a secondary must be determined by the nature of the case ; and it remains for Uni- tarians to show how in such a case as that of creation the agency can be secondary. If it may be shown that creation can be accomplished through a communicated power, I do not see how such passages a.s John i. 3, 10, &c., can be retained as proof- passages of our Ijord's true deity. If. on the other hand, this can not be shown, W 162 MEMOIRS OF Dll. WARDLAW. This silence was peculiarly offensive to Mr. Yates, and he allowed his displeasure to show itself several years afterwards, when on issuing a second edition of his Sequel he bitterly com- plained in an advertisement prefixed to it that his opponent had behaved ungenerously to him, in allowing an accusation which he had refuted to remain unrecalled for six years. As this belongs to the period of Mr. Wardlaw's life now before us, it may be proper to insert here his reply to this complaint, though it did not appear till he issued the fourth edition of his Discourses in 1828. After considerable hesitation, however, I feel that I cannot leave alto- gether unnoticed an advertisement prefixed by Mr. Yates to the Second Edition of his " Sequel to the Vindication of Unitariauism ;" because my allowing the present opportunity to pass without explanation, might be interpreted by him, either as a disingenuous and pitiful way of admitting what I had not the frankness openly to confess, or as indicative of an unseemly and irritating disdain of himself and his complaint ; to neither of which conclusions, as both would be alike groundless, should I wish to stand exposed. In this advertisement, after appropriating all the cour- tesy in the conduct of our controversy to himself, and assigning the con- tumely to me, — (a representation, the justness of which I must leave to his own second thoughts and to the judgment of those who have read the works on both sides), — he lodges a heavy complaint against me, for having charged him with " deliberate and wilful misrepresentation," and for having allowed this charge to hang over him for six years, observing a profound silence, notwithstanding his having completely justified himself from the accusa- tion, and called upon me as a man of honour and integrity, to correct my statements. Now, if I was then chargeable with wrong, the delinquency has since been doubled by the lapse of six years more. Nothing assuredly should give us more sincere pleasure, than finding ourselves at liberty to withdraw an accusation, which, in spite of the charity that " thinketh no evil," we have been constrained to bring against our neighbour : — and, had Mr. Yates's justification of himself appeared to my mind as satisfactory as it did to his own, I trust I should have been enabled to do this long ago, with promptitude and cheerfulness. But it was otherwise : and, being sick of debate, I thought it better to be silent. The simple facts are these. In professing to give a statement to his readers of the Trinitarian doctrine respecting the union of the divine and human natures in the person of Christ, my opponent had presented a hideous caricature, in which the attributes of the two natures were blended and the argument from such passages can never be shaken, however many instances are adduced of ^la denoting a subordinate agency, for the nature of the case forbids such a meaning in them. The us2is loqvendi is a valuable guide to the interpreta- tion of Scripture ; but the vsus loquendi can never avail to set aside reason and common sense. REPLY TO YATES. 163 confounded together in heterogeneous and contradictory combination, — as if in his human nature he had been divine, and in his divine nature human. In a subsequent part of his Volume, he showed himself to be (what every one who knew his talents and information must have supposed him to be) perfectly aware, that, according to the views of Trinitarians, the two natures are conceived to remain distinct, their respective properties not being con- founded, but continuing peculiar to each. In these circumstances, I really knew not how to avoid considering the misrepresentation as wilful. I am aware, however, of the temptations that attend controversy. I am aware, that the impression on a man's own mind of the absurdity and contradiction involved in the doctrine of those whom he is opposing may be so very strong, as to form an almost irresistible temptation to him to incorporate with his statement of that doctrine what does not properly pertain to it as held and professed by them, but is in reality the inferential deduction of his own mind. I am quite willing to allow my antagonist, if he chuse to take it, all the benefit of this view of the case. And the very manner in which he justifies himself gives it no small share of verisimilitude. For how does he proceed ? Not by bringing forward from the writings of Trinitarians any statements at all resembling that which he himself had given, but by endeavouring to show, that the contradictions involved in his own representation are really inseparable from their doctrine ; that if they do not hold them, they ought in consistency to hold them ; and that the princij^le which, in their opinion, clears their doctrine of contradiction is, in Ids opinion, the very j^rinciple that leaves it open to the charge. But still, — however sincere he might be in his own conceptions of the Trinitarian doctrine, and however natural and strong the temptation to incorporate these conceptions with his statement of it, — still his doing so was unfair and reprehensible. His duty was, to present their doctrine, without addition or abatement, as actually professed by themselves : — and, having done this, he was quite at liberty to demon- strate, if he could, the inconsistencies and impossibilities which he conceived it to imply. But, instead of this fair and legitimate procedure, to bring forward, as a statement of their principles, what he knew there was not an individual amongst them that would own and subscribe to, — nay, what all of them, with a perfect unanimity, would reject with disgust and indigna- tion ; — this, I must still be allowed to think, — account for it on what prin- ciple we may, — was far from being consistent with the recognized laws of controversial warfare. Had I felt it my duty to reply to Mr. Yates's " Sequel," I might in sub- stance have said all this long ago ; and whilst on a few points of minor importance I might have found occasion for concession, the necessity would have been more frequent for pointed animadversion. But I could perceive no benefit likely to accrue to the cause of truth from protracting the discus- sion. There was enough before the public to enable them to form a judg- ment on all its material points ; and to drain off an important controversy to its dregs has always appeared to me unfavourable to the interests of truth, by giving the appearance of undue consequence to subordinate and nonessen- tial topics, — and leading inconsiderate readers, who cannot fancy that what is deemed worthy of a succession of pamphlets can be of little moment, to the formation of entirely mistaken estimates and false conclusions, — imagining the dispute to be still about the kernel, when it is only about a few frag- ments of the shell. Having no pleasure in disputing for disputation's sake, 164 WEMOniS OF PR. WARDLAW. and convinced that no motive can justify its continuance beyond the point Avhich the cause of truth appears absolutely to require, I thought it prefer- able, in these circumstances, to allow my opponent the advantage of the last word. From the engrossing character of the controversy into which Mr. Wardlaw had been drawn, it had necessarily made a severe demand upon his time and energies. This however did not prevent his continuing to take an interest both in matters of pubhc importance and those of denominational interest. He continued also his attendance on the meetings of the Literary and Commercial Society ; and in 1815 contributed three papers to its transactions, the first on " Female Education," read on the 16th of JMarch, the second read on the 30th of the same month, on "The Evils arising from the Want of a Due Proportion between Crimes and Punishments," and the third, read on Decem- ber 14th, on " The present Persecution of the Protestants in France." The subjects of these papers show the variety of his studies ; and when it is remembered that they were read during the very heat of his controversy with Mr. Yates, they afford indication not only of the versatility of his intellect, but also of the undisturbed buoyancy and vigour with which, notwithstanding the annoyances and anxieties of a great pubhc controversy, he was enabled to pursue studies which had no relation to the sub- ject of that controversy. His increasing duties, however, he began to find incompatible with the retention of his place as secretary of that society, and accordingly in April 1816 he ten- dered his resignation of that office. On this occasion it was moved by Dr. Nimmo and seconded by Mr. Yates that " the society do express in a suitable manner the high sense they entertain of the benefit derived from the judicious manner in which he discharged the duties of Secretary, and their deep regret that his arrangements rendered it necessary for him to resign the office ;" and a committee having been appointed to consider and report as to what was a " suitable manner " of expressing the society's gratitude, the following resolution was in conse- quence adopted on the 27th of April : — TESTIMONIAL. 165 That the Society express to Mr. Wardlaw their most grateful ackuow- ledgments for his judicious and diligent discharge of the office of Secretary, and for the great advantage derived to the Society from the share taken by him in their discussions, and that as a small testimony of their heartfelt esteem for his character, and gratitude for his services, they reqviest his acceptance of a copy of Wetstein's Greek Testament, having a suitable inscription, or of any similar memorial which it would be agreeable to him to receive. Mr. Wardlaw having declared his preference of the work proposed by the society, a copy of Wetstein's New Testament appropriately bound was sent to him, accompanied by a courteous letter from Mr. Yates who had succeeded him in the Secretary- ship. This present bore the following inscription, of which the sentiment is better than the Latinity — " Viro Eeverendo, Rodul- PHO Wardlaw, Pignus Amictti'ae, necnon Atmni Grati Propter MUNUS ScRiBAE ah illo feliciter et diligentissime exactmn, Hocce opus sacrosanctum, D. D. D. Societas Glasguensiu:\i Lit. et COMM. 1815. This gi'atifying tribute of respect and gratitude Mr. Wardlaw acknowledged in the following terms : — The work presented to me is one of great intrinsic value, and shall be preserved by me with peculiar care as a pledge of the regard of gentlemen whose esteem I shall ever account it an honour to have in any measure en- joyed. I cannot however but feel ashamed when I look at it, and consider how slight have been the services to the Society of vifhich it is a declared acknow- ledgment and memorial. Mr. Wardlaw retained his connection with the society for many years after this, and read several papers before it which will be noticed in due course. In the summer of 1815, he had the happiness of resuming personal intercourse with his friend Fletcher, who visited Scot- land that year as one of a deputation from the London Mission- ary Society ; and in October of the same year he renewed the pleasure by visiting his friend at Blackburn, where he was then occupying a sphere of great influence and usefulness. When thus absent from home Mr. Wardlaw was wont frequently, partly for his own amusement, partly for the recreation of those he had left behind, to despatch to his family rhyming letters, giving an 166 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. account of his journey. Of these innocent and oftentimes cleverly executed jeux (Tesp-it the following, sent at this time from Preston, and addressed to Mrs. Wardlaw, may be taken as a spe- cimen : — Preston, October 18, 1815. I hope you will not think I have been in too good spirits when I write you the following notandums of our journey hitherto. They were strung together, as they tell themselves, to while away a waking night. They answered that end ; if they serve the additional one of giving you any amusement, so much the better. 'Twas touch and go — but I got my seat ; — And then — 'twas smash and go— as fleet, (With sixteen prancing horses' feet), As wretched roads permitted. Within — no monstrous oily whale — But " four insides," the pick and wale By Nature form'd to fill a Mail, Our bodies gauged and fitted. By Hamilton and Douglass Mill, And Bodesby End, or what you will. And Elvan Foot, and Ericstone Hill, (A hill that's not to scofFat), At fifteen minutes past eleven, Though rough the roads, yet smartly driven, We came at length to Moffat. With better roads, and drivers gay, Cheer'd with bad whisky and good pay, We roll'd along and drove away. In famous Jehu style. So in my great-coat snugly wrapt, AVith kerchief'd neck, and nicely cap't, I mused — and ftiin I would have nap^t, 'Twixt Moffat and Carlisle. But Morpheus, while my comrades slept, Still on my lids his vigils kept. Nor from his watch five minutes stept, To give those minutes rest. So, failing sleep, I fell to rhyming, And line came after line a-chiming, Each as it could the cadence timing, As to the ranks it press'd. As when the stately wedder leads. With tinkling bell along the meads, The path to where the shepherd feeds, The rest are sure to find it. A JINGLING DESPATCH. 167 So when a line goes — jingle, jingle, Another follows, tingle, tingle, All helter skelter, each comes single, With twenty more behind it. As Ecclefechan near we drew, One of our steeds uneasy grew. As if the beast had lost a shoe — And a shoe, to be sure, was gone. The smith was in bed, but we rous'd him out o't, While the Smith in the coach knew nothing about it,* 'Tis a fact, I assure you, howe'er you may doubt it. So fast asleep was John ! And so was a younker whose thread-mill was roaring, Who lay in the corner most daintily snoring. Like the sounds heard at Carron when cannon are boring, A notable sleeper was he : — Friend Morphevis had given an opiate dose. And inspired with appropriate music his nose ; To oblivion sent were his cares and cold toes. He slept for himself and for me. At half-past six we reach' d Carlisle, And breakfasted and stopt a while ; And then, my dear — what then ? Why then with belly timber lined, Soon as the horn began to wind. We sprang to our berths again. The day was breezy, cool, and clear, The country fine, both far and near, It wanted nothing but my dear, To make me quite enjoy it. Fine ! — I except the Falls of Shap ; Whene'er on them your lot may hap, Improve your time, and take a nap, For better you can't employ it. From stage to stage I need not dance ; At Lancaster we got a glance, (It was no more), of Joseph Frauce,t And then push'd on to Preston : Where after tea, in order due, The drinking of which yields nothing new, Each to his chamber quickly Hew, Glad of a couch to rest on. * His fellow-traveller, f The I!ev. .Joseph France, afterwards of Ham. He had been a Cilasgow student. 168 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. Tired Nature's sweet restorer now Sat softly down upon my brow, And gently closed my eyes ; I slept, and slept, so soft and sound, While all was still and quiet around, Till — it was time to rise. The chaise for Blacklniru at the door. Farewell. Kind love to all friends. TIiG allusion in the first line of the above effusion has reference to what may be regarded as somewhat of an infirmity on the part of the writer — a propensity, namely, to delay to the last moment when he had to set out on a journey, so that his getting off at last was generally a " touch-and-go" matter. An anecdote has been preserved relating to this which is worth recording, as illustrative of his playful and ready wit. He and Mr. Ewing, who, in this respect the opposite of his colleague, was most punctiliously punctual to all engagements, had occasion to go together by one of the Clyde steamers to perform some conjoint duty. Mr. E., as was his wont, was on board long before the time appointed for sailing, and was sitting on the deck with his usual placid exterior, but inwardly fretting over the non-appearance of his companion. At length the moment for sailing had arrived ; the bell had been rung for the last time ; the steam was up ; the vessel was un- moored ; and already the paddle had struck some preliminary strokes when Mr. Wardlaw appeared, and by a vigorous leap succeeded in reaching the paddle-box and saving his distance. As he advanced to salute his friend, it was easy to see that a fraternal admonition was in store for him for his dilatoriness ; so, like a true Scotchman, he determined " to take the first word oifytiny " Mr. Ewing," he exclaimed, " when will you learn to be punctual ?" " Punctual ! Mr. Wardlaw," retorted the latter in huge amazement ; " what do you mean ? I never was too late for an engagement in my life. It is you who are uupunc- tual." " Not at all, my dear friend," was the reply ; " I never knew you come at the time appointed yet ; you are always too early; whereas I, you see, keep time to a second." Shortly before leaving home for this journey, Mr. Wardlaw's eighth child, a son, was born to him on September 22d. LETTER TO HIS AUNT. 169 Mrs. Ewiiig Maclae, after the death of her husband, had retired to the south of England for the benefit of her health, which was but feeble. The advantage she derived from change of scene and climate was not so great as had been anticipated, and she gradually sank under the accumulated pressure of age and illness. During her absence her nephew frequently wrote her, and in the close of 1815, when her increasing infirmity became alarming, he addressed to her the following affectionate and comforting letter. Glasgow, Dec. 20th, 1815. My very dear and valued Aunt — I was deeply concerned to hear from James yesterday of your increasing distress. The ways of divine providence are mysterious, but they are still the ways of i^rovidence ; and the assurance of that should be sufficient to keep our minds in peace. What can well be more minute than the hairs of our heads l And what expression could have conveyed to our minds more impressively the delightful assurance that even the most trivial circumstances in our lot are under the all-wise and all-gracious direction of our Heavenly Father, than the words of our blessed Master, the "faithful true witness who never deceives" — "Even the hairs of your heads are all numbered!" The lesson which the Saviour inculcated on his disciples from this consideration was, " fear not." This lesson is often repeated in the Divine Word, and always with some solid reason for banishing fear : — " Fear not, Abram, I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward :"— " Fear not, for I am with thee ;" — " Fear not, the Lord doth go before thee : he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee :" — " Fear not, I have redeemed thee, thou art mine :" — "Fear not, little flock ; it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom ;" and above all, that blessed text which lies at the foundation of all the rest, expressing the ground on Avhich all the promises are made, and are yea and amen — that text which was my dear uncle's sheet anchor in his trouble, and which is yours too : — " Fear not ; I am the first and the last, and the living one ; and I was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore, amen ; and have the keys of hell and of death." These are precious declarations. How poor and wretched had our state and prospects been without them ! But depending on the free grace and inviolable faithfulness of him who hath made them, "we rejoice in hope of the glory of God, and even glory in tribulations also." We are enabled to say with the Psalmist, " Yea, though I walk in the valley and shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." Jesus has suffered, and suffered for us; and his sufferings have taken the sting out of ours, and converted them into blessings, even into means of "working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." What can I say, then, to my dear afiiicted friend but " look unto Jesus !" in the dignity of his person, the perfection of his righteousness, the preciousness of his blood ; stooping from the throne to the cross, and rising again from the cross to the throne ; able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him, " seeing he everliveth to make intercession for them." I write not these things to my beloved aunt "because she knows not the truth, but because she knows 170 MEMOIRS OF DI?. WARDLAW. it, and that no lie is of the truth." I have wished I could be by you, to whisper in your ear the consoling and animating truths and promises of the gospel, but it is my consolation to know that these have long been familiar and dear to your mind. May the peace of God which passeth all understand- ing keep your heart and mind by Christ Jesus ! And if it be his holy will, may he graciously interpose, and " bring you out of your distresses." It will give you pleasure to learn that the church in Albion Street prospers, and that at present means are successfully taking for reviving the life and spirit of the members which for some years past have been too much on the decline. May God grant that the change to the better may be jjcrmanent. I sent you a copy of the Herald, containing an account of the present state of our Bible Society, which is highly encouraging. Farewell, my dear aunt. " May the Lord bless thee and keep thee : — the Lord cause his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious to thee : — the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace !" — My dear aunt's truly affectionate nephew, Ralph Wardlaw. The reference to Albion Street Chapel in the close of this letter, recals our attention to the progress of the writer's influ- ence and reputation as a preacher. Both were materially ad- vanced by his discourses on the Socinian controversy and by the discussion that followed. Of the multitudes who came to listen when these discourses were delivered, not a few perma- nently remained as his auditors ; charmed by the force of his reasoning, the soundness of his theology and the suavity of his manner. The congregation at Albion Street Chapel was thus soon increased to the full capacity of that building, while the fame of its pastor extended widely beyond the limits not only of his native city but of his native land. It was at this time that under a sense of the augmented responsibility attaching to his pulpit addresses he adopted the practice of reading his sermons — a practice which he never afterwards even partially laid aside. In resorting to this he certainly put his acceptabiHty as a preacher to a considerable risk, for few things were then more unpopular in Scotland than the reading of sermons ; but the care he took to become a good reader and the advantage he possessed in a naturally musical voice and carefully modulated enunciation tended to overcome prejudice, and make his reading perhaps even more acceptable than his free speech had been. The contemporary example of Dr. Chalmers, who bore down all SERMON ON UNITY OF CHURCHES. 171 opposition to his use of " the paper" by his " fell" reading,* and that of the subject of this memoir who made the reading of ser- mons attractive by raising it to the dignity almost of one of the fine arts, have tended to make this, in itself most undesirable practice, only too common in Scotland-f Whilst rising in the esteem of the general public it was not likely that Mv. Wardlaw's merits would be overlooked by the denomination to which he belonged, or that they would fail to offer such marks of their respect as it was in their power to offer. He was accordingly appointed to preach before the Con- gregational Union of Scotland — a body then but recently formed, but which already included nearly all the churches and ministers of the Congregational order in Scotland — at their annual meet- ing in Edinburgh in May 1817 ; but a small distinction in one respect, yet the highest which his brethren had it in their power to offer him. The sermon which he delivered on this occasion was from the text Galatians iii. 10, " Ye are all one in Christ Jesus," and was afterwards published with the title "The Scrip- tural Unity of the Churches of Christ illustrated and recom- mended : A sermon preached in College Street Chapel, Edin- burgh, on the evening of Thursday the 8th of May 1817, on occasion of the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Congregational Union for Scotland." The sermon is devoted to a discussion of the nature, limits and requirements of union among Christian * See Hanna's Memoir of Chalmers, vol. ii. p. 80. f " ^Vhen young preachers pleaded his example for reading their sermons, he was wont to remind them that if they followed his example they mnst follow it as a ivhole, and after trying a dozen years the other way then consider whether a change would be desirable." — (Reminiscences by Mr. J. S. Wardlaw). It would have been well if the imitation had been confined in either case to a mere following of the practice of reading their sermons ; but with that propensity to follow what we ad- mire, which is so natural to us, many were led to imitate the tones and gestures and whole manner of one or other of them, according as taste or circumstances dic- tated. The result was anything but gratifying in the vast majority of cases. Some- times it was simply ludicrous; as when, for instance, a man of slender voice, narrow chest and feeble frame was seen making desperate efforts to reproduce the vehement oratory of Chalmers, or some man from the north with a brawny figure and a voice that might have outroared Boreas, was seen contracting his chest, compressing his throat, and mincing his words in the happy belief that he was uttering tones as silvery as those of Wardlaw. 172 MEMOIKS OF DR. AVARDLAW. societies of the same faith and order. The author's aim is evi- dently to defend the legitimacy of such institutions as the one whose members he was called to address ; and for this purpose he shows tliat though the apostolic churches were independent societies, they nevertheless had such relations to each other and exercised mutually such functions as clearly show that they were also united as sister churches. They sent salutations to each other ; they despatched messengers to visit other churches ; they had communion in the matter of giving and receiving pecu- niary aid ; and the members of one were received into the fel- lowship of any other which they might have occasion to visit. Such the preacher shows to have been the state of things in the primitive churches ; and such he argues ought to be the case still. To this conclusion few I presume would demur ; but I feel bound to say that it does not appear to me to be sufficient to cover the ground it is designed to protect. The question raised by such institutions as unions and confederacies among Christian societies respects not the desirableness of union among such societies, not the importance of giving expression of mutual esteem and confidence in the ways specified by the preacher ; but the legitimacy of forming such societies into one conjoint body for this purpose. In the case of Independent churches this question is further complicated by the question whether such union of churches be ])ossihle saving the independency of the churches? whether, in other words, to say that a society is independent and complete in itself, and yet is j)art of another and larger society be not a contradiction in terms ? Into the discussion of these matters I do not feel myself called upon here to enter ; I simply specify what seems to me a shortcoming in the logical bearings of this otherwise very valuable and instruc- tive discourse. A few weeks after the delivery of this sermon a still more decided and noticeable proof of the esteem in which its author was held in his own denomination was furnished by his being invited and earnestly pressed to accept the office of resident and theological tutor of the dissenting college at Hoxton, as INVITED TO HOXTON. 173 successor to the venerable Dr. Simpson. Such an invitation could not be hastily disposed of. To one of Mr. Wardlaw's tastes, habits and faculties there was much in such an office as that of theological tutor in a seminary like that of Hoxton, then the leading dissenting theological school in England, to induce him to accept the oifered post ; whilst on the other hand, the claims of the post he already occupied were many and urgent. For a considerable time the balance seems to have hung in sus- pense, and much anxiety was felt in Glasgow and among his brethren throughout Scotland, lest he should see it to be his duty to go south. The following brotherly and characteristic letter from his colleague Mr. Ewing was written to him at this time, and explains in few words all the bearings of the case : — Camp Hill, 24th June 1817. My dear Sir — I have just received your letter of yesterday. To answer it instantly may seem hasty ; but I see you are yourself pressed for an early answer on the subject to which it refers. I had heard, also, of the offer before your letter arrived, and you may believe was thinking of it as a matter of very peculiar interest and importance ; and after all, what I am going to say is little more than a referring of the matter back to your own determination. I freely confess that I completely approve the judgment which has given you this invitation. They have made an excellent choice, as I would assert more at large were I writing to others, and not to you. I also confess that the importance of the situation is indeed very great. It would no doubt be necessary very distinctly to understand the extent of your authority, and the precise nature of your sitviation, before entering into any engagement. But supposing such preliminaries to be clearly and cordially adjusted, I am ready to think that there is probably no situation of the kind at present in the whole world, where one man could, in one lifetime, hope to render greater and more lasting services to the Lord Jesus Christ, and to the souls of men. And I suppose that every one who knows the number of preachers sent forth by the Iloxton Academy, and the sphere of their labours, must be of the same mind. On the other hand, I should deprecate giving any advice that would tear you from the church in Albion Street, the Congregational Union in Scotland, our little infant academy, your aged father, and a great propor- tion of your Christian friends in the land and the city of your nativity, and of your pastoral ties. The Trustees of Hoxton may say, we want no man who will not be desired to remain where he is. Your present connec- tions, however, may well urge in return, you know yovir present situation better than you possibly can know that which is proposed to you. Here you have been blessed with that usefulness and eminence which excite others to desire your departure. Consider, if the views and tempers of comparative strangers be quite likely to correspond with your own ; 174 MEMOIRS OF DB. WARDLAW. consider the weight of the domestic charge ; consider the peculiarities of a London life ; consider the additional connection in which I suppose you would stand to Hoxton Chapel ! My dear Sir, I declare I do not know what advice I could give you, but I pray the Lord to direct you, and I shall be very happy if the result be, that he direct you to stay at home. With best regards and wishes for you and yours, I remain very sincerely yours, Greville Ewing. After much anxious and prayerful deliberation his mind was made up to remain where he was. As he himself expresses it, " home carried the day." * Having occasion to visit Leeds on some missionary service he sent thence a short letter to Thomas Wilson, Esq., the invaluable treasurer of the Hoxton Academy, intimating his decision ; and on his return to Glasgow he ad- di-essed to the committee a more lengthened statement of the reasons which had induced him to come to that decision. Of this document the following is a copy : — To THE Committee of Hoxton Academy. Gentlemen — In the few hurried lines I addressed to Mr. Wilson from Leeds I promised, what I conceived to be due to you as ths Committee of the Hoxton Academy, to state more particularly the reasons which have induced me to decline the invitation with which you have been pleased to honour me, to occupy the situation of resident theological tutor in that seminary. In doing this, I shall say nothing on the subject of qualifications for the charge. Although, when I contemplate the nature and extent of the duties connected with it, I feel more than apprehensive that these would greatly disappoint the favourable judgment and expectation of my friends, yet I am aware, that when a man undertakes to speak of himself, all that he is likely to get credit for, is either vanity and self conceit on the one hand, or affected humility on the other. Neither shall I dwell on those ties of nature that bind me to the place of my present residence. These no doubt are many, and they are tender and powerful. Glasgow contains a large circle of beloved relatives from whom I could not part without a severe pang. I know, however, that my Divine Master reqviires of his servants the exercise of self-denial, and has said, " Whoso loveth father or mother, or brother or sister, more than me, is not worthy of me." To this act of self-denial, therefore, I trust I should have been enabled readily to submit, had it appeared to be required by the interests of His cause. It is true that the nearest and dearest part of my kindred I should of coiu'se have carried along with me. And since I hap- pen to have got upon this theme first, I may as well finish it by mention- ing that, unless some material alteration had been made in the domestic arrangements of the institution, these of themselves must have formed an Letter to Arch. Smith, Esq., 23d June 181' INVITATION DECLINED. 175 insurmountable obstacle in my way. The charge of such a household, Mrs, W., with a constitution by no means the most robust, and an increasing family sufficient to occupy her whole attention, should never with my consent undertake. Not that she is herself unwilling. Her language on the subject in her letters to me is, " Your coimtry shall be my country, your people shall be my people, as I trust your God will be my God." " I hope what in- duced you to decline was nothing connected with my duty ; it would give me great uneasiness to think that I should be any bar in the v,ay of yours ; or that the fear of giving me additional trouble should in the least prevent your accepting any situation that you thought a more useful one than that which you already fill." But in proportion as she has shown this becoming spirit, this willing mind, I have only shrunk the more from the idea of sub- jecting one who is " dear to me as light and life," to such additional care and fatigue as I know she could not stand, and as would only murder her piece- meal. It is possible, however, that by some change in the domestic economy this dilBculty might have been removed ; and had not other considerations been sufficient to determine my mind, I should have repre- sented it to you with the view of ascertaining whether or not such change could be made. The other considerations to which I refer may be stated in few words. I have now been pastor of the church in Albion Street Chapel here nearly four- teen years and a half. During that period it is not to be supposed that I should have had no difficulties and trials ; yet these I presume have not been more than fall to the lot of most pastors of numerous churches in the same length of time, and some of them I have, in part at least, owed to myself. I am sincerely conscious of many and great defects in the discharge of my pas- toral duties — defects which, I trust, the present occurrence, and especially the highly pleasing expressions of regard which it has drawn forth from the church, will stimulate me to remedy. Notwithstanding all these de- fects, I have had abundant evidence of the cordial attachment of the dear people of my charge, and have had good ground to believe that the day of my removal from them would be a day of many tears. I could not find in my heart to think of leaving them. The attempt to realise in fancy my sepa- ratioH from them has only made me feel the bond of union the stronger. I do not think the pastoral relation indissoluble, when the greater good of the cause of Christ at large obviously and peremptorily requires its dis- solution ; but in every case, the reasons that recommend such a step should be of this palpable and irresistible description ; they ought to have in them no dubiety. God forbid that I should speak of the attachment of my people to me as the bond of this union. They have a purer and a nobler principle of connection. Yet there was a possibility of a want of perfect harmony in the choice of a successor, in the event of my having left them ; and I should have found it difficult to forgive myself had I been the occasion, unless on grounds very clear and imperious indeed, of schism and discordance in a united happy Christian society, whose jieace and prosperity ought to lie so near to my heart. Besides my pastoral relation to the church under my care, I feel myself placed in an important sphere of usefulness in this populous city, both as a preacher of the gospel to a numerous congregation, and in a variety of other ways. My labours in the gospel have not been without some measure of encouraging success. And I trust that He to whom it belongs to " give 176 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. the increase" will stamp with his apjjrobation my resolution to remain where his providence has already placed me, by granting a still more abun- dant blessing to my future endeavours to promote his glory in the conver- sion and salvation of sinners. You are aware also that I am already engaged, along with my esteemed l)rother Mr. Ewing, in the charge of an infant institution of the same kind as that to which I have been invited. Our beginnings indeed have been small, but I trust that our latter end will greatly increase. Independency is but in its infancy in Scotland, and it has met with many checks to its growth — many hinderances to its popularity and general acceptance. It stands in need of all our exertions. I am for my own part most thoroughly convinced that nothing will ever procure for it an extensive establishment in this country but the success of such a seminary in procuring and qualify- ing and sending forth well furnished and able, as well as pious and humble and devoted preachers of the gospel. And although I am well satisfied that my colleague in this charge is fully adequate to the sole task of super- intendence and instruction, I should yet have felt it a dereliction of impor- tant duty to have withdrawn my feeble aid from an institution so intimately connected, as I conceive it to be, with the progress of truth and of primi- tive church order in Scotland. It would have been transferring my labour from a field that has no hands to spare to one that is already full of workmen. These and similar considerations have been sufficient to determine my resolution, without any further inquiry as to the particular circumstances of the situation at Hoxton. For a full explanation of these it was at first my intention to apply ; but upon reflection I perceived so many positive and strong reasons for keeping my present post, as to render it, I thought, needless to put you to this trouble. The inducements which I have men- tioned to stay where I am, you will observe, are accordingly more in the form of considerations in favour of the situation I already occupy, than of objections against the one to which I have been invited. The latter, how- ever, I could not of course have accepted without particular information, not only as to the nature of the domestic charge, but as to the extent both of the duties and authority of the resident tutor, the state of the chapel con- nected with the institution, and the existence or non-existence of a church and pastoral charge. For a man with a growing family like mine, it would not have been inconsistent I presume with becoming purity of motives, but only a dictate of proper prudence, to have requested some information also on the subject of temporalities, although I trust I shall always be enabled to consider these as only of secondary concern. The necessity of such inquiries, however, has been superseded by the paramount claims which, notwith- standing the high importance of the situation at Hoxton (fully and freely admitted in my former letter), my present sphere of labour has appeared to me to possess. These claims, indeed, are such that the new situation required to be one possessing an importance of no ordinary kind, to procure for it even a single deliberative thought. I find myself rooted here with a degree of firmness that does not seem to admit of transplanting ; and indeed the idea of quitting Glasgow had never presented itself to my mind as a possible thing. What I might have done had I been perfectly at liberty it would be wrong in me to presume to say. But those reasons which might justify a man in preferring one of two situations when he was ipiite dis- engaged from both, might be far from suificient to warrant his leaving the ADDRESS FROM HIS CHURCH. 177 one after a long incumbency for the sake of the other ; to warrant his leav- ing one where Providence has by peculiar circumstances fixed his lot — which he has long tried, where his habits of life have been formed, and his friend- ships and intimacies established, and where, above all, he has been and continues to be in some measure useful — for another which is untried and known only by description, where new habits and new friendships and inti- macies must be contracted, where personal and family comfort, and espe- cially official usefulness, must be brought to an experiment of which the result is necessarily dubious. While, on the grounds above stated, I must decline the situation myself to which you have invited me, it is my earnest prayer that the great Head of the Church may direct your eyes to some one amongst his servants who will fill it with greater glory to Him, and greater advantage to His cause. Such a one it will not be difficult for you to find. With every sentiment of Christian regard, as well as of heartfelt grati- tude for your favourable opinion, and with every good wish for the prospe- rity and usefulness of your seminary — Believe me, &c. Ralph Waudlaw. It is gratifying to know that the warm feehng of regard for the church in Albion Street expressed in this letter was recipro- cated by its members. This will appear from the following address which was unanimously adopted at a large meeting of that church held on the evening of 25th July 1817 : — - Mr. Ralph Wardlaw. Very dear and much respected Sir — We, the deacons and the other members of the church under your pastoral care, feel ourselves con- strained by every sentiment of duty and regard, to assure you of the deep interest with which we attended to your verbal intimation of having received an invitation to be resident theological tutor to the academy at Hoxton, and of the sincere satisfaction and gratitude with which we were actuated when you announced your determination to decline the accept- ance of that invitation. And these impressions are now more distinctly and deeply engi-aven on our hearts by the very affectionate and interesting manner in which you have laid before us the grounds on which that deter- mination rested. It can never be supposed that it arises from any unsuitable feeling towards the respectal)le institution over which you were called to preside, that we must now declare, that had your determination been to comply with that invitation, we could have viewed it in no other light than that of a most afflictive dispensation of Divine Providence. Favoured as we have long been with the enjoyment of your pastoral labours — from which we trust we have derived the benefits of knowledge and the blessings of religion — the prospect of continuing to enjoy these advan- tages, while it lays us under the greatest obligations of gratitude to Him " who giveth his people pastors according to his heart, to feed them with knowledge and understanding," it at the same time tends powerfully, and X 178 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. we trust in this instance most successfully, to promote gratitude and affec- tion to the instrument by whom these blessings are communicated ; and we therefore anticipate with the greatest confidence that the present event will, under the Divine favour, have a most beneficial influence, by increas- ing our love to the Divine Redeemer, to you, and to one another. May you, very dear and much respected Sir, be long spared to labour amongst us, and may you be more and more qualified to convert sinners from the evil of their ways, and to build up saints in their most holy faith. And may lie " who received gifts for men," who holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, and who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candle- sticks," give you the spirit of judgment when you sit in judgment — continue to make you wise to win souls to himself — and may He render you eminently successful " in perfecting the saints and in edifying the body of Christ," until the period arrive when every faithful and wise steward shall enter into the joy of his Lord, and when they who have been the highly honoured instruments of "turning many to righteousness" "shall shine as the sun in the kingdom of their Father for ever and ever." Amen. Signed in name and by appointment of the church met in Albion Street Chapel, Glasgow, this 25th day of July 1817 years. William Neil, Preses. The invitation to Hoxton was not the only attempt made this year to move Mr. Warcllaw from Glasgow, at least for a season. The Rev. J. Campbell of Kingsland, who had a short time before returned from Africa, whither he had been sent by the London Missionary Society to visit their stations there, and in whose active and zealous soul Africa had taken a paramount place, came to the conclusion, in which apparently he was not alone, that ^Ir. Wardlavv of Glasgow was " the very man " to be sent out on a similar mission to that country. On what grounds he and his friends rested this — as it will appear to most other people I believe — extraordinary opinion, I cannot say ; bnt the following letter, which bears the impress of its author's idio- syncrasy on every line, will show in what manner he endeavoured to bring his project to pass : — Shacklewell, Sept. 4th, 1S17. My dear Sir — When I was in Africa I was fully persuaded that it would be absolutely necessary that a deputation should visit that country every four or five years. Occui-rences have lately convinced more than me of the indispensable necessity of such a visitation now, and the Directors will soon have the subject before them. It has occurred to three of us that you are just the man that is to be desired, and they have asked me to sound you upon this point. From the plan that I covild lay for you, I think you could accomplish it in eighteen months, and be of more service thereby to the king- dom of our Lord than perhaps in eighteen years' snug residence at home. And should God bring you back, sure I am you would never repent of having ESSAY ON BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATIONS. 179 gone. Could we give atiy encouragement to the Directors that you would comply with an invitation, I am pretty certain you should soon have an unanimous invitation from the Board. The difficulties are not half so great as strangers suppose — you get accustomed to them the same as soldiers in fields of battle — and for your comfort the wild l)easts are all chained in that country by the providential restraints of the Lord, at least they were so when I was there. The only hinderance I can conceive is getting your room sup- plied during your absence ; but even this by prayer and exertion may be overcome I should think. You know they must do without you some time ; and perhaps you may have to struggle with some chain-shot from j\Irs. Ward- law, but a few skirmishes might set that to rest, for I must be mistaken of her if she would not be willing to submit to a suspension of your presence for the promoting the everlasting interests of many nations in a quarter of the world that has suftered so many wrongs at British hands. Were you to go, you would have much more means of information respecting the field and the object than I could have at the period I went. All the reply I should wish for at 'present is just if you would write thus — " I would most cheerfully go on a visit to the land of Ham, could I see my way clear." Don't throw away the letter saying no, no ; but muse upon it — put yourself a century forward, and look back to the invitation. Love to all friends, and believe me, &c. John CAMPiiEiiL. No doubt Mr. Wardlaw did " muse" a little on this proposal ; but I suspect it was with a smile upon his face that he did so. Happily the blandishments of his worthy correspondent did not prevail upon him to quit his post in Glasgow for the toils and perils of a South African pilgrimage ; and Mr. Camp- bell had to re-visit his beloved kraals and dorps himself.* In December 1817 Mr. Wardla\v published an " Essay on Benevolent Associations for the Relief of the Poor," of which the substance had been read before the Literary and Commercial Society of Glasgow in the preceding April. The object of this essay is partly to show the evils of a compulsory assessment for the support or rehef of the poor, partly to plead for the legitimacy and expediency of benevolent associations voluntarily formed, and exercising their functions through the medium of a competent committee of management, as a method of dispensing the charity of the public judiciously and equably. The subject of pauper- ism was at that time very prominently before the public mind * Of this second visit an account was published on the author's return in ' two vols. 8vo. Unhappily the work was cooked by some litterateur, who, fastidiously regardful of the proprieties, managed to eviscerate all that gave so much raciness and naivete to the author's former narrative. 180 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW in GlasgOAV, in consequence of tlie views which Dr. Chahners had, with all his unparalleled energy and eloquence, begun to expound, and the systematic operations which in furtlierance of these views he had commenced in his own parish. Dr. Chal- mers was a member of the Literary and Commercial Society, and had laid his opinions on the subject of pauperism before that body in an essay read some time before that of Mr. Ward- law. This was doubtless the occasion of the latter taking up this subject. In the views he enunciates he agrees in the main with those of his eminent contemporary. Both were disciples of Malthus, and both were opposed to a system of compulsory as- sessment for the behoof of the poor ; but Mr. Wardlaw was in favour of voluntary benevolent associations for this object, whilst Dr. Chalmers looked on these with an unfriendly eye, as tending to interfere with the operation of that ecclesiastical system of beneficence of whicli he was the zealous advocate. Mr. AVard- law's essay is ably written, and contains many things that are worthy of the most serious consideration by all who are inte- rested in the condition and proper management of the poor. The exposition and defence of the doctrines of Mr. Malthus with which it commences are judicious and convincing,* and contain in a brief space a satisfactory reply to the cavils and reproaches with which these doctrines were assailed when first promulgated. It may be doubted, however, whether either of the conclusions for whicli Mr. AVardlaw contends in this essay is sound. The subject he discusses is much better understood now than it was at the time he wrote ; and I presume few political economists would hesitate now to pronounce him wrong both as to the system he condemns and as to the usage for which he pleads. A broad distinction is to be taken between what society owes to itself in reference to the pauper portion of it, and what is due to the claims of charity or benevolence as a duty morally bind- ing on individuals. Keeping this needful distinction clearly in view it is now almost universally held that the only safe principle that can be adopted in regard to the relief of the poor is that, in * See Appendix F. BUSY AND PROSPEROUS. 181 SO far as thoy are entitled to aid from the coininuiiity as such, a system of strict legal administration from which all considera- tions of charity are excluded must be followed, and that as respects the operations of benevolence these must be conducted on the individual and not on the association principle. Whilst, there- fore, on the one hand a compulsory assessment for the poor seems indispensable in all large societies ; on the other hand, benevo- lent associations for this purpose are to be deprecated as utterly incompetent to deal with pauperism as a social evil, while they necessarily are incompatible with the exercise of pure charity, the essence of which lies in its being the expression of ^^^fsonal sympathy on the part of the donor of the bounty with the suf- ferings or sorrows of him who receives it. During this winter and the succeeding spring Mr. Wardlaw was busily occupied with his pastoral and tutorial duties, for the session of the Academy was now no longer held during the summer months. His congregation had greatly increased ; so much so that Albion Street Chapel became insufficient for the due accommodation of those who were anxious to attend. Writing to his friend Dr. Leonard Woods of Andover he alludes to this in the following terms : — I may mention to you a rather curious coincidence of circumstances. Our chapel having for some time been found rather small to accommodate the church and congregation, is at present in the market, with the view, should we find a purchaser to our minds, of building a larger. The Uni- tarian chapel, of which Mr. Yates (who has now been for about two years in Birmingham) was the first occupant, is also for sale — but happily, as you will agree with me in thinking, not for the same cause, but just the oppo- site. This has not been found a favourable soil for Unitarianism. What they intend doing when the chapel is sold I know not ; for little or nothing is said, at least that I hear, about them. A party of Episcopalians have been looking at both places ; on which they may fix, or whether they will choose either, remains uncertain. In the same letter he thus refers to the theological seminary : Our seminary here is on a very small scale. We have at present ten students, in various stages of progress, and presenting various degrees of favourable promise, some of them likely to be rather eminent. On the whole we had never better cause to be satisfied with the prospect it affords. Would God the character which you draw as the one you are desirous through Divine aid to form in your young men, might be wrought in the 182 MEMOIRS OF DK. WARDLAW. hearts and exhibited iu the lives of all under our charge also. Then indeed should we have cause to " triumph in Christ;" for surely by such servants he would " make manifest the savour of his knowledge in every place." I am engaged in my winter course with the class at present, which with my other occupations keeps me very busy — as the lectures I am at present delivering I have in a great measure to prepare for each succes- sive meeting. Ill the midst of these ckities he was invited to preach one of the annual sermons of ths London IVIissionary Society at their meeting in the following May. To the performance of this duty he looked forward with peculiar interest and excitement ; and the prospect of enjoying again the privilege of visiting London during the May meetings seems to have lent additional energy to him in the discharge of his ordinary duties during the interval. Having closed the labours of the session at the Academy, and having made provision for the supply of his pulpit during an absence of some weeks, he left home in the end of April for the purpose of visiting some of his friends on his way to London. His first visit was to his friend Fletcher at Blackburn. Whilst waiting at Preston for a conveyance to Blackburn he was intro- duced to a Mr. Nott, a commercial traveller from Birmingham, who showed him no small kindness according to his opportunities, and gratified him by giving him an account of the saving benefit which had resulted to a very intelligent and interesting young friend of his, who had been a Socinian and almost a Deist, by means of the Lectures on the Socinian controversy. This young- man died afterwards at the age of twenty-three in the faith and hope of the gospel. After spending a Sabbath at Blackburn Mr. AVardlaw went on to St. Ives to visit the Rev. T. S. Crisp, who had also been a Glas- gow student, and who cherished the warmest regard for Mr. Ward- law and his family. Received with the most cordial hospitality he remained at St. Ives several days, and then proceeded on his way to the metropolis, " having enjoyed much " his " visit to dear Crisp." In London he was the guest of his friend the Rev. H. F. Burder, under whose hospitable roof and in whose congenial society he spent many hours of serene and profitable MISSIONARY SERMON. 183 enjoyment — an enjoyment which was sliared to the full by his affectionate host and by Mrs. Burder. Mr. Wardlaw preached his missionary sermon in Surrey Chapel on the morning of Wednesday the 13th of ]\Iay. One would have been glad to know how he felt when called to pass the ordeal of addressing such an audience as that which was assembled to listen to him that morning — an audience composed of the elite of the religious world in Europe, and comprising many names round which an imperishable fame shall hover while the church in Britain lasts. To one coming from the country, however important be the position he there occupies, this ordeal is usually a very trying one. The mere sight — the first that strikes the preacher as he enters the pulpit — of some hundreds of ministers lining the entire front of the gallery and occupying several pews behind the front all round, is of itself enough to startle one accustomed to consider a clerical auditor as amongst the rarest and at the same time least desired phenomena of pulpit experience ; and when in addition to this he sees on every side a densely-packed assembly, not of formal worshippers who will be content with any discourse that is passably decent, but of persons deeply in earnest in reference to a great undertaking, in which they believe the glory of God and the salvation of the world to be seriously concerned, and for the conducting of which they expect the preacher to supply them with new impulses and fresh zeal, the trial is such as few men have nerve enough to encounter without intense anxiety and much agitation. How Mr. Wardlaw felt in the prospect of this scene, or when it burst upon his view no record remains to tell. With that unwilling- ness to speak of himself which was characteristic of him, he simply records that he had reason to believe that his services " were not altogether unacceptable." The testimony of others, however, who were present, tends to the conviction that his whole appearance was most effective, and that in substance, style and delivery not many such sermons had been preached on previous occasions of a similar kind. In what light it was viewed by the Directors of the Society on whose behalf it was 184 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. delivered, and by the audience generally, may be seen from the following letter : — Missionary Rooms, Old Jewry, London, 16th May 1818. Dear Sir — With great pleasure I communicate to you the copy of a resolution passed by the (London) Missionary Society, at their adjourned meeting held at Sion Chapel on Friday the 15th inst., and beg to assure you that no vote was ever passed by the Society more truly expressive of their sentiments and feelings. " Resolved, — That the most cordial thanks of this Society be presented to the Rev. Ralph Wardlaw for his excellent discourse, delivered at Surrey Chapel on Wednesday the 13th inst., and that he be respectfully requested to permit the same to be printed for the benefit of the institution." Allow me, Sir, as an individual to assure you that your sermon afforded a high degree of satisfaction and delight, the recollection of which will not soon be lost, and that a very strong desire is expressed by our friends that the discourse may be printed ; and most sincerely do I hope that you will indulge the friends of the Society by a compliance with their request. Permit uie to say that the sooner you can favour us with the manu- script the better it will be, in order that due attention may be paid to the printing ; and if you stay in town a short time you will have the oppor- tunity of correcting the press. In that case the printer shall begin imme- diately.— I am, &c. Geo. Burdeb, Sec. The Rev. Ralph Wardlaw. In compliance with the request thus tendered Mr. Ward- law innnediately committed his sermon to the press, and it ap- peared before he left London under the following title, " The Contemplation of Heathen Idolatry an Incitement to Missionary Zeal : A Sermon," &c. The text of the sermon is Acts xvii. 16, and the drift of the preacher is to show what there is in the contemplation of heathenism to stir the spirit of Christians within them, and what are the feelings which such an object is especially calculated to call forth. These feelings he determines to be " indignant grief for the dishonour done by heathen idola- tries to God, amazement at human weakness and folly, abhor- rence of human impiety and compassion for human wretched- ness." These particulars are illustrated at length, and with much elo(][uence as well as truthfulness. The subject is then made to take a practical bearing by the illustration of the fol- lowing observations: — 1. All the sentiments and feelings which have been illustrated ought to be principles of active and zealous exertion ; 2. The subject suggests the necessity and value of STRICTURES ON HUME. 185 divine revelation; 3. The feelings expressed in the text imply the opposite emotions of delight in witnessing the contrary scene ; and, 4, The guilt of idolatry, it is to be feared, attaches to many who little imagine that they are at all chargeable with anything of the kind." The discourse is full of fine passages ; but on two points the author has dwelt with special effect ; the one respecting the origin of idolatry, the other respecting Hume's hypothesis of the progressive advance of the human mind by its own proper force, from the grossness of Polytheism to a more refined and philosophic Theism. On this latter subject there is still enough of error and confusion in the minds of many to make it worth while to quote here Mr. Wardlaw's remarks. Mr. Hume, the sceptical philosopher alluded to in a former part of this discourse, in supporting the strange hypothesis, that polytheism was the primitive religion of mankind, seems to fall into great, and yet not wonder- ful inconsistency. " It seems certain," he says, " that, according to the natural progress of human thought, the ignorant multitude must first enter- tain some grovelling and familiar notions of superior powers, before they stretch their conception to that perfect Being, who bestowed order on the whole frame of nature."* Now, first of all, this is taking for granted what is not only opposite to the Scripture history of man, but as opposite to sound reason, and to every rational and honourable conception we can form of the goodness of God ; it is taking for granted that the original condition of man- kind was that of an " ignorant multitude.'''' But, passing this ; — suppose mankind in this condition — ignorant and barbarous : — was it in fact by the researches of science and philosophy, that the knowledge of the true God was subsetjueutly attained ? Was it by " the natural fvogress of human thought " that the divine unity and spirituality, omnipresence and omni- science, infinite power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth were actually discovered 1 The whole history of the world attests the contrary ; and we have only to refer to Mr. Hume himself for an answer to this question: " It is a matter of incontestable fact," says he, " that, about 1700 years ago all mankind were polytheists. The doubtful and sceptical principles of a few philosophers, and the theism, and that too not entirely pure, of one or two nations, form no objection worth regarding." I might take notice here, how lightly this philosopher finds it convenient to pass over the remarkable dif- ference in times preceding the commencement of the career of Christianity, between the Jews and other nations, with respect to the knowledge of God : a diflerence for which he makes no attempt to account. But, without insist- ing on this, mark the period at which, according to his own statement, the aspect of the world began to change. It was "a5o«i 1700 years ago f '\ that is, when the religion of Christ commenced its progress. Now we know that in many nations long before that time the highest attainments * Hume's Essp.ys. t Speaking in round numbers from the time at which Le wrote. 186 MEMOIRS OF DI?. WARDLAAV. had been made in human science, and in the refinement of philosophical speculation. Was it, then, we ask again, philosophy that 1700 years ago affected the sublime discovery of the true nature and character of the only God, and that originated the alteration in the state of the world 1 No. Mr. Hume himself will not even allow the " doubtful and sj^ecu- lative princijiles of the few ^philosophers'' who entertained them, to be held as any exception to the universal polytheism of the human race. By thus fixing the period when polytheism began to give way to rational faith and worship, he has (surely without intending it) taken the credit from philosophy, and assigned it to Christianity. And was it, then, " accord- ing to the natural progress of human thought^' that the first enlightened conceptions of Deity should have presented themselves to the minds of the rude and unlettered fishermen of Galilee \ that they should have found their rise, not in the groves or the porticoes of Grecian philosophy, but upon the shores of the lake of Gennesaret ? Yet such, according to Mr. Hume's own admission, was the fact ; for he would be a hardy sceptic indeed, who should venture to question whether Christianity, with the views of God which it involves, was originally published by such men ; — men whom our philosopher thus advances to the very front in the ranks of wisdom, and exalts " Above all Greek, above all Roman fame." Let it not be said — these men belonged to a people who had the knowledge of the true God previously amongst them ; for this is merely shifting the difficulty a step further back ; the question still presenting itself — Whence, if not from God himself, did that knowledge come % When the world hy wisdom " knew not God," how did this contemned and unphiloso2>hical people obtain their superior views 1 It is to revelation, my friends, that we are indebted for the knowledge of the true God. The intimations of his character and will imparted to the Jewish church, were the prelude, the appropriate introduction, to the full and clear revelation now given to the world. The inductive or experimental mode of reasoning is now admitted by all to be the surest way of arriving at the discovery of truth. Yet while philosophers admit this, and apply the principle with scrupulous jealousy in their investigation of the various branches of human science, they are, on the subject now before us, marvellously inconsistent with themselves. They continue to talk and to write of the sufficiency of the light of nature to guide men to God and to virtue, whilst the experience of every age and every nation looks them broadly in the face, and contradicts all their assertions. Never was experiment more completely tried, under every conceivable variety of situation and circumstance ; and on every trial the great general result has been uniformly the same. A number of concurrent facts warrant among men of science the formation of a theory ; if opposing facts are afterwards discovered, the theory is invalidated ; if such facts multiply, it is over- thrown. But here is a case in which the facts are without number, and all of them concurrent ; — no exceptions — no contradictory results. What, then, are we to think of men who, professing on every other subject their abhor- rence of mei-e hypothesis, can still, in such circumstances as these, prefer theory to fact ? A glance at the heathen world confutes their whole system. The most enlightened nations in the most enlightened times have not excelled others, either in their views of Deity or in their moral worth. Even the philosophers of antiquity, eminent as they were, were LABOURS IN LONDON. 187 miserably defective, siud grossly erroneous iu their views of God and of the way of obtaining his favour ; as well as sadly inconsistent and mutually contradictory in their theories of morals. Ail that is good in any of their sys- tems is to be found here — iu this precious volume ; — along with infinitely more, and infinitely better. And yet the Bible must be discarded, and the crude conjectures of such men, or of their brethren of modern times — not superior in powers nor superior in candour, although superior in unacknow- ledged privilege — must be substituted in its place. Because others have had some glimmerings of uncertain light (no matter whether of reason or of tradition), v:e must shut our eyes in noon-day. Because they had a feeble taper, we must quench the sun. No ! my brethren : blessed be God for this heavenly light ! But for it, we too should have been sitting in the region and shadow of death, " without God, and having no hope." But for it, we, like our ancestors, should have been immersed in all the abominations and miseries of superstition ; — treading the cheerless journey of life, with " shadows, clouds, and darkness," hanging over its termination. 0, with what exulting gratitude should we adopt the language of Zacharias, extolling that God, " through whose tender mercy the day-spring from on high hath visited us ; to give light to them that sat in darkness and in the shadow of death ; to guide our feet into the ways of i)eace !" Besides preaching his sermon and taking part in the piibHc meeting of the London Missionary Society held in Spafield Chapel, Mr. Wardlaw was engaged in several exercises of a public nature whilst in London at this time. He spoke at the meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society ; he preached for the Hibernian Society in Surrey Chapel, from the text Tit. iii. 14 ; he preached on board the floating chapel belonging to the Port of London Society for Promoting Religion among Sea- men ; he was present at the annual examination of the Homer- ton Academy, and gave the students an address ; and he took part in a service which he must have felt to be one of peculiar interest, the ordination for the missionary work of one of the students of the Glasgow Theological Academy, Mr. Swan, on which occasion he gave the introductory discourse. Besides these more public engagements he was constantly occupied on Sabbath in preaching for some of his brethren in or near London. Before leaving the metropolis he had a new duty imposed upon him which probably cost him more trouble and vexation than all the rest — that of presenting " a case," as it is technically called, in other words, endeavouring to raise funds to aid in the erection of a new chapel. 188 MEMOIES OF DR. WARDLAW. From an extract already given from one of his letters it will be seen that so early as the beginning of this year he and his friends were making an endeavour to effect a sale of Albion Street Chapel, with the view of building a larger one for the better accommodation of his congregation. Whilst in London he received the gratifying intelligence that his people had resolved not to wait for the selling of Albion Street Chapel, but forthwith to erect a new building on an eligible site. To aid them in this good work he drew up a statement of the facts, and made use of his influence with wealthy Christian brethren in London to obtain some pecuniary assistance — with what success I am unable to say. I suspect his trouble exceeded his success, for he was wont in after years, when reference was made to the sorrowful case of a man with " a case," to shrug up his shoulders with an expression which said " experto crede!" These various engagements kept Mr. Wardlaw in London till the beginning of June. He returned home slowly, taking Oxford, Bristol, Stroud, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Blackburn and Kendal as visiting places in his way. In some of these places he ventured to present his case, but w^ithout much success. It was the beginning of July before he reached Glasgow. His visit to England had been a season of great if not un- mixed enjoyment to him. He had revived intercourse with old and valued friends ; he had made the acquaintance of some whom to know was a privilege of itself worth the journey ; he had been received and listened to with a respect which showed how high was the place he had secured in public estimation ; and he had enjoyed many signal opportunities of serving the cause of Christ both from the pulpit and on the platform. All this was gladdening and gratifying, and he felt it to be so. " Had 1 only had my wife and bairns with me," he writes in reference to this visit, "■ I think I could have said with truth that into no equal portion of my life had so large a measure of lively Christian enjoyment been compressed. It would not do always," he adds, " but a religious bustle such as this once a SERMON FOR DR. BALFOUR, 189 year is quite improving as well as quite delightful." And whilst he thus reaped pleasure he diffused it. " We know not how to reconcile our minds to your absence from the chair you have lately occupied," wrote his attached host to him after his return home ; " the room and the house seem to have an air of dulness now you are gone. Greatly did we enjoy your company ; ' weari- ness had no dominion over the hours we spent together, and every sand in the glass seemed to turn to gold as it fell.' In these borrowed words I express no extravagance of feeling, and I am not the only individual who is prepared to adopt them." The man who could inspire and reciprocate affection like this must have carried with him no vulgar charm. In the autumn of 1818 Glasgow sustained a public loss in the death of one of the ministers of the city, the Rev. Dr. Balfour, who died after a very brief illness in the house of a friend on the 13th of October. With this eminently devoted and useful man the family of Mr. Wardlaw had long been on terms of intimacy, and between him and the subject of this memoir there had for many years subsisted the most cordial and affectionate intercourse. When ]\Ir. Wardlaw was . a student this good and kind man had been an interested observer of his progress and counsellor of his studies ; when he was a probationer he con- tinued to take a lively interest in his procedure notwithstanding the views of ecclesiastical polity he had embraced ; and when he settled as a pastor in Glasgow no one rejoiced in the event more cordially than this large-hearted Christian. It was natm-al that by the death of such a friend Mr. Wardlaw should be pecu- liarly affected. He was so, both as a man and as a minister. " I think I have," he wrote to Mr. Burder on the occasion " since his death been made to feel in some degree, more than ever, the weight of the responsibility that attaches to the charge of immortal souls." To improve this event to all, Mr. Wardlaw preached a funeral sermon for Dr. Balfour, which was published. The text is Heb. xiii. 7, and the preacher dwells chiefly on the exiiortation contained in the text to follow the faith of deceased pastors and teachers, and on the motive by which compliance 190 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. with this is urged, viz., the consideration of the end of their conversation, that is, the close or issue of their course of life, comprehending — 1, their state in dying ; 2, their death itself, as terminating their earthly service ; and 3, their departure out of this life as the commencement of a better. The sketch which the autlior supplies in the sermon itself, and in a prefatory note of the character and services of Dr. Balfour is affectionate and graceful, though somewhat brief and too general to convey to a stranger any very distinct idea of the man. Mr. Wardlaw was much occupied at this time with the pro- gress of his new chapel. An eligible site had been procured, but unexpected difficulties presented themselves which it cost some trouble and considerable expense to overcome. " You wish to know," he writes on November the 14th, " how the new chapel comes on. Better no\\\ The heavy part of the work is past, and all I trust will now go on smoothly. But heavy work, I assure you, it has been. In consequence of sudden and unexpected dips and unevennesses in the rock on which it is founded — the bed of an old freestone quarry — we have had to dig deep, very deep in some quarters, to get to the solid ; besides some other difficulties which it required time to surmount, but which my time does not allow me to explain. We are not yet above ground ! but now the progress will be more rapid if the winter shall be such as to admit of anything like regular procedure." * It was not, however, for more than twelve months after the date of this letter that the place was ready for occupation. The following letter gives some notice of his labours during the winter session of 1818-19 ; but it is chiefly valuable as a specimen of true and enlightened Christian condolence with the bereaved. It was addressed to the Rev. H. F. Burder on the occasion of the death of Mrs. Burder's father, the godly and generous Joseph Hardcastle, Esq.f * To the Rev. H. F. Burder. f See Morison's Fathers and Founders of the London Missionary Society for an account of this excellent person. l.ETTER TO MR. BURDER. 191 Glasgow, April 8th, 1819. My very dear Friend — Your last affectionate letter ought to have had a reply long ere this time ; and of late your dear partner and yourself have possessed an additional claim, which, had it pleased the all-wise and all- merciful disposer of events, I could have wished delayed for many a day to come. But, 0 my beloved friend, how little we know of the counsels of Him whose hand none can stay. And however fondly and earnestly in certain seasons, when our bosoms are agitated by the alternations of hope and fear respecting what is dearest to our aftectious, nature may seek to stay that hand from the stroke which it is lifted to inflict, how " sweetly soothing" is the assurance that to ws that hand is the hand oia father ; and is never lifted for the correction of his children, but in the exercise of the purest paternal love. It is a peculiarly pleasing view of the providence of the blessed God, to contemplate it, in reference to his people, as only a branch of the admi- nistration of his grace — all its varying dispensations being arranged and ad- justed by infinite wisdom for the one great end of most eft'ectually subserving the purposes of mercy, in the jn-eservation to full and final blessedness of all who are its favoured objects. And when the light of heaven shall come to be shed upon the procedure of God to his people on earth, they will see, with holy wonder and thankful ravishment, with what admirable aud perfect skill the whole course of events has been adapted to this end ; how the very smallest link awanting would have broken that chain of divine workmanship, which, though it may have occasionally galled them, has yet been drawing them to heaven. Even while we are here, subsequent dispensations do sometimes reveal the intention of others which preceded them, and which, at the time they happened, were wrapt in mystery. And, indeed, my friend, there is a necessity for a measure of obscurity in the divine procedure. It is when we "walk in darkness," that we are especially enjoined to '■'■trust in the name of the Lord, and to stay ourselves upon our God." If all were as clear to us, as it is to Him who " seeth the end from the beginning," trust or confidence might be expunged from the list of Christian graces. I trust that the " Father of mercies and the God of all comfort" will impart to your excellent ividowed relative, to yourselves, and to all the members and connections of the mourning family, that " strong consolation ". which his bereaving providence has rendered necessary, and give you all to ex- perience the faithfulness of his promise, " As thy day is, so shall thy strength be." There is one comfort — and it is the richest, and the sweetest of all — which, in the present instance, you possess in its full perfection : I mean, a " sure and certain hope'''' respecting your departed friend, that, "absent from the body " he is " at home with the Lord," and that that which is " sown in corruption, shall be raised in incorruption." His memory is embalmed in the blessings of surviving relatives, and of the church of God ; and he him- self is gone to receive, in all its fulness, the blessing of " Him in whom he believed." 0 how consoling and animating is this assurance. When the ties of nature are burst asunder, as sooner or later they must in all the relations of life, how delightful to know that there is a bond which the hand of death cannot sever — the bond that unites us as members of the family of God ! — that the removal of a Christian friend is only his going home a little before us. The family connection is not broken up by a mere temporary local separation. We are come " to the spirits of just men made perfect." We are still one with them, as children of the same Father, through the 192 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. same blessed Redeemer, and have the prospect of by and by following them home. Such considerations and prospects as these w ill, I trust, " cause the widow's heart to sing for joy." They are fitted, like certain chemical tests, to precijiitate the bitter in the cup of af&iction, and to render it compara- tively sweet. It is true indeed that when the ties of grace are superinduced upon those of nature, as the connection is rendered the stronger and the dearer, the pang of separation must in one sense be the more agonizing. But oh ! how unlike the agony of parting with a friend whom we cannot follow with hope ! When we can " look steadfastly up into heaven" after our departed friends, it is true that the thought of those Christian excel- lences that endeared their society on earth makes us feel the more keenly the "aching void" which their removal occasions. But this thought, while it wounds, it heals ; while it embitters, it sweetens ; while it grieves, it gladdens ; it draws from the eye the tear of delight along with the tear of anguish. But I must forbear. I feel always, when I get on such subjects, a propensity to expatiate. Such views are at all times pleasing ; and we never can tell how soon we may stand in special need of their sup- porting influence. Remember me most affectionately and tenderly to Mrs. II. as well as to your own loved partner and all the members of the family at Hatcham House. I feel myself on the spot. I see the aflFectionate family circle clad in those weeds of woe which so feebly express the feelings of their bereaved and afflicted hearts. I feel with them that tender melancholy that arises even from the cessation of all those little acts of conjugal and filial attention to the distressed, the assiduous performance of which contri- buted so much to endear them to my affections ; and I participate in the mingled feelings with which the opening beauties of the vernal season must in such circumstances be contemj^lated. I have filled my paper with one subject, and I hope you will not be dis- pleased with me. What I have written is, I assure you, cardiafhonice. We have no complaints amongst us that are worthy of particular men- tion. Church matters go on comfortably. The new chapel is ji)ro_(7r^ssm^. We expect to enter it in November. I fear it will be rather too fine, and consequently may be thought too costly. I have got to a close without an apology for my long silence. I have been much occupied ; besides all my ordinary engagements, having had nearly all my lectures to the students to ■prepare in succession as they were delivered. Ralph Wardlaw. Whilst in London the preceding year Mr. Wardlaw had sat for his portrait to be engraved for the Evangelical Magazine. It made its appearance in the number for January 1819. If this portrait was anything of a likeness at the time it appeared, the original must have amazingly improved as he grew older. 193 CHAPTER VII. A. D. 1819.— A. D. 1824. Mk. Wardlaw's reputation as a theologian and as a preacher was now such that his Ahna Mater might have done herself credit, had she bestowed on him an appropriate mark of her approbation by conferring on him a theological degree. In the present day the University of Glasgow would not have over- looked the claims of so distinguished an alumnus ; but in those days the spirit of ecclesiastical bigotry still predominated in the academic senate, and forbade any recognition to be taken of the claims of one who had had the audacity to dissent from the church as by law established, however eminent his talents and attainments, or however great his services to the common cause of Christianity. It was reserved, therefore, for a transatlantic college to do him the justice and itself the honour of conferring upon him the degree of Doctor in Divinity. The body from which he received this distinction was Yale College, Connecticut — the college of which Tiraoth}^ Dwight had been president, and the theological faculty in which has long sustained a high repu- tation. His diploma bears date 9th September 1818,* and is signed by Dr. Day the president, and Mr. Goodrich the secre- tary of the college. His first publication after receiving this honour was a ser- mon which he had preached before the Stirlingshire Missionary Society. It is entitled, " The Truth, Nature and Universality of the Gospel : A Sermon preached at Stirling on Tuesda}^, .Tune 29th, 1819, at the Anniversary Meeting of the Society for * See Appendix G. 0 194 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. Stirlingshire and its Vicinity, in aid of Missions and other Reli- gions Objects." The text of this sermon is Luke xxiv. 45-47, especially the words with which this section closes, " beginning at Jerusalem." The charge thus given to the Apostles by Jesus Christ the preacher considers as affording evidence of the truth of the gospel — as furnishing an illustration of its nature — and as expressing the commencement of its universal diffusion. The sermon is one of great ability and permanent value. The argu- ment under the first head is conducted with all the author's sagacity and logical skill ; and the illustration of the second head contains some valuable observations of a theological kind on the nature of the gospel and the means of the salvation it announces. After many delays and some threatening difficulties the new chapel was at length ready for use. It formed a large and handsome building with a Grecian front, and was capable of containing 1600 hearers. To some of the more rigid sort it appeared by much too gorgeous a place for the purpose for which it was designed ; and one worthy person was even moved to indite a long epistle to the pastor for the purpose of opening his eyes to the sin and danger of spending so much money in erecting for Protestant worship a place that seemed to him so much on the model of a Popish chapel that he must needs designate the erection of it "a wondering after the beast! " There were some real defects connected with the place as a place of worship, and its cost was enormous ; but few in the present day would think it too fine, and it is as far removed from the accre- dited style of "Catholic architecture" as it well can. It was opened on the 25th of December when the Rev. J. Fletcher of Blackburn preached. Having entered on this new and enlarged sphere, Dr. Wardlaw (as we have now to designate him) devoted himself with all his energies to the duties it imposed. To these and to his academic duties, indeed, he would willingly have exclusively confined his efforts ; but in the position he now occupied this was impossible. However irksome and disturbing it may be, part of the price which every man must pay for fame is the liability to be en- KADICALISM. 195 croached upon by frequent calls to the performance of duties from which less noticeable men are exempt. Of this Dr. Ward- law had his full share, and his natural suavity and benevolence made him more readily yield to such solicitations than if he had possessed or acquired a more rigid habit. It is not always, however, that such calls are irksome or the duties they impose felt to be a task. Occasionally they are such as one would sponta- neously engage in ; and such doubtless Dr. Wardlaw felt the first call made upon him after the opening of his new chapel to be. This was to take part in the ordination of one of the students who had recently left the academy, the Rev. Archibald Jack,* over the congregational church assembling in Duke Street Chapel, Whitehaven. On this occasion Dr. Wardlaw asked the questions and gave the charge. His discourse along with the others was afterwards printed.f It is founded on Acts xx. 28, and is characterised by that wisdom, solemnity and tenderness which gave such peculiar value to Dr. Wardlaw's addresses on similar occasions. The period at which we have now arrived is one which will long be remembered as a time of trouble and conflict, especially in the manufacturing districts of both England and Scotland. Popular discontent, excited by commercial embarrassments, and exasperated by the violent measures of government, had broken forth in various places in open revolt ; and in the west of Scot- land this feeling had widely spread and displayed itself in several alarming shapes. The position of a minister of the gospel amid a community in this state is not an easy one ; if he sympathize with the masses he is apt to be branded as a demagogue, and if he take the side of the authorities he is in danger of losing influence with the masses, and being looked on as a time-server and a self-seeker. Dr. Wardlaw, from his early education, was strongly prejudiced to the side of government, and his most * Now of North Shields, t Discourses delivered at the Ordination of Mr. Archibald Jack, &c., including an Introductory Discourse by Mr. Ewing, Mr. Jack's profession, the Charge by Dr. Wardlaw, and the Sermon to the Church by Mr. Ewing. Edinburgh, 1820. 196 MEMOIRS OF DR. WAUDLAW. serious convictions told him tliat, as a minister of Christianity, he must ba the advocate of order and of submission to consti- tuted authority. He accordingly preached a sermon from 1st Peter ii. 13-15, in which he enforced the Christian duty of submission to civil government. This sermon he immediately after published and inscribed to the Provost and Magistrates of Glasgow, " in testimony," as the inscription runs, " of the ap- probation which, in common with his fellow-citizens and the (30untry at large, he strongly feels, and which he should deem it an omission of present duty to suppress, of that happy union of promptitude and vigour, with mildness and forbearance, which distinguished their official conduct during the recent alarms of the city and neighbourhood." The discourse contains a clear and discriminating statement of the duties enjoined in Scripture on subjects in relation to their rulers, and of the considerations by which these are enforced. The duties he points out are those of respect, swpport, obedience and p-ayer ; and the considerations by which these are enforced are enumerated thus : — 1. Civil government is an ordinance of God ; and 2. Important advan- tages arise from it to mankind. The discourse concludes with some wise and weighty counsels addressed more particularly to the suffering classes of the community — counsels urged in the kindest spirit and enforced by the highest motives. There can be no doubt that the preaching and publishing of this discourse were of important service to the cause of order in that part of the country whore it appeared, for it tended to withdraw from the ranks of the insubordinate those whose character and intelli- gence alone could give their cause weight. The magistrates and council showed their sense of its value by ordering a hun- dred copies to be sent for their disposal. A week after preaching this sermon, Dr. Wardlaw was called to preach on behalf of the Society for Promoting Chris- tianity among the Jews ; and the sermon delivered on this occasion was also published. It is entitled " The purposes of Divine ]\Iercy to the Seed of Abraham : A sermon preached in George Street Chapel, Glasgow, on the 25th April 1820," &c. OBAN CONTROVERSY. 197 The text is Romans xi. 30-31, and from this, in connection with the preceding and subsequent context, the preacher con- siders— 1. The prospects held out to us respecting the seed of Abraham ; 2. The grounds on which they rest ; and 3. The means by which they are to be accomplished. The sermon is chiefly valuable for the exposition it furnishes of a somewhat difficult part of the apostolic writings. The author's views are moderate and scriptural ; he anticipates the general conversion of the Jewish nation to God and their restoration to the bless- ings of salvation ; he regards their restoration to their own land as a thing highly probable ; and he argues that the bringing in of the fulness of the Gentiles is synchronous with the restoration of the Jews, and that these two events have a reciprocal influ- ence in bringing about each other. Towards the close of this year an incident occurred by which Dr. Wardlaw was betrayed into a brief but somewhat sharp con- troversy. The occasion was this : — Some persons connected with the Church of Scotland being desirous of erecting a place of worship in Oban as a Chapel of Ease to the parish church, cir- culated an " Address to the Religious Public," designed to call attention to the necessity which existed for the proposed erection. In this, instead of confining themselves to a statement of facts illustrative of the spiritual destitution of Oban, the authors chose to indulge in resolutions of an offensive nature, and most gratui- tously, on the character and labours of the independent minister there, and even to throw out insinuations aflfecting his reputation as a man of truth and a minister of Christ. The part}^ against whom these were directed was a man of singular worth, of un- blemished character, of primitive simplicity and of devoted zeal for the promotion of the best interests of the people. The vile calumny of which he had been made the object justly excited indignation in the bosoms of all who knew him, and Dr. Wardlaw instantly stepped forward to throw the aegis of his strength over his injured brother, by publishing and circulating a paper entitled " An Appeal against Misrepresentation and Calumny," in the form of a letter to the Rev. David Carment. In this, assuming 198 MEMOIRS OF DE. WAUDl.AW. that Mr. Garment, who I understand was the minister of a Gaelic congregation in Glasgow, was the writer of the appeal complained of, he rebukes him with considerable severity, and sets forth in sufficiently plain language the falsehood, and Jesuitism, and meanness by which his attack on Mr. Gampbell had been marked. This called forth a reply from Mr. Garment, in which after giving a letter professing to be from a committee of the inhabitants of Oban, in which an attempt is made to support the statements of the original appeal, and letters from two clergymen who had attested the truth of these statements and here repeat their attes- tation, Mr. Garment concludes by generously declaring that he will " not insult over a fallen foe," but will only demand that Dr. Wardlaw shall " retract what he has said," on pain of being " for ever degraded in the estimation of the wise and the good if he does not." To a publication of this Idnd it was absolutely necessary to reply, and that fully and minutely ; for both Mr. Gampbell's reputation and Dr. Wardlaw's were implicated by ]\Ir. Garment's statements. Accordingly Dr. W. lost no time in issuing "A Second Appeal to the Public in answer to the Reply of a Gommittee of the Inhabitants of Oban," in which he refutes, point by point, all that had been advanced by that committee, and from evidence that cannot be set aside establishes to the full every one of his former positions. In the close Mr. Garment comes in for a little additional castigation, not unmerited by the arrogant tone he had assumed over his opponent ; and the author concludes by expressing his trust that lie has made it appear that " ' the cock's shrill clarion' which had echoed so cheerily had been sounded somewhat prematurely, and that the fallen foe over whom his courtly opponent generously declined to insult had sustained but imaginary wounds, and that he niight indulge some slender hope, though he had not followed Mr. Garment's prescrip- tion, that his character might yet survive and happily escape the doom of being for ever degraded in the estimation of the wise and the good." Altogether this second appeal is one of the smartest and sharpest things its author ever wrote, and probably the tempestuous Gael who had called it forlh thought that it REVIEWING. 199 would have been wiser for him to have repressed his zeal than to have stirred up such an antagonist. He attempted no reply, and it must be confessed that after assuming so loftily " the port of the ]\liles Gloriosus," he crept out of the affair somewhat ingloriously. The Eclectic Review having about this time passed into the hands and under the editorial management of Mr. Josiah Conder, a gentleman to whose indefatigable industry, enhghtened judg- ment, sound taste and comprehensive intelligence the readers of that journal and the cause of nonconformity in general are deeply indebted. Dr. Wardlaw was repeatedly urged by him to contri- bute to its pages in the theological department. In this appli- cation, however, Mr. Conder never was fortunate enough to succeed — Dr. Wardlaw's manifold engagements and a certain diffidence in his own fitness for such work being pleaded by him as his excuse for declining. The truth is, I believe, that he had a positive dislike to the kind of mental activity required for the task of reviewing books. I once urged him at a later period of his life to write, for a journal in which I was interested, some- thing in the review department ; but he at once declined, saying, " Reviewing is out of my line altogether, I should feel quite at a loss how to set about it, I have not the trick of the thing ; and besides were I to undertake to review a book I should feel bound to sit down and carefully read it first, and I can conceive of nothing more irksome than to be tied to read a book you are not otherwise inclined to read, merely for the sake of reviewing it." Dr. Wardlaw though always a hard student was by no means a " helluo hbrorum," and very reasonably held that in regard to most books it was a great mercy to be allowed to get on without reading them. He would have subscribed heartily I believe to the opinion of Seneca, who exclaims, " Quo mihi innumerabiles libros et bibliothecas ? onerat discentem turba non instruit ; multoque satius est paucis te auctoribus tradere quara errare per multos." — De Tranquil, c. g. The year 1821 was one marked by several events of import- ance in Dr. Wardlaw's history. The first of these was the 200 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. death of his venerable and much-loved father, which took place on the morning of Sunday the 20th of May, in the eightieth year of his age. On the evening of the same day his son announced the event to an old and valued friend of the deceased, the Rev. •T. Macfarlane of Dunfermline, in the following letter : — Glasgow, May 20th, 1821. Ah ! my dear Sir, little did you expect the reply which I now sit down to make to your very friendly letter received by me yesterday, con- veying the distressing intelligence of the removal to the world of spirits of your late excellent colleague.* You requested me to communicate the painful tidings to the circle of my friends here, and especially to my loved and revered father. He, my dear Sir, was then upon his own death-bed, and is since gone to join his old friend among " the spirits of the just made perfect." He had been for some months evidently losing ground, and feeling a more rapid encroachment than before of the infirmities of age, so that " the grasshopper was becoming a burden." But he became seriously worse yesterday se'ennight with sickness, oppressed breathing, and a general giving way of the energies of nature. And after enduring a greater degree of suffering than it could well have been supposed his enfeebled constitution was capable of bearing, especially during yesterday and last night, he fell asleep in Jesus a few minutes before five this morning, and entered on the everlasting Sabbath of the upper sanctuary. Many a time had he hailed with delight the return of that " Blest morning, whose first dawning ray Beheld the Son of God Arise triumphant from the grave. And leave bis dark abode.'' And now he has gone to celebrate its triumphs in strains of higher eleva- tion and purer delight than he could ever raise on earth. Thus, of the bonds that attach us to the world, " string after string is severed from the heart," and oh, my friend, is it not then — when called to close in death the eyes of those who were near and dear to us in life, that we feel the inestimable preciousness, both in their behalf, and in our own, of the hope of the gospel ? —that blessed gospel which hath " brought life and incorruption to light." I cannot enlarge, especially as I am writing with much uneasiness in my eyes. You seek an interest in iny prayers. You see, my dear friend, how much I and my dear relatives here need an interest in yours. Yet have we abundant reason "not to sorrow as those who have no hope." Long had he "walked with God ;" and now he is not, for God hath taken him. God was with him on earth, and he is gone to be with God in heaven ; chang- ing his 2'>lc-ce, but not his company. My brother Mr. R. Smith will convey this to you, and will give you more particular information. The day of interment will be Friday. But your prospect for next Lord's-Day will hardly allow us to hope for your presence with us on the mournful occasion. Eev. Dr. Husl.and. DEATH OF MR. WAIJDLAW. 201 Assure of our sympathy and fellow-feeling all connected with your worthy colleague and yourself. — Believe me, &c. Ralph Wardlaw. Mrs. W. unites in tlic kindest remembrances. On the Sunday after the funeral Dr. \A^nrdlaw improved the event by preaching to his congregation from Genesis xlix. 29-31. This sermon was afterwards printed at the close of a work the author was then carrying through the press, and of which some account will be given presently. From the sketch which he gives of his father's character the following are extracts : — After speaking of his enlightened, evangelical, warm-hearted piety, the preacher says — With this humble and heartfelt piety as the element in which all the other parts of his character were steeped and imbued, he was endeared to his friends and kindred by the singularly tender and unremitting exercise of all the domestic affections, which rendered him the centre of attraction and union to a wide circle of loved and loving relatives — a circle which he cheered by his natural buoyancy, vivacity and playfulness of temper, and instructed by his edifying and enlivening converse. His religion did not quench the light of cheerfulness ; and his cheerfulness was at an equal remove from gloom and from levity. He retained his characteristic pleasantry even to the last. He was esteemed by the church and people of Christ as an aged pilgrim, who had long " walked with God," and exemplified the power of godliness — one who prayed for the peace of Jerusalem ; who delighted in unity ; who was "a lover of good men," and who breathed from his very soul the prayer of the Apostle — " Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity !" And he was respected and commended by the world at large for the exemplary consistency of his profession and conduct, which gave him a testimony in their consciences, such as they could not gainsay nor resist. Both in public and private concerns, in the duties of the magistracy and the businesses of ordinary life, he evinced a sound and enlightened judgment, in maturity of investigation and rectitude of decision. He cultivated a taste for classical literature, which was more than a useless ornament ; it was of essential benefit in the education of his family ; and his acquaintance especially with the original language of the New Testament aff"orded him many an hour of rich and sacred pleasure. He was distin- guished, in an uncommon degree, by the most unvarying temperate regularity of living ; by scrupulous punctuality to all engagements ; by the most un- bending integrity ; by a conscientious eagerness of desire to make every trust productive, vmder his management, of labour to himself and of benefit to others ; by a union of kindly affability with dignified propriety of demeanour ; by steadiness to old attachments, and a religious regard to the precept " thine own friend and thy father's friend forsake not ;" by a benevolent liberality of heart, which hardly knew how to resist the petitions of charity and the claims of the cause of God, and which to his power, and bei/ond his power, 202 MEMOIRS OF DK. WARDLAW. was willing to answer both ; and hy a warm attachment to the government of his country. At times, indeed, on this subject, and occasionally too on some others, there was evinced a degree of impatient quickness of temper ; but it was generally of such a kind as to excite a smile at the good old man's zeal, rather than to stir in the bosom the slightest return of unpleasant feel- ings. " Whatsoever things were true, and just, and honourable, and pure, and lovely, and of good report — these things he thought of," and ever prayed for grace to practise. Whatever his partial friends might think of him, he was himself of the " poor in spirit." His devotional exercises, characterised by correctness, simplicity and tenderness, breathed the spirit of conscious unworthiness, and all the lowliness of a broken and contrite heart. When it was said to him, during his last illness, " You have long been walking with God, Sir," he replied, " I have long been a professor at least of the blessed name of Jesus ;" and he shrunk with deep inward emotion from the thought of his own deficiencies. The life of this good man had been spent in a cheerful and charitable religiousness, and his end was in keeping with such a life, peaceful, serene and happy. Sensible that his end was approaching, not a word escaped him, nor a symptom appeared, that indicated a fear of dying ; nor amidst severe bodily suffering the slightest expression of murmuring or impatience. On the contrai-y, when within a few hours of his departure he repeated the words — " He who testifieth these things, saith. Surely I come quickly : Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus ! " — " that is," he added, " come quickly." But this must not be understood as the language of impatience — come instantltj — come nmv, because it is 7nij time. No, I would say. Come, Lord Jesus, come in thine own good time, in thine own way, and by thine own appointed means : for these are always best. '■'Even so «ome. Lord Jesus !" — On the day before his death, when set up in bed for temporary ease, he all at once, to the delighted surprise of those of us who were by his bed-side, began to sing, with a soft and plaintive sweetness, in his circumstances irresistibly melting — '• AVlicre high tbo heav'nly temple stands, The bouse of God not made with hands, A great High Priest our nature wears, The guardian of mankind appears." and sung out the first four stanzas ; — afterwards repeating, like one exhausted, the remaining two. My ear can never lose that sound ; — my heart can never lose the sweetly solemn impression. Such too was his collectedness, that he made particular inquiries about various individuals of his friends, and cir- cumstances connected with them, such as we wondered he should think of ; wished every thing to go on in the usual way ; and when it came to the hour of evening family prayer, insisted on all being called in by the ordinary sum- mons ; when he sung a hymn, and heard a short portion of the word of God, and prayer ofi"ered up by his bed-side. An anecdote has been preserved relating to the closing hours LIGHT IN THE VALLEY. 203 of this excellent man which, as the authority on which it came to me is unimpeachable,* I will here record as characteristic of the man. Being \isited by some Christian friends during his confinement, he discoursed to them in his usual cheerful and pleasant way, and spoke with humble but unfaltering confidence of his hopes for eternity founded on the Saviour's merits. One of the party, whose views of divine truth were of a kind which led him not only to indulge in gloomy feelings and anxious forebodings, but even to attach to these a certain religious worth, was somewhat scandalised by the brightness which seemed diffused over the soul of the dying saint, and he could not refrain from endeavouring to recal him to what he considered a more befitting state of mind. " Oh ! Mr. Wardlaw," he said, " does it beseem us to pass through the dark valley without a struggle ? Remem- ber how it fared with our Master : was not his soul troubled within him, and was not he sorrowful even unto death ?" " Aye," exclaimed the dying saint, rising on his couch, " it was even so ; and oh ! man, it is that very trouble and that very sorrow that make me go so lightly through the valley this day ; surely He hath home our griefs and carried our sorrows.'''' There is some- thing in this akin to the faith of the Apostle when he exclaimed, " I know whom I have believed and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day." This calm serene reliance in the prospect of death rises to the sublime of piety. Dr. Wardlaw's funeral sermon for his father was printed at the close of a work, to the preparation of which for the press the spring and summer of 1821 were principally devoted, viz., his Lectures on Ecclesiastes. It has been already mentioned that several years previous to this the author had gone through this book in a series of expository pulpit discourses, and that his selection of such a subject had been determined by the unsettled and calamitous state of the times. The same reason induced him after a lapse of more than ten years to issue his lectures from the press. Having however more than complied with the * My infiirmant was the late James Oijilvy, Esq. 204 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARULAW. coimsel of Horace * he foniiil after keeping his MS. by him so long that he could not issue it in its original form, but must entirely recompose his lectures. To this task he accordingly addressed himself, and the work appeared in two 8vo volumes in the autumn of 1821. The work thus prepared is one of great value. It furnishes a model of that form of pulpit instruction to which it belongs — a form which happily is greatly esteemed in Scotland, and the utility of which experience has amply testified. As an exposi- tion of the portion of Scripture to which it is devoted it is cha- racterised by much perspicuity, acuteness and sagacity ; and if there is little of a philological kind in it, which the nature of the work as consisting of popular discourses necessarily precluded, there is abundant evidence that the author had made use of the best grammatical and exegetical helps in making up his mind as to the meaning of his author. Many passages of great force and beauty are scattered through the work, and perhaps to none of its author's printed works would his friends refer for an illustra- tion of his best pulpit performances more readily than to this. Its chief value, ho^vever, is derived from its practical character. The just views of life which it sets forth — removed alike from worldliness on the one hand and asceticism on the other ; the wise observations and sagacious reflections on men and things with which it is filled ; the knowledge of men's nature and ways it exhibits ; the kind and genial, yet pure and lofty spirit with which it is pervaded; and the tone of unaffected, manly, and enlightened piety that adorns the whole, conspire to confer upon the work a character which will render it valuable for all times as well as for such as those it was originally designed to suit. After finishing his labours at the press with this work Dr. Wardlaw visited London as one of a deputation to solicit aid to the funds of the Congregational Union of Scotland ; his com- j)anions being the late excellent John Hercus of Greenock and * Si quid tamen olim Scripseris .... nonumqne prematur in annum Membranib intus positis. WILLIAM FRIEND DURANT. 205 the late zealous and devoted Alexander Dewar of Avocli. The deputation was well received in London and its vicinity, from which they returned with upwards of £800, a generous and most seasonable bounty from the strong to the weak. Soon after his return from the south, he was called to expe- rience a peculiar trial, in the death under his roof of a singularly talented and amiable youth, the only son of the Rev. T. Durant of Poole, of whose early acquaintance with Dr. Wardlaw at Dun- dee mention has been already made in this Memoir. This young- man had already passed through three brilliant sessions at the Glas- gow Universit}^, during which he had resided as a boarder under Dr. Wardlaw's roof; and whilst his unusual abilities made him the pride of the college, his amiable temper and the charm of his societ}^ had rendered him not less an object of aflectionate regard in the domestic circle. After spending the summer vaca- tion at Poole, he had returned in November 1821 to Glasgow for his closing session, and had been joyfully welcomed to his former place in Dr. Wardlaw's household. Hardly, however, had he resumed his studies at college when he was seized with a severe illness, which, in spite of all the skill and attention of the ablest physicians and the kindest friends, terminated in suffusion on the brain, accompanied with paralysis of the right side of the body, of which he died on the evening of the 27th of November. Mourned by many was this fine youth, thus prematurely cut down ; by none, beyond the circle of his imme- diate relatives, more than by Dr. Wardlaw and his famil3% A deep sensation was produced also at the university, both among professors and students by the tidings ; and as the occasion seemed a favourable one for impressing on the minds of the young, especially such as were engaged in similar pursuits with those in which he had so lately stood pre-eminent, the interests of their souls, Dr. Wardlaw determined to seize the opportunity, both of giving vent to his own feelings of admiration, affection, and respect, and of seeking to make the mournful event a source of spiritual benefit to survivors by preaching a funeral sermon for the deceased. An immense crowd assembled on the occa- 206 - MEMOIRS OF DK. WARDLAW. sion, composed largely of students iVoui the imiversity, and including not a few of the Professors. The preacher's address rose to the level of the occasion, and was listened to with pro- found attention and emotion. Selecting for his text the words of Job (chap. xiv. 19), " And thou destroyest the hope of man," he spoke to his audience of God, the supreme disposer of all events, as destroying the hope of man, when he permits the stroke of death to fall upon him, extinguishing his life, and dissi- pating like a shadow all the schemes and projects that hung suspended on that life. He then passed at once to the illustra- tion of his text fiu'nished by the event which had occasioned that evening's service, and in graceful and discriminating words, but with a voice that often faltered with emotion, he sketched the character of the youth wdio had been so unexpectedly snatched from among his admiring comrades and affectionate friends ; dwelling upon his extraordinary powers of intellectual acquisition and performance, his singularly gentle and sweet temper, his industry and conscientiousness as a student, and finally, the evi- dence he gave of genuine and deep-rooted piety. And having brought his hearers to this point, he closed by a series of solemn, pointed and touching reflections and appeals suggested by the sudden destruction of all the hopes which such a brilliant com- mencement of the career of life was calculated to excite. Most eloquent and striking are the concluding paragraphs of this dis- course, and not a few we may believe of the fine youths who that evening crowded around the preacher, caught from his words impressions and impulses that have exerted a salutary influence on their after life. What estimate they themselves formed of it may be conjectured from the following requisition, which was pi-esented to Dr. Wardlaw a few days after the delivery of his discourse : — Glasgow, Dec. 13th, 1821. Reverend Sir — We, the undei'signed, the fellow-students of the late much regretted Mr. William Friend Durant, hope not to be guilty of intrusion when we unitedly request that you will be so obliging as to gratify his friends with the publication of the excellent discourse which you preached on the mournful occasion. It would not only insure a lasting monument to the memory of our FUNERAL SERMON FOR DURANT. 207 departed companion, but also, as from its valuable properties it is calculated to be, we fain hope would prove useful to survivors. Returning you our sincere thanks for the favour already conferred by its delivery, and earnestly soliciting your kind acquiescence — We remain, &c. To the Rev. Dr. Wardlaw. Then follow the signatures of eighty-three of Mr. Durant's class-fellows, some of whom, it is interesting to observe, are now men of whom the world has note as eminent in their respective professions. With this request, enforced as it was by the earnest solicitations of the bereaved parent, called thus aifectingly to mourn the loss of the last and the brightest of his household treasures. Dr. Wardlaw did not hesitate to comply, and the ser- mon was accordingly published forthwith. It appeared with the title, " The Vanity of the Earthly Hopes of Man : A Sermon, preached in George Street Chapel, Glasgow, on Lord's-Day Evening, December 9th, on occasion of the Death of Mr. Wil- liam Friend Durant of Poole, Dorsetshire, Student in the Uni- versity of Glasgow," &c., and bears the following dedication : " To the Reverend Thomas Durant, with sentiments of high regard and of the deepest condolence ; and to the Professors and Students of the University of Glasgow, with earnest wishes that, under the enlightened tuition of the former, the latter may be led to emulate the intellectual attainments, and to imitate the reli- gious and moral excellences of their lamented friend and compa- nion ; the following Discourse is respectfully inscribed by the Author."* Of the years 1822, 1823, and 1824, little remains to be recorded in the narrative of Dr. Wardlaw's life. Besides his ordinary duties, his extending reputation entailed upon him a vast amount of correspondence, and though in one sense he was not a very good correspondent, inasmuch as he was apt to delay his reply, yet, as Avhen he did write he usually wrote fully, the amount of time which, during the period of his life subsequent to this date he devoted to this duty, must have been very great. As senior secretary of the Glasgow Auxiliary to the British and * A Memoir of Mr. W. F. Durant was compiled l\v his father, and published in 2 vols. 12nio. It is a work well deserving the perusal of all students. 208 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. Foreign Bible Society, much of his time was occupied at the period now under notice by the correspondence and conferences rendered necessary by a lawsuit which the Bible Societies had at this time to carry on against the King's printers, who were desirous of guarding their monopoly by the exclusion from Scot- land of all Bibles but such as issued from their own press. He had also some trouble imposed on him in connection with the formation throughout the country of Auxiliary and Branch Bible Societies. His services in both these matters were such as to call forth from the parent society a formal acknowledgment in the following terms : — Feb. 23d, 1824. At a Meeting of the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society — " Resolved, That a letter be addressed to the Rev. Dr. Wardlaw, Secretary of the Glasgow Auxiliary Society, ex2:)ressive of the satisfaction felt by this Committee at the successful adoption of systematic principles in the forma- tion of a Ladies' Branch and affiliated Associations ; also conveying the cordial thanks of this Committee to Dr. Wardlaw for his prompt and assi- duous attention in communicating the proceedings respecting the injunction obtained by the King's Printers in Scotland." Extracted from the Minutes. Josh. Tarn, Asst. Secy. In addition to his ordinary public labours Dr. Wardlaw had for many years been in the habit of devoting a portion of time to the instruction of the younger members of his congregation in biblical and theological knowledge. He had two classes for this purpose ; one for young men, another for young women, which met to hear a lecture once a month. In order to show their sense of the advantage they derived from these labours of their pastor, the members of these classes determined on present- ing him each with some appropriate gift. The first of these was made by the young men, and consisted of a pair of gold spectacles — symptom, alas ! that " those that look out at the windows" were beginning to be somewhat prematurely "darkened;" and this was follow^ed by a present of a copy of Home's Introduction and of Jebb's Sacred Literature from the members of the female class. Each of these was accompanied by a letter, expressing in the strongest terms the respect, gratitude and affection with which the donors regarded their pastor. A third present followed, GIFT ACKNOWLEDGED. 209 consisting of a handsomely bound family bible from the young- men connected with the church ; this was accompanied with an affectionate letter written in the name of the donors by Mr. Ebenezer Henry, one of their number, to which Dr. Wardlaw sent the following reply : — Regent Street, April 12th, 1823. My dear young Friend — I duly received the very handsome present transmitted by you in name of the young men of the church under my pastoral care, and accompanied with the written assurances of their affec- tionate and grateful regards. Such assurances would themselves have been highly gratifying to my feelings, and would have met with a willing and implicit credit, though unattended by so substantial a testimony of their heartfelt sincerity. The present, however, which came along with them as their coucher, gave them a weight and emphasis, which have left on my mind an impression that can never be effaced. Costly, and eminently tasteful in its rich and elegant exterior, it possesses at the same time, as the Word of Grod, an intrinsic preciousness beyond the powers of human computation ; and along with this also, an adventitious value of the very highest order, as the gift of love, not from one only, but from many dear objects of my affec- tionate solicitude. I may say, without " feigned lips," that in receiving it I felt humbled by the consciousness of having done so little to deserve such a token of attachment on the part of the youth of my flock. Yet was I at the sp^me time cheered, delighted, and animated by the expressions of that attach- ment, and of their fervent wishes and prayers for my personal and ofiicial comfort and prosperity. May the Lord enable me in time to come to repay their kindness by increased fidelity and diligence in the advancement of their best and highest, their spiritual and everlasting interests ; "• watching for their souls as one who must give account ;" that for their sakes as well as for my own, I may give it " with joy and not with grief." My best wishes and prayers attend you all, my beloved young friends and brethren, in everything that concerns you. May all that the Bible reveals as the portion of God's children be yours. May you be enriched with all the blessings and adorned with all the graces of the Holy Spirit, preserved from all the temptations to which youth is peculiarly exposed, spared to honour your Saviour during a long, useful, and happy life, and at last received to his presence, where there is fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore ! And may it be mine to see your steady progress heavenward, and to " rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain." There is but one point, respecting which I shall be glad to receive more explicit information, as I am anxious to act in exact conformity to the intentions of the kind donors. Will you, my dear young brother, have the goodness to inform me, whether their valued gift was designed by them for private or for public use ? Convey these expressions of my affectionate and thankful regard to all concerned. — Believe me, 6cc. Ralph Wardi.aw. The point on which Dr. Wardlaw says here he wanted infor- p 210 MEMOIRS OF Di;. WAItDT.AW. niation was settled by a prompt reply, assuring liim that the gift was meant for private use, and expressing the hope that it might b3 the means of putting him in mind of the earnest desires for his continued welfare and usefulness of the youthful members of his flock.* In the spring of 1823 a volume of sermons was pubhshed by ministers of the Congregational Union of Scotland in aid of the benevolent fund for the relief of the widows and children of the ministers connected with that body. To this volume Dr. Ward- law contributed a sermon on Love to Christ, from Luke xiv, 25, 26. The sermon is a very valuable one, full of scriptural doctrine lucidly set forth, and made to bear with a close practical urgency on the sentiments and interests of different classes of religionists. In May 1823 Dr. Wardlaw preached a sermon for the Home Missionary Society in Craven Chapel, London, which at the request of the directors was published. It is entitled, " The Early Success of the Gospel an Evidence of its Truth and an Encouragement to Zeal for its universal Diffusion." The text is 1 Cor. i. 26-29. It is an unusually long discourse, which must have taken at least an hour and a half in the delivery ; yet I will venture to say no intelligent hstener felt any wish that it had been shorter. The author keeps close to his text through- out, and furnishes a very admirable exposition and illustration of the words of the Apostle. His divisions are, 1, The facts stated — " not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called ;" 2, The design of God in this ar- rangement— " that no flesh should glory in his presence ;" 3, The argument arising from the facts in the text in support of * Whilst recording these presents which Dr. Wardlaw received from members of his flock, it may not be amiss to mention another present which he received somewhere about the same time, with the following inscription : — " To the Keverend Dr. Wardlaw, as an afi'ectionate testimonial of his having been the instrument through whom the undersigned was brought to the knowledge of the blessed and glorious gospel of Christ. James Thomson." The present was a copy of Boothroyd's Bible ; and the donor was the late Eev. Dr. Tiiomson, for many years the Agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society in South America and Spain — one of the best ofmeu. LONDON MAY MEETINGS. 211 the truth of the gospel. The discourse concludes with some judicious observations on the value of human learning to ministers and missionaries of the gospel now, and an eloquent pleading for missionary effort both at home and abroad. " This discourse," says the reviewer of it in the Evangelical Magazine, " we cannot but regard as one of peculiar value. It abounds in enlightened and judicious criticism, sound reasoning, scriptural discussion and considerable originality of remark and illustration." Besides several pulpit appearances Dr. Wardlaw took part at the annual meetings of several of the religious societies in the metropolis, especially those of the London Missionary Society and the Hibernian Society, at both of which he had leading motions. He was again in London at the May meetings in the follow- ing year, and took part in the annual meeting of the London Missionary Society, where he seconded a motion moved by the Hon, and Rev. Baptiste Noel expressive of the feelings of the friends of truth and righteousness in reference to the atrocious proceedings of the magistrates and government of Deraerara towards Mr. Smith, one of the society's missionaries. This was a case to awaken all Dr. Wardlaw's sympathies, and to call forth his most energetic efforts ; but his predecessor had so fully, and so forcibly, and so eloquently presented it to the meeting that he contented himself with very briefly expressing his concurrence with what Mr. Noel had said, and his warm approbation of the measures the society had adopted in reference to the matter. The only other occasion in which he appeared publicly during this visit to the metropolis was at Great Queen Street Chapel, where he preached one of the annual sermons for the Continental Society ; the other being preached at St. Clement Dane's, Strand, by the Rev. Hugh M'Neile. Dr. ^Yardlaw took occasion whilst in the south this year to pay some visits to several esteemed friends, especially to Mr. Durant at Poole, and to the Rev. D. S. Wayland, a clergyman of the Church of England at Bassingham in Nottinghamshire. With this latter gentleman he had formed an epistolary acquaint- ance, arising out of a letter which ]Mr. Wavland had written to 212 MEMOIRS OF DC. WARDLAW. him after hearing him preach one evening in his own chapel in Glasgow — a letter overfloAving with kindly and godly feeling, and which called forth from him the following reply : — Innerldp, August 19th, 1823. Rev. and dear Sir — Had circumstances admitted of my fulfilling my inclination, I should have replied to your very interesting letter at the moment of receiving it, which was early in last week. This, however, was put out of my power by the necessity of leaving home next morning ; and I have been mostly from home since. Yesterday I brought Mrs. W. down to this place, whither our family have recently come for sea-bathing ; and I seize the earliest opportunity which its privacy affords me of writing a few lines to one, whom, I trust, though unknown, I may address as my friend and brother. Your letter drew to my eyes the tears of affection to yourself, and of gratitude to heaven — gratitude, I trust, sincere and humble — though, know- ing the deceitfulness of my heart, I dare not venture to say unmingled with an alloy of baser ingredients. There are few things, indeed, more humbling than to be made the instrument of spiritual good ; few things that are more fitted to overwhelm the spirit with a feeling of conscious umvorthiness, or to awaken an apprehensive self-jealousy lest we should forget the apostolic maxim, " Neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth," and should be tempted to take the credit in any measure to ourselves ; — instead of ascribing the effect to what God has said, and to the influence of his Spirit attending it, to impute it to what we have said, and to our manner of saying it. 0 for a deeper, a more constant and practical conviction, that " the excellency of the power is of God !" Yet while I desire to be humbled, it would be as contrary to the principles of grace as to the feelings of nature, not to be gratified. The term is too feeble. No word short of delight should describe the emotion with which we learn that any genuine spiritual impres- sion has been made in any heart by our ministry. And surely, if there be any occasion on which that delight should be peculiarly intense, it must be when such impression has been produced in a heart, " out of the abundance of which" others are to be instructed, warned, persuaded, and edified — when a flame has been kindled there, not indeed of neiv, but of v:armer love to Christ and to the souls of men, of more ardent zeal for the glory of the one and for the salvation of the other. If, my dear sir, by means of anything I was led to say on the occasion that led you to write, the Spirit of God has been graciously pleased thus to aftect i/oiir heart, I desire humbly and fer- vently to praise Him for it, and at the same time to pray, not only that it may prove a " token for good" to all who wait upon your ministry, but that, by a reaction upon myself, it may stir up to new life and activity the same feelings in my o^vn soul, and thus contribute also to the benefit of my church and congregation, and so to the glory of our common Lord ! Most cordially do I subscribe to the sentiments contained in the short preface to your first volume, respecting the ends which, as ministers of Christ, we should have in view, and with the attainment of which, and of which alone, we ought to be satisfied. But alas \ my dear sir, you have formed a very erroneous estimate, (would it were otherwise !) of the spiritual character of him whom you so kindly addi'ess. I do not call it flattery on your part ; for I believe COKRESPONDENCE. 213 you to be sincere : you " meaut uot so, iicitlier did your heart think so." But it is so notwithstanding. And there is nothing, you are well aware, that makes one blush more deeply, than commendatiou which conscience tells us is undeserved. 0 how feeble, how languid, how fluctuating and inconstant are those principles, which you, in your ignorance and charity, fancy to be in fervent, habitual and predominant operation ! The Searcher of Hearts knows that I speak the plain truth, and not the language of a feigned and proud humility. If you give any grains of allowance to the terms I have used, you will in exact proportion as you do so deduct from their accuracy. 0 for a deeper impression of the inestimable worth of immortal souls ! I forget which of the fathers it is of whom it is recorded that he was wont to say, he never could read those words of Paul without trembling : " I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men ; for I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God !" And well may we tremble when we reflect that eternity hangs, as it were, upon every word we utter ; that our declaration of what is false, or our failure to declare what is true, may affect the everlasting destinies of our hearers ! May you and I, my dear sir, have grace to be faithful, and may the Master whom we serve honour us with that success which shall prove our encouragement to addi- tional diligence and unwearied perseverance in seeking, "not our own profit, but the profit of many that they may be saved." Let us see to it that what we preach be the apostolic gospel ; and in preaching it let us imitate the "ambassadors of Christ," who prayed and besought men with tears. ^'■Drawing with the cords of love'^ is God's way. It is the best. Let it be ours. We are thus, my dear friend, mutually introduced to each other. We may never meet on earth ; and yet we may too. Should I be in the south, I shall go a good many miles out of my way to see you ; and should you revisit the north, it will give me most sincere pleasure to receive you under my roof. I go up to Glasgow on Friday, and shall be weekly going and coming between it and this place for nearly two months. Your volumes I shall peruse immediately ; and I anticipate both pleasure and benefit from them. If in any point of importance we should be found to differ, I trust our simple aim will ever be to ascertain ivhat is truth. I hope I shall never be so perverse as not to count that man my friend who removes error from my mind, and substitutes truth. I am surely a gainer by the exchange. Mrs. W. unites in best wishes to my unknown correspondent, from whom I shall be most happy to hear again, and to hear soon. — Believe me, &c. Ralph Wardlaw. Dr. Wardlaw was accompanied on his return from Poole by his eldest daughter who had been there for some time before on a visit to Mr. Durant. When in London they resided at Clapham with an old and valued friend, Robert Dewar, Esq., of Lloyd's, To this friend he wrote after his return a letter from which the following is an extract : — Inoerkip, alias Auldkirk, July 27th, 1824, My very dear Friend — I would fain have got a frank before coming dov* n here yesterday, to enable me to write at the same time to my esteemed friend Mr. Gorham, and Marianne to accomplish her wish to inclose a few 214 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. lines to your dear Sarah, but I kuew not how to obtain it. I must therefore forego the pleasure in the meantime of writing to others. I too would have fulfilled my promise to Sarah and to James, and put you, moreover, to the expense of a postage. YoViT j>r em iums of insurance at Lloyd's are of course regulated in their amount by the degree of risk to which the insured property is exposed. May I assure you, that were you called to insure my friendship (on which I know well you set more value than it is worth), you might venture it at a very low premium. The risk is very small. You need not feel, when a little delay takes place, as you do when a vessel is much beyond her calculated time of coming into port. Keep your mind easy ; here she comes in full sail, hands and cargo all safe. Give her three cheers, and never distrust her again. She is a sound vessel, and if sometimes a little slow, warranted safe. It has given me sincere concern to hear that your health has not, since we had the pleasure of meeting and the pain of parting, been gaining ground. You have hid much occupation of mind, and that not of the plea- santest description ; and we all know what a foe anxiety is to bodily sound- ness and vigom-. I trust, my dear friend, your apprehensions will tvirn out, if not entirely groundless, yet more serious than the occasion will be found to justify. I was truly happy to learn from Mr. D. that such is the opinion of your excellent friend JMacaulay — who being, I presume, neutral in regard to interest in the result, as well as a man of very sound judgment — a capital Scotch head, seems in every respect well qualified to form a correct estimate of probable consequences. But at all events, do not forget the duty and the privilege of " casting all your cares on Him who careth for you." How admirably are our duty and our interest associated in the divine precepts ! and in no one of them is this more delightfully the case than in the injunction " not to be anxious about to-morrow," " in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, to make our requests known unto God." Avail yourself, my friend, of this kind and condescending encou- ragement, and " the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your heart and mind by Christ Jesus." It is said of Martin Luther, that in times of difficulty and perplexity, when the sky was lowering, and the prospects dark, he used to sit down and sing, by himself or with his friends, the 46th Psalm, " God is our refuge and our strength," &c. Imitate his example when you feel your mind unhinged. It is an excellent specific. It will cheer the spirit, and that will contribute to the favourable efiect of other means of corporeal convalescence. These it is right to use, looking upward for a blessing ; and, next to Martin Luther's Psalm, I would recommend a trip to Scotland. Come and see us in this our nice summer retreat. Your house is painting ; take the opjjortunity, if business will at all permit, and bring with you all that can come. My own health is good ; I -only want grace to improve it better while I have it. Mrs. W. and all the young folks are tolerably well. Your " little bodee,''' dear Marianne, rather suffered by the journey down, and had two or three weeks a smart attack of induenza, with a good deal of fever, which left her much debilitated. She is only yet coming round to her strength. You would know a great difference upon her still from what she was in the hospitable mansion of Larkhall Lane. I am a perfect igno- ramus on the subject of family connections. Any inquiries in regard to LITEKAKY ESSAYS. 215 that of Sir R. K. Inglis, I am sure n\y brother Walter will not leave unin- vestigated, at least, if transmitted to him. Will you present my very respectful regards to Sir Robert. The weather here has been, and is remarkably fine. But I have been of late, from various Bible Society, and other engagements, more in town than with my family. I hope to be more down with them henceforward. We have been endeavouring to get Bible associations formed in various parts of the west of Scotland, but have suflered various disappointments. I had a number of other topics to touch upon, but must leave them till a future time. — Your cordial friend, Ralph Warblaw. Amidst these manifold engagements Dr. Wardlaw still retained his allegiance to the Literary and Commercial Society, whose meetings he faithfully attended, and before which he continued to read occasional papers down to the year 1824. Subsequently to the paper last noticed he read the following : — On the 29th of April 1819 one entitled " Some Observations on the Thinking Principle in Brutes;" on the 14th of February 1822 one "on Divorce," being the third on this subject he had laid before the Society ; and on the 22d of July 1824 one " on Duelling." 216 CHAPTER VIIL A. D. 1824— A. D. 1829. Since the last insertion of any notice respecting Dr. Warcllaw's family three successive additions had been made to it, viz., a daughter born 25th September 1817, another daughter born 14th February 1821, and a third born 24th July 1823. Dr. Wardlaw's family was now complete. In all, the number of his children was eleven. Of these nine were spared to grow to manhood and womanhood, and two were taken in infancy — taken, as he rejoiced confidently to believe, to the glorious and blessed presence of Christ as part of his " purchased possession," to be for ever with Him. It may be convenient at this stage to pause in our narrative of Dr. Wardlaw's public life and to turn for a little to contemplate him in the domestic circle. As the scenes of his subsequent history become more crowded with incidents of public interest, we may not have so favourable an opportunity of presenting to the reader this essential phase of his character. Dr. Wardlaw was eminently fitted to grace and to delight the family scene. In him the domestic affections were very strongly developed. Naturally affectionate and home-loving, the kindly influences amid which his own early life had been spent tended to deepen and strengthen his fondness for fireside associ- ation, festivities, and occupations. AVhen, accordingly, he himself became a husband and a father, it was from no mere frigid sense of duty that he devoted himself to his household ; his heart was with his wife and his children, and he found the serenest of his earthly enjoyments in their society. Nu fire burned so brightly in his estimation as that which shed its warmth around his own hearth; no voices sounded so sweet in his ears as those of the little HOME LIFE. 217 prattlers who welcomed him to his wonted seat at his own board. Without there was stir, there was excitement, there was applause, there was, it may be, flattery ; but what were these to the charm of home and to the interchange of domestic affection ? And as he delighted in his home, so was he found to be the delight of all who there were gathered around him. The sweetness of his temper, the cheerfulness of his manners, the sympathetic kindness of his affections, the vivacity of his intellect, combined with the high moral tone and truthfulness of all his words and deeds, conspired to draw to him the love, confidence, and veneration of all his children and dependants. Love, purity, dignity, elegance and cheerfulness reigned around the hearth at which he presided, and made his the very model of a well-ordered Christian household — than which earth has no lovelier or more blessed object to offer to our view. But scenes of this kind are best described by those who have been privileged to enter them and participate in them. I shall, therefore, give place here to two whose descriptions are inspired by personal recollections such as I had no opportunity of enjoying. I quote first from the Reminiscences of Dr. Morison, to whom the reader has already been indebted for a faithful and vivid sketch of certain passages in Dr. Wardlaw's earlier life. " It was after I had become a settled pastor for some years that it fell to my lot to meet Dr. Wardlaw in his own hospitable dwelling. I had seen him often, south and north, on public occasions, and exchanged letters of friendship, of which I have very many in my possession, breathing the most affectionate confidence ; but till I saw him in the bosom of his own family I may truly say I never fully appreciated the exquisite symmetry and loveHness of his character. " My first visit to the house of my friend was in 1824, when he was in the height of his popularity ; and what I then saw in the midst of his domestic circle, as I marked the sunny brightness of his ' piety at home,' made an impression that can never be effaced. It seemed almost too perfect to be a reality ; and yet a blessed reality it was, exhibiting in sweet combination all that 218 MEMOIRS OF DK. WAltDLAW. nature and grace can accomplish for the union and bUss of a Christian household. Without a particle of stiffness or formality, the every-day life of the house, both late and early, seemed expressly adjusted so as to give full scope to all the domestic virtues, and to make religion a lovely and attractive thing, espe- cially to the yoimg. " Though the Doctor's study-toils scarcely knew of remission for a single day or hour, it was truly delightful to perceive how instantaneously he could lay aside his pen and his books, and relax into the most cheerful freedom and facetiousness of familiar conversation, which made even children gather around him and listen to his discourse. So absolute was the rule of love in his happy home, that it acted with all the uniformity of a physical law ; while in the sweet circle of smiling faces and bounding hearts it created, it presented a spectacle the very opposite of mechanical control. There was authority, indeed, and lodged too where it ought to be ; but it was the authority of love and generous sympathy, which needed little or nothing of formal restraint, and which was felt rather as an impulse than obeyed as a command. " I was struck to astonishment with the power which Dr. Wardlaw possessed of disentangling himself from severe study by a number of minor interruptions, and then of resuming the thread of his subject as if nothing had happened. He told me that he could in general do this with but slight damage to his train of thought. This said much for the fine discipline of his associating principle, but much more for the power of benevolent habit, which had never suffered him to become a literary autocrat or recluse in his own family. " His powers of conversation Avere equally rich and varied. He could discuss a controverted point with great acuteness, logical force, and ready eloquence. His current criticisms upon men and things were in general such as no inteUigent listener would wish to forget. He had boundless stores of that kind of ready wit, which, when free from all asperity, as it was in him, tends exceed- ingly to refine and enliven conversation, and to quicken the powers DOMESTIC CHAKACTERISTICS. 219 of fancy and observation. It was impossible to spend a dull or unprofitable evening in company with Dr. Wardlaw. " His accomplishments as a divine of the strictly biblical class, caring but little for the schools, were seen in two ways — in the lucid and pungent remarks which dropt from his lips in ordinary conversation upon theological subjects, and in the amazing readi- ness and copiousness with which he could reply, at any given instant, to biblical questions of the profoundest character, involv- ing some of the greatest difficulties connected with revealed religion." To this sketch I am happy to be able to add the following still more full and minute analysis of Dr. Wardlaw's domestic life, from the pen of one whose opportunities of observing were the best possible, and who in mind and spirit so closely assimilated to the object of his eulogy that it is his prerogative to be heard on such a theme — I mean the Rev. J. S. Wardlaw of Bellary, the second son of Dr. Wardlaw. " No heart ever found more fully than my dear father's a centre of attraction in the circle of domestic joys. He was wont to speak of these as in themselves ' the purest and best ' that had ' survived the fall ; ' and when hallowed by divine grace — each member of the family being one with the other, as a child of God and an heir of glor}^ — Jiome was in his view the most appropriate and attractive emblem of heaven. And his own spirit, ever ' true to these kindred points,' found its sweetest pleasure in communion with God, and in the free and happy interchange of all the fond ' charities of father, son, and brother.' He was gifted in no ordinary degree with all the quahties most fitted to render home the happiest spot on earth ; and a happier home there could not be than ours, when we were all gathered around him — enjoying his society, loving and being loved. His heart overflowed with affection. It beamed from his eye ; it played on his lips ; it was heard in every word ; and was marked by a peculiar depth and tenderness. There is one — for fifty long years the partner of his life, whose widowed heart, feeling in his loss a void which never can be filled, ' knoweth its own 220 . MEMOIRS OF DU. WARDLAW. bitterness ' — who, in sadly sweet remembrance of the past, and with tearful eye, bears ample testimony to the fact that as a husband he Avas all that could be desired ; and those who mourn his loss as a parent will, each one more eagerly than another, acknowledge that there never AA^as a father to whom children were more deeply indebted, or one more entirely deserving of their best and warmest love. " There was nothing in his manner towards us to inspire dread, but every thing to win and captivate the heart. In his pre- sence we all felt the Viimo^i freedom. There w'as no restraint, no reserve ; but an easy and playful familiarity — a familiarity at the same time associated with the most profound respect. jPearwas unknown except when a fault had been committed, and then it was the fear, not of ' hard words and harder stripes,' but the fear of encountering that look of mingled grief and displeasure w^hich went so keenly to the heart. In earher years the rod of correction was at times required — for we were not angels more than others ; and when such chastisement w^as needed it Avas not Avithheld, for his affection had in it nothing of that foolish kind- ness wdiich spares the rod at the expense of the child. Still 'the rod' Avas seldom used, and only on the failure of moral means ; and the child, as he saAv the tear in his father's eye, could not but be sensible that the correction — however much his rebellious spirit might for the moment spurn it — Avas inflicted with deep and unfeigned reluctance, and Avas a cause of heartfelt sorroAv to him who administered it. With the elders of the family a word or a look was sufficient to keep them in subjection. His aim was to rule hy love, and none ever accomplished his end more fully. No parent ever gained a more entire ascendency over the minds of his children. Kindly indulgent as he Avas, it cannot be said that he erred by excessive indulgence ; for he never lost his control, or failed to secure implicit obedience to his Avill. Without yielding to undue anxiety, he cherished a deep and earnest longing for the spiritual welfare of his children ; and it was his increasing aim by faithful instruction, by tender counsel and solemn Avarning — judiciously administered and asso- DOMESTIC CHARACTERISTICS. 221 ciated with a most attractive exhibition in his own conduct of the nature and influence of true piety — to bring their hearts under its holy and happy and hfe-giving power. He was wont to say, ' ]\Iy cup of bliss would be full did I but see all my children within the fold of Christ — all loving and serving him.' And in answer to his efforts and prayers and the efforts and prayers of another, wliose heart in this respect beat in unison with his own — this crowning joy was vouchsafed. " He has been described as having in his countenance an air of melanclioly!^ He had doubtless his trials, and sorrow at times ' flung a shadow o'er his brow ;' but it was of brief duration — only a passing cloud. Such were his views of all trial, in its origin and design, and such his unwavering confidence in the wisdom and love of God, that under affliction his spirits were never long or unduly w^eighed down ; and he speedily rose above its distressing influence. As to anything like a settled tinge of melancholy, if his looks indicated it, they greatly belied his actual feelings. He was most uniformly cheerful; and his religion was of such a mould as to increase rather than diminish his cheerful- ness. ' True religion,' he frequently remarked, ' is cheerful as the day. The gospel is glad tidings ; and if rightly understood and heartily embraced, it must impart happiness.' And in this respect he was a beautiful example of its real influence. A more cheerful Christian there could not be. There was no gloom, no moroseness whatever about him. The smile of tranquil happiness played upon his lips, and his presence always brought with it joy. He would enter heart and soul into any innocent amusement or harmless pastime with his children, and with a freedom and lightness of heart almost incredible to those who saw him only in his graver moods, and especially when his countenance wore * In an article by Gilfillan. I can't remember tlie words. [The exact words are — " A tinge of sadness lies like ' the soft shadow of an angel's wing' upon his face and eye." — Gallery of Literary Portraits, p. 150. As one has no opportunity in the present state of observing the shadows of angels' wings, it is impossible to judge of the accuracy of this simile ; but if the author intends anything more than that on serious occasions a becoming gravity sat on Dr. Wardlaw's brow and shaded his eye, his remark will not be assented to by any of Dr. Wardlaw's intimate friends.— W. T.. A. I 222 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. that air of impressive solemnity which often rested on it in public, under an overwhelming sense of the ineffable magnitude of the truths he had to proclaim, and the deep responsibility connected with their declaration, as involving the destiny of fellow-immortals for an endless eternity. It was his aim in all the intercourse of life to present Christianity in its true light, as designed to aug- ment our happiness, and in no way interfering with the innocent hilarities of life. In his desire to make religion thus attractive, especially to the young, his only fear, he would often say, was lest he should go to the extreme in that direction ; for if solicitous to avoid giving the impression that religion was gloomy, he shrunk with a still keener sensitiveness from the thought of leading any one to entertain a light conception of its magnitude. But this could not be ; for even in his lightest moods he never for a moment sunk beneath the dignity of his position; and while, with almost youthful glee, uniting in the laugh and merry joke, all was chastened and hallowed by feelings of a higher order; and he could with ease restrain the mirth, and engage our thoughts in something more important, reminding us with serious, yet still with cheerful airs, that there was ' a time for everything.' And then, all gathered around the domestic altar — he would breathe the fervent prayer that our pleasures might be duly regulated, and all kept ' subor- dinate to the fear and love of God.' That quiet and playful humour with which he was gifted found full scope in the family circle, and afforded us often no small amount of merriment ; but it was never indulged at the expense of others. It was always harmless. Few things were more offensive than any attempt at ridicuHng the weaknesses and failings of others, especially if these Avere associated with some degree of real worth. He had consi- derable power of sarcastic irony, but he kept it under restraint, and if it found vent at all it was only in checking airs of self- conceited importance. He deemed indulgence in it at variance with ' the kindness and gentleness of Christ.' None loved more than he a hai)py stroke of vnt, and his own efforts in that direction were often very successful. Nor was Wv? pun — with all the contempt which Addison has heaped on it — despised if INNOCENT AMUSEMENTS. 223 good. The practice of punning, indeed, in wliicli some delight, and the incessant effort at saying clever things he could not abide. It was altogether beneath him. It was only in the family circle, enlarged, perhaps, by the addition of a few young friends — young theologues, it might be, from the south — that he thus indulged. And there are some who caimot but remember evenings spent with him in the bosom of his family — what Morell Mackenzie was wont facetiously to term the noctes coenoeque deum — and the air of cheerful hilarity which he shed around him, blending in happy union easy pleasantry with interesting and profitable conversation. " While he shared our joys, and was often the life and spring of them, he shared no less our sorrows. He made these sorrows his own ; and all had the felt assurance that if there was not another on earth, there w^as one at least who would enter into their troubles ; who would sympathise with them, and who would do his utmost to impart the comfort, the guidance or the encouragement needed. Slight and insignificant in his view as the cause of sorrow might be, it was enough that it existed to call forth at once the sympathies of his heart. And these sympathies were not limited in their exercise to the loved ones around him. They were most expansive. He had a heart to feel for all, and often when he heard of the distresses of others — neighbours and fellow-christians — the tear would start to his eye, while he exclaimed, ' 0 what cause of gratitude have loe to that God who maketh us to differ ! ' It was this power of sympathy, in unison with the blandness and justness of his manner, that made his visits so highly prized as I know they were in the chamber of sickness and the house of mourning. He made himself in a measure one with the sufferers; and it was the same whether they were high or low, rich or poor. In the case of the latter, perhaps, his sympathies were specially called forth. He would listen with patient and feeling interest to the tale of their sorrow ; and he was never more in his element than when amongst the poor of his flock — counselling, comforting and cheering them — unfolding to their view those divine promises which were the stay and solace of his own soul. 224 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. " In a large family like his incidents must often occur to try the temper ; but he manifested at all times the most calm and patient forbearance. If anger was excited it ^Yas instantly checked and subdued. None ever learned more fully ' to rule his spirit;' so that in circumstances of the most irritating description I never saw in him even an approach to passion. Over all his feelings, indeed, he had singular control. Though susceptible in the highest degree of those more refined and tender emotions, associated with such a loving heart as his, he could keep them under restraint in a manner which often excited the wonder of his friends, so that when others were fairly over- come, he maintained, though feeling perhaps more keenly than any, a calm, dignified and even cheerful composure. He acted thus from a sense of dutT/, lest by yielding to the emotions which struggled in his own breast, he should aggravate instead of alle- viating the sorrow of those around him." Allusion is made in these admirable sketches to the ease and freedom of Dr. Wardlaw's intercourse with his children. This he at times carried even the length of playfulness, directing and sharing in their juvenile sports, and exercising his ingenuity to find additional methods of innocent amusement. Whilst resident in the city, he was in the habit of spending part of every summer at some of the many delightful watering places with which the shores of the Firth of Clyde are studded, and there with his children around him he took his holiday with all the relish of one who had carried into mature life the simple tastes and pure affec- tions of boyhood. Many a joyful excursion, many a pleasant stroll, many a piece of cordial fun and frolic had he and his children together, his share in which tended at once to endear him to their hearts and commend to them that religion which they thus saw to be capable even in its highest and purest forms of being associated with innocent gaiety and mirth. To himself these vacation seasons were full of attraction and refreshment, and when compelled by duty to forego them he felt it to be a sacrifice and a privation. On one occasion when called to visit the south on an important mission which detained him several DOMESTIC SYMPATHIES. 225 weeks during the time his family were at their summer quarters on the banks of the Clyde, he thus wrote to his son John : — "You will all join in praise that my health continues sound and that my labours do not at all impair my strength. I only regret that I have not had it in my power to take part with my dear Johnny in his little fishing and other expeditions, and I look for- ward amidst the incessant occupations of my mission, and the stir and bustle of this great Metropolis, with the most intense delight, to the sweet retirement and domestic intercourse of the Clough. May a kind providence grant us a safe and happy meeting ! " To another of his children who was on a visit to some friends in Edinburgh, he thus wrote from Innerkip, also called Auldkirk, in the summer of 1824. " And now, my dear girl, when are we to see your laughing face in our little domestic circle ? Are you not longing for Auldkirk ? I am sure there is no comparison between Auldkirh and Aidd Reekie ;* between a beautiful rural retirement at such a time of the year, and the crowds and dust and sultry air and burning pavements, and offensive effluvia of a mighty city. It is to be sure a magnificent place and I greatly admire it. Yet still I agree with Cowper's preference — and dusty weather, I confess, which hardly leaves one eyes for ' city scenes,' contributes not a little to the heartiness of my concurrence — wdien he says ' God made the couutry and man made the town.' "But I suppose you may have been enjoying the country too, for I am not sure where your ladyship's quarters may be at this moment, or which of your friends have the honour of being plagued with you. Plague as you are I yet somehow can't help longing to have you home ; and your orxgmoi farhugh is now more than expired. So do set your face Innerkipward as speedily as may be." Among other methods of amusement which Dr. Wardlaw sought out for his children was the ancient and quickening one of word-puzzles or charades. In the composition of these he was exceedingly dexterous, and those he produced were generally of * An ancient soubriquet for Edinburgh. Q 226 MEMOIRS OF DK. WARULAW. such a kind as to afturd good exercise to the ingenuity of the parties to whom they were propounded, and to create a hearty laugh when resolved. Of these it may not be amiss to give one or two out of many which have been preserved, as a specimen. The reader may imagine to himself a little fellow of eleven or twelve years old coming to bid his father " goodnight," and after the usual embrace and benediction exclaiming as he retires " Oh ! papa, it is a long time since you made me a riddle ; I wish you would make me one." " Hah! my boy, so you think these things are to be done to order, do you ? Well ; we shall see what the morning may produce ; in the meantime goodnight." The morning comes ; the family are assembled for breakfast ; the door opens and in walks papa with wonted smiles and salutations, and as he reaches the petitioner of last evening he throws him a paper saying, " There my boy, I made that this morning as 1 was shaving ; find it out if you can." The child reads as follows : — Lawyers, Tapsters, Thieves, Musicians With m.j first have all to do ; Boxers, Brides, and grave Magicians To my second promise true ; Light my third as any feather. Yet 'twould break your back, my boy ; Prince of rogues my whole together Vanished in a fit of joy. The combined ingenuity of the youthful group fails to discover the word whose properties are so marvellous, and at last the author has to announce Bar-ring-ton as the word required — the name of a notorious scoundrel who after a long series of depre- dations at last disappeared through the medium of a transport. Let the reader imagine again the family grouped around the fire of a winter's evening. The tasks of the day are over, the lessons for next day learnt, and the season for a brief interval of domestic festivity, before the head of the household retires to his study for his evening labours, has arrived. " Papa, give us a riddle," exclaims at length one of the merry group ; and papa, prepared for the possible demand, pulls from his pocket and reads : — CHARADES. 227 My first may recall the lamented dead, Yet is seen in the eve of the living, And the gamester full often has watched it with dread, And a heart filled with horrid misgiving. In the kingdom of letters my next stands so high That no rival above him can rise ; But with his twin brother in vain will he vie In the merit of being precise. No creature would choose to be found in my third Of subtle deception the prey ; All avoid it who can, man, beast, fish and bird. All but fools in the flatterer's sway. Come find my strange whole — come wife, son and daughter. Let it not put your wits to a stand ; It expresses what no one can do but in water, Yet it rattles to mirth upon land. This is iinaniinoiisly given up, so that the author has himself to divulge the mysterious subject of his verses. A merry laugh rings round the hearth as he mentions the word " Cast-a-net;" but this riddle is voted too difficult for juvenile ingenuity and a petition is preferred for an easier one. " Well then nothing can be easier than this ; so let me see who will answer it first." Mj first you will find at your finger ends ; My next in your bosom you lay ; The fair from the cold my whole defends, Or assists to make vanity gay. Before this is well out it is answered, and as the former was too difficult this is pronounced too easy. A third is then produced. For sport or for mischief mjjirst is a cheat, Which of course with a smile or a frown you may treat ; My second you'll find has strange opposites in't, With softness oft clothed yet as hard as a flint ; Though cold yielding comfort, and clothing though bare, The emblem of firmness yet twirled by the fair. If my first and my second your wits should beguile, You may search for my whole in the Emerald isle. This after some puzzling is at length discovered to bo "Sham- rock." After a few more of this sort another on a different principle is produced. 228 MEMOIRS OF Yin. WARULAW. Do rayjirst to my first and an earldom expires, In Scotia's story renowned. Change my ne.vt to my next and all order retires, And bustle and battle are found. Do my first to my 7ckole and, though bedded in bone, My use is suspended, sensation is gone. At first this seems a puzzler ; but after a little guessing and a few tentative processes some one lu(3ky or ingenious beyond the rest cries out " marrow," and the solution is admitted. Time is now wearing away, and juvenile eyes are waxing heavy, so that instead of seeing through riddles they are in popular phrase " gathering straws." Only one more, then, can be conceded to the ambition of the older wits, and it too shall be on a different principle from the others. Here it is — There is a little word contains Every kind of sins and pains ; — Prefix one letter, in a minute Gold and silver tinkle in it ; — Another — it again sends forth Sins and pains in south and north. After a little rumination one hits on the word " ill " as the only little word that is expressive of both sin and pain. No sooner is this enunciated than another exclaims " Prefix t and it becomes till ; " and then the final solution is not far to seek, for prefix s and it becomes " still," the fruitful source of sins and pains wherever its noxious products are circulated. And now with kindly embrace and loving speech the httle assembly dissolves for the night — the younger ones to retire to sleep, the older to some useful occupation, and the fother to his study, there probably to explore the meaning of some difficult passage of Scripture, or to grapple with some profound or subtle disputant in metaphysics or theology. If there are any to whom such occupations as I have just described shall appear too trivial to engage the attention of one devoted to such serious pursuits as Dr. Wardlaw was, I beg to remind them of what is narrated of a very great man who, having been on one occasion caught in a most undignified attitude whilst romping with his children, by an illustrious stranger who had PIETY AND CHEEKFULNESS. 229 come to visit him, asked his visitor, " Pray, Sir, are you a father? " " I am," was the reply ; " Then," said he," to you I need offer no apology for the way in which you found me engaged." Let nie add also what Dr. Johnson says in his hfe of Isaac Watts, when referring to his writings for children : — " Every man acquainted with the common principles of human actions will look with veneration on the writer who is at one time combating Locke and at another making a catechism for children in their fourth year. A voluntary descent from the dignity of science is perhaps the hardest lesson that humility can teach." Nor will it he amiss to cite the following remarks of Addison : — " The true spirit of religion cheers as well as composes the soul ; it banishes, indeed, all levity of behaviour, all vicious and dissolute mirth, but in exchange fills the mind with a perpetual serenity, unin- terrupted cheerfulness and an habitual inclination to please others, as well as to be pleased in itself." * Never were these select and sagacious words more admirably exemplified than in Dr. Wardlaw. His religion made him cheerful, and filled him with a continual desire to gratify those around him, as it made him ready to receive gratification from them. With him, however, religion was ever first and predo- minant, and even his most facetious hours were under its supreme control. His children knew and felt this. His whole conduct told them he was a truly religious man — one who feared God and eschewed evil ; and hence the freedom with which he mingled in their little amusements only made more impressive to them his counsels and entreaties in regard to their highest interests. How he dealt with them in this respect may be gathered from the following extracts from letters to his children : — To Miss A. F. Wardlaw. Glasgow, June 18th, 1824. My very dear girl — You have been longing, 1 hope, to hear from your papa. I say " / Aope," for I certainly should not greatly enjoy the thought that you were indifferent whether you heard from him or not. Well do I know the contrary ; and powerful and fascinating as the attractions of the * Spectator, No. 494. 230 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. Scottish metropolis have, I uuderstand, beeu experienced by you to be, they are not possessed of magnetic virtue enough to draw your tender affections from the dear objects of their attachrcent at home, and at home there are needles that point tour way too. Parental love, with an unvarying constancy and a quick and eager solicitude, follows its objects wherever they go. The blessed God, my beloved child, has made our hearts the seat of these tender reciprocal affections. And oh, how their mutual exercise contributes to give sweetness and relish to life ! But two things I trust my Anna will not forget. The_;?rs; is, that there is One who has a still prior claim — a claim upon our supreme affections — upon the ''first fruits" of all that we are and have. I know hov/ well you love your earthly father, and sweetly I feel it ; but oh remember, your filial love to him must not be cherished as a substitute for that which you owe to your Father who is in heaven." Have you from the heart said to IIim, " my father, thou art the guide of my youth T' And while the smile of pleasure has lighted up your countenance, or the tear of tenderness has stolen from your eye, on receiving any expression of fondness from those whom you love on earth, have you thought of his high claim upon you, who says, " Whoso loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me ?" And who for all that he is, and for all that he hath done for us, is so well entitled to say so ! The second thing not to be forgotten is the short- lived and precarious nature of all earthly connections. They 77itist be broken. And in proportion to the sweetness of previous enjoyment, is the bitterness of its loss. 0 how delightful, my love, to have the bonds of grace superinduced upon the ties of nature ! to be fellow-members of the family of God in Christ Jesus ! so that, instead of living in the constant apj^rehension of parting, we may live in the habitual expectation of meeting. 0 what a difference between parting never to meet and meeting never to part ! The latter shall be the unutterable joy of all the children of God, amongst whom it will be the dearest delight of your father's and mother's heart to see you enrol yourself. To Mr. J. S. Wakdlaw. I hope you will ever be thankful to God, my dearest boy, for the benefits of a mother's love. You do not know how much you owe to it. And oh ! if you owe much to either a mother's or a father's affection, how much more do you owe to that divine father "from whom cometh down every good and perfect gift." You owe all to IIim — all you are, and all you have. Let his favour, my beloved boy, be your chief good. Your judgment must be perfectly satisfied, that without it there can be nothing that deserves the name of happiness. iMany temptations there are to seek happiness from other sources. But every attempt to find it has failed, and must fail. You must " seek" God if you would be happy ; and in the Bible you are assured, " If thou seek Him he will be found of thee." The alternative is fearfvil, " If thou forsake him, He will cast thee off for ever." With the fear of God as your principle, and the blessing of God as your portion, you may carry happiness with you round the world — happi- ness with which nothing can interfere ; but without these the universe may be searched for in vain. Lay down your principle then, my dear boy, that whatever others dogou will serve the Lord. Seek his pardoning mercy ; seek his renewing grace ; seek both in the name of Jesus ; and remember that HIS REWARD IS GREAT. 231 the blessed God Las a claim on every period of life — the moruing as well as the noon and the evening of it. I do not need to bid you be diligent in the diiFereut branches of your education — you «re so, and I trust will con- tinue so. But never let diligent attention to any department of study withdraw your attention from that best of books which alone contains the words of eternal life. Such was Dr. Wardlaw in the midst of his children, while as yet they were young. We shall have opportunities afterwards of noting how he dealt with them as they grew up into men and women. His wise and loving discipline brought its reward. Though he had (as what parent has not ?) anxieties and griefs to bear in connection with his children, he was saved the greatest sorrow of all — that of seeing any of them forsaking the paths of virtue and goodness ; and when he was taken from earth, he had the immense satisfaction of believing on sohd grounds that both those who had preceded him and those whom he left behind were bound up with him in the bundle of eternal life and should be found standing with him *' in his lot at the end of the days." 232 CHAPTER IX. A. D. 1824— A. u. 1826. We now enter on the more important and eventful portion of Dr. Wardlaw's public life. His reputation as a preacher was now at its height ; his influence in the religious world was large and increasing ; and the agitation of great public questions on which much difference of opinion, and in some cases strong excite- ment of feeling prevailed, called him frequently into the arena of controversy and the field of authorship. If in some respects the task of his biographer becomes henceforward more easy from the events of his life being better known and the materials more copious, in other respects its difficulties are enhanced from the course of the narrative running amidst events still fresh in the recollection of multitudes, and controversies which awakened passions not yet altogether allayed. If in the estimation of the poet, it was a work full of dangerous hazard to write contempo- rary history, and the path of one so engaged seemed to him to lie over fires hidden under treacherous ashes ;* what shall be said of him whose task it is to follow the career of an active polemic, at the risk of raking up the still smoking embers of recent controversies, and drawing down upon his own head the simultaneous displeasure of the parties whom his subject succes- sively encountered ? Be the risks, however, what they may, he has no resource but to follow the path marked out for him : if without offence so much the better ; but should that be denied to him, still steadily onward as truthfully and candidly as he may. * Pei-iculosae plenum opus alea^ Tractas, et incedis per igucfs Suppositos ciucri ddloso. — Hit. Cavm. ii. 1, 6. DR. WARDLAW IN THE PULPIT. 233 I begin with a topic on which no foehngs of an unpleasant kind can be awakened — Dr. Wardluw's pulpit labours. Dr. Morison who had an opportunity of hearing Dr. Ward- law preach in the ordinary course of duty in his own pulpit during a visit to Glasgow in 1824, thus records his impressions of him as a preacher : — " When I listened to him in 1824 it was indeed a high privilege and gratification to sit at his feet. His prepossessing appearance and sweetly persuasive tones of voice gave him an advantage, doubtless, over very many of his brethren ; but beyond these, there was an un- affected, unpriestly gravity of manner in liis pulpit addresses — a clear and masterly mode of laying down the groundwork of a sermon — a felicity of diction and a force of argument — a vein of solid and beautiful criticism — an intense adherence to biblical thoughts and biblical phrase — and withal a completeness and perfection in his discourses, considered as a whole, which well entitled him to be regarded by the most competent judges as one of the first preachers of his age. If he indicated but little vehemence of passion in his style of pulpit eloquence, it was mainly because the cast and complexion of his thoughts were better represented by the calm dignity of a resistless persuasiveness." Having at a period not very long after that here referred to enjoyed the privilege of being myself a regular hearer" of Dr. Wardlaw for some months, I can corroborate the testimony which Dr. Morison gives in the above extract. As a youth I was greatly struck with the graceful dignity of his manner in the pulpit, the suavity of his tones, the easy continuous flow of his silvery elocution, the solidity of his matter, and the vivacity as well as acuteness of his argumentation. His pose (to borrow a word from artists) in the pulpit was admirable ; his body erect, his chest fully expanded, his head, with its fine classic con- tour, thrown well back, and his whole figure indicating at once freedom and firmness. He used but little action, and read closely and continuously ; but the modulations of his voice were so varied and so just that all sense of weariness was charmed 234 MEMOIRS OF DIJ. WARDLAW. away, and an effect not less than that of oratory was produced on the mind. What Dr. Morison says also of the biblical character of his thinking- and phraseology is very true. I remember being continually struck with this in hearing him, and also with the ease and correctness with which, raising his eyes from his manuscript, he used to repeat large portions of Scripture which he had occasion to quote. Indeed, I used to think, in those days, that his discourses were too biblical, and that an occasional excursion into more speculative regions would have been an advantage — an opinion to which, to a certain extent, I still cling ; for great as is the value to be attached to exposition of Scripture as a method of instructiug the people, there may be an undue contraction of the proper range and proper influence of the_pulpit if that method be so exclusively followed as it was by Dr. AA^ardlaw at the time referred to. As an expositor of Scripture, however, Dr. Wardlaw has had few equals. Other men m.ight be more original and more piquant in their illustrations, or they might show greater ingenuity in placing a passage in new and unexpected hghts, or they might, from a deeper acquaintance with philology and more extensive reading of commentators, bring a larger measure of exegetical power to bear upon its exposition ; but for solid, well-considered and perspicacious elucidation of the meaning of a passage, in harmony with its context, and according to the analogy of Scripture, we are safe in claiming for Dr. AYardlaw a first-rank place. His peculiar talents, of course, fitted him for the exposi- tion of some parts of Scripture better than others — the argu- mentative and practical better than the poetical or symbolical ; but one might venture to assert that from the mass of exposi- tory discourses which he delivered during his ministry there might be extracted an exposition of the greater part of Scrip- ture, such as the English language does not yet possess, and such as would be of vast advantage to all who are interested in the study of the sacred volume.* * Dr. Waidlaw's views of the work of an expositor of IScripture arc given l>v himself in the following words: — "The great business of an expositor ought to h^ DISSERTATION ON BAPTISM. 235 In 1824 Dr. Wardlaw was summoned to assmne his armour in defence of the earliest publication which he had given to the World, his Lectures on the Abrahamic Covenant. On the 5th of April that year his friend Mr. Burder w^rote him, " I have this morning received a copy of my neighbour Mr. Cox's book on Baptism, replying to Dr. Dwight, Mr. Ewing and Dr. Wardlaw's Lectures on the Abrahamic Covenant. Now, my friend, you must put out your strength to vanquish this daring champion." This summons Dr. Wardlaw was nothing loth to obey. He had for a long time been desirous of remodeUing and republish- ing the argument contained in these Lectures in favour of Infant Baptism, and the somewhat grandiloquent and vaunting challenge of Mr. Cox gave hhn the occasion and the necessary stimulus. He accordingly issued in the early part of 1825 a volume bearing the title "A Dissertation on the Scriptural Authority, Nature and Uses of Infant Baptism." This work is not a reply to jMr. Cox or to any one in particular. The author pursues a connected and continuous argument of his own, and only adverts to the opinions of others as they chance to cross his path. It is, indeed, greatly less controversial than a book on a subject so much discussed might have been expected to be. Its tone is calm and moderate, and no attempt is . made to bolster up the argument of the- book either by declamation or by casting any aspersion on those whose views it is designed to subvert. " It has been my endeavour," he says in the preface, " to adhere to the Latin maxim, ' Suaviter in modo, fortiter in re,' familiarly rendered in English, ' Soft words and hard arguments.' Whether I have succeeded or failed the reader must judge. If occasionally I may have expressed myself (of which, however, I am not con- scious) wdth unbecoming asperity, may I find forgiveness of to give a clear view of the scope or main design of the writer whom he expounds, and to show how his reasonings establish, and his illustrations elucidate, the point of which he treats. All matter that is not immediately relevant for this end ought to be either omitted entirely, or very sparingly introduced — if touched not dwelt upon." This was written in 1825, and well describes what was the ]irevai]ing character of his own expositions of Scripture. 236 MEMOIRS OF DR. WAUDLAW. Him who has said, ' The servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all men.'" To one who was able to use the sharp weapons of irony and sarcasm as Dr. Wardlaw could, the temptation must often have been strong to resort to these in dealing with some whose reasonings he criticises in this work ; but he has throughout stedfastly resisted it, and in no instance has let drop an expression of which his opponents could have just cause to complain. This Essay, besides some introductory remarks of a preliminary kind, consists of three parts. In the first of these the author considers " the divinely instituted practice previously to the New Testament dispensation, and the absence of all evidence authorising a departure from that practice under it." Here his aim is to sustain the following position : — " Before the coming of Christ the covenant of grace had been revealed ; and under that covenant there existed a divinely instituted connection between children and their parents ; the sign and seal of the blessings of the covenant vv^as, by divine appointment, administered to children ; and there can be produced no satisfactory evidence of this connection having been done away." In the second part he adduces " eviqlence of the fact that, instead of such departure being authorised, the children of converts to the faith of the gospel were actually baptized along with their parents in the time of the Apostles." And in the third part he elucidates " the important truths and duties which the baptism of infants exhibits and impresses upon our minds ; and the perfect consistency of the administration of this ordinance to them, with all that the Bible teaches respecting them as subjects of salvation and of the kingdom of heaven." Of these three sections the first is probably that to which the author would have pointed as the most important in an argumentative point of view. As a Paedobaptist he rested his practice mainly on the connection between children and parents under the Abrahamic covenant (which, he contended, was in its spiritual aspect identical with the covenant of grace), and on the use of circumcision as the sign and seal of that covenant. The ARGUMENT FOR INFANT BAPTISM. 237 subversion of this argument would not, indeed, have left him defenceless, but it would have been felt by him very mnch as the overthrow of his chief bulwark. Of the great ability which is displayed in this part of the book there can be but one opinion ; and it is impossible to read it without feeling that whatever acuteness and ingenuity could do to substantiate such a line of argument has been done here. At the same time I question if any one ever tried to reproduce the argument in his own mind without feeling that there were some serious gaps in it, over which one had to take a flying leap in order to reach the conclusion. It may be conceded to the author that the Abrahamic covenant, in its spiritual aspect, was identical with the covenant of grace, and that circumcision stood related to the covenant as a whole, and not only to its temporal part as distinguished from its spiritual ; but after all, it does appear startling that, on the ground of this, we should be asked to admit that because that covenant recognised a connection between a child and his father as one of the natural posterity of Abraham, it also recognised a connection between a child and his parent, whether father or mother, as one of the spiritual seed of Abraham. How this follows from the premises I confess I have never been able to see. I can understand how a certain class of privileges should run along the line of natural descent, and how another class should run along the line of spiritual descent ; but how the two should interlace so as that natural descent should entitle to privileges ^vhich belong only to spiritual descent, I find nothing in the reasoning of this book that helps me to comprehend. Suppose a nobleman had received his lands and titles on the condition that all his natural posterity, as such, should inherit his lands, but that his titles should be borne only by such, whether his natural descendants or not, as resembled him in character ; and suppose that after some generations a man claimed to sustain the titles, not on the plea that his cha- racter resembled that of the head of the succession, but on the ground that he was the son of one who possessed that resem- blance ; would his plea be admitted ? I judge not ; and is not 288 MEMOIRS OF ])R. WARDLAW. this case exactly aualogoiis to that of one claimuig privilege under the Abrahamic charter, on the ground that he is the natural descendant of a person whose title to its privileges was not natural descent but spiritual character? I would advance with diffidence when I venture to charge the reasoning of such a logician as Dr. AVardlaw Math a fallacy. And yet turn it as I may, this argument from the xibrahamic Covenant in favour of infant baptism always presents itself to my mind as fallacious. The fallacy seems to me to lie in a lietitio princiini, an assuming of the thing to be proved, viz., that the children of believers are, in virtue of their parent's faith, under the covenant. Let this be proved, and there can be no further question as to their title to receive the sign of the cove- nant— be it circumcision or be it baptism. But I confess it does appear to me a paralogism to argue that because the natural seed of Abraham received the sign of the covenant in virtue of their descent from him, by which they were brought undoubtedly under the covenant, therefore the natural seed of Gentile believers are also to be held as included under the covenant, and as en- titled to receive the sign of this. There may be a logical conse- quence here, but I confess it is as yet hid from my perception. I do not wish to obtrude my own views on the reader by entering at large into this question here, but I may be permitted to observe, that to my mind, if baptism is to be regarded as having come in the place of circumcision, the argument from the Abra- hamic Covenant lies altogether with the Baptists and not with us. For, in virtue of the relation of type and antitype, the natural descent of the Israelites corresponds to the spiritual descent of believers, that is their succession through one becom- ing the spiritual father of others ; and consequently as natural descent entitled the son of a Jew to circumcision as the sign of the covenant, it is spiritual descent which alone entitles a man to receive baptism as that which, under the spiritual dispensation, has come in the place of circumcision. Hence, as descent from .Jewish parents must be proved before a child could be circum- cised of old, so spiritual descent by faith from those who have ARGUMENT FOR INFANT BAPTISJF. 239 conveyed to us the gospel — in otlier words real conversion — must be proved before a man is entitled to be baptized. I do not know whether our Baptist friends will think themselves any the better of this argument ; but if they do, I make them welcome to it ; I think it quite as good as that on the other side — but no better. Baptism as a Christian institute dates from the commission given by our Lord to his Apostles before his ascension. Whether baptism had before this been practised among the Jews, saving in the case of John the Baptist, possesses little beyond a mere his- torical interest. All that is substantially convincing and impor- tant in reference to the rite as one binding on us lies in the terms of the commission given by our Lord, and in the practice of the Apostles whilst acting under that commission. What do these words of our Lord mean ? And how did his Apostles, as the inspired expositors of his meaning, follow out in their prac- tice the injunctions thus given ? These are the only questions of primary importance for us as disciples of Jesus Christ in reference to this rite. If these questions can be satisfactorily answered we need ask no further except as matter of legitimate curiosity. If they cannot, no other inquiries will ever carry with them sufficient weight to determine the obligations of Christians in respect of this observance. It is to the second and third parts of Dr. Wardlaw's Essay, therefore, that I feel disposed to attach the chief value, though I think he would have done more ample justice to this part of his argument had not his mind been filled and warped by his reasonings in the preceding part. Anxious as Dr. Wardlaw was to avoid giving offence to those whose sentiments he opposes in this Essay he was not fortunate enough to succeed in this. Offence he gave to one party, bitter and deep ; and that, strange to say, not by any essential part of his Essay, nor to any of those whose reasonings he had occupied himself in refuting there, but by a w^ord or two in the preface, a line or two in a footnote, and a single expression near the close of the Essay ! Some time before the publication of this disserta- tion, it seems, the Rev. Isaiah Birt of Birmingham had sent forth 240 MEMOIRS OF UK. WARDLAW. certain " Strictures on a Sermon entitled ' The right of Infants to Baptism, by the Rev. H. F. Burder, ;M.A.,"' in whicli he had uttered statements to one of which Dr. Wardlaw refers as deserving the utmost reprobation, and as evincing a degree of unfairness towards many of his Paedobaptist brethren not to be expected from such a quarter ; and another of which he stigma- tises as " a rash and unfounded slander." Now in the preface to his Essay Dr. Wardlaw had unfortunately cited this pamphlet as the production of the Rev. Mr. Birt of Manchester ; whereupon this gentleman conceiving great wrath indited a pamphlet in the form of a letter to Dr. Wardlaw, in which he sharply cor- rected the latter for the language he had used respecting the sentiments quoted by him from the " Strictures," and rated him with an indignation that sought vent not once but at each suc- cessive stage, for his offence in confounding the Rev. Isaiah Birt of Birmingham with the Rev. John Birt of Manchester — the father with the son. To this hasty and mtemperate publication Dr. Wardlaw replied in a pamphlet entitled " A Reply to the letter of the Rev. John Birt of Manchester to Dr. Wardlaw on some passages in his Dissertation on Infant Baptism," with the motto from Bunyan, "Why art thou so tart my brother?" This motto is characteristic of the tone that runs through the reply — a tone at once of surprise and amazement at "the fuss and vapouring" which the author of the letter had chosen to make about a very small matter. Dr. Wardlaw acknowledges his "stupidity" in ascribing the authorship to the wrong man, and withdraws the word " slander" as apt to be misunderstood, and as, when coupled with the epithet " unfounded," containing a tautology ; and having made these admissions he proceeds to defend himself and his statements in a style which one w^ould think must have made his antagonist feel very uncomfortable. Not a single expression betrays the existence of excitement or of suppressed indignation on the part of the writer, whilst not a statement of ]\Ir. Birt is allowed to pass without being thoroughly analysed and exposed. It is as good-humoured a slaying of an antagonist as one need wish to see. brougham's inaugural address. 241 Whilst engaged in carrying liis Dissertation on baptism through the press, Dr. Wardlaw puLhshed a sermon, entitled, " The Divine Dissuasive to the Young against the Enticements of Sinners," from the text, Pro v. i. 10-19. This sermon was preached on the evening of Sabbath, 19th September 1824, and was published at the request of the Glasgow Young Men's Society for Religious Improvement, on whose behalf it had been preached. It is a pointed, affectionate, and earnest pleading with the young to be on their guard against the plausible and enti- cing solicitations of the wicked, and to turn resolutely from them. Dr. Wardlaw's next summons to the arena of autliorship and of controversy came from a more famous antagonist than any he had hitherto encountered. On the 6tli of April 1825 Mr. Brougham was inaugurated as Lord Rector of the University of Glasgow, on which occasion he read a discourse to the assem- bled university such as perhaps no other man but himself could have produced. In this splendid oration, rich in the spoils of an almost universal conquest of the domain of knowledge, and sparkling with the gems of a rare and nervous eloquence, the author ventured upon one statement, which to many of his auditors, and to multitudes who read the discourse after it was published, appeared unsound in principle and fraught with danger to the interests of religion and morals. The statement was this : — " The great truth has finally gone forth to all the ends of the earth, that man shall no more render account to man for his belief, over which he has himself no control. 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." This statement was held by many to be equivalent to the assertion that man is not morally responsible for the opinions he holds in religion and morals, and from such a statement they recoiled. Among this number was Dr. Wardlaw ; and so important did the subject appear to him, that he made it the theme of a couple of discourses, delivered on the first Lord's Day evenings of the two months immediately 242 MEMOIRS OF UR. WARDLAW. following the publication of Mr. Brougham's discourse. These he immediately afterwards published, with a dedication to the Regius Professor of Theology in the Glasgow University, the late Dr. Stevenson Macgill. The text of the discourses is John iii. 18, 19. The former is devoted to the maintenance of the general principle that man is morally responsible for his belief, in so far as that is influenced by his affections or inclinations ; and in the latter he sho\vs that " all unbelief of the gospel has its origin in evil." In the former, he shows that the ground on w^hich the orator had rested his dogma, if valid at all, would go the full length of showing that man is not only not responsible to his fellow-man for his belief, but that he has no account to render for his belief to God. To this point, then, he directs his inves- tigation as one at which the author of the inaugural discourse comes into direct colhsion with the sacred writers, who, " when they announced their testimony in the name of the God of truth, knew nothing of that philosophy which would release men from the obligation to give it a believing reception, and exculpate them from all guilt in the refusal of it." Such a philosophy, he proceeds to show, is unsound in itself, because incompatible with phenomena of every-day occurrence in the mental activity, which show that " opinions are influenced by disposition, belief by inclination, the decisions of the understanding by the state of the heart," and consequently that the former are " fair and legitimate subjects of moral responsibility." He then proceeds to show, that according to Scripture all unbelief of the gospel has a moral cause, and that that cause is evil — adducing in the first instance evidence to prove that the Bible does so regard unbelief, and then illustrating the grounds on which this judgment rests. Here he shows that there are three things which are necessary to the guilt of unbelief, viz, capacity of understanding, opportunity of knowledge, and sufficiency of evidence, meaning by the last, not such evidence as necessarily compels belief, but such as shall satisfy the mind of the candid and intelligent inquirer, such as is reasonaUif sufficient to produce conviction. The second discourse is principally occupied in illustrating the general sources CORRESPONDENCE WITH BROUGHAM. 243 to which unbehef of tho gospel may be fairly traced. Those specified are profligacy, thoughtlessness and pride. On the publication of these sermons Dr. Wardlaw sent, as in courtesy bound, a copy to the illustrious individual whose statement they were intended to controvert, accompanied by the following letter : — Glasgow, October 27th, 1825. Dear Sir — If, in the midst of your multifarious and weighty engage- ments, for which one might suppose you possessed the peculiar faculty of 'inakinirit and manner in which such controversies ought to be conducted." * When the public meeting to which the final decision was referred was held, it fell to the lot of the same two to open the discussion on their respective sides. Dr. Heugh having moved a resolution expressive of dissatisfaction with the resolutions of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and recommending the formation of an independent society in Glasgow, Dr. Wardlaw proposed as an amendment, " That in existing circumstances this meeting are of opinion that it will be more consistent with propriety and conducive to the interests of the great cause in which they are engaged, that the question of separation from the British and Foreign Bible Society be postponed till after the annual meeting of that institution in JMay next." A warm and protracted discussion ensued, in which the example of calm- * Lite of Hugh Heugh, D.D., &c. By his son-in-law, Hamilton M. Miicgill. Vol. i. p. 215. S 258 MEMOIRS OF DK. WAKDLAW. ness and Christian courtesy set by the opening speakers was not very closely followed by all who succeeded them, and which ended in the rejection of Dr. Wardlaw's amendment by a large majority. The result was the formation of an independent society, while Dr. Wardlaw and those who agreed with him — amongst whom were Dr. Dick, Dr. IMitchell, Mr. Kidston, Mr. Ewing, and other men of leading position among the Dissenters in Glasgow — remained in their former position as Auxiliary to the British and Foreign Society. Nothing gave Dr. Wardlaw greater pain in this matter than the separation between himself and Dr. Heugh in their official character as secretaries of the original Auxiliary. They were men naturally formed to love each other, and for many years they had co-operated with the utmost unity of purpose and sym- pathy of feeling. Their separation, however, on this occasion was only official. Throughout the protracted discussions which preceded the disruption of the Glasgow Auxiliary as well as during the years of strife that followed, they never forgot what was due to each other as gentlemen and as brethi-en ; and when the tumult had passed away they were found as fast friends as before, if not more so. But Dr. Wardlaw has told the world himself this part of his history in an interesting paper of remi- niscences which he sent to Dr. Heugh's biographer, and which is appended to his Life, and we shall therefore let him speak for himself. With regard to the frst of these — the British and Foreign Bible Society — my friend and I went on, with hearty haud-in-hand harmony, till the period of the apocryphal controversy. Then we differed ; and, so far as that institution was concerned, parted company. — Not that, even here, there was any difference between us in principle. We were completely at one respecting the unwarrantableness of the circulation of the Apocrypha, and the consequent unjustifiableness of the Society's previous conduct in that department of its operations. Each of us maintained this as decidedly and warmly as the other. The sole point of divergence lay in the question — Whether, when the London committee, yielding to the public voice — the extensively consentaneous voice of a Protestant community, heard most loudly and most unitedly from Scotland — adopted its anti-apocryphal resolutions, engaging for the purity of its own circulation, and for the restriction of its funds to the aid of such circulation alone in time to come — confidence should not be reposed in the integrity of those resolutions, and whether, were that THE CHRISTIAN INSTKUOTOl!. 259 confidence reposed, the resolutions themselves were sufficiently stringent ; so that, while a vigilant eye was kept on the committee's future proceedings, the auxiliaries might, with security to their conscientious scruples, rally around the parent Society as before. I make special reference to this sub- ject, because, at the thronged and excited public meeting, held at the time in Glasgow to decide on this question, it so happened, that while, in my capacity of secretary to the Glasgow Auxiliary, I moved the resolution of confidence and adherence, my friend was the mover of the amendment, which proposed the severance of the Auxiliary, and the formation of a new and independent Bible Society for Glasgow. Many a time had we pleaded together, on the same platform, with " one heart and one soul," in behalf of the British and Foreign Bible Society, as the grandest institution of our country and our age — the simplest in its principle, and the sublimest in its object. But now we stood apart and in opposition. I felt it painfully; and so, I cannot doubt, did he. Yet we were one in principle, and one in motive ; and although, from diversity of judgment, the principle and the motive impelled us difterent ways, we had an equally firm conviction of each other's conscientiousness. Never was assembly in a state of more intense excitement. The amendment carried with it the overwhelming majority. And I mention the circumstance the rather, because, deeply as I regretted the position which my friend then took, and the loss, though not to the cause of Bible circula- tion, yet to the interests of the best and greatest of earthly associations, of his able and eiFective advocacy and aid — and frequent and earnest as were my wishes for his return to alliance in this cause with the great body of his dissenting brethren ; yet the difference, although it so far abridged our intercourse, and loosened one of the ties by which we were bound together, did not in the least interfere with friendly feeling, or diminish the cordiality of our co-operation in other departments of Christian benevolence.* In those days Scotland was held to its good behaviour in all matters religious and ecclesiastical under penalty, in case of transgression, of being done to the death in the pages of a perio- dical bearing the title of the Christian Instructor, and appearing monthly at Edinburgh. Of the immense power with which this journal was conducted, so long as it was under the management of its original editor, the late Dr. Andrew Thomson, minister of St. George's, Edinburgh, there can be no question ; nor will any candid man deny that a deep debt is due to it for important services rendered to the cause of evangelical truth, of good morals and of popular rights in Scotland. But if the editor knew the ex- cellence of " having a giant's strength," he had unfortunately not learned that "it is tyrannous to use it like a giant;" and in the enthusiasm of conflict he was probably not aware how deep and * Heugli's Memoirs, vul. i. pp. 530, 531. 260 MEMOIKS OF DR. WAKDLAW. rankling were the wounds which his heavy hand and trenchant sword oftentimes inflicted. When the Apocrypha controversy broke out, the Instructor assumed to itself the office of champion on the side of the opponents of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and for many years its editor sustained with unabated strength, and with a fierceness which has no parallel in modern times, the cause he had embraced. Whatever was uttered either orally or from the press in favour of the London Society or its committee was almost sure to be subjected in next month's Instructor to a fiery ordeal, from which it was not suffered to escape whilst there remained a possibility of extorting from its unlucky author another groan. As might be expected, a document so important as that issued by the Glasgow adherents to the Loudon Society would not be allowed to pass unnoticed, and it was accordingly reviewed in the Instructor for November 1826 with the utmost severity, of which Dr. Wardlaw — as the avowed author of that statement, as well as of a letter to the editor of the Instructor in defence of part of it wdiich had been assailed in the number for the previous month — came in for his lull share. I suppose a man must feel rather uncomfortable after being pelted with such a shower of all sorts of missiles as the editor of the Instructor was wont to pour upon those whom he attacked ; but after all, such things do no permanent harm ; the dirt dries and may be brushed oft'; and a man like Dr. Wardlaw could afford to await the time when, the force of such blindly furious assaults having been expended, common sense and common justice would re-assert their predominancy in the public mind, and justice should be done to assailer as well as assailed. After the secession from the Glasgow Auxiliary of the party opposed to the British and Foreign Bible Society, Dr. Wardlaw continued to act as secretary to the Auxiliary, but beyond issuing two letters addressed to him by Mr. Thomas Pell Piatt, explanatory of some matters of fact brought into question by the editor of the Christian Instructor, to which he prefixed some brief prefatory remarks, he took no farther part in the Apocryphal controversy, though often furnished with suffi- NEW EDITION OF DISCOURSES. 261 cient occasion, had he wanted it, by the attacks of the other party. " Time," he said, " will prove our ground better than further strife;"* and so he allowed the storm to expend itself while he " pursued the even tenor of his way," occupied in those eflbrts of Christian usefulness which provoke no malevo- lent emotions in their performance, and are followed by results that can be looked back upon without remorse or pain. During the winter of 1827 and the early part of 1828 Dr. Wardlaw was busily engaged in preparing for the press a new and enlarged edition of his Discourses on the Socinian Contro- versy. With this edition were incorporated those parts of the author's reply to Mr. Yates which appeared to him of permanent value, and besides this, considerable additions were made both to the text of the Discourses and to the Notes, whilst several of the notes of the former editions were rescinded as appearing to be of only temporary interest. The most important additions were made to that part of the volume which treats of the sub- ject of atonement, an entirely new Discourse being introduced here, and one of those formerly existing being considerably augmented. The subject of the new Discourse is, " The Con- nexion between the Doctrine of our Lord's Divinity and the sufficiency and efficacy of his Sacrifice ; or, in other words, on the question whether that sufficiency and efficacy arose exclu- sively from the appointment of God, or, along with such appoint- ment, from the intrinsic value of the offering ; and whether, consequently, the divine dignity of the Redeemer being admitted, a redemption of inferior worth w^as at all supposable or possible — a discussion," the author continues, " from which 1 should be sorry that any reader were scared by the appearance it may have to his mind of unprofitableness or presumption ; for if I may at all judge of others by myself, it will be found, in no inferior degree, under some especially of its aspects, both interesting and beneficial, and withal in perfect harmony with that unpresuming lowliness of spirit which shrinks from intrud- ing into the ' secret things that belong unto the Lord,' from * Preface to Piatt's second letter. 262 MEMoms OF dr. wardlaw. attempting to penetrate beyond the sacred limits of divine dis- covery !"* Prefixed is a lengthened preface in which, besides specifying such peculiarities as give a distinctive character to this new edition, the author enters on some explanatory statements in reference to his treatment of Mr. Yates's Sequel to hisVindication.f and in reference to his views of the pernicious and hateful cha- racter of Socinian and Unitarian opinions. On this head he held no dubious or compromising position. Whatever might be his feelings towards Unitarians themselves, and however earnestly he might strive to avoid all that might indicate any disregard for their feelings, he wished it to be distinctly understood that towards their system he had no feeling but one, " that of serious and settled abhorrence." " Regarding it," he says, " as a system which selects for denial and proscription everything that I conceive to be distinctive of Christianity — which divests it of all its prin- ciples of moral and spiritual influence — which destroys the hopes of a guilty world by subverting and sweeping with the besom of destruction their only foundation — which, in a word, annihilates the gospel ; with what other sentiments than those of grief and horror can I possibly contemplate it ?" In connection with this subject the author goes on to animadvert on some sentiments uttered by a Mr. Taylor, a Unitarian minister in Manchester, in a sermon entitled, " On Communion with Unbelievers" — senti- ments going to show that the only thing of essential import- ance in religion is a sincere love of truth and moral goodness, and tliat as this may coexist with any amount of ignorance or disbelief of Christianity, it is wrong for professing Christians to hold themselves aloof from religious communion with deists. After criticising this extraordinary statement, Dr. Wardlaw justly remarks in conclusion : — " Unitarians were greatly offended when their system was denominated the half-way-house between true Christianity and deism ; we must now be pardoned if not from our conviction only, but upon their own show- * Preface, p. xvii. t The most important part of tliese have Lcen quotcrl in an earlier part of this Yohime, see p. 160. VISITS LONDON. 263 ing, we place it a good many stages nearer to the end of the journey."* The edition of the Discourses thus carefully revised and enlarged was the fourth. It constitutes the standard edition of the work; for though others have since appeared the author made no subsequent alterations upon either text or notes. In the spring of 1828 Dr. Wardlaw visited Leeds on a public errand, and again in the following June he was absent from home for several weeks, fulfilling engagements at Manchester on behalf of the London Missionary Society, and subsequently in London making collections for the Congregational Union of Scotland. His success in the last-named mission was such that he transmitted to the treasurer a sum exceeding £490. His devotion to his object whilst in the metropohs led some of his kind friends in the family of Mr. Dewar, who would fain have had more of his society than he could give, to bring playfully against him the charge of being " greedy of filthy lucre" — a charge which, as will be seen from letters about to be quoted, greatly amused him, and to which, with the consciousness that it touched no real charac- teristic of his nature, he was fond of playfully pleading guilty. In reference to this visit to London and its results the committee of the Congregational Union thus speak in their report for 1829 : — Your committee cannot easily express the obligations under which they lie to their much valued friend for his exertions ; nor the gratitude which the Union, and Scotland itself, owe to the many hearty and liberal contri- butors to the cause of Christian benevolence which were found in London and other places. In reference to the kind reception which Dr. W. met, it is but fair that he should be allowed to speak for himself. In a letter written after his return, he says — " I am sorry my time was so late in the season ; this was much against the collections. I experienced in all quarters the utmost degree of Chris- tian kindness towards myself personally, and of cheerful readmess to pro- mote the object ; and the enjoyment of the friendly intercourse of fellow- christians, all one in Christ Jesus, and feeling their union wherever they meet, together with the pleasing anticipation of the good that might be effected by the application of the gifts of Christian charity, formed the chief compensation for the pain of absence from my family and my flock. Such intercourse does one's heart good. It enlivens and stimulates — ' Whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.' " I felt particularly grateful on behalf of the Union to those ministers * Preface, p. xxxi. 264 MEMOIRS OF DK. WARDLAW. and other friends, who both previously and subsequently to my arrival, assisted in making the necessary arrangements- and of the few refusals received from ministers, &c., on application for collections, the reasons assigned were, with hardly I think an exception, cogent and satisfactory, and the regret expressed sincere. On the whole, we owe a debt of grati- tude to the friends in the South, which I hope our churches will, on suit- able occasions, show a readiness to meet and repay. I should have men- tioned among the friends who aided me in my arrangements, the Rev. Drs. Winter and Henderson, Messrs. H. F. Burder, Orme, Henry, Miller, R. Philip Morison, and Mr. Joshua Wilson. I cannot but mention also, my esteemed friend and relative, Robert Dewar, Esq. of Clapham, who kindly relieved me of all inconvenience with my money concerns, and, with his family, put himself both to trouble and expense, with a most hearty good will both for my personal accommodation and the promotion of my object. There is one donation, too, which stands so pre-eminently conspicuous, that it would be shameful to pass it over without stating, that a like sum of Fifty pounds was given by the same gentleman for another object — the building of a Gaelic Independent Chapel in Glasgow ; and that both sums were contributed as the result of deliberate inquiry, and with a cheerful simplicity and ease which doubled their value. He is himself a member of the Church of England."* Before setting out on this journey Dr. Wardlaw wrote to his friend Mr. Wayland a letter in which, after apologising for not having written sooner (a very common introduction to Dr. Ward- law's epistles), he thus continues: — Glasgow, June 6th, 1828. I have often drawn largely on the faith of my friends ; and I must do them the justice to say, I have generally found them much more liberal in their credit than I had any title to expect. I hope you too will, in the present instance (as I daresay I may have required of you before), believe against evidence, and give me credit for what I can honestly assure you exists, unabated attachment. Part of my occupation during the past winter has been enlarging and carrying through the press a fourth edition of the Discourses on Socinianism. A copy of this edition will accompany this letter, though I fear I may not get it inscribed, as I leave home on Monday, and set oiF for Manchester on Wednesday by the steam-packet from Greenock. Thence I proceed to London, &c., and shall be about seven Aveeks away. I collect in the Metropolis for Itinerancies in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland by our Congregational Union. If I find I can possibly get to Bassingham in going or returning, I shall count it a great pleasure ; and I hope, notwithstanding all my misdemeanours, you will not shut your doors against me. I have said I go from home on Monday ; but the truth is, I should rather say I go to home ; for I count home where my dear family are, and they are now at the sea-side, whither I go on Monday to see them all before going south. I have not been able to get down either last week or this. At Manchester I attend the annual meeting of the Missionary Society. Yesterday we had a public sermon from Mr. Irving for the schools of St. * Seventeenth Annual Report of the Congregational Union for Scotland, p. 20. LONDON UNIVERSITY. 265 John's Parish. He entered Largely into his views of the Millenium, our Lord's personal advent, &c. The sermon was long, and to me very unsatis- factory, except indeed as contributing more than ever to convince me that the notions he has adopted are without foundation in justly interpreted and duly compared Scripture. The argumentative parts were loose, the decla- matory theatrical and extravagant, his asseverations were dogmatical and vehement in proportion to the flimsiness of his ground, and some of his statements at variance with every view I have been accustomed to hold from the Scriptures of the nature of the Christian Church. I should not regard the world's ridicule as to any views that are legitimately drawn from the Sacred Word. We are taught to look for it. But I do deeply regret those extravagancies by which that ridicule is justly incurred, and by which men are tempted to disregard a book which they are led to fancy can contain nothing of sober certainty, but room for the speculations of every wild visionary. I am far from intending this designation for Mr. I., though in some points he makes some approach to deserving it. I certainly did feel thankful for any little measure of calm sober-mindedness which God has given me. On this side again I dread an approach to afathy. My kindest regards to Mrs. W. and family. — Yours, &c. About the time of Dr. Wardlaw's visit to London on this occasion the council of the new London University were anxiously- occupied in selecting fit persons to fill the chairs in the college they had erected. One of their number, was the late Zachary Macaulay, Esq. — a man whose name will probabl}' be best known to posterity in connection with that of his illustrious son, but who had many claims on the respect and esteem of his cotem- poraries for his ready zeal, his unwearied activity and his skilful management in all schemes of Christian and general beneficence. With him Dr. Wardlaw had enjoyed friendly intercourse for many years, arising out of their mutual interest in the Bible Society and other philanthropic schemes ; and the estimate which Mr. Mac- aulay had thereby been led to form of Dr. Wardlaw was such that he fixed upon him as one eminently qualified to fill the Chair of Mental and Moral Philosophy in the new institution. His views on this subject seem to have been communicated to Dr. Wardlaw after he had left London through his friend Mr. Dewar, to whom the following letters were addressed by him in reply. To Robert Deavar, Esq. Liverpool, July 30th, 1828. My very dear Friend — I received your most affectionate and friendly letter in Manchester on Monday evening. I left M'anchester for this yester- day morning before I had sufficient time to think of its contents so as to 2G6 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. give anything like a deliberate reply. I certainly do feel it an honour to have been thought of at all for such a situation by such a man as Mi-. Macaulay. I had often spoken of the Moral Phil. Chair in the London University ; and on the very day on which your letter arrived had been expressing to my friend Mr. M'All the great solicitude I felt that a charge of such high importance should be committed to some one by whom the great principles of morals would be treated in a manner consonant with the pecu- liar discoveries of revelation. But it was not till I read your letter that the association of my own name with the situation was ever, in the remotest or most transitory manner, introduced into my mind. The thought was utterly novel and strange. I do look upon the situation as one of immense conse- quence. I do not at present feel as if I were at all competent to fill it. It is possible at the same time that by some degree of close application I might be able so far to qualify myself for the fulfilment of its duties as not utterly to disgrace it — or rather to disgrace myself. My present impression, how- ever, is that I have devoted my life to the gospel and to the service of the church for Jesus' sake. I do not feel as if I could justify myself to my Master should I relinquish the ministry of his Word for a Professor's Chair, however useful the latter situation might be, and however analogous its engagements with those of that ministry, and however consistent with its occasional exercise. No. There are various views in which the matter pre- sents itself to my mind, into which I cannot at present enter ; but they seem almost all with one voice to say No. Seeing, however, the situation in question is one of such real importance and usefulness, and it might become a ground of serious reflection to me afterwards should my refusal be the means of filling the chair with Antichristian principles, I shall further consider, consult, and pray at home, and send you as soon as possible after my arrival a decided reply. I should have rejoiced to have seen you again in Liverpool ; but this letter is necessarily too late for bringing about our meeting. Again present my most affectionate regards to the dear domestic circle at Larkhall Grove ; and the same to your beloved Sarah when you see her, and to your old aunt, towards whom you cherish so becoming a solicitude of kind affection. I preach this evening — Gratis. So your saucy girls may see that my greed of filthy lucre is not so all-absorbing as to shut my mouth unless I can make a penny by the opening of it. Farewell, my very dear and kind friend. — Yours, &c. To THE Same. Clough, August 13th, 1828. My very dear Friend — ........ Now for the principal subject of your communication to Manchester. I am very deeply impressed with the importance of the situation as a sphere of usefulness, especially as it does not preclude the occasional or even stated preaching of the gospel ; although with my notions of pluralities a pastoral charge would be out of the question. I do not enter at present into the various aspects under which it has presented itself to my mind. My object now is — my mind being so impressed that I dare not dismiss it without examining it on all sides — to ascertain one or two points relative MORAL rniLOSOPiiY ciiait;. 2G7 to the situation — and especially when the Professor elect is expected to begin lecturing. Is it in the immediately ensuing session ? or is it not till the one follov/ing % How long does the session last, and how many hours of attendance are required each day ? And I trust you will not consider me as keeping up my character and " greedy of filthy lucre," but only as desirous to know what it is indispensably necessary I should know, and to be able to give a fair representation of the claims of the situation as a sphere of usefulness, when I add, what number of students are conceived likely to attend, upon a moderate estimate, and whether the salary is attached to the chairs, or each professor left to depend on the fees of his class % In putting these questions, I am neither presumptuously assuming on the one hand any certainty of others agreeing in Mr. Macaulay's favourable opinion, nor, on the other, to be understood as in the slightest degree pledging myself that, even were there a unanimous concurrence and invitation, I should accept. I only wish to have all the items of the case befoi-e me, that I may give it due deliberation. There is no one at home to whom I have yet mentioned the matter at all, except Mrs. W. Will you present my grateful and affectionate regards to Mr. Macaulay when you see him ; and obtain as early a reply as you can to my queries ; if indeed the situation still remains open. Mrs. W. and all here unite in very best wishes for yourself, Mrs. D. and family. Their regards are not the less cordial from the renewed accounts I have given them of all the kind attentions experienced by one so dear to them in Larkhall Grove. — Yours, &c. Whether anything more was clone in the matter to which these letters principally relate I have not been able to ascertain. In a letter from Mr. Macaulay to Dr. Wardlaw, relating to Bible Society business, and dated " London, 21st October 1828," he, in a postscript, simply refers to it as a subject of which he has not lost sight, but on which he is not yet in a capacity to communicate with him. Beyond this I find no further refer- ence to it among Dr. Wardlaw's papers. It is probable that the proposal was dropt at his own request ; for important as the contemplated post was, and admirably fitted as Dr. Wardlaw was to fill it, there can be little doubt that had he left his posi- tion in Glasgow for that purpose, he would have made an exchange for the worse in every point of view ; and of this pro- bably he became sufficiently convinced, to decline any further entertaining of the matter. What confirms this view is, that he declined another situa- tion which was at this time actually offered to him and urged on his acceptance, on the ground that his sphere in Glasgow was too important to be vacated by him except for the most 268 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. cogent reasons. This situation was tliat of President and Theo- logical Tutor of the Dissenting College at Rotherham, along with the pastorate of the Independent Church at Masbro', in the vicinity of the college. These conjoined offices had formerly been held by one to whom Dr. Wardlaw was in many respects indebted as a theologian, the profound, acute and pious Dr. Edward Williams ; and they were now vacant in consequence of the resignation of Dr. Williams' successor, Dr. James Bennett, whose " praise is in all the churches," and who still, in a green old age, is able to serve his master in the ministry of the gospel. The invitation to the Theological chair in the College was con- veyed to Dr. Wardlaw in a letter from Henry Walker, Esq., the treasurer of the institution, and that to the pastorate of the church, by Dr. Bennett and one of the deacons, in the name of the church. To these communications Dr. Wardlaw, after due deliberation, transmitted the following reply : — To Joseph Reid, Esq., Wincobank, Sheffield. Glasgow, October 24, 1828. Dear Sir — By desire of Mr. Henry Walker, I address this letter to you. I duly received his of the 15th inst., written in name and by appointment of the Committee of the Rotherham Independent College, intimating what I was much concerned to hear, that its highly and justly esteemed Theolo- gical Tutor had been under the necessity, in the providence of God, of resign- ing his situation in consequence of declining health, and conveying to me the invitation of the Committee to be his successor. The Committee would have reason to charge me with both ingratitude and affectation were I to say any thing else than that I am sensible of no small honour having been put upon me by an invitation so unanimous to a situation so important, and which has been so ably filled by the present (or rather I suppose I must already say the late) incumbent. Yet I am almost sorry they have thought of me, because, however much I may be gratified by the good opinion of my Christian friends and brethren, they lay me under the necessity of putting to the pain of disappointment those whom it should be my wish to gratify in return. I have now been here for more than twenty-five years, the pastor of a large and prospering church, from whom I have received every mark of attachment. My congregation is numerous ; and my labours, I trust, have not been altogether without the divine blessing. For the last fourteen or fifteen years I have had the joint tutorship, with my highly valued colleague Mr. Ewing,of an institution of the same general nature with that to which I am now invited, in which the number of students has fluctuated, and will this winter be nine or ten, besides several hearers. It would be foolish to say that I am immovable. But the call in providence to quit such a situation would require to present very decidedly superior pros- DEATH OF MRS. EWING. 2G9 pects of usefulness to justify me to my own conscience, to the church, to tho world, and above all, to my Master, in forsaking it. The Committee must look elsewhere ; and I am sure there are not a few in the south well able to fill the situation with credit to themselves, and with benefit to the institution and to the cause of God. It is my prayer that He may guide them to a more worthy choice in a matter of so very great consequence. Present my kind Christian regards to your treasurer Mr. Walker, and to all the members of Committee, and assure them of my gratitude and best wishes. And believe me to be, &c. Have the goodness to present my affectionate good wishes to your Classi- cal Tutor, my esteemed friend Mr. Smith, and to his excellent lady. A few weeks before receiving the invitation to which this letter is the reply, Dr. Wardlaw was called to perform the pain- ful duty of preaching the funeral sermon for the wife of his esteemed friend and colleague Mr. Ewing. This excellent lady, whose devoted zeal and unwearied labours in the cause of Christ were beyond all praise, came by her death under circumstances of a peculiarly painful kind. A near relative of hers, ]\Ir. Cath- cart, who had recently returned from India, being with his wife on a visit at Mr. Swing's, a party was formed to go to the Falls of Clyde, near Lanark, consisting of these friends, Mr. and Mrs. Ewing, and her cousin Miss Cathcart. The day was fine, and for the sake of enjoying the air and the scenery, the carriage in which they made the excursion was open at the top. All went well till they had nearly reached the spot where they were to leave the carriage to proceed on foot to the Falls, when, on descending a declivity on the edge of a steep bank, the carriage was suddenly swept off the road and hurled over the precipitous descent, down which it rolled till stopt by some trees. All the party were thrown violently out of it, and were, all more or less injured. Mr. Ewing had his collar-bone fractured ; Miss Cath- cart was crushed under the carriage and severely bruised ; Mr. and Mrs. Cathcart were both seriously injured ; and Mrs. Ewing had her leg broken above the ankle. The rest of the party ultimately recovered from the effects of the injuries they had sustained, but Mrs. Ewing expired on the morning of the follow- ing Sabbath after manifesting the most beautiful composure and Christian resignation amid her sufferings. A great sensation 270 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. was produced by this melancholy event, not only through the ch-cle of her immediate relationship, but in the city generally, and through all the Congregational Churches of Scotland, of which she had long been the zealous and devoted friend. To improve so striking an occurrence, and so painful a dispensation, was in every respect most desirable ; and with this view, on the follow- ing Sabbath Dr. Wardlaw appeared in the pulpit of his bereaved colleague. His text on this occasion was 1 Cor. xv. 23, '* Christ the first fruits ; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming." The sermon, besides an able exposition and illustra- tion of the text, contained a touching and just delineation of the leading excellences of Mrs. Ewing's character especially as a Christian, and breathed the spirit of sincerest sympathy with her bereaved relations, and especially with him on whom the bereav- ing stroke had fallen most heavily, " in whose spirit the wound was the deepest, in whose social enjoyment the desolation was the dreariest." The sermon was published immediately after- wards under the title " ' Christ the First Fruits : ' A sermon preached in Nile Street Chapel, Glasgow, in the afternoon of Lord's Day, Sept. 21, 1828, on occasion of the lamented death of Mrs. Greville Ewing." This painful event, which left an ineffaceable mark on Mr. Ewing, tended to give a deeper tenderness to the affection which had so long subsisted between him and Dr. Wardlaw. It was now the part of the latter, on many grounds, to take the lead in matters of common interest ; and never was priority ceded with more graceful readiness, or its duties assumed with more unaffected simpHcity and unobtrusivencss than in the case of these two men. Whilst Mr. Ewing, like one on whom the hand of the Lord had been heavy, retired more and more into the shade, his colleague seemed ever increasingly solicitous to relieve him of toil and responsibility, and yet to allow as much as possible the love and homage of the public to flow to him as aforetime. The picture was as fine a one of the kind as it is permitted us in this imperfect state to witness, and no man was privileged to observe it without being moved by it — sometimes even to tears. 271 CHAPTER XL A. D. 1829— A. D. 1832. The year 1829 was one of no small stir and interest in the family of Dr. Wardlaw. During the earlier part of it he was much occupied in literary work. In the month of IMarch he contributed an Introductory Essay to Doddridge's Practical Discourses on Regeneration, which formed one of the series of select Christian authors issued by Mr. Collins of Glasgow ; and after that was published he set himself to prepare for the press a volume of sermons. His Essay prefixed to Doddridge has very much the air of having been originally also a sermon ; it is devoted to showing that a change of heart, a restoration to holiness is a necessary part of salvation, and that to which pardon and justification are designed to lead. It is ably written, and forms a natural, instructive and pleasing introduction to the discourses of Doddridge. The collected sermons appeared in July. They had been for the most part delivered in the ordinary course of the author's ministry, but one or two of them had been called forth by special public occasions. Of the latter two have reference to the views of the Millenarians — views v/hich had been brought into vivid prominence and endowed with new life by the preaching of Mr. Irving, to which Dr. Wardlaw refers in a letter quoted in the preceding chapter. These two sermons are of peculiar value — the former for the exposition it contains of a very difficult and much canvassed passage of Scripture, Rom. viii. 19-21 ; the latter for the clear, cogent, and satisfactory statement which it presents of the difficulties that lie in the way of the doctrine of a personal reign of our Lord on the earth for 272 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARULAW. a thousand years. To the reasonhigs of this masterly discourse, no competent answer has ever been given ; and the important changes which Millenarians have of late made in the ground they assume, may probably be traced to their feeling that their former position was untenable m the face of the objections which Dr, Wardlaw has urged. Of the other sermons in this volume, the greater part are occupied in the discussion of important questions in theology and the spiritual life, though ever with a practical bearing such as befits a sermon. A valuable discourse on Justi- fication by Faith leads to one still more valuable on Justification by Works, in which the author proposes his method of recon- ciling the doctrine of Paul and the doctrine of James on the subject of justification. But perhaps the most valuable, certainly not the least able sermons in the volume, are those on 1 John iv. 18, " Perfect love casteth out fear." In these the author, with a firm and discriminating hand, analyses the various sources of spiritual doubt and fear in believers, and vindicates Chris- tianity from the charge of producing such feelings by the views it gives of the sovereignty of God and his dealings with his people. I cannot but believe that these discourses are replete with the materials of instruction and comfort to multitudes of God's people, who, from ignorance or misapprehension of the truths they illustrate, walk in darkness, and are oppressed with spiritual anxiety when they might be rejoicing in God, and serving him with unburdened spirits. Whilst carrying this volume through the press Dr. Wardlaw was called to pass through one of those vicissitudes of domestic life which in their mingled attributes of joy and sorrow touch with peculiar force the sensibilities of the heart. It has been already mentioned that he was in the habit of receiving into his family young gentlemen as boarders, whose studies he directed, and over whose interests, intellectual and moral, he watched. Between one of these — who had for some years previous to the date at which we have arrived been residing under his roof, and whose name occurs in one of the letters quoted in last chapter — and his eldest daughter a mutual affection had grown up ; and MARRIAGE OF HIS ELDEST DAUGHTER. 273 HOW he was summoned to yield up this dearly cherished child to the care and affection of another. What rendered the trying part of this more severe was that the gentleman who sought ]\Iiss Wardlaw's hand had devoted himself to the missionary work, and was about to proceed to India as the sphere of his labour, whither he of course proposed to carry her with him. This was a trial to parental affection such as those who have experienced it can alone estimate ; but there was much on the other hand to cheer and gladden in the proposed union. John Reid, the gentleman in question, was a man cast in nature's finest mould — a man pleasant to look upon, whose countenance was the index of the sweetest temper and the kindliest heart — a man of cultivated intellect, graceful manners and high-toned sentiment, and one in whose bosom divine grace Lad so lodged its treasures that a sweet religiousness seemed diffused around his entire being and activity. To such an one Dr. and Mrs. Wardlaw felt that they could cheerfully yield up their beloved child to go with him whithersoever his Master should call him. They were married on the 29th of July 1829, and sailed for India in the following September. The following extracts from Pr. Wardla^v's correspondence will serve as the best illustration of his history at this period. To THE Rev. Dr. Leonard Woods. Glasgow, June 16th, 1829. Rev. aud very dear Sir — ........ Do realise your project of paying a visit to this country. It will give my- self and family much gratification to see you ; and I trust you would meet with a cordial reception from fellow-labourers and fellow-christians generally. We have been hearing of late, and hearing with much interest and delight, of what the Lord has been doing for America. Would that He would visit his churches in this quarter with some similar manifestations of his favour. The revivals in the New World have excited a great deal of attention and discus- sion, particularly in England, and have given rise to a considerable variety of productions from the press. Of these I shall send you one, with which I hope you will be pleased as it bears the name of Warcllau\ being the work of my tie'phew, who has been for several years pastor of one of the Independent churches in Edinburgh. Among other points of view, in which I cannot but regard America at present with {>eculiar interest, this is one — that an impor- tant experiment is going on there on a large scale, of what Christianity when fairly excited can effect by her own native energies in the support and pro- T 274 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. pagation of her cause, independently of the aids of civil power. I look to it in this view with high expectation, as I think it of vast consequence that a new practical manifestation of this should be given to the world. I thank you for the X'^ep you have given me into your domestic circle. I delight in this. There is true friendship in it ; and it shows, besides, that you have formed no unfavourable estimate of my paternal character ; for you would not have written so, had you not anticipated in my heart a fellow feeling with your own. And I think, if [ know myself, you have not erred in this estimate. I am a domestic man — very fond of my family, and my family very fond of me. (Now don't say, "He's somewhat of an egotist too, methinks ; " for in that I hope you wouM be wrong.) So I must introduce you to them in return. Mrs. W. has had eleven children. Of these, two are with God. They died in infancy. We have now been many years without any visitation of this kind, though not, of course, without occasional domestic trials. My eldest is a girl. In three months hence she leaves us for Bellary in the East Indies as the wife of a missionary — an excellent youth who has been an inmate in my family for five winters attend- ing college, &c., and whose heart has been all along set on missionary labour. He is a son of Mr. William Reid, a merchant in London. The attachment has been mutually formed under my roof ; and she is of one spirit with him. She has been a member of the church for a good many years. I shall not ex2)atiate on the very mingled feelings with which Mrs. W. and myself anti- cipate such a parting. But we have given her up to the Lord, and to the very best of causes — a cause of which the results will remain in eternity, not merely when we shall have quitted the world, but when the world itself shall be no more. Mrs. Woods and you may just look into your own hearts as fcirents and as Christians, and read our feelings there. Sympathize with us both in our sorrow and our joy, and pray for us and for our dear child (my heart and eyes fill while I write of her) and her beloved partner. I need not tell you what to ask. You may consult the same oracle. My eldest son is articled to an attorney, with whom he has been three years, and has two of his term of apprenticeship to run. He is domestic and sober in his outward conduct, and very attentive to business ; but as yet without the grace of God. But he, like the rest, has been the child of many prayers. His example is of much consequence ; and I look to him Avith affectionate solicitude. My second daughter has been for some time past decidedly thoughtful, and I fondly hope and trust, although she has not yet made an open profession, that she is a partaker of the grace of the gospel. My second son has gone through his first session at College. He is a youth of fine engaging dispositions as well as of very respectable talents ; and I hope not entirely inconsiderate of the best of all knowledge. The younger ones I must merely mention generally — one boy and four girls. They are all in course of education ; and in some of them I have much delight. To two of them God has not been pleased to impart that measure of understanding with which he has blessed the rest. 0 that he may number them all amongst his own children ! The account you give of your own institution, and of the literary semi- naries of your country generally, is most cheering. Of what immense con- sequence is it, not only to the pupils themselves under instruction, but for the moral and religious interests of a community, dependent as they must be to such an extent upon their future infiuence, that a spirit of r/odliness LETTER TO DR. WOODS. 275 should be infused into such institutions. I had seen from American papers some time since, with emotions of lively satisfaction, the rapid advances made in Boston and the vicinity by evangelical religion in distinction from that utter subversion of all that is gospel in the Bible, Unitarianism. I rejoice to see from your letter these representations confirmed. I took down with me last week,* the reports of jonr Temperance Societi/, which is quite a new thing to me. From what you say of its effects already, and of what it promises of future benefit, I mean to examine its constitution and proceed- ings carefully, and judge whether anything of the same kind may be attempted here. There is much need for it. The reduction some time ago in the price of spirits from • the removal of the duties, produced a most obser- vable change to the worse in this department of morals. You ask my judgment of Mr. Erskine's last little work. I cannot of course enter into the topics of which it treats. All I can say is, that I have seldom if ever perused a book with more mingled feelings, of approba- tion and disapprobation, delight and sorrow. I love the man. Every one that knows him must love him. I looked upon his works on account of their coming from an educated and accomplished layman, and of the style in which they were written, in which there is so much of taste and elegance of mind, as eminently fitted to do good in a particular circle of society. I was there- fore grieved that there should be any statements in that little publication, and on such a subject, such as I could not approve, and such as might lead the careless to say, from the new nomenclature which, in regard to particular terms, he introduces, and from other circumstances — " There is no fixing this Bible of yours to any definite meaning ; every pretender to original thinking finds something new in it, and explains it differently from his pre- decessors." You will see that I refer especially to his views of fanlon and collateral topics, with which I cannot agree, and which I think confused and hardly consistent with themselves. But then there is so much that is excel- lent ; many of his illustrations are so exquisitely fine ; and there is such a tone of humble, tender, delightful feeling, as well as of pure, and lofty, and sublime devotion runs through it — something in all his exhibitions of the Divine Being that makes you feel at the same moment your immeasurable distance and your gracious nearness, filling the soul at once with humble, solemn awe, and with filial delight, and joy, and melting affection — that one hardly knows how to find fault. He was a hearer of mine one day some little time — perhaps six weeks ago — and he came into the vestry and walked part of the way home with me. But we could only break ground on the subject, and leave it. He was then unshaken in his sentiments. I believe he is enlarging for next edition. You ask how Dr. Chalmers is succeeding in his new oflice. You must be aware, I presume, of his having filled last winter the divinity chair in the Metropolitan University. That class has risen from the dead. From a state of sad declension and ineflSciency, it is now crowded and animated. I have no doubt that he will do great good. My only fear is, the raising up of a host of injudicious and incompetent imitators, who will easily catch and caricature his faults, with no power even to come near a resemblance to one of his excellences. That will be a shocking lore. Procul — 0 Procul ! I have the pleasure to say that the churches here enjoy peace and com- * To the sea coast, where his family was residing.- 276 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. fort, and some measure of prosperity and increase. That under my own pastoral care has had for some time past a succession of very pleasing addi- tions, mostly young persons, and some of them have been the fruits of my own ministry — several having been impressed especially by a series of discourses on Jo-hua xxiv. Ki, " Chuse ye whom ye will serve," &c. We lately had the annual meeting of our Congregational Union for Scotland, which was a very cheering one. It was held in Edinburgh. The report is not yet jirinted, else I should have sent it. The Institution not only aids the poor churches in remote parts of the country, but does a great deal in the way of supporting itinerancies, &c., in the destitute parts of Scotland, especially the Highlands and Islands. I collected for it last year, chiefly in London, about £oOO, and including this sum, the funds for the past year amounted to .£1.300. And now my dear and valued friend and brother (for such, from the strain of your correspondence, I cannot but esteem you), I must draw to a close. I have written hastily, and you must excuse scrawling and inaccuracies. My heart cleaves to you, as you say yours does to me ; and I cordially unite with you in all your anticipations of the fellowship of that blessed world, where there shall be nothing to mar or even to interrupt the perfection of social joy — the perfected "joy of God's salvation." Mrs. W. unites with me in cordially acknowledging and returning your good wishes. My kind and grateful regards to Dr. Porter. — Yours, &c. To THE Rev. H. F. Burder. Glasgow, July 28th, 1829. My ever dear imforffoUen and unforgettable Friend — Certainly the writing of a letter is a proof that the friend to whom it is addressed is in our remembrance ; but it by no means necessarily follows that the not writing of a letter is an equally conclusive proof of his being otit of it. You retain as much, I trust, of good old Jowler's instructions, as to own that this is sound logic — that the absence of what proves a positive does not always prove the opposite negative. I might fill a sheet with illustrative examples ; but it is needless. One is enough, and that one I have in my heart's experience at this moment. It is true that I have failed to write to ray friend ; but it is not — no indeed it is not true, that I have failed to remember him. " That I deny," as Sterne says ; and I defy you to prove it. My own consciousness will to myself be proof against all proof ; and, as I cannot fancy it a point which you will be particularly solicitous to estab- lish, I flatter myself you will be quite disposed to take my ^l•ord for the contrary. No, my beloved and well-tried friend, you live in my memory and in my affections ; and, even if I should not hear from you for a year to come, I shall not let go the belief, which is the spring to me of so much real plea- sure, that I live in yours. Your affectionate heart will wake to all its tender sympathies with my own and Mrs. W.'s mingled feelings, when I tell you that this forenoon our beloved girl has given her hand in plighted love to her partner for life and for labour. They left us immediately for Inverary. There Mrs. W. and I, with our second daughter Anna, meet them to-morrow. The day after we return to our summer sea-bathing residence with them, and they leave us for London in the beginning of next week. Anna and I intend, if God CORRESPONDENCE. 277 will, to follow them thither the week after. Anna would have accompanied her sister ; but the determination that she should go has been too recent to admit of her leaving home so soon ; and / delay a week, because I cannot with propriety be so long away. Having in this way the near prospect of seeing you " face to face," and talking over all the uncos of south and north, I shall spare my time at present. J only say, pray for us all. I need not say it indeed ; for you will do it unbidden. And you will bear especially on your spirit, at the throne of the heavenly grace, the dear missionary pair, that, going in a blessed cause, they may have a blessing in it. I send you a volume ; and shall be very glad to find, when I see you, that its contents, should you by that time have had leisure at all to peep into it, have given you any satisfaction. We are all well ; and your old and staunch friend Mrs. W. unites with me in every kind wish for yourself and your dear young charge, your revered father, and the entire circle in all the points of its circumference. I hope to hear from your own lips good accounts of your ministerial success ; and I am not entirely without such tidings in the same department as will be gratifying to you. Bad as my memory may be, I hope you will never entertain so ill an opinion of it again, for, be assured, in spite of all evidences (seeming evi- dences) of the contrary, I am always your truly and warmly attached friend. I have spoken above of the mterest Avhich Dr. Wardlaw took m the young gentlemen who were boarded with him ; of this let the following letter, written at this time to one of them, be taken as an instance : — Glasgow, July 10th, 1829. My very dear young Friend — Though I have the hope of seeing you all on Monday, yet as there is a possibility of my being disappointed, and as I sometimes find writing both easier and more advantageous than speaking, I have taken the fancy to send you a few lines, which you will receive as dic- tated by a true affection that would " seek your good alwaj's," both as to this life and that which is to come. I am anxious, my dear , that you should excel in the prosecution of your studies at college during the af)proaching session. You are well aware this is not for the sake of the mere eclat that attends such eminence, but for the sake especially of the substantial knowledge, and useful habits, and general improvement of mind, which will be the result, and which may contribute to prepare you for filling, with comfort to yourself, with benefit to others, and with glory to God, the sphere to which you are looking forward. But while I would not have you to make eclat an object, you will not be insensible to the gratification which the distinction acquired by a son so dearly loved would impart to your father's heart, nor to the desirableness of carrying home, in some of the rewards of meritorious diligence, the sure proofs of such diligence having been applied. Allow me then, dear , to urge upon you the necessity and duty of assiduous, steady, and persevering application to your preparatory studies. You know I don't mean by this that you immure yourself from morning to night, to the injuring of your health. But let the time devoted to study be qiiantum, sufficit — a fair and 278 MEMOIRS OF DU. WAKDLAW. reasonable proportion — and let it be regularly adhered to and well filled uj>. You know well I like youthful buoyancy, and have no objections to a little fun ; but let study be study. Be in earnest with it. May I say a word to you about economy ? I don't mean that you should spend no money ; that you should act the miser and keep it " for its own dear sake." I need not tell you that indeed, for it is not in your nature. You laughed the other day when I spoke of this to you, and said your good father knew the art of keeping money little better than yourself. That is just the way my young fellows do with their papa iu some other things. But it won't do. Experientia docet. The very experience of an evil in themselves may make fathers and mothers the more solicitous to teach a different lesson to their children. Spend your money judiciously and use- fully, though not penm-iously and stingily. Be liberal, but be thoughtful. Spend, but spend for some good purpose — -always asking the question Ctii bono ? If you cannot keep your cash in your own hands, but find it ever slipping through your fingers, let another keep it for you. I once proposed doing this office myself ; but I fear I should be too easy a banker — honour- ing your drafts too readily. And now, my dear friend, for a word or two on a subject of far higher importance than either of those I have spoken of. Will you ask yourself the question, and go into your heart deliberately for an answer to it, whether the principles of godliness have been gaining or losing ground with you for some time past 1 I have had my fears. And it would lie very heavily on my heart, were your spiritual sensibilities to be deadened rather than confirmed and enlivened under my roof. Even supposing you had no prospect of con- secrating your powers to the best, and highest, and most sacred of all causes, I would write thus to you on account of the paramount importance of the question to yovir own personal interests, both for time and for eternity. But when your prospects (which I should be sorry you should ever think of relinquishing) are added to this, the subjects of inquiry become proportionally the more momentous, as they involve other interests as well as your own- — interests both human and divine. Do not forget, then, the study of your Bible, or the duties of secret devotion. I trust you set apart a regular allow- ance of time every morning to both. Cherish, 0 cherish the principles of piety. Let these stand always first, as they are entitled to do ; and that knoivledge first which alone is connected with eternal life. My desires for you in these matters are the same as my desires for my own beloved children. If they are not yet gratified to their full extent with regard to some of them, I shall rejoice to see you setting them an example such as may contribute to procure me that gratification — a gratification which your worthy parents, I am sure, would agree with me in saying is the most exquisite that can visit a Christian father's or mother's heart. If I can find room in the basket I shall send down a book for you, from which, if you can only read a small portion every morning — say for half-an- hour — you will acquire a great deal of biblical information. It is Stack- house^ s History of the Bible. You will, I know, do much more than excuse all this. You will take it as what it really is — cardiaiyhonice — the utterance of the heart, and will endeavour, by the grace of God, to derive profit from it. May God bless you, and spare you, and make you a blessing. — Your truly affectionate Friend. CHARGE TO ME. REID. 279 In pursuance of the purpose stated in one of these letters, Dr. Wardlaw, accompanied by his second daughter, went up to London to see Mr. and Mrs. Reid off to their destined field of labour in the East. At the conjoint request of Mr. Reid and the directors of the London ]\Iissionary Society under whose auspices he was about to set out, Dr. Wardlaw delivered to him the charge at his ordination. This service, which appears to have been deeply interesting, took place on the 18th of August at the Scots Church, Crown Court, London, where Mr. Reid's family were in the habit of worshipping. Dr. Wardlaw's charge was founded on 2d Corinthians v. 14, and turned chiefly on the indispensable necessity of love to Christ in order to the faithful discharge of the trust committed to the Christian Missionary. Commonplace as this sentiment is, the preacher threw around his illustration and enforcement of it so much of fresh interest and pathos that all who were present felt themselves subdued and moved by his eloquence ; and a general desire was felt for its publication. To this the directors gave expression by unani- mously requesting the author to submit it to the press. In compliance with this it appeared shortly after, under the title, " Love to Christ the constraining principle of the Christian Ministry : A Charge delivered by the Rev. R. Wardlaw, D.D., of Glasgow, at the Ordination of Mr. John Reid, M.A., as a Missionary to Bellary in the East Indies," &c. Mr. and Mrs. Reid sailed from Portsmouth on the 3d of September in the ship Wellington, Captain Evans. In conse- quence of contrary winds they were obhged to put into Ply- mouth in the course of the following week ; nor was it till the 11th of the month that they finally sailed for India. Dr. Wardlaw accompanied them to the ship and remained with them as long as he could. But his own pen can best describe this touching episode in his history. To Mr. John S. Wardlaw. Christchurch, September 5th, 1829. My beloved Boy — From the above date you will see where your dear sister and I now are ; and let the first thing you do be to tell Dan Gunn, 280 MEMOIRS OF DR. WAKDLAW. if he should bo with you wheu you receive this, that I now write in the diuing-room looking out upon his favourite shrubbery and velvet lawn ; that we have met with the kindest reception, and are highly gratified by the short experience we have had both of the place and of the company of our new friends — new and yet old. But I must not detain your fond mamma and all of you from what 1 know you will anxiously wish to hear, how your excellent and tender-hearted sister stood the sad parting from a pcjm to whom she has ever clung with ardent and melting aifection. Dear, dear child ; it was not at all with her as with some others, cheerfulness to the last, and then a sudden and violent but transient burst of emotion. Amidst new friends, and scenes, and sights, I could perceive, and I knew well the secret cause, the increasing pensiveness of her spirit, and it has been no easy matter for me to preserve my composure when, sitting by me and pressing my hand, she has looked up in my face with that expression of sweet and wist- ful and imploring tenderness, the recollection of which goes to my very heart. The nearer the sailing time came the deeper became her thoughtfulness and inward agitation. On the morning of Wednesday (the day of embarking), having taken very little breakfast, she retired after prayers to her bed-room, whither I was by and by summoned. She had fairly fainted away, and by the time I saw her was come out of the faint and was in a state of hysterical crying, and sobbing as if her dear heart would have broken ; she was relieved, however, by this. I soothed and cheered her in every way I could think of. We got a conveyance to carry her to the shore. The ship lay about three miles off at Spithead, but the day happily was calm and delightful. We got finely on board, and remained there with them nearly two hours. We then took a hasty farewell, having retired to their cabin for that purpose. All were of course much overcome. Your dear sister had recovered in some degree, however, her tone of mind, and had been strengthened by a little wine and biscuit, and stood it better than I had feared, though how it was with her subsequently to our coming away I could not of course tell. But I have no doubt that now, wheu all these successive parting scenes, so ex- tremely trying to a spirit of so much delicate susceptibility as hers, are over, and she is left to enjoy the anticipations of the work in which she and John are embarking, and to engage with him in those preparatory studies, &c., which are to occupy their attention during the voyage, she will soon rally and get better. There is almost nothing so exhausting as the anxiety of anticipation, and the constant reiteration of the agitation of feeling. I wrote a long letter to her before breakfast, on the morning of embarkation, to be opened after our farting. It occurred to me that the thought of hav- ing her dear Papa, as it were, still with her, even in this form, might con- tribute to alleviate the bitterness of separation, and impart comfort to her mind after it. I am glad the thought suggested itself. There is one thought too which has given us satisfaction — the company they have on the voyage. Mrs. Heath is one of the excellent of the earth, and she is very amiable and very cheerful, and both she and Mr. H. — who is quite a gentleman and a very pleasant man, and, I believe,' seriously disposed, if not so decided as his lady — have had full experience of the voyage. I have likewise full con- fidence in every kind attention being shcAvn them by the captain and the surgeon, both of whom I saw, and with both was much pleased. And, above all, my dear boy, they go under the all -gracious protection and care of that kind providence to which, in your letter to Marianne, you so properly, and DEPARTUEE OF MR. AND MRS. REID. 281 I trust from your heart, commended them. It is cheering to my spirit, and Avill be so to that of your beloved mamma, that so many fervent and affec- tionate prayers have preceded, accompanied, and followed them. It delighted me to hear of my own people having held a special prayer meeting for this purpose, and to see that the deacons had been mindful of their pastor's beloved child, and sent her a testimony of their i-emembrance, accompanied with a very affectionate and appropriate letter. I shall duly acknowledge these things in her name. On the whole, everything hitherto has been propitious, and I trust that the gracious Lord, in whose service our dear young friends have embarked, will spread his covering wings around them — sparing them, and blessing them, and making them a blessing. To Him I again commend them ; and you will all add your cordial Amen ! The charge which I delivered to John I was subsequently requested by the directors to print. This has accordingly been done. But it was only just published before 1 left London, and I had no time to give any instruc- tions about the copies to be sent for Glasgow. I must have done. God Almighty bless you, my dearly beloved boy. 0 cast in your lot decidedly with the people of God. Seek the Lord early. What is all the world to his favour % Give Him the vigour of your days. It is a dreadful thing to think of putting Him off with the dregs of our life and the refuse of our worn-out powers ! Nothing would give me more delight than to see those powers and talents which God has given you, and the various knowledge which you are in the course of acquiring, consecrated to the Saviour's service, under the constraining and hallowing influence of His love. Yes ; even were it to be in India. Amid all the anguish of giving up a beloved child, nothing cheers my spirit so effectually as musing on the nature and results of the work to which she has devoted herself. O, my beloved Johnny, do not forget your Bible — read it, study it. I hope you keep to your Greek Testament before breakfast. Seek, 0 seek by earnest prayer, the knowledge which is life eternal. Of useful knowledge there are many descriptions — of saving knowledge there is but one. It is that revealed in the Bible, John xvii. 3. What is the sum of all other knowledge com- pared with this % There are tico hearts (I need not say which they are) that will rejoice with exceeding great joy at your choosing the good part which shall never be taken from you. . . . — Your most affectionate Father. The letter which Dr. Wardlaw gave to his daughter to be opened after he had left her was not one likely to be lost by her. T am happy to be able to place a transcript of it before the reader. Portsmouth, Thursday Morning, September 3d, 1829. My dearly beloved child — I have been again commending you and your dear John to the gracious care of the kindest and best of all fathers — your Father who is in Heaven. Only look up to him, my dearest Marianne, and all will be well. I have been thinking how many things you have to support and cheer you : — 1. I must ever place first the service in which you are embarking. 0 let it have all its animating influence upon your mind, to think of your devoting yourselves to the promotion of the very end for which the blessed Redeemer died. Look beyond time, and think how very trifling everything 282 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. portaiuing to this world would by and by appear — and what an unspeakable magnitude eternity will stamp on the ever-during results of that work iu which you ai'e engaging. 2. All circumstances concur to give your own mind, as the consideration of them gives mine, assurance that the step you are taking is in harmony with the will of God, and the purposes of his providence ; that you are not resisting but obeying him, not counteracting but following his counsels. We can thus look for his blessing. 3. You are going with the full concurrence of those friends on earth who are the objects of your heart's fond and tender love. A sense of duty to Him who hath said, " He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me," might have overcome even their disapproval and opposition. If you saw your way clear, it ought to have done so. But 0 what a bitter ingredient it would have been to your susceptible heart to have gone away, I will not say with their displeasure, but even without their hearty acqui- escence. But it is otherwise. Tenderly as we feel at parting with you, we have given you up to the Lord with a willing mind ; and I trust that He has accepted the sacrifice. " The heart knoweth its own bitterness ;" but still '• a stranger intermeddleth not with its joy." 4. You go with an excellent and affectionate earthly companion — one iu all respects approved and loved by your parents, the object of your own choice and devoted attachment, and with whom there is every ground to believe you will, through the blessing of God, be happy, in the social prose- cution of your glorious work. The presence of the Lord go with you both, children of my heart's love, and give you rest. 5. You go accompanied and followed by the fervent and united prayers of the Lord's people. You have been children of many prayers from your infancy — and now, that He who " fixes the bounds of our habitation," has determined your lot, and called you away from "your kindred and your father's house," to serve Him in a far country, many are the prayers — the " efiectual fervent prayers" — that attend you. I cannot but regard these prayers as like the chariots of fire and horses of fire seen in symbolical vision " round about Elisha." There is a kind of omnipotence in them ; for He with whom there is everlasting strength has promised to hear them. 6. You are going to a country where there is Christian society before you, and where you will meet with fellow-labourers whom God has already blessed and honoured with success. I do not mean by this that you should have no portion of Paul's spirit in desiring to preach and otherwise make known the Saviour to those among whom he had not yet been named. But still, when you see brethren before you successful in their work, you will " thank God, and take courage ! " 7. You are not going to a country with which there is difficult and rare communication. You may hear with comparative frequency and regularity from your beloved friends at home, and they from you. This is delightful. Even had your destination been the islands of the South Sea, you must have enjoyed this comfort in a very limited degree. Our reciprocal letters must have been " few and far between." 8. It is no small alleviation of my anxiety respecting the voyage that the Lord has been pleased to send along with you friends and fellow-christians who appear all that is amiable and excellent, and who, having experience of the sea, will be able as well as willing to direct and care for you. With FAREWELL LETTER TO MRS. RKJI>. 283 them, I trust, and they with you, you will have much " sweet counsel" and the " fellowship of kindred minds," which is " like to that above." 9. Every circumstance, my beloved child, has been propitious hitherto, all kindly and graciously ordered. Trust then, my dearest (I do), that He who has been with you hitherto, will " bless you still ! " Take all things together — I could add more, but time forbids — and say with the pious Psalmist, for you have abundant reason, " Why art thou cast down, 0 my soul, and why art thou disquieted within me 1 Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him — who is the health of my countenance, and my God." Yes ; you shall yet praise him. I commend you both to Him who hath said, " I will never leave thee, I will never forsake thee." You go for a time far from your earthly father and mother and friends ; but you go not from your heavenly Father. Engaging as you do in the cause that is dearest to his heart. He will, if I may say so, be nearer to you than ever. I mist have done. The blessing of your father and mother, my loved and cherished child, goes with you from the land of your nativity, bestowed from a full and tender heart ; and what is infinitely more precious, the blessing of " your Father and our Father, of your God and our God," the blessing which "maketh rich, and with which he addeth no sorrow" — that blessing goes with you, and shall be with you for ever. Blest be the dear uniting love That will not let us part I Our bodies may far off remove, But we are join'd in heart. Yes, dearest girl, one in heart, both by the ties of nature's love, which shrinks from this scene of tender conflict, and by the more sacred and enduring ties of grace, the thought and feeling of which cheers and supports us under it. Yes, we shall still be join'd in heart, And hope to meet again. To meet even here, after a period of happy and useful service, and to meet at last in our Father's and Redeemer's presence, to reap together the blessed results of that service, through the merits of Him who " loved us and gave himself for us," and who is so supremely entitled to the consecrations of our ALL to Him. And now, my dearly loved and valued son and daughter, farewell. " The Lord bless you and keep you — the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you — the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace," even " the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, to keep your heart and mind through Christ Jesus." May He spare you and bless you and make you a blessing ! I shall carry home to your dear mamma, and all your brothers and sisters there, the warmest kisses you can give them. We will bear you on our spirits, and you will bear us, at the throne of the divine grace. We can meet at this throne even though oceans and continents lie between us. We shall live in the hope of again kneeling together before it in closer vicinity even on earth, and at last we shall cast our crowns together before it, and, "with the vast uunumber'd throng" of the redeemed — some of them the fruits of our own ministry — unite in the everlasting song, " Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing ! " 284 MEMOIRS OF mi. WARDLAW. Again and again — farewell. The Shepherd of Israel, whose eye slumbers not nor sleeps, watch over you from henceforth and for evermore. Amen, and amen. — Your ever tenderly attached Father. It will be seen from the elate of the letter to his son John that Dr. Wardlaw after leaving Portsmouth paid a visit to Christ- chm'ch, where he was the guest of the Rev. W. Gunn, whose son w^as at this time resident under his roof in Glasgow. He also visited his old and valued friend Mr. Durant at Poole, and on his way home spent some days at Birmingham (where he was cheered by a letter from ]\Ir. and Mrs. Reid, written after they had been driven into Plymouth), at Manchester and other places. He reached Glasgow in the end of September. In one of the letters above cited Dr. Wardlaw refers to a work by Mr. Erskine, and to certain sentiments contained in it which he had perused with regret and pain. The work in ques- tion was an Essay on the Unconditional Freeness of the Gospel, then recently published, and the sentiments set forth in it which caused Dr. Wardlaw pain were those which the author had adopted and was seeking to diffuse respecting the universal pardon of mankind through the atonement of Christ. In his zeal for a free and unfettered offer of salvation to all men, Mr. Erskine — not content with the doctrine that the atonement offered by Christ is of infinite efficacy, so that on the ground of it God 77ia^/ honourably pardon all sin, and loill pardon the sins of all who come to him tlu'ough Christ — endeavoured in his essay to main- tain that the atonement of Christ had taken effect in the actual pardon of all mankind, and that salvation consists in the coming to a personal consciousness of this through the reception and belief of the gospel. To Dr. Wardlaw his sentiments on this subject appeared " confused and hardly consistent with themselves," and as they were set forth in union with much that he held to be most important, and with all the attractions which genius like that of Mr. Erskine could throw around them, he feared that they might find a degree of acceptance such as it was most undesirable that sentiments so unscriptural should obtain. He accordingly saw it to be his. duty to subject these views to a thorough sifting. FAITH OF ASSURANCE. 285 and to issue the result of his scrutiny through the press. . His attention was at the same time drawn to another set of views whicli had been recently urged into fresh importance and promi- nency in Scotland — those relating to the believer's personal assurance of salvation — views which have something more than a mere accidental connection, arising out of their being agitated at the same time, with those of Mr. Erskine ; for as the leading advocates of the doctrine of personal assurance held and taught that we have the very same evidence, that we are justified which we have that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead, so that (to quote the words of Barclay, the Coryphaeus of the modern advo- cates of this doctrine), " by whatever evidence it was possible for the persons to whom they [the passages Acts xiii. 32, 33, 38, 39] were addressed, to hnoio that God had raised up Jesus again, by the same precise evidence it became impossible for them not to knoio that God had forgiven their sins, unless they esteemed him an unfaithful witness;"* it follows that our justification is not conditioned by our believing, but is itself a fact to be believed — a fact whether we believe it or not, and altogether independent of us, just as the resurrection of Christ is. At this point, then, Mr. Barclay and Mr. Erskine, though on other points wide as the poles asunder, meet ; both agree that we are called upon not to believe in order that we may be justified, but to believe that we are justified or pardoned — with this momentous difference, how- ever, that the one restricts this privilege to the elect while the other extends it to all men. On this subject of Assurance Dr. Wardlaw had some time before preached some sermons in Edinburgh, which he had been earnestly solicited by numerous friends, through a written requi- sition, to print ; and finding that the two subjects touched each other, he determined to comply with this request by issuing his sermons in the form of an essay along with his strictures on the Views of Mr. Erskine. In the preparation of this work he was diligently occupied after his return from the south; and it appeared in March 1830 under the title " Two Essays: T. On the Assurance * Assurance (if Faith Vindicated, p. 56. 28G MEMOIRS OF Ull. WAUDLAW. of Faith ; II. On the Extent of the Atonement and Universal Pardon;" with the motto from Whateley, "A desire to have Scripture on our side is one thing ; and a sincere desire to be on the side of Scripture is another." The two Essays in this volume are of unequal length, and, as it appears to me, of unequal merit. The first is the longer, but in my humble judgment the less valuable of the two. It is diffuse, and to a considerable extent unsatisfactory. A consi- derable portion of it is taken up in advocating the doctrine that saving faith is simple belief of the testimony of God concerning his Son, as opposed to the view that it includes as a necessary element that trust in Christ to which the belief of the testimony naturally leads. With this doctrine I cannot concur, nor do I think it is one which the author has consistently adhered to throughout his Essay ; but it is not on this ground that I would take exception to the part of the essay which is devoted to it. That seems to me liable to a more serious objection, arising out of the irrelevancy of the whole discussion to the author's main theme. For, as respects the question of assurance, it matters nothing which of these views of the nature of faith we adopt ; in either case, the question as to the believer's knowledge that he himself is saved remains untouched. The real question, so far as faith is concerned in the discussion, is one on which Dr. Wardkaw has but slightly dwelt, viz., whether saving faith be an act of the mind terminating on something purely objective, be that Christ or only God's testimony concerning Christ, or an act having respect to the individual's own personal interest in Christ ? This latter view was that held by some of the reformers, especially of the Calvinistic side, and it has always been a view held more or less in the churches which followed Calvin. Calvin's own doctrine on the subject is, that " faith is a firm and certain cognition of the divine goodwill toward us which, founded on the truth of the gracious promise in Christ, is both revealed to our minds and sealed to our hearts by the Holy Spirit." * One of * Nunc justa fidei definitio nobis constabit si dicamus esse divinse erganos bene- volenti.'e iirmam certamque cognitionem, quae gratuitse in Christo promissionis veri- rtPINIONS ON FAITH. 287 Calvin's immediate followers, and an early luminary of the French church, Anthony Sadeel (Chandeu), has explicitly stated the view held by his party thus : — " True faith not only in the general believes the divine mysteries revealed by God, but also applies them to believers that they may lay hold of the benefit. For example : It is not enough that I should believe that Jesus Christ has come into the world, suffered death, risen from the dead and ascended to heaven ; for this, which is but an histo- rical faith, will not save me ; to knowledge must be added the assurance with which I believe that Jesus Christ came into the Avorld, died, rose, and ascended into heaven for me, seeing that thus he obtained salvation and eternal life for me." * The same doctrine was held with great distinctness and tenacity by the Dutch divines of the contra-remonstrant party in the beginning of the seventeenth century .f It is the doctrine also of the Augs- burg Confession,^ and of many Lutheran divines, though it may be questioned if Luther himself held it. § And it is a doctrine which, in the earlier ages of the Anglican church, was held and taught by many of its greatest lights. Now, from this view of faith, the doctrine of personal assurance is inseparable, for the two are in fact identical ; so that if this be what the Bible means by faith, every one who believes must know that he is among the saved. If any other view of faith be taken, personal assu- tate fundata, per Spiritum sanctum et revelatur mentibus nostris et cordibns oLsig- iiatiir. Instit. Christ. Eel. 1. iii. c. 2, § 7. * Nam vera fides non solum in genere credit m_ysteria divina a Deo revclata, sed ea qaoque adaptat fidelibus ut fructum percipiant. Exempli gratia : Non satis est si credam Jesum Christum venisse in mundum, mortem perpessum esse, resurrexisse, et in ccelnm ascendisse ; h?ec enim fides historica non me servabit. Sed cognitioni adjungenda est fiducia qua credam Jesum Christum venisse in mundum, mortuum esse, resurrexisse, et in ccelum ascendisse pro me, quatenus ita milii salutem et vitam a;ternam acquisivit. 0pp. Theol. p. 457. Conf. etiam, p. 399. •j- "Faith," say the authors of the Synopsis Purioris Theologiaa, "is a firm assent by which every believer, with a certain trust resting in God, is persuaded not only that remission of sins is in general promised to them who believe, but is granted to himself particularly, and eternal righteousness, and from it life by the mercy of God." Quoted by Barrow on the Creed, Serm. 4. + Nos prffiter illam fidem [quae in genei-e credit deum esse, poenas propositas esse impiis, &c.] requirimns ut credat sibi quisque remitti peccata. Apol. Conf. Augsb. p. 172. § See Appendix I. 288 JIEMOIKS OF DK. WARDLAW. ranee can be reached only as an inference from two premises, one of which, as resting on personal consciousness, must always be more or less hypothetical ; and so far as this is concerned, it is of no moment whether we suppose faith to be reliance on Christ, or only belief of God's testimony concerning Christ ; for in eith'er case, the evidence of personal assurance is of the same value. In order to refute this opinion, then, it is obviously the business of the polemic to show that faith is not that special belief in a man's own justification which some hold it to be, and out of which alone assurance could certainly spring. This done, it matters not to his further argument whether faith be looked on as simple credence, or as credence with assent, or as reliance. I cannot but think, therefore, that Dr. Wardlaw erred in occu- pying so much of his Essay with an inquiry, and resting so much of his argument on a conclusion which, whatever its intrinsic merits, had no direct bearing on the main theme of his discussion. The second of the two Essays in this volume — that on the Extent of the Atonement and Universal Pardon, appears to me not only much superior to its companion, but in all respects one of its author's ablest and most conclusive productions. The reasoning is close and to the point ; the sentiments advanced are evidently those of mature conviction and enlarged reflection ; the style is vigorous ; and the whole tone of the Essay is manly and masterly. The view which the author advocates as to the nature and extent of the Atonement is substantially the same with that advanced in his Discourses on the Socinian Contro- versy. He regards the atonement of Christ as in principle " a vindicatory manifestation of the righteousness of God, in order to the free and honourable exercise of his mercy." He rejects the view of those who place the essence of the atonement in the exact equivalence of the Saviour's sufferings with the punish- ment due to the sins of the elect, so that they are forgiven on the ground that their substitute actually suffered for them all (neither more nor less), that they had deserved to suffer. And he advocates the doctrine that the atonement was a remedy of universal sufficiency, but that its efficiency is limited by the EXTENT OF THE ATONEMENT. - 289 purpose of God in election ; there having been in the divine mind a double object in providing that scheme — on the one hand " an object pertaining to the general administration of his government as the moral Ruler of the world," and on the other " an object of a more special kind, belonging to the distribution of his favours as a sovereign benefactor." On the ground thus laid down, the author triumphantly vindicates " the uncondi- tional freeness of the gospel," not only without having recourse to the hypothesis of universal pardon, but whilst showing the weakness, incoherence, and unscripturality of such an hypothesis. I have often regretted in regard to this Essay that it had not been published separately, as I feel assured it would have obtained a much more extensive circulation than it had, and might in that case have prevented some crudities of theological discussion which at a later period agitated the public mind in Scotland, and had something to do in calling forth another publication from Dr. Wardlaw on the same subject. Before passing from the subject of this publication, I think it due to its author to insert the following extract from a letter addressed to him on occasion of it by one whose com- mendation it was worth any one's while to receive, and in the development of whose spiritual life it was an honour even for Dr. Wardlaw to have had such a share as is here gratefully acknowledged. The writer was the late Dr. M'All of Manchester. Manchester, May 13, 1830. My very dear Sir — Yesterday I had the hapi^iness to receive your kind and most welcome letter, and the accompanying present of your last publi- cation, to the appearance of which I had looked forward with no small inte- rest ever since I heard the announcement that it might shortly be expected from the press, and by the perusal of its greater portion have now been gratified, and I hope improved, In a measure such as I cannot adequately express. The subjects you have in this instance selected are scarcely more important than they are obscure and embarrassing, till subjected to such a process of examination as you have instituted, and I well remember the time when it would have been to myself of unspeakable advantage, and have relieved me from the presence of almost intolerable dilBculties, could I have met with such a treatise as that you have thus kindly sent me. That I have now experienced less direct relief, though not less delight, from its most luminous and convincing statements, is in great measure owing to yourself, and to the benefit I have derived in former cases both from your writings U 290 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. and your conversation, and from those habits of examination and of thought for which, however imperfectly they have been cultivated, I am sensible I am indebted, and that most extensively and permanently, to the influence you have in various ways exercised over me. I doubt not that these Essays will be productive of the most salutary eifects. They were loudly called for by the strange and melancholy perversions of Christian sentiment prevailing on every hand. You will not, I am persuaded, be without your reward for whatever labour or investigation they have cost you. Dr. Woods of America also wrote him iu commendation of this piibHcation as follows : — " I have read the American edition of your book in reply to Erskine, and think it perfectly satis- factory. I am particularly gratified with it as a fair sample of what I think controversy ought to be both as to argument and spirit." Not many weeks after the publication of these Essays, Dr. Wardlaw was summoned to discharge the duty of preaching the funeral sermon of one with whom he had long been associated in the ministry of the gospel, the late Rev. John Hercus of Greenock. Eor this eminently holy, devoted and useful minister of Christ all who knew him entertained feelings of the liveliest esteem, and none more so than Dr. Wardlaw, to whom frequent intercourse had given the best opportunity of observing his excellences and the real worth of his simple and unpretentious, but earnest, vigorous and genial character. In preaching his funeral sermon, consequently. Dr. Wardlaw took occasion to express strongly his sense of his excellence, and to delineate with some fulness the leading features of his life and character. The sermon was soon after published under the title " Christ's Care of his Ser- vants : A sermon preached in the Independent Chapel, Greenock, on Sabbath May 23, 1830, on occasion of the lamented death of the Rev. John Hercus. With an Appendix containing a brief Memoir." The text of the sermon is John xvii. 15, which is carefully elucidated and turned to important practical uses. The sketch of Mr. Hercus's character was recognised by all his friends as truthful, discriminating and affectionate. About the time at which we have now arrived considerable attention had been excited in both parts of the island to the claims of the Sabbath as a dav of religious rest. The discussions LECTURES AND ESSAYS. 291 ill Parliament respecting the duty of the Legislature to interfere for the due observance of that day had called forth several publications which were calculated, in the estimation of those who reverenced its sanctity, to do serious damage to the cause of religion if extensively read and followed. This called into the field many zealous and able defenders of Sabbath observance as a religious duty, and among others the ministers of Glasgow agreed to bring the subject before their respective congregations simultaneously. To Dr. Wardlaw this appeared a favourable opportunity of discussing the question of the Sabbath in all its length and breadth, and he accordingly determined to make it the subject of a course of Lectures, commencing on the day that had been agreed on by the ministers for their simultaneous appeal. For this duty he summoned up his utmost vigour and girded himself with his best armour. His course ran through nine Lectures, which were delivered on the evenings of the first Sabbath in each month. The interest excited b}" these lectures was very great ; the chapel was crowded to its utmost capacity with earnest and thoughtful hearers ; and there can be no doubt that many received much benefit from what they heard. At the conclusion of the course the lecturer, in compliance with the general desire of his auditors, resolved to prepare his dis- courses for the press. Whilst engaged in the delivery of these lectures Dr. Wardlaw furnished an Introductory Essay to Clark's Collection of Scrip- ture Promises, one of the volumes of Collins's Select Christian Authors. He also supplied an Litroductory Essay to an edition of Bishop liall's Contemplations on the Historical Passages of the Old and New Testaments, in 2 vols. 8vo, issued by Messrs. Blackie, Fullarton and Co., of Glasgow. Of these Essays the former is an elaborate ethical and theological dissertation, in which the author investigates the nature and moral obligation of a pro- mise, and illustrates the promises of Scripture in their history, their common principle, their variety and their certainty, whether as conditional or unconditional. The whole Essay is well worthy of perusal, though on the subject of moral obligation it contains 292 JIEMOIRS OF UR. WARDLAW. some views which the author saw reason afterwards to change. The Essay prefixed to Hall's Contemplations is principally occu- pied with a biographical sketch of the author and some critical remarks on the work itself, introduced by a series of admirable observations on the historical and biographical narratives of the Bible. The sketch of the worthy bishop is executed with ele- gance, and in a spirit of sincere appreciation of his piety and general excellence, though with a just discrimination and an honest exhibition of his infirmities and faults. Hitherto Dr. Wardlaw had been blest with the enjoyment of almost uninterrupted good health ; and, like most who are so favoured, he had somewhat forgotten that there are limits beyond which the powers of the most vigorous constitution cannot be safely taxed. Of his error in this particular he was painfully reminded in the spring of 1831, when he was for a season com- pletely prostrated, and his medical attendant saw it necessary to enjoin entire cessation from work until his system should have recovered its tone. This was to him a hard sentence, and one to which he was not very willing to submit. He tried to com- promise the matter by retiring for a little to Langside, the residence of an excellent lady and attached member of his church ; but his friendly and skilful physician was not to be so baffled. Convinced that Dr. Wardlaw's ailments proceeded •' from the sedentary nature of his occupations and from over-exertion both in his studies and in his more active duties," Dr. Anderson addressed a letter to the deacons of AVest George Street Church, in which, after stating this, and giving it as his opinion that no method of treatment was likely to be of permanent service to him unless he could be relieved entirely from his duties for a season, he formally requests them that they would "collectively endeavour to persuade him to relinquish for a time the whole of his ministerial duties." What steps the deacons took in consequence of this I have not been informed, but it does not appear that Dr. Wardlaw relin- quished his post for more than a brief interval, which he spent at Dunblane. Through divine mercy this relaxation was blessed for his restoration to health, and he returned to his duties in the SYMPTOMS OF ILLNESS. 293 course of the summer, though prudently abstaining from any work beyond what his immediate official responsibility imposed, and availing himself of occasional opportunities of relaxation before the toils of the winter commenced. On his reappearance amongst his flock a letter was addressed to him by his deacons, in which, after piously expressing their gratitude to God for his restoration, they proceed to counsel him as to the course which it would be prudent for him to follow in future. Among other things they say, " Having good reason to believe that your labours for a consi- derable time past were too great for you, we have to request, as we hereby do most earnestly, that you will give up your office of secretary to the Glasgow Auxiliary Bible Society, the two-monthly sermons, and every public service not immediately connected with your pastoral office. We would also," they add, " recommend your giving us occasionally some of your former discourses." The letter goes on to illustrate the benefits of bodily exercise for the student, and to suggest pastoral visitation as a pleasant and profitable way of taking that exercise — a suggestion so thoroughly laic, and dictated by such profound unacquaintedness with the nature and necessities of the student, that one cannot read it without a smile. The whole letter indeed is written in a quaint, old-fashioned style that is amusing ; but it bears throughout the marks of the most perfect sincerity, and of the warmest affection on the part of its authors towards the party to whom it is addressed. As soon as the state of his health permitted. Dr. Wardlaw resumed the preparation of his Discourses on the Sabbath for the press. He was enabled to pursue this work steadily through the succeeding autumn and part of the winter, so as to issue the work in the beginning of 1832. It appeared in a duodecimo form, and containing 295 pages, under the title of Discourses on the Sabbath. The number of discourses is nine ; of which the first four are devoted to the argumentative defence of the Sabbath as a divine institution of universal and permanent obligation, while the remaining five discuss various points of a ]»ractical nature relating to the proper observance of the Sabbath 294 MEMOIKS OF DR. WAKDLAW. and the best means of promoting this. The whole volume is most valuable, but the earlier part of it is that to which the chief importance must be attached. The reply to Paley in defence of the ante-Mosaic institution of the Sabbath is masterly and conclusive ; and not less so is the argument in the second discourse on the comprehensiveness, universality, and permanence of the Decalogue. But perhaps the part of the work in which the author has most put forth his strength is in the fourth dis- course, where he argues for direct New Testament authority for the change of the day from the seventh day of the week to the first, grounding his argument on Heb. iv. 9, 10, which he labours to prove refers not to the heavenly rest but to the keep- ing of a Sabbath on earth by the people of God under the (Jhristian dispensation, commemorative of Christ's having entered his rest and analogous to the Sabbath-keeping of the Israelites, in commemoration of the rest of Canaan, and to the primal Sabbath kept in commemoration of Jehovah's entering into rest after the work of creation. This view, which is also in sub- stance that adopted by John Owen, is defended by Dr. Wardlaw with great ingenuity ; but I question if the conclusion at Avliich he arrives will appear to others as certain as it appeared to him. The argument is too intricate to be entered on here. I content myself therefore with referring the reader to Dr. Wardlaw's own exposition of it ; persuaded that whether convinced by his reasonings or not, every intelligent reader will be gratified with the ability displayed in the discussion, and will admit that seldom has a perplexed question been more perspicuously and dexter- Dusly handled, or a dubious position more ingeniously and plausibly maintained. In the concluding discourse in this volume Dr. 'SVardlaw discusses the delicate and difficult question of the province of the civil magistrate in relation to the Sabbath. The position he assumes here is that as the Sabbath has a twofold aspect, a secular and a sacred, the legislature, though ]irecluded from enforcing its observance on the ground of the latter, may on the ground of the former enforce it so far as to prohibit all traftic. SABBATH LEGISLATION. 295 to secure from all unnecessary annoyance and interruption tliose who choose to devote the day to rehgious service, and to regulate the amusements of the people so far as to prevent all noisy and obtrusive modes of recreation. This part of the work appears to me not worthy of the rest; and betrays indications I think of having been written hastily or perhaps under the depressing influence of feeble health. The author's reasoning is singularly inconclusive. Obviously his premises are too narrow or his conclusions too wide ; for if the magistrate be restricted to the mere secular bearings of the Sabbath, that is, its advantages to the health of the community, he has clearly no right to make the infraction of it a crime to be repressed by penalties, and it is clearly a mere piece of tyranny to dictate to the people within what limits their amusements are to be kept, so long as they do no injury to person or property. And with regard to the protection of those who choose to sj^end the day in religious exercises, that applies to all days as well as Sunday, for every society which meets peaceably for lawful purposes is entitled to the protection of law on whatever day they may choose to assemble. Nothing seems more certain than that if you abstract from the sacred, that is the religiously imperative, character of the Sabbath, you must place it legislatively on the same level with any other civil holiday ; and in that case all that the legis- lature can do is to name the day for a holiday, leaving the community to observe it as sucli or not if they please, and to spend it in any recreations that shall be most agreeable to them. When the magistrate, professing to stand on purely secular ground, attempts to do more — attempts to do as much as Dr. Wardlaw says in this discourse he ought to do — no wonder that the people should become rebellious. Their common sense tells them that his reasoning is unsound — that his premises do not legitimate his conclusion, and therefore they cry out against his interference as unjust and tyrannous. If the cricket club of parish K shall see meet to challenge the cricket club of parish Z to a match next Sunday that shall decide in the face of all Eng- land the comparative merits of these illustrious rivals, or if John 296 MEMOIRS OF DK. WARDLAW. ►Stubbs thinks nothing so refreshing after a hard week's work as a game at bowls or skittles on the Sunday, or if the grocer's wife, with her marriageable but not married daughters, thinks there is nothing on earth so pleasant as a Sunday visit to Greenwich or Yauxhall, is it not most unreasonable in the legislature to step in and say, "It is true w^e appointed this day to be observed purely on secular grounds, as a day of relaxation and recreation ; but nevertheless we cannot allow you to amuse yourselves on this day as you may on other days, and therefore all such noisy and obtrusive amusements as these must be prohibited?" This sort of legislation plainly will never do. Either the magistrate must not meddle with Sabbath observance at all, or he must take his stand on the religious character of the day ; and just as he forbids polygamy, or the marrying of one's sister, or the holding of slaves, or perjury, or many things besides, on the ground that God has denoimced them, he must forbid, under such penalties as he shall see meet, all open violation by traffic or amusement of a day which God has said shall be kept as a day of rest for man and for beast. When the legislator takes his ground on this principle he will have the conscience of the nation on his side, and if his enactments be wise and just he will find public feeling support him ; but if otherwise he is only likely to produce confusion and riot by his interference. With these convictions I cannot but regret that Dr. Wardlaw should have lent the sanction of his high authority to a doctrine which, it' acted upon by our legislature and embraced by the community, would soon deprive us of all the blessings of the Sabbath as a day of religious rest 29< CHAPTER XIL A. D. 1830— A. D. 1833. AViTii the year 1830 the nation entered upon a period of much pubUc excitement and controversy. The repeal of the test and corporation Acts led on the question of reform in the representation of the people in Parliament ; and as the success of the popular party in the state became more conspicuous, many abuses which had hitherto been only theoretically assailed but which the leaders of that party stood pledged to oppose, were dragged to the bar of public discussion and censure. In the exciting controversies of the time it was impossible for Dr. Wardlaw not to feel deeply interested ; but he took no active part in the agitation of political questions except when they appeared to him to involve considerations of ethical or religious moment. His sympathies, however, were with the liberal party in their leading measures. Educated in the principles of Tory- ism, the only principles which in his youthful days it was thought in the northern part of the island befitting a gentleman to profess, he gradually, after he had arrived at manhood, dropt these earlier convictions and adopted the doctrines of the opposite party in the state. He thus became and continued a stedfast Whig, and almost the only occasions on which he took any part in political matters were in support of measures in which that party took the lead. Of the laurels reaped by the Whig party, not the least bright and enduring are those earned by their efforts for the abolition of the slave-trade and of slavery. In their efforts for these objects they had the entire sympathy and hearty co-opera- 298 MEMOIRS OF DR. AVAUDLAW. tioii of Dr. Ward law, than whom the Anti-slaver}^ cause had no more zealous, fervent, consistent and persevering friend. Dr. Wardlaw began to move in this cause as early as the year 1823, when he was present at the formation of the Glasgow Anti-slavery Society ; and from that time forward his advocacy was never wanting when required on its behalf. In a place where the West Indian interest, as it was called, was so powerful as it was in Glasgow, such a course could not be followed without exposing the individual to much odium, and involving him in unpleasant altercation. Of this Dr. Wardlaw had his full share, and what rendered his position peculiarly painful was that some of his own relatives were connected with the West Indies, and took his advocacy of the cause of the slaves very much amiss as a personal assault and wrong. With unabated firmness, however, he held on the course he had adopted, mildly seeking to conciliate the prejudices of those who were opposed to him, but manfully following out his own convictions, and suffering no occasion to pass of testifying against the sin and cruelty of the system he sought to see abolished. Like most others in this country Dr. Wardlaw was, up to the year 1830, in favour of the gradual as opposed to the imme- diate emancipation of the slaves. I\Iore extended information, however, and a closer survey of the question in all its bearings had operated in him the same change of opinion on this point which had already taken place with most of the leading minds on the Anti-slavery side ; and accordingly, when the late Dr. Andrew Thomson of Edinburgh, in his never-to-be forgotten speech at the meeting of the Edinburgh Anti-slavery Society in October 1830, boldly proclaimed that henceforth their demand must be for immediate and total emancipation, no man more readily and heartily re-echoed the sentiment than Dr. Wardlaw. At a meeting held in Glasgow on the 11th of November of the same year, he moved a series of resolutions in which slavery was condemned as an evil admitting of no effectual palliation, and demanding entire and immediate extirpation as its only cure. These resolutions he supported in a speech of consider- ANTl-SLAYERY MOVEMENT. 299 able length and of great power, in the course of which he was frequently interrupted by the loud applause of the audience. Unhappily no copy or correct report of this speech remains ; but from the report of it in the Glasgow C-hronicle, though very imperfect and frequently obviously incorrect, we can gather enough to satisfy us of its thorough-going character. " We must strike at the root of the evil," he exclaimed ; " it is not the pruning or lopping off of branches that will effect our purpose ; we must aim at the extirpation not only of West and East Indian slavery but of slavery wherever it exists, till there is no longer a slave on the earth or a man to be found who has property in his feUow-man." " No amelioration short of abolition would be satis- factory. Slavery must be totally extinguished. This foul blot must be wiped from the national character. ^Vho does not exult with delight that we have no slaves at home — why, then, have them abroad?" He concluded by saying, "If I had yielded to the influence of friendship I shoidd not have appeared here this day ; and I know the cost of my attendance in the coldness, distance and alienation which I shall experience from some whose friendship I prize. But I felt the call of duty to be higher than that of friendship, and 1 dare not keep back. There are two things of higher importance than [the pleasures of earthly friendship] an approving conscience and an approving God." The penalty which Dr. Wardlaw had thus prepared himself to pay for his advocacy of the rights of the slave was exacted from him to the uttermost farthing, and that without delay. Many who had been hitherto on terms of friendly intercourse with him entirely withdrew from him ; some even of his regular hearers ceased to attend on his ministry ; and alienation on the part of some connected with him by the ties of blood added a still severer pang to the trials he had to endure. He became indeed for a time the mark against which the West Indian party in Scotland shot their most envenomed arrows : and had he not been clothed in the panoply of an unblemished character thev would have taken fatal revenge on him for the offence he 300 I\[EM01RS OF DR. WARDLAW. had given them. As it was his spirit was vexed, his time and energies taxed, and his feehngs continually wounded by the incessant attacks, epistolary and in newspapers, made upon him, and the necessity of replying to these. At one point too it seemed as if his assailants had found him vulnerable. Was he not himself at one time a holder of West Indian property includ- ing slaves? and was he not now reaping the advantages of having sold that property before the efforts of the party he had now joined had so far depreciated the value of such property that such advantageous sales of it could no longer be effected? Here was a rope round the neck of this anti-slavery champion such as must needs stifle him and silence for ever his anti- slavery harangues ! Great was the exultation of the " West Indian interest" at this discovery, and huge the noise they made over it ; not without some effect upon the minds of those who were ignorant of the facts of the case ; but without occasioning on the part of Dr. Wardlaw a momentary pause or falter in the course he had resolved to pursue. The facts of the case on which this ridiculous charge was founded were simply the following : — j\Irs. Wardlaw, the Doctor's mother, had a brother, Ralph Fisher, who was a merchant at Kingston in Jamaica, and who at his death bequeathed, among a number of legacies to other relations, one of £1000 to his nephew and namesake, along with an equal share with his brothers of some other sums left to Mrs. Wardlaw's family. Mr. Fisher died while his nephews were mere boys, and in 1798 a deed was executed between Mr. Walter Ewing Maclae of Cath- kin, as representing his son the late Mr. Humphrey Ewing (afterwards Maclae), then a merchant in Kingston, on the one side, and sundry parties interested in Mr. Fisher's will on the other, among whom was Mr. Wardlaw as representing his sons, who were minors ; the design of which was to authorise and empower Mr. Humphrey Ewing to take possession of Mr. Fisher's estate on securing payment of the different legacies to the parties in terms of Mr. Fisher's will. This deed Dr. Wardlaw along with his father and brothers signed. And some years after, FAMILY TRIALS, 301 when he became of age, he found himself in possession of a sum of nearly £1400 as a legacy from his maternal uncle. This was the whole of his connection with Jamaica. His holding of slaves and selling them and pocketing the money was a pure fabrication. His uncle left him a certain sum ; and his cousin Mr. Humphrey Ewing paid it to him when due. Beyond that he knew nothing and was responsible for nothing. The trials which came upon Dr. Wardlaw for his exertions in opposition to slavery were the more difficult to bear from the infirm state of his own health and the affliction of several members of his family. One of his sons had to sufter amputation of the foot ; and this he describes as a " veiy painful trial." Mrs. Wardlaw's health also was such as to occasion him much uneasiness ; and though the iUness from which he had recently suffered seemed to have been removed and his general health was good, symptoms of a new kind had begun to show themselves tliat occasioned much uneasiness to his friends on his account. Still he continued stedfastly at his post so long as he possibly could, imposing upon himself even the additional labour of re- composing a whole department of his Theological Lectures for the Academy ; nor was it until medical advice positively pro- hibited the continuance of his exertions that he sought even a temporary relaxation. The symptoms which had begun to manifest themselves were indicative of some organic disorder, and, though supposed at the time to be connected with some abnormal state or action of the heart, were doubtless only the initiatory manifestations of the disorder which ultimately ter- minated his life. These various trials told little on his spirits, and in but a slight degree retarded his exertions ; but they left their trace on his outward appearance. I remember meeting him in 1831, after having been some time without seeing him, and being struck with the appearance of age that had crept over his features. He had lost the greater part of his hair, his face had become sharper in its angles, and a general pallor overspread his countenance which betokened anxiety or suffering. To those who did not know him he passed now for a much older man 802 MEMOIES OF DR. WARDLAW. than he really was. An instance of this he was himseU" in the habit of relating with great amusement. He thus mentions it in a letter to his son-in-law Mr. Reid dated 28th February 1832. " There Avas a good man in Arran, when I was there with Dr. Paterson in September [1831] who asked him in my absence for ' the auld faither,' and guessed my age at ' about fourscore ! ' I happened to want a front tooth at the time which contributed to the venerable antiquity of my appearance. "We had the benefit of a hearty laugh; and 'the auld faither' has been one of my designations since." To this may be appropriately appended the following notice : — " In 1831 or 1832, I am not certain wdiich, Dr. Wardlaw and Dr. Paterson visited the Highlands of Perthshire for the benefit of Dr. "Wardlaw's health. Being at the time tutor to a young gentleman in that country, I had the means of procuring for the tw^o doctors the use of a boat on a Highland loch, and there was spent my first day in Dr. Wardlaw's company. The two venerables (for though not very old at that time, in my eyes they were very venerable) used the rod and line while their youthful companion rowed the boat. With a bright sky over- head, and rock and heather all around, we spent one of the most health-inspiring days that can be enjoyed even amid the mountains of Scotland. The scene is now before me, and will be one of the last to vanish from my mind. The kindliness and geniality of both my honoured associates were in full play, and if they did little to win the regards of the merry fish that sported around us, to me they were invaluable as the foundation of that at-homeness which I ever after felt in the company of both Dr. W^ardlaw and Dr. Paterson." * It will be remembered that the year 1832 was that in which Scotland was first visited by the scourge of the cholera. During this visitation Glasgow suffered severely ; and the novelty as well as fatality of the disease contributed to keep the minds of all in a state of much excitement, and to awaken much serious * Reminiscences of Dr. Wardlaw by Rev. John Kennedy of Stepney. VARIOUS SERVICES. 303 feeling in the bosoms even of the most careless. A national fast having been appointed on account of this visitation to be held on the 22d of March, Dr. Wardlaw made it the occasion of preaching a sermon on the Agency of God in Human Cala- mities, from Amos iii. 6, in which he vindicated the divine agency as opposed to the atheistic notion of chance, the superstitious creations of idolatry, and the rationalistic exaltation of second causes to the place due only to the great first cause. This sermon was not published ; but a report of it appeared in the Scottish Pulpit for Saturday, March 31, 1832. In the following month Dr. Wardlaw again spent some weeks at Dunblane. In May he attended the annual meeting of the Scottish Congregational Union at Edinburgh, where he preached one of the sermons, the other being preached by the late Mr. Francis Dick. Both were afterwards published. Dr. Wardlaw's is entitled " The Voice of the Spirit to the Churches," and is founded on Rev. iii. 21. From this he takes occasion to extract from all the seven Apocalyptic epistles the leading practical lessons they were originally, and still are, designed to convey. The discourse is a valuable one both for the elucidation of Scripture truth which it contains and for the vein of practical admonition and suggestion by which it is pervaded. Having engaged to preach at the missionary anniversary at Hull and at Nottingham, Dr. Wardlaw took advantage of the opportunity to spend some time in the south, and to make some collections in aid of the Congregational Union, the funds of which were at this time inadequate to meet the demand upon them. He was absent on this journey during the months of June and July. The letters I am about to subjoin will supply all needful details respecting this journey. I may only add here that the sum he brought back for the benefit of the Union was, after all expenses w^ere paid, £318 : 18 : 6 — a seasonable and welcome donation which by clearing off the encumbrances then burdening that society enabled it to enter upon a course of fresh activit37-, so that it has never since required to call in the aid of the churches in the south. 304 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. The preceding statements will receive further illustrations from the following extracts from Dr. Wardlaw's letters at this time. To THE Rev. Dr. H. F. Burder. Glasgow, April ]8th, 1832. My ever dear Friend — Dear, that is, whether I answer your letters at short or at distant intervals, or even if I should not answer them at all — did you ever in all your life fall in with such a perfect model of consistency ? — consistency which has now proved itself so peremptory, that even the admirable Irish conclusion of your last most kind epistle has failed of moving it to any aberration from its long-established course. I was delighted with that conclusion. It was singularly happy. You would for once " refrain from asking viQ to write, and try what eifect this would have." Whether was this meant as an appeal to any little remains of shame you thought might still be lingering about the precincts of your friend's heart, whose "inge- nuous blushes" might not yet have been utterly " quenched," or to that frac- tious and capricious spirit of " contradiction for its own dear sake," of which your long and intimate knowledge of him had furnished you with so many experimental proofs 1 To which of these principles soever the appeal was intended, alas for its success ! Here am I writing you as usual after a long interval, just as if you had asked me to write immediately ! So that this last ingenious device having failed, you have heaved a forlorn sigh, and given me up as a "bad job." Well, well — " For a' that, an' a' that," as the Scotch song goes, you cannot hinder me from bearing towards you an unabated, and (as far as my optics can penetrate futurity) an interminable attachment ; and you cannot even prevent me now and then forcing the assurance of it upon you ; for you will not just yet refuse my letters when the post presents them ; and when you do read my assurances you will not — no, you will not, even for a long time to come, lay them aside with an " Incredulus odi." I was delighted to hear from you, my beloved friend. June 1st. — Thus far had I got six weeks ago! when I was interrupted ; and since that time I have been in Edinburgh, Dunblane, &c., partly by myself and partly with my family, partly on official engagements and partly for recreation and health. The official engagements were in Edinburgh, where I had to preach at the Annual Meeting of the Congregational Union, and to take my part in the various business of that occasion. The meetings should this year have been in Glasgow ; but the uncertainty of the removal of the cholera from our city in sufficient time gave rise to the change of place. At Dunblane some of my family were in need of a little bracing, one of them being just in course of recovering strength from a smart though short fever, and others not very stout. I have allowed the former part of this letter to stand as it was, to give you ocular demonstration that at that date I had actually begun to write to you. I really, after all I can say in the way of joke, am heartily ashamed of my incessant delinquencies. Do forgive them, and credit my word in opposition to my actions. This is not the usual principle of judgment, I am aware, nor is it exactly the doctrine I inculcate from the pulpit. But I insist upon an exception in. this instance in my own behalf; and if you like the ordinary rule, you should like to have an exception to it you know, on the principle that exceptio /nna^ regulam. CORRESPONDENCE. 305 I have been of late annoyed with a complaint in my chest, the symptoms of which are not at present serious, but which will require care and caution to prevent its degenerating into anything worse. When I have mentioned this, it may surprise you when I add that I am not without hopes of being able very soon to tell my beloved friend all about it in propria persona. I engaged some time ago to attend the missionary anniversaries of Hull and Nottingham, the former on the 10th and the latter on the 17th of this month. Understanding that I was going to the south, the brethren inter- ested in the objects of the Congregational Union thought of requesting me to proceed to London and try to raise a little supply for its funds, which, although very creditable on the whole, are yet greatly short of what could be profitably expended in itinerancies in the destitute parts of Scotland. The proposal came late, and I am as yet in a state of uncertainty about its being carried into eflFect. It will doubly gratify me if it should, by enabling me to serve a good cause, and giving me at the same time the pleasure of taking by the hand and to my heart, friends whom I love. I have likewise the additional pleasure this time of being accompanied by my dear wife, whom it will delight greatly, to renew an old intimacy with one of her special favourites. We leave home on Monday. The complaints of a bodily nature of which I have been the subject remind me of the coming close of my time of service here. I have been occa- sionally led to look closely on eternity ; and I have felt the clinging to wife and family more powerful than I had conceived, or than I fear it ought to be, were my mind sufficiently spiritual and my heart more in heaven. There are various services too which I should wish to render to the cause of Christ before the close, which 1 fanci/ might be of some use. But of this He is the best judge, and many a time He seems to act as if he meant to show us how vain are our principles of calculation. 0 for grace so to serve him as that we may be ready to give our account with joy ! 0 my friend, when I muse on the Holy Majesty of the Being with whom I have to do, I feel an awful shrinking — how can it be that so worthless a creature should find a place in his presence, to dwell in the light of his ineffable purity ! I am ojypressed with the thought. 0 what would become of me, but for rich, and sovereign, and infinitely condescending grace ! 0 that, " having preached to others I may not myself prove a cast-away ! " Pray for me — for your ever fondly attached friend. To Mrs, Dewar. Glasgow, April 19th, 1832. That awful malady the cholera still lingers with us, decreasing on the whole, but fluctuating ; and in one or two villages in our neighbourhood very fatal. From Musselburgh, it will please you to learn, we have heard of very favourable results in regard to general impression and special spiri- tual conversion having arisen from it. Should svich be the consequence everywhere, it may ultimately prove a blessing both to individuals and to the community. 0 that in the way of his judgments we and others may learn to wait upon the Lord ; that the desire of our hearts may be to his name and to the remembrance of him. What a farrago of strange doctrines is at present in circulation and dis- cussion. Men seem to be set on the qui vive to catch at everything that is X 306 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. novel and extravagant. And what a degradation to the divine dignity of the Spirit of the living God to have his name associated with the miserable ravings that are passing under the designation of " the tongues." Truly, if supernatural gifts are ever again to be bestowed upon the Church of God, we may be assured it will be in some less questionable shape than any in Avhich they have yet been presented to the public by our modern miracle- mongers. Excuse my using terms that sound disrespectfully. I cannot treat these pretensions in any other way, except indeed when I think of the mischievous nature of the general impression they are fitted to have on the minds of an infidel and ungodly world. Let but one of the so-called tongues be authenticated, as all were that were spoken on the day of Pentecost, and then we may be warranted to pay them some attention. Till then, it is all " leather and prunella," good for nothing, serving no end but to expose miracles themselves and all religion to scorn. As to some of the doctrinal errors that are abroad, I cannot think of them but with a heart weighed down and "pierced through with many sorrows," and of these chiefly that which affirms, with an absurdity and self contradiction, such as it would be no difficult matter to expose would the horror of its awfuiness allow one sufficient composure for arguing the point, that He who united in his person the natures of God and man had in union with Deity a carnal mind at enmity with God ! for to this much it must come if it comes to anything at all. The explanations which some have given of it bring it to nothing at all, while the statements of others have been such as to fill my whole soul with agony and with amazement at the incomprehensible constitution of those minds that could associate such ideas together for a moment. The following letters were written whilst in the south, or in reference to his journey after his return home. To Miss Agnes Waedlaw. Peckham Rye, July 14th, 1832. My dearest Girl — I think you will be gratified by receiving a letter to yourself from a papa whom you so fondly love, and to whom the assurance of his children's aiFection is one of the principal zests of his earthly life. I trust my beloved child will never forget, amidst the pleasure which she derives from the fondness of her earthly parents, that there is a Father to whom the devoted attachment of her heart is, by an infinitely higher obli- gation, due. Your heart must be God's, my dear Agnes — God's supremely, and your papa's and mamma's subordinately. However high the value they attach to a place in their children's hearts for themselves, it would be a sad drawback on the happiness this was fitted to inspire, were the attachment such as to exclude God. He, my love, must have the throne. Be will occupy no inferior place. He is entitled to it ; and it would be a presump- tuous insult to him to offer him another. Your earthly parents must have only the next place to him ; and it will be the chief joy of their lives to see their children enthroning God in their hearts, while they give them the second seat — the first among the objects of their natural affections in this world. Yes, dearest child, I can say with sincerity, both for your mamma and myself — " We have no greater joy than to see our children walking in truth." It has always been a source of delight to us to witness any of those CnRRESPONDENCE. 307 early symptoms of tenderness of heart towards God and divine things which have presented to their minds the pleasing hope of the dear objects of their parental love " living to the Lord" while here, and being found of his in the day when He " maketh up his jewels." The thought of even the possibility of any one of them being amissing amongst these divinely purchased and divinely preciovis jewels, is a thought of agony. Take you your place, beloved child, where Mary sat — at the Saviour's feet, to receive his instruc- tions, that he may say the same thing of you that he said of her, " Mary hath chosen that good part which shall never be taken from her." It is not what will recommend you in the world that should be prized by you, but what will recommend you to Iliiu who has said, " I love them that love me, and they that seek me early shall find me." You are just at that period of life, my child, when the vanities of the world are in danger of laying hold of your heart, and the wicked one avails himself of the tendency. Beware of them. Whenever you feel the rising in your heart of any emotions of vanity, recollect that whatever it is which produces it, t/ou have from Ood, and that God is entitled to the first use of all his own gifts. Your voice, for example, who gave it yovi ] Who tuned it ? Was it yourself, or was it He 1 In whose praise, then, should it be used ? If it has more in it of the sweetness of the nightingale than the scream of the peacock, be thankful, but do not be vain. While I delight to hear you sing your " Pretty Moth," you must not forget the lesson which the little song teaches. But I am for- getting myself. You will not understand me, my sweet child, as reproving, but as cautioning ; and you know the spirit in which a father's counsel is given. I had no idea, when I sat down to write, of what was to come. Through the " kind hand of our God upon us," we have hitherto been preserved ; and I trust that in due time we shall find you all in that state of well-being in which parents wish to find children so very dear to them. It will gratify you all to hear that Dr. Lawrie has arrived two or three days ago from India, and has brought the most pleasing and satisfactory accounts of dear John and Marianne and their little boy. Not expecting to find us here, he had brought from Portsmouth only his letters and packages for the Reids, leaving ours there. He will be down to Scotland much about the same time with ourselves. — Your own fond papa, Ralph Wardlaw. To Miss Wardlaw. Armitage, July 28th, 1832. My beloved girl will see from the above date where we now are. We came to our friends here, having previously advertised them of our intention, on Thursday evening ; and we set out for Nottingham in about two hours from the time of my writing, which is half-past ten. I have said v:e. But whom do you think this we includes 1 It will delight you to learn that we carry your dear friend Mary with us. I had mentioned in my letter our wish that she should accompany us, and the decision being left to herself she jumped at the proposal, as you can readily fancy, like King Jemmie's " cock at a grozart." So you will be pleased to have every thing in readiness by the end of next week, for her comfortable reception as well as ours. Your mamma and I came from Poole to Bath on Monday. We called on Mr. Jay, but missed him. We met him, however, on his way home from meeting. He was exceedingly glad to see us, and as kind as possible. Next 308 MEMOIRS OF UR. WARDLAW. morning he was at the coach door as we passed his house, to hand in a little basket of fruit, covered with a paper, and inscribed to " Dr. and Mrs. Ward- law — planted, gathered, and presented by Wm. Jay." This was one of those little matters of which the value lies, not in themselves, but in the state of mind of which they are the expression. This imparts to even a few cherries and gooseberries an adventitious value. Early gathered and personally pre- sented, they testified that friendship which, in all its forms, is the great sweetener of life, and the failures of which are among its bitterest ingredients. And if the friendly regards of fellow-creatures serve so much to enrich the sweets, and to sweeten the bitters of life, how much more the friendship of Him whose love never fails — who, whatever may be the various aspects which his providential dealings present, is himself " the same yesterday, to- day, and for ever" — "resting in his love," and "making all things to work together for good " to those who are its happy objects — to whom, in infinite condescension and grace, he hath said — " I have called you Friends." 0 may we, my dearest child, be amongst the blessed ones to whom this desig- nation truly belongs. Then all will be well. All our crosses will, under his kind, and wise, and mighty control, contribute to our ultimate happi- ness, in working out for us the great purposes of his mercy. But I must forbear. From Nottingham we proceed on Monday to Sheffield, and on Tuesday from Sheffield to Manchester, and thence, either by land or by sea, as the weather and other considerations may direct, for Glasgow. We cannot be with you before Saturday. If Gilbert"*^ is still in Glasgow, and able to offi- ciate, I hope he will take either one or two parts of the services of the fol- lowing day. If he is gone, some other arrangement must be made. I continue remarkably well, and your mamma continues to enjoy health, and to gain strength. Blessed be the God of all our mercies ! Looking forward to the near prospect of seeing you " face to face," and, as it is in the original, " mouth to mouth." I remain, &c. Ralph Wardlaw. To Miss Reid, Peckham Rye. Glasgow, August 6th, 1832. My very dear Friend — I should have written a few lines from Notting- ham, but as we only reached that place on the Saturday evening, and, after my preaching twice for Mr. Gilbert's chapel on Lord's day, left it on the Monday morning, it was out of my power, and when we were drawing nearer to the end of our journeyings, I began to think it would be preferable to defer writing altogether, until I could tell you of our having reached our home in safety. This is now, through divine goodness, happily the case, as we arrived here on Saturday evening between seven and eight o'clock; and you will be gratified to learn, found all the members of our beloved family in wonted health and comfort. " Bless the Lord, 0 my soul." We have great cause for thankfulness for the merciful preserving care that has attended us in all our movements from place to place, and has shielded us from all external accident and harm, as well as preserved us in the enjoy- ment of a comfortable measure of health. I have reason to speak thus, for * The Kev. Gilbert Wardlaw, Professor of Theology at Blackburn Academy. CORRESPONDENCE. 309 my beloved partner improved in vigour on our journey, and with regard to myself, although not free of the tendencies in my chest which had annoyed me, my general health was good, and such as allowed of my enjoying the varieties of such a journey with cheerfulness, and of fulfilling such duties as devolved upon me by the way, without injury, at least without any such injury as made me at the time sensible of its existence. If in any degree I have suflered, it must have been insensibly, which is not impossible, but which, I know well, you and all our dear Peckham friends will join in wishing, hoping, and praying, may not prove to have been the case. I preached in the afternoon of yesterday, happy in being restored to my people, and I have every reason to believe, making them happy in the sight and hearing again of their pastor. In the evening I applied a few leeches, as a precautionary measure, in much the same circumstances as at Peckham Rye. I fondly trust that by the divine blessing upon care and such means as may be employed, I may be able to throw off the tendencies in question and to resume my studies and labours in due time in their full extent. 0 ! it is a short time even at the longest that one has to serve such a master ! — a master so worthy of the unreserved devotion of soul and body, to whom I lie under obligations so incalculable, and whom it distresses me to think of having hitherto served so unworthily, amidst failures so numberless, and provocations so aggravated, that the very thought of appearing before him to give in my account (I write it with the tears of deep emotion), is quite appalling to my spirit. 0 my blessed Lord ! thou hast indeed much to pardon, and little to commend. Even my best services have too often, in their motives and principles, been of a mixed and dubious character. My only hope is in the " multitude of thy mercies." 0 " cast me not away from thy presence." Having, after parting from your beloved father and Fred, reached South- ampton in the afternoon, we had to stop there for the night, and proceed to Poole on the following morning. At Southampton we saw Mr. Adkins, who has been ill ever since his return last year from Scotland, and who still looks very unhealthy, but who seems in a state of begun convalescence. We found Mr. Durant and other Poole friends well, and having been prevented by the absence of the friends at Christ's Church, and other causes from going there, we staid at Poole till Monday morning. On Monday we reached Salisbury in time to get a view of the cathedral, and before proceeding by the coach to Bath. We stopped two nights at Birmingham, and two at Mr. Birch's, Armitage ; and on Saturday, taking Anna's friend Miss B. Avith us on a visit here, proceeded to Nottingham ; thence on Monday to Sheffield ; on Wednesday morning to Manchester ; on Friday from Manchester to Carlisle ; and on Saturday, from Carlisle home. We missed Mr. Smith at Sheffield, who had gone to Wales for a recreative trip. Mr. M'All of Man- chester we found considerably better and able to officiate again. I am sorry to say that for eight or ten days the cholera here has been worse than ever. Last night's report was somewhat more favourable. 0 for grace to leave all our lives and interests in divine hands. — Yours most affectionately, Ralph Wardlaw. 310 MEMOIRS OF Dl{. WAKDLAW, To THE Rev. D. S. Wayland. Glasgow, November 14, 1832. My dear Friend — ......... I laave the pleasure of informing you that my health has been decidedly improved siuce I was with you — I mean not so much my general health (which was never much impaired) as the particular symptoms of chest dis- order with which I was annoyed. These are greatly abated — I may say almost gone ; so that, after having for a time taken only one service on the Lord's Day I recently resumed my usual amount of labour. I regret to say, however, and I know I shall enjoy your tender sympathy, when I mention that within the last eight or ten days my dear wife has been very poorly. Every thing is doing well, however, in the course of medical treatment she is undergoing ; and I fondly trust that all may soon again be well. Pray for us, that so it may please our heavenly father, and that all the corrective strokes of his gracious hand may be richly sanctified ! I received your volume of Sermons some little time ago. I have been greatly pleased with them, both as to matter and manner. I like them for their clearness of evangelical sentiment, their affectionate faithfulness, their discrimination of character, their closeness of practical appeal, as well as their chasteness of taste and correctness and elegance of style. I write what I really feel ; and I am sure you know me too well to suspect my sincerity. I hope you will be pleased with the different articles in the parcel accom- panying this — inscribed to yourself, to Mrs. W., and to your young folks. I aia beginning to prepare for a series of Lectures, which are proposed to be delivered in London in the month of April, as the first in a series (on a similar footing with the Bampton and others of like nature) instituted by the Committee of the Congregational Union and Library in the metropolis. I have the choice of my own subject ; and intend them to be chiefly on the origin and rule of moral obligation, &c. It is in this way possible, if it shall please God to spare me, that I may see you en passant, either on my way to or from London. May the Great Head of the Church crown your ministerial labours with all encouraging success ! 0 for grace to be more and more faithful to the honour of the Saviour and the interests of the souls of men. It is a most cheering assurance in the prosecution of one's ministry to have the assurance of the God of faithfulness and truth, that his word shall not return to him void ! Let us look with greater simplicity of dependence and firmness of confidence to Him who hath said, "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit ; " and he will give us to experience the truth of another of his say- ings, " Him that honoureth me I will honour ! " The statement towards the conclusion of this letter Jndicates what formed Dr. Wardlaw's principal occupation, next to his olHcial duties, for the ensuing winter and spring. The Congre- gational Lecture had just been founded through the liberality of a few individuals, who were anxious to assist in this way in drawing out the learning and talents of Congregational ministers CONGREGATIONAL LEOTUKE. 311 and professors in the discussion of questions of a nature not likely to be introduced into the pulpit, or in which the general public were not sufficiently interested to procure for an elaborate discussion of them through the press a remunerating sale. Having resolved to found such a Lecture, the parties engaged in the proposal were extremely anxious that a good beginning should be made, and with this desire they, with one consent, turned their eyes on Dr. Wardlaw as the man of all others most likel}?^ to inaugurate their scheme with eclat. After some hesi- tation he acceded to their request, and on his return from his visit to the south, gave himself to the preparation of such a course as should accord with the proposed design. The subject he selected was the all-important one of moral obligation. As first announced, the theme of his course stood as follows : — " The Foundation and Rule of Moral Obligation ; or Systems of Philosophical Morality tried by Christian Principles, and espe- cially by the Doctrine of Revelation respecting the Present State and Character of Human Nature ; with an Examination of the True Principles of Morals and the Peculiar Motives by which Christianity enforces them." This he subsequently exchanged for the shorter and pithier but less accurate title of *' Cluistian Ethics" — a title which is objectionable on the ground that it applies rather to the system of morals sanctioned by Christianity than to a testing of theories of moral obligation by the dictates of Revelation. With a subject of such importance in hand, it would have been well could Dr. Wardlaw have secured a season of uninter- rupted quiet for the meditation and composition of his Lectures. That, however, in the midst of the many demands made neces- sarily upon his time and energies in such a city as Glasgow, would have been impossible at any time ; how much more at a time when a torrent of controversy had burst upon the .com- munity which was agitating the minds of all men, even to those least interested in questions of a rehgious nature ! Never, per- haps, had such a season of debate and question been known before in Scotland. On every hand discussions — keen, acute, 312 MEMOIRS OF DE. WARDLAW. sometimes violent, always earnest, prevailed. The Apocrypha controversy had not yet quite raged itself to sleep. The con- troversy about assurance and universal pardon was still going forward. The controversy about the humanity of Christ, about miracles and gifts of tongues, was at its height. The anti-slavery controversy was becoming every day more vehement and absorb- ing. And in the midst of this already crowded arena a new controversy suddenly arose, more intense and bitter than any of the others — one which out-lived all the others, and which has left its mark on the framework of Scottish society too deeply to be soon obliterated. I refer to the Voluntary controversy which sprang up in 1830, and in which Dr. Wardlaw took so prominent a part for many years. It would be irrelevant to the design of this work, were I to trace with an}^ gi'eat minuteness the history of this famous strife. A few remarks, however, on the subject of dispute, as well as a few statements regarding the circumstances which gave rise to the controversy, appear to me to be demanded in order to a just apprehension of Dr. Wardlaw's position and course in relation to it. The Voluntary controversy respected the establishment of Christianity by the civil magistrate ; more specifically, it was occupied in discussing the lawfulness and expediency of the State's selecting a particular ecclesiastical body, bestowing on it the royal or parliamentary sanction, providing for the support of its ministers, and the carrying on of its functions from the public funds, and in other ways lending to it the aids of civil power and authority for sacred purposes. Now the question thus brought up for discussion may be viewed in connection with three different departments of human knowledge, under each of which it is to be determined on grounds peculiar to that depart- ment, and under each of which it is possible for a different deci- sion to be arrived at by the inquirer. I. It may be viewed as a question in Political Economy. Here the point for discussion is whether it is for the interest of the State that religion should, like an article of commerce, be CHURCH ESTABLISHMENT QUESTION. 313 left to the operations of the ordinary law of supply and demand for its support ; or, as being an article of a peculiar kind — having especially this peculiarity, that as there is no natural demand for it on the part of man, it is only by furnishing the supply that the demand can be created — it is not expedient and necessary to bestow a bounty on the^ teaching of religion by endowing its ministers.* II. It may be viewed as a question in Political Philosophy. Here the point at issue respects the right and duty of governments to interfere with the religious instruction of the community ; and the answers given to this divide the disputants into three parties. The first consists of those who absolutely deny to civil government any such right, and denounce their assuming it as an act of tyranny and injustice. The second consists of those who, while they admit that the religious education of the community does not fall directly within the province of civil government, yet think that, as such an institution has many admirable facilities for the efficient conducting of the religious instruction of its subjects, it is both lawful and expedient that it should take measures for that end. The third consists of those who hold that civil governments are bound, as imder Christ, to do homage to Him by using their authority and resources for the support and propagation of his religion, f III. It may be viewed as a question of Scriptural Enactment. Here the matter is brought to the decision of the Bible, and the point argued is whether on the one hand the will of God as expressed there positively forbids the establishment of the church by the state, or, if not forbidding this, yet has made arrangements for the church which supersede the necessity, and thereby render improper the act on her part of accepting any state aid ; or on the other hand inculcates principles which go to show that it is both the duty of the state to establish the church and of the * See Smith's Wealth of Nations, bk. v. part iii. art. 3, on the one side, and Chalmers's Works, vol. xi. p. 46, and vol. xvii. p. 25, foil, on the other. f See Dissertation on Church Polity by Andrew Coventry Dick, Esq., passim ; Macaulay's Essays, vol. ii. 8vo, p. 493 ; Whewcll's Elements of Morality, bk. v. ch. 16, 17, for representations of each of these three views. 314 MEMOIRS OF DK. WARDLAW. church to accept the advantages placed withm her reach by the state. * It will be seen from this that there was room for the oppo- nents of civil establishments of religion attacking such institutions on very different grounds, and seeking their dissolution for very different reasons. So in point of fact it happened in the Volun- tary Church controversy in Scotland. The body there united to assail the principle of an Established Church was by no means at one as to the grounds on which such an assault was to be made. Whilst not a few held such institutions to be wrong on all the grounds above stated, there were some who objected to them merely on economical and political grounds, and some who, whilst they held that economically they were not inex- pedient and politically were lawful, yet regarded them as inca- pable of being constructed so as not to trample upon and render of none effect the laws of the New Testament regarding the polity, order and administration of Christian churches. This last party was chiefly composed of Congregationalists, who had all along on purely scriptural grounds objected to the civil estab- lishment of religion, and who, when the light broke in with such sudden corruscation on other non-established bodies, were somewhat slow to admit that the part of it which they had not hitherto received was genuine and trustworthy. Of this party a considerable number stood aloof from the Voluntary Church movement entirely, deeming it incompetent for them to seek a purely religious end by means of promiscuous organization and political instrumentality. This 1 remember was at the time denounced as a timid if not a time-serving course. I would now for myself recall that judgment, for I now think that these esteemed brethren acted only consistently, and that they were in the right when they maintained that those who objected to Church Estabhshments on purely scriptural grounds, and had nothing to say against them either economically or politically, * See Heugh's Considerations on Civil Establishments of Religion ; Inglis' Vindication of Church Establishments, and most of the publications issued during the Voluntary Controversy in Scotland. VOLUNTARY CHUECII CONTROVERSY. 315 had put themselves in a false position by joining a movement which could be justified only on secular ground. It was among the Presbyterian Dissenters that the Voluntary Church controversy had its origin. The Seceders under Erskine held no principles which led them to oppose the establishment of the church by the civil magistrate ; and it was not till that body had existed for nearly a hundred years that such principles acquired a firm hold upon the convictions of any but a very few of its members. Gradually, however, the leaven once introduced had been leavening the lump ; and in 1829 a sermon preached before the Glasgow Association for Propagating the Gospel, in connection with the United Secession Church, by the Rev. Andrew Marshall, minister of the United Secession Church in Kirkintilloch, and in which the preacher gave full and forcible utterance to the objec- tions which might be urged against civil establishment of Chris- tianity, gave occasion for the manifestations of the great extent •to which the Secession Church had become imbued with anti- establishment principles. The publication of this sermon, which followed immediately after, may be regarded as the firing of the first gun in this memorable contest. After some months an elaborate review of it appeared in the Edinburgh Christian Instructor, in which the writer endeavoured to overthrow the reasonings of Mr. ]\Iarshall and to furnish a defence of the insti- tution he had assailed. A reply from Mr. Marshall followed, which again called forth the reviewer. After some time Mr. Marshall returned to the assault, with a large and carefully written treatise entitled "Ecclesiastical Estabhshments further considered," in which the whole question is discussed with great perspicuity and force. The controversy now began to spread and the conflict to thicken. Other combatants appeared on the field, and books and pamphlets w^ere poured forth on both sides. The question had taken firm hold of the public mind ; newspapers were begin- ning to discuss it, and to range themselves with the one or the other of the contending parties ; and it became evident that the storm which had been raised could not be allayed until the entire question had been thoroughly sifted, and one side or the other 316 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. had made good its dogma. Under these circumstances it was deemed wise on the part of the Dissenters not to allow the inte- rests of their cause to depend on the efforts of individuals, but to combine their strength in an association formed for the purpose of advocating their principles ; that so with united phalanx they might advance against the strongholds of the Establishment party. Meetings were accordingly convened by circular both in Edinburgh and Glasgow for the purpose of taking steps for the formation of such associations ; and out of these arose the Voluntary Church Associations of Edinburgh and Glasgow — the parents of similar - associations which speedily appeared in all parts of the country. In these earlier movements of the Voluntary Church party Dr. Wardlaw took no part. He had his eye, however, fixed with watchful interest on every occurrence in the controversy, of which in all its bearings he was already from previous study full master; and when at length the feelings of a personal kind which had con- spired to keep him aloof from the conflict were overcome, he threw himself into it with characteristic energy, and was soon, by com- mon consent on both sides, regarded as the undoubted leader of the Voluntary host. The following letter addressed by him to the late Dr. Heugh will fully explain his views as to the grounds on which he thought the question of civil establishments of reli- gion ought to be argued, and the feelings with which he entered the field of controversy on this occasion : — Dunoon, Tuesday Evening, October 2d, 1832. Mj dear Friend — " Doctors differ" has got a place among our proverbial phrases ; but doctors having for once at least agreed in strongly dissuading me from everything, for some time to come, calculated to produce mental excitement and anxiety, I must plead this as my excuse for my not appear- ing at the meeting anticipated on Thursday morning. I am sensible that on such an occasion an apology of no ordinary strength is necessary ; and I trust that all my friends who are aware of the circumstances of my case will cheerfully sustain the one which I have offered, and on which I forbear dilating. In consequence of the degree of hesitancy with which I expressed myself on a former occasion, and which was painful to myself, I am anxious that my sentiments should be early communicated to the meeting on Thurs- day ; and I am glad that the " trumpet" can now give a more " certain sound." The grounds of my hesitation, which, I confess, had more in them of feeling than of judgment, have given way before the consideration that, however much our sensibilities may incline us one way, if principle lies in VOLUNTARY CHURCH CONTROVERSY. 317 the opposite direction, they must in all propriety yield. My mind has been partly settled by seeing the gross misapprehensions or misrepresentations of the principles and views of Dissenters which the present occasion has called forth, and which, I am persuaded, extensively prevail. There is the greater necessity for a joint exhibition of what we believe to be truth ; and the truth, we believe, must ultimately prevail. I do not mean to enter into any discussion of the great points involved in the question of civil establishments of religion, further than as that question may be touched by a few simple general principles, which are at the same time the principles of our duty. That it is incumbent and imperative on every man to seek the propagation of what he believes to be truth, and especially when the truth consists, not in abstract speculations, but in principles of great practical importance, involving at once rights and interests of a civil and temporal nature, and at the same time the glory of God and the concerns of man for eternity, is a position which may be assumed as unquestionable. Nor does it appear at all less manifest that what we may legitimately do as individuals, there can be nothing i71egitimate in our associating to do ; nay that when by association the end can be more effi- ciently accomplished, union for its attainment becomes as much a duty as individual exertion. I have long regarded religious establishments (or rather I would call them civil establishments of religion) as equally at variance with the prin- ciples of the spiritual kingdom of Christ, and with the simplest elements of political justice. From the political injustice which they involve, the dissent- ing bodies of the United Kingdom, constituting now so very large a proportion of its inhabitants, are entitled to be freed ; and I am persuaded the time is not distant, when, by fair, dispassionate, peaceful, constitutional means, connected with the force of truth and the progress of public opinion, they tvill be freed. But I am at present peculiarly impressed with the religious aspect of the question, with its bearing on the interests of the true kingdom of Christ, and of pure, vital, saving Christianity. To these interests my firm conviction is, establishments have been to an incalculable amount in- jurious. Christianity contains within itself resources and energies abundantly sufficient for its own maintenance and propagation in the world. This stands proved by its early history, previous to the time when its energies were paralysed by the torpedo touch of state policy, and when, in proportion as its worldly resources were augmented, its spiritual resources were dimi- nished, by the corrupting union of sacred with civil ; and it stands confessed in stronger terms than I can use to express it, by some of the master-advo- cates of Establishments. And another thing is not less clear as a principle than this is as a fact, that, in the bringing of the resources and energies of Christianity into practical use for the support and advancement of her inte- rests, all should be voluntary, the free result and expression, on the part of those who believe her doctrines, of attachment and principle. From the early history of Christianity we are fairly entitled to reason, as to what would have been the result, had the same course continued as during the first three cen- turies. The siqjporters of Establishments forget this. They boast of what has been done. There is more reason to deplore what has ?;o^been done ; and when to this is added, the fearful amount of worldliness and corruption introduced by what we may call the neu^ regime, they will have still less cause for glorying. It will be found, I believe, that any progress that was subsequently 318 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. made by genuine spiritual Christianity was owing to the continued operation of the principles that had been in exercise under the old state of things, which the new had not entirely eradicated, and that to the new itself she was indebted for little else than her corruptions. Whether, had Christianity never been established, there would have been an equal amount in the world of profession and name, may be questioned, perhaps ; but I have no doubt that there would have been an indefinitely larger amount of what is alone worth being taken into our estimate of benefit — I mean, of what is spiritual, vital, and saving ; — and as this is what alone efi"ectually or at all contributes to the genuine advancement of religion, it may fairly be questioned whether, but for the unhappy change in the course of things, " the knowledge of the Lord," advancing in a geometrical ratio by means of the zeal of multiplying converts, might not long ere this time have " covered the earth." I should have no objection to argue the question on principles of expe- diency. I see no reason to flinch from this ground. But I nevertheless regard it as a very roundabout and precarious process of reasoning. The true way for us on all such subjects is to come at once to the point — to appeal to the Record — (I don't mean a certain periodical of that name — that assuredly is not my standard) — but the Divine Record of principles and duties in the New Testament. I lay it down as a principle, that the mind of God is the surest expediency, and that the simplest and most satisfactory way of answer- ing the question " What is expedient," is to seek the answer to another, " What saith the Scripture ?" When we have found what unerring wisdom has prescribed, we have found what has been, is, and ever must be, expedient. I hold to this ; it is always sure ground, and by coming at once to it, Chris- tians, professed subjects of the King of Zion, who has given them this statute-book, might often save themselves a world of trouble. For what is the most numerous and seemingly well-appointed host of arguments from expediency, if we can bring against them all a " Thus saith the Lord." This at once " puts to flight the army of the aliens." In every thing that relates to the cause and kingdom of God, we honour him most effectually by the fearless adoption of this principle. I mean by its fearless adoption, our acting upon it at once, without any timid and shrinking apprehension of consequences — confidently assured that nothing but benefit can ultimately arise from a close adherence to the divine will. If wrong principles have in any case been in operation, the sooner they are exploded, and right ones adopted, the better. There is no period of prescription for what is wrong. When such principles have been long and extensively in operation, we may anticipate, in making the transition from wrong to right, some difficulties, and even, it may be, some seeming and temporary evils. But let us not flinch from our principle, that we are always in the way of safety, and honour, and ultimate success, when we are implicitly following the counsel of God ; that that which is right will uniformly, and in the long run, prove to be that which is good. It is with these convictions — that the only effectual way to put Chris- tianity in her path to full and final triumph, is to return to the principles and means of propagation by which her career was begun, and for so long a period triumphantly carried forward — and that for this great and blessed consummation, it is a sacred duty to use every effort, personal and combined, for effecting the resumption of these principles and means, in humble but confident reliance on the divine favour and countenance ; — it is with these SERMON ON CHURCH ESTABLISHMENTS. 319 convictions that I give my hearty assent to the formation of an association of those who hold similar views for accomplishing these ends. We have no hosti- lity to men, but solely to jirinciples. We have friends, many friends — friends highly esteemed and loved, the " excellent of the earth," in the Established Church. If we are in error, we object not to their using every means in their power to convince us of it, and deliver us from its injurious influence. Let them not think the worse for us, that we are true to our principles, and seek to promote their prevalence. Let us mutually try the questions between us by the true standard, each desirous of truth ; and let truth prevail. Thus God will be glorified, and the Church and the world will be essentially benefited. These should be our sole aim. Let all our discussions and pro- ceedings be conducted in the spirit of that gospel which we seek to spread, and of that Redeemer whose spiritual kingdom we wish to see universally established. But, satisfied as we are that the interests of this spiritual kingdom will be best promoted by the removal of all that is aw^t-spiritual in its constitution, as corrupted by the wisdom of man (a " wisdom" which is " foolishness with God"), and by a simple reverting to the principles and directions of the Record, as laid down by Apostolic authority and exemplified in Apostolic practice, let us seek the attainment of these objects with the steady firmness of zeal, as well as with the " meekness and gentleness of Christ." " Pray for the peace of Jerusalem," — it is not of our Jerusalem, as, with sectarian presumption, men are disposed to interpolate it — but of God's Jerusalem — the true spiritual Zion — the Universal Church — " the fulness of Him who fiUeth all in all." " They shall prosper that love Thee." I have thus, my dear friend, in haste, currente calamo, expressed my sentiments. I have not time to revise and correct either sentiment or expres- sion. May the presence of the Great Head of the Church be with you on the coming occasion ; and all will then be well. — Yours with true esteem, Ralph Wardlaw. A few weeks after the date of this letter Dr. Wardlaw took occasion to bring the subject of Chnrch Establishments before his congregation, by preaching a sermon npon the subject from John xviii. 36. In this sermon he confined himself entirely to the scriptural argument — not that he undervalued the objections which on other grounds had been adduced against civil establish- ments of religion, but because he considered that, on a question relating to the constitution and order of Christ's Church, "■ a direct and primary appeal to the sacred oracles" is " our only legitimate course." He accordingly entered fully into the con- sideration both of the argument which had been urged in favour of such institutions from the example of the ancient Jewish Church, and of the argument against them which may be drawn from the New Testament. The sermon was delivered to a crowded audience, and occupied upwards of two hours in the 320 MEMOIllS OF DR. WARDLAW. delivery ; during which protracted period the preacher was listened to with profound attention. It was immediately after published, and rapidly passed through several editions. It excited the greatest interest on both sides of the controversy ; and was universally looked upon as both exhausting the sub- stance of the scriptural argument against Church Establish- ments, and presenting that argument, as well in its negative as in its positive aspect, with the utmost perspicuity and acute- ness. On the occasion of sending a copy of this sermon to his old and valued friend Dr. Burder, Dr. Wardlaw thus reports con- cerning himself and his occupations at this period : — Glasgow, January 3d, 1833. The last time I heard of you was through our mutual friend Mr. Joshua Wilson, in his correspondence with me on the subject of the proposed lectures in April. I still anticipate the fulfilment of that duty, if it shall please God to continue my present rate of health, which is, on the whole, good, and has been so for some little time. Not that I am altogether free of uneasy sensations about the region of the heart, and occasionally, too, about the head ; and sensations which I feel to be brought on and increased by close application of mind. But I have great cause of gratitude to God, and have become, through familiarity, less uneasy about the nature and the tendencies of those sensations. It will please your dear brother, tq whose kindness I was so very much indebted, to know that I was sensibly the better for his prescriptions — especially the repeated application of sm.ill blisters, to which I had recourse while at the sea coast, and once since, and may very possibly soon have recourse again. If all be well, therefore, I look forward to the pleasure of " being somewhat" more than last time, " filled with your company " three months hence. My beloved wife has recently been seriously indisposed, having, till within this fortnight, been confined to her bed and bedroom for more than a month. Her complaints have, however, thi'ough Divine kindness, yielded to medical treatment, and she is now well again, as are all the members of our family. I hope to hear favourable tidings of the health and happiness of you and yours, in this season of mutual gratulation and good wishes. Many years of growing usefulness may my lieloved friend be spared to see, for to him, I well know, growing usefulness will be growing happiness. I send you a specimen of my remaining powers, such as they are, both of mind and of body. The sermon which I was anxious (in order to avoid misapprehensions and partial impressions) to lay entire before the same audience occupied two hours and ten minutes in the delivery, to a congre- gation that packed aisles and outer lobby to the very door. I hope the result will please you, especially as I know you to be, with regard to all that comes from the same quarter, so much predisposed to be pleased. ALBUM VERSES. 321 1 liiiislied two Sabbaths ago the Epistle to the Romans. Whether 1 shall live to fulfil the intention or not, is known only aViove. I have of late, however, more seriously than for a long time previously, resumed the design of fulfilling the desire so often and so urgently pressed upon me by yourself and others. From a hint thrown out by a young but iuost intelligent friend from the south, I have been led to change my view con- siderably of the kiiul of work required on that Epistle. I dare hardly tell you the hint, lest you should set me down in your books in the column of vaniti/ — but you must just balance the vanity in one column against the hurniUti/ in another. He thought — and it strikes me you had said much the same before — that what was needed for a work on that portion of the New Testament, was rather sound logic than profound criticism. Now, it was a consciousness of my entire inability for undertaking a critical com- mentary such as would be at all passable, or even sufferablc, that had kept me so long from listening to entreaties so repeated and so entitled to defe- rence. This is my humility ; and it is quite unaffected — a real bona fide estimate of "Quid valeant humeri, quid ferre recusent." But I think I have been blessed with some small portion of clearness of head and capacity for ratiocination. This is my vanity ; and it is equally sincere. Only 1 think you ovight to admire my humility more than you condemn or con- demn my vanity, inasmuch as my humility regards what, if I had been at all, I must have been by dint of my own application ; while my vanity relates to what I owe not to myself, but to nature. Ah me ! how unfortu- nate for me is this inadvertent admission. How very strong, you will say, must be the propensity to vanity, when it seizes on that which he has had no merit in acquiring ! Don't call me a fool for all this currente ccdamo nonsense. Hastily as I have written, I have written too long. Your ever warmly attached, Ralph Wardlaw. Ill the midst of so iiiaiiy imposing and exliausting occn|)a- tions, Dr. Wardlaw still found time to exercise his gift of poetry fur the amusement or the instruction of those around him. The following admirable verses, inserted in his daughter's album, were composed in the close of 1832 : — EMBLEMS. Scene — The Banks of a small Stream. I. Streamlet — 'from thy crystal spring In the dell of distant mountain, Far and farther wandering, Ne'er returning to thy fountain ; — Type of man's apostate heart, God the fount of bliss deserting. — Kver roving — far apart — Never to its source reverting ! Y 322 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. II. Streamlet — when the mountain flood, O'er thy limpid waters swelling, Fiercely chafes thy gentle mood, All in foam thy course impelling : — Emblem thou of mortal life, With its cares and griefs turmoiling, Or with turbid floods of strife. All its peaceful joys despoiling. III. Streamlet — from thy troubled bed Quickly rolls the angry torrent, Placid suns returning shed Gems upon thy rippling current : — Thus away with rapid tide Pass the floods of care and sorrow, For a night the storms abide, Sweetly smiles the rising morrow ; IV. Streamlet — in thine onward course To an ample river growing, Beauty, cheerfulness, and force, Health and fertile fields bestowing : — Such the soul by grace enlarged. While its heavenward course pursuing, Bless'd, and with a blessing charged, All with life and joy renewing. V. Streamlet — since thy waters came From their mossy fountain welling, Ever changing, still the same — Still the last the first impelling : — Such the race of human kind. On its changeless current leading — Old before and young behind. Children still to sires succeeding. VI. Streamlet — since the days of yore, Ever, ever, ever flowing, And, till time shall be no more, Rest or respite never knowing : — Ah me ! for how many a throng — Adam's death-doomed sous and daughters- Hast thou pour'd the dirge along In thy softly murmuring waters. A FAMILY PICTUUE. 323 VII. Streamlet — on some distant coast, Down to ocean's verge descending, Shall thy swelling tide be lost With the waste of waters blending I So the ceaseless stream of time, Following ever, ever follow'd. Widening through each age and clime, In eternity is swallowed ! VIII. Streamlet — o'er thy sky-bright wave Not a speck its lustre clouding, Soon yon gathering storm shall rave, All thy sunny waters shrouding ! — But there flows a stream above. From a fount perennial springing, Joy to all, the land of love. Taintless as its waters bringing : — IX. River pure of endless life, Ample " River of God's pleasures," No foul drop of hateful strife E'er pollute the flowing treasures , — From thy banks all terrors flee, Sin and death approach thee never ; — 0 may I partake of thee, Only stream that flows for ever ! The reminiscences of Dr. Morison will supply us with a suitable pendant to the above in a pleasing glimpse which they afford us into the interior of Dr. Wardlaw's household at this time : — " My second visit to Dr. Wardlaw's house," says Dr. M., " was in 1831, when I was accompanied by my dear wife, my eldest son, and a young friend, now a clergyman of the Church of England. All his dear children, except Mrs. Reid, who had gone to the mission field in India, were then around him, and all grown up to maturity. It was, as I have always said, in the retrospect, a most exquisite family picture to look upon : " Thought meeting thought, and will preventing will, With boundless confidence." .... " \Yc imagined ourselves, as a family, moderately liappy ; 324 MEMOIRS OF UR. WAKULAW. but we then saw much to admire, and more to imitate. Truly we experienced in this visit all the happiness that can be ex- pected from sanctified friendship in this frail state of existence. A greeting more thoroughly realising the best type of Scottish hospitality, it would be impossible to imagine. While I reflect on the joyful hours then spent under the roof of my late revered friend, a melancholy feeling steals over the heart while musing on the sad changes which have since passed in both circles. But it is 'joy unspeakable,' amidst our griefs and bereavements, to be enabled most firmly to anticipate the reunion of broken ties in that deathless land where the pang of separation will never wring the heart, and where our loving Father, who saw fit that we should weep abundantly here, shall, with his own hand, wipe away all tears from the eyes of his children." 325 CHAPTER XIII. A.D. 1832— A. D. 1834. Though impeded by the demands made on his time and energies from the circumstances mentioned in last cliapter Dr. Wardlaw, by dint of that power of concentrated application which he pos- sessed in a peculiar degree and that faculty of rapid composition in which he bad few equals, was able to be ready with his Congregational Lectures at the time fixed upon as desirable by the committee, the month of April 1833. He accordingly went up to London at this time accompanied by Mrs. Wardlaw with- out whom, since the alarming symptoms of the preceding year, he seldom afterwards left home for more than a single day. His lectures, which were eight in number and which were read mostly from the first writing, were delivered in the Congre- gational Library. The first was delivered on Tuesday the 30th of April, at noon, but this hour having been found inconvenient the rest were delivered in the evening on successive Tuesdays and Thursdays. A large and interested audience attended through- out the course ; and such was the success of this first attempt that the trustees of the Lecture felt that their scheme was secure, and that even without a mortuary endowment the Congregational Lecture would be perpetuated. On his way up to London Dr. Wardlaw stopped at York for the purpose of giving evidence before the Chancery Com- mission on Lady Hewley's Charity, then the subject of litigation. As the Charity had been appropriated by the Unitarians, con- trary to the presumed opinions and intentions of the testatrix, and as the object of the party moving in the suit was to prove 326 MEMOIRS OF UR. WARDLAW. this, and so restore the Charity to its original destination, it became of importance to establish clearly the distinction between the views of the Unitarians and those of the orthodox dissenters, as well as the agreement of the latter with those held by the body to which Lady Hewley belonged. For this purpose Dr. Wardlaw, as one well versed in the Unitarian Controversy, was requested to give evidence before the commission appointed by the Lord Chancellor to collect whatever could be adduced cal- culated to guide him to a just decision in the case. His exami- nation, he says in a letter to his daughter, was very short, the case having been thoroughh^ gone into in the examination pre- viously of Drs. Smith and Bennet and of Mr. Scales, then of Leeds ; but the promoters were anxious to have his testimony and influence on the side of their suit. Whilst in the metro- j)olis he occasionally preached for friends, but obeyed his medical adviser's counsel by abstaining as much as possible from exciting engagements. His zeal for the anti-slavery cause drew him to several of the conferences and meetings which were then held in London for the purpose of helping forward that cause at what was an important crisis in its history. He had the satisfaction of being present in the House of Commons at the debate which terminated in the carrying of a resolution condemning slavery, and declaring that it must be abolished. In a letter to his son Mr. J. S. Wardlaw, after expressing some disappointment with the debate, which fell short in interest of what he had antici- pated, he says, " 1 was pleased with the result in which the debate of that evening terminated, the carrying unanimously of the first of the ministerial resolutions, different amendments to it being either withdrawn or negatived without a division. It is so far satisfactory and delightful that by the unanimous decision of the British Commons, the time is come when there must be emancipatiati. The going forth of this resolution to the country will do much good. On the remaining resolutions there may probably be some keen battling. They descend more into the details of the how, and involve various principles and interests which it may not be so easy to adjust. Things, how- CHRISTIAN ETHICS. 327 ewer, I fondly trust are in a fair train. May that God who is the patron and judge of the oppressed, superintend all the deli- berations and conduct them to the desired happy issue!" He was accompanied to the House of Commons on this occa- sion by j\rr. George Thompson, the eloquent agent of the anti- slavery society, a gentleman who on account of his great powers of popular oratory and the zeal with which he exerted these on behalf of the slave. Dr. Wardlaw and all the friends of emancipation held at that time in the highest esteem. In company with the same gentleman also he dined one day at the house ot the late Sir T. Fowell Buxton, where, besides the pleasure of meeting many of the most distinguished friends of the anti-slavery cause, he had the gratification of being commissioned to convey to his daughter a message of thanks from Miss Buxton in the name of the Ladies' anti-slavery committee in London for the obligations under which she had laid them by her zeal in getting up a petition for abohtion from the ladies in Glasgow. He returned home by w^ay of Nottingham, Doncaster, Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool. His principal extra-official work after his return was the revisal of his Lectures on Christian Ethics and the preparation of them for publication. They appeared in a handsome octavo volume in the month of November, under the title of " Christian Ethics ; or Moral Philosophy on the Principles of Divine Revelation." This work was well received by the public, and has continued to maintain a prominent place among works of the class to which it belongs ever since. It is not necessary to agree with the author, even in his main position, in order to perceive the many claims which this work has upon our respect and admiration. Though bearing traces in some parts of being hastily written the style is in general vigorous and clear, and in some places rises to a pitch of eloquence such as few of the author's other published writings exhibit. The controversial parts are distinguished by that rare acuteness and sagacity in detecting the weak points in a system or in an argument which formed one of Dr. AA^ardlaw's most striking endowments ; while his criticisms if not profound 328 MEMOIRS OF T)R, WARDLAW. or always correct, are invariably conceived in a candid spirit, and conveyed in language at once courteons and decided. On many questions of a theological nature, incidentally introduced, much valuable observation is made ; some obscurities which are apt to hang over important truths in the minds of many are ably cleared away ; and many knots of sophistry are disentangled with a master's hand. To those who agree with Dr. Wardlavv in the views he has advocated, as to the grounds of moral obligation, the value of the work will be still further enhanced by the able and ingenious defence of these views which he here presents. The work, as published, consists of nine lectures (the eighth in the delivery having been divided into two in the publishing), besides a considerable body of notes to which extensive additions were made in subsequent editions. The author's main design is to maintain the supreme authority of the Bible as the only infal- lible rule of moral action; and with this view he not only contends for submission to the Bible on all points on which it gives judg- ment, in preference to every other source of moral decision, but asserts that no other source is valid or can be trusted, in conse- quence of the depravity wliich the Fall has introduced into the soul of man. He is thus led to examine the different theories of moral obligation, and to apply to them the test furnished by this fact in man's moral liistory. The theories which he examines are the Aristotelian, the Stoical, the Epicurean, that of Cudworth, Clarke and Price, that of Adam Smith, that of Hutcheson, that of Brown, that of Hume and the Utilitarians, and (with especial minuteness) that of Butler. Against all these he maintains that they are vitiated, even Avhen in other respects most correct, by the radical error of assuming that a depraved mind, investigating a depraved nature, can arrive at any certain and fixed principles of right and wrong. Such principles, he proceeds to show, can be found ultimately only in the Divine Nature ; and, as this Nature can become knowable by us only through revelation, he argues that it is in the Bible alone that we can obtain a certain guide to moral truth. In the three concluding Lectures he shows the identity of morality and religion, inquires how far disinteres- KEPLY TO EDINBURGH REVIEW. 329 tedness is an essential quality in legitimate love to God, and illus- trates the peculiarities of Christian obligation and duty, A second edition of this work was speedily called for ; and not long after this appeared, it was noticed in an article in the Edinburgh Review, vol. Ixi. p. 59. The Reviewer, whilst admitting it to be " one of the ablest and most plausible" of the class of publications' among which he places it, animad- verts somewhat sharply on the views it contains as to the influ- ence of depravity on our capacity for ascertaining moral truth. These views, he thinks, involve the conclusion, that " we are deprived of all assurance respecting those fundamental truths which natural theology has been supposed to teach;" whilst, on the other hand, " if we be referred," he says, " to faitJi in confir- mation of their reality, still the evidences of that faith have no power of affecting our minds, except through the medium of those very powers whose authority has been previously thrown aside ; so that," he adds, " this absurd endeavour to thrust Christianity into the room of philosophy, ends in the palpable triumph of scepticism over both." To these strictares Dr. Wardlaw thought it proper t© reply ; and this he did in a lengthened preface to the third edition of his work, which came out in 1836. Besides some skirmishing on minor and collateral points, he offers a full answer to the objections above cited ; the substance of which is, that he has nowhere affirmed that reason itself is so depraved that it is physically impossible for man to discover or to appreciate the grounds on which the truths of natural religion rest, otherwise man would not be accountable ; but only that reason is so impeded in its operation by depravity, as to conduct to false and dangerous conclusions. This is true, he affirms, whether the subject of investigation be the principles of natural, or the evidences of revealed religion. Man is intel- lectually capable of ascertaining the truth in both cases ; this evidence in both is sufficient ; but evil influences arising from depravity are apt to warp reason in its exercise, and pervert it in its decisions. The question Dr. Wardlaw holds to be one simply of fact. Is it not true that ni'-n, left to themselves, have 330 MEMOIRS OF DR. WAKDLAW. invariably misread the lessons of natin-al religion '? Now, how is this to bo accounted for? If we say the evidence for these lessons is insufficient, or that man is incapable of discerning it, we destroy his responsibility and make his ignorance excusable ; and if, on the other hand, we hold the evidence to be sufficient, and man capable of apprehending it, his failing to do so can result only from some perversity of inclination interfering with, or preventing the due exercise of his reason in the matter. In maintaining, therefore, this latter hypothesis, he contends that he not only does not " thrust Christianity into the place of philosophy," but simply borrows from Christianity the only adequate explanation of a fact which philosophy must admit, but cannot explain. This seems a sufficient reply to the somewhat superficial strictures of the Reviewer. In making it, however, Dr. Ward- law, I cannot help thinking, has unconsciously laid bare the weak point of his whole book, and of the theory of moral science it is designed to uphold. For it appears from this reply, that all he intended to assert was, that natural reason and conscience are liable to be perverted in their decisions on moral questions. But if this be all he means to teach, then we may observe, in the first place, that his doctrine is one which the adherents of nearly all the theories of morals on which he has animadverted, would at once admit as perfectly compatible with their princi- ples ; and in the second place, that as the alleged liability affects our reason and conscience only in the way of perverting their decisions, this can have no bearing upon the foundation of moral distinctions, but will operate exclusively on our practical deter- mination and application of the standard or rule of morals. In objecting, therefore, to all the moral systems which he has examined, that they are vitiated by a radical error arising from their not taking into account human depravity, Dr. Wardlaw has applied to them a test which, from his own subsequent assertion of the doctrine he meant to teach regarding the influ- ence of depravity on the operations of the natural reason, may be shown to be irrelevant. FOUNDATION OF MORALS. 331 I do not conceive that it would be proper to drag the reader of this vokuue into a lengthened disquisition on the sub- ject of moral obligation ; but I cannot, without disrespect to Dr. Wardlaw, pass on without endeavouring, as briefly as may be, to nicike good the remark which I have just ventured to make as to a defect in the doctrine of this work. The moral judgment is either the result of a process of reasoning, or it is given immediately as a product of intelligence. On the former hypothesis, the basis of moral distinctions and the standard of moral discrimination are both without us ; on the latter hypothesis they may be both within us, and the latter must be so. In other words : On the former hypothesis, right and wrong are alike determined and indicated by something that is not part of our own mental being ; on the other, it is in virtue of our being constituted as we are that we know what is right and what is wrong, just as we know the qualities of bodies; and for aught we can tell this may be the only reason why one thing is right and another wrong. This diteresis of opinion has separated ethical writers into two great sections ; to the former of whom moral distinctions have an objective validity, while to the latter they are only subjectively valid. The two comprise within them all the varieties of ethical speculation as to the foundation and standard of morals. Now on neither of these hypotheses does it appear that the fact of human depravity can be adhibited either as an element of speculation or as a test of validity. Not on the first, because there the basis and the standard of morality being both assumed to be without us, cannot possibly be affected by any change that may have passed over us since man was first made : Not on the second, because if morality, theoretically or practically, depend on the constitution God has given us, to affirm that that constitution is fatally vitiated, quoad this very thing, is virtually to pronounce morality an impossible thing for us. On either hypothesis, then, it seems that to apply this fact as a test of moral systems is irrelevant. On turning to Dr. Wardlaw's own theory of moral obliga- 332 MEMOIRS OF DK, WARDLAW. tion and prescription, the remark occurs that if the objection he urges from the present condition of human nature were applic- able to any of those who, like Iiimself, attach an objective validity to moral distinctions, it would be applicable no less to him than to them. For on his theorj'- as well as theirs (seeing in neither can the basis or the standard of morals be affected by the state of man's nature) the only place where depravity could possibly have any effect would be in the apj)lication of the standard to actual occurrences. But if depravity make a man read the revelation of nature wrong, Avill not the same influence operate to make him read scripture wrong ? In the former case the lesson may be less full and clear than in the latter ; but that is not the question ; the question is. can a man whose mental eye is so disordered that he will certainly read the former lesson imperfectly or erringly, hope, without a cure of his disorder, to read the latter correctly and savingly? Tf the question were one of natural capacity, of course the plainer the lesson the more likely would the learner be to acquire it ; but Dr. Wardlaw has strongly repudiated this supposition, and has rested his case entirely on man's moral disorder. Well ; the point I would press is : — If moral disorder unfit a man for ascertaining aright the truths unfolded by the hand of the Creator in the constitu- tion of the moral universe, will it not equally unfit him for ascertaining aright the truths unfolded by the word of the (Jreator in the Scriptures? I have dwelt the longer on this, because I consider it the main defect of Dr. Wardlaw's book, and because, but for the influence of this idea, he would not only have avoided a certain confusion of representation singularly unlike his usual style of thinking, but would have presented his own theory of morals with more of completeness, cogency, and interest than he has done. Nothing, I think, can be more admirable and convincing than his proof that the only foundation of moral truth is to be sought in the divine essence ; and if he had contented himself with affirming the effect of depi-avity in leading men to set aside the dictates of conscience, whether instructed bv the law of STlilCTURES OF ME. MOliELL. 333 nature or by the written law of the Bible, instead of asserting man's inability to read the one law while he admits his ability to read the other, his moral system would, in my humble judg- ment, have been complete and unassailable. As it is, there are many passages in his " Christian Ethics" which every competent judge will regard as affording most vahiable contributions towards the just settlement of the great fundamental questions of ethical science. Before leaving this work I must notice a criticism on it offered by Mr. Morell in his History of Jdodern Philosophy. Like the Edinburgh Reviewer, Mr. Morell thinks Dr. \A'ardlaw's doctrine leads to scepticism. " All religion," says he, " rests upon the existence of a God, infinitely just and holy as well as powerful and great ; but of what use were it that the perfections of Deity should be displayed in the world around us or in the written Word if we had no correct moral sensibility to whicli these manifestations might appeal. Unless there were a standard of right within us, we could not conceive of holiness or moral perfection as the attributes of the Supreme Being, and wanting this conception religion would be a nonentity."* In these sentences there is much to provoke discussion ; but I shall con- fine myself to their bearing on Dr. Wardlaw's hypothesis. In relation to this they seem to me confused and irrelevant. They are confused, for the author writes as if moral sensibility and the possession of a standard of right loitliin were one and the same thing, whereas it is quite possible to maintain that the standard of right is extraneous to us, and yet that the mind possesses by its constitution a sensibility to moral truth when that is presented to it ; and it is irrelevant, because Dr. Wardlaw nowhere main- tains, nor did it concern him to maintain, that the Fall has wholly destroyed man's sensibility to moral rectitude when that is brought before him. The only question he has moved in this book is — Whether man, in determining for himself what is right, is not liable to be latally misled by the perverting influence of sin ? Show a man an action which he considers to be right * Vol. ii. p. 297, first edit. 334 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. and he will approve it ; but it does not follow from this that if he be left to find out for himself what is right he is competent for the task. The former of these Dr. Wardlaw, I presume, would have at once admitted ; the latter it is the main purpose of his book to deny and impugn. The sale of this work must have been very extensive, as at least five editions have been disposed of. Dr. Wardlaw's share of the pecuniary advantages of so profitable a speculation just amounted to the £130 he received from the Committee of the Congregational Lecture. Such is the justice oftentimes dealt out to authors : their writings bring in hundreds of pounds and they have to content themselves Avith tens. Shortly after the publication of his " Christian Ethics," another attempt was made to remove Dr. Wardlaw from Glas- gow to Rotherham. As nothing had occurred to render his position in Glasgow less comfortable or less important than it was, and as the Committee of the Rotherham College had no additional inducements to ofter to those offered in 1828, and declined, one is at a loss to account for this renewed invitation. If meant merely as a compliment it w^as a very idle one ; if meant to constrain him into consent by making him feel ashamed to refuse so often, it was a more selfish act than became such a body ; and if meant merely to try another chance, with the feeling that if he did again refuse there was no harm done by asking him — it was neither respectful to him nor consistent with the dignity of the office they held. In his reply Dr. Wardlaw stated that there had not been a moment's hesitancy in his mind as to what his answer should be. He felt his position in Glasgow, and in relation to the Congregational Churches of Scotland, too important to admit of any doubt as to the duty of his remaining where he was. From a letter written by Dr. Wardlaw to his son-in-law and daughter in India, I make the following extracts, as they supply some interesting notices of his own concerns and occupations at this time : — LETTEU TO INDIA. 335 Glasgow, December 19th, 1833. , . . The church, I am glad to say, goes on, through the blessing of God, prosperously. We have had for some time past a good many additions, I trust " of the saved." We have at present in contemplation some plans of usefulness, in the employment among ourselves of a voluntary agency in some district or districts of the city, consisting of such members of the church as may oifer themselves and be thought qualified and suitable for the work ; as also of employing at least one missionary supported by the church, and devoting himself entirely to the work, like the city missionaries, but without interfering with that excellent institution, or abridging its means. Should these projects prove successful, I shall let you know more of them by and by. In Dr. Heugh's congregation, movements are going on of the same kind. By the way, I preached for my esteemed friend lately on one of his monthly evenings, which gave occasion for a little foolish newspaper puffing on the subject of liberality. Marvellous liberality to be sure ! What an immense stretch ! The Voluntary Church Society had its annual meeting the other evening. Instead of giving you any details myself, I shall send you in a parcel soon a newspaper account of it. They have made me president in the room of Dr. Dick, and I accordingly occupied the chair. It was a spirited meeting, and on the whole good-spirited. Some severe things of course were uttered, which on such occasions is to be expected. I shall send you a specimen of the controversy that has been going on here. Many other productions have appeared, of various orders and degrees of merit, but I can only send you a few as a sample. The whole would tire without gratifying or informing you. I have had and still have thoughts of writing again, in reply to a few of the leading objections, bringing them to the same test with the doctrine itself — the Word of God. I should have done this indeed long ago, but I was fully employed Avith a work of which too I shall send you a copy, and of which you may have probably heard even by this time, as the lectures were delivered in London in the beginning of May. The volume is entitled, " Christian Ethics," or Moral Philosophy on the principles of Divine Revelation. The subject is most important. Of the execution others must judge. I hope it will please you ; and I pray God it may by his blessing do good, especially in counter- acting the pernicious tendencies of the manner in which the speculations of what is termed Moral Philosophy have too generally been conducted in our professorial chairs. You express in your letters a renewed wish for the Lectures.* But my lectures no one could copy out but myself. Instead of them, therefore, although indeed the " Christian Ethics" may be considered as a portion of them, I have to beg your acceptance of four volumes of Theolo- gical Lectures, published from the manuscripts of the late Dr. Dick since his death. Though I do not in all things of course agree with him, you will, I doubt not, find them very valuable. In the early part of this year, we had many very interesting anti- slavery meetings and discussions, as long before this time you have of course learned, and the result, in regard to our own colonies, has been a source of high though not unmingled satisfaction. The liberation of the slaves will, I trust, be followed up on the part of the different Missionary Societies by energetic His Theological Lecturos in llie AoaJcniy, 336 MEMOIRS OF DR. M^VUDLAW. measures for tlie spiritual culightenmeut and emancipation of their souls, in order to their introductiou to the liberty wherewith Jesus makes sinners free. It is a most interesting and important field. We have had and now have George Thompson again with us. He has the prospect of going in the spring on a mission to the United States of North America, with a view to the accomplishment of the same glorious object in that quarter of the world where, to the disgrace of a country that plumes herself on her republican free- dom, there are 2,250,000 slaves, generally in a more depressed condition, especially as to mental culture, than our own, and where the coloured free population are kept down by the despotism of prejudice in a state of the most abject, and legalised, and hopeless degradation. We have lately, fol- lowing the example of Edinburgh, formed a society here for the promotion of this important object — the universal extinction of slavery. May a gracious God send prosperity, and render such efforts the means of ])ringing on Mil- lenial blessedness — the predicted and promised era when " the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and there shall be nothing to hurt or destroy !" I was ten days ago on a visit to Edinburgh, &c., collecting for the Academi/. While we were there (for Mrs. W. was with me), I had the opportunity of attending a public dinner in commemoration of the centenary of the Secession Church, it l)eing just 100 years since the formation of the first Seceding pres- bytery. I felt there was a i^ropriety in the attendance on such an occasion / us (which, however, is more than we are entitled to ex- pect) his address would have been quite the thing. The strong terms in which he so peremptorily denied the riffht of the Church to look for all the supplies she might fancy she needed from the State, were such as to draw forth from the Bishop of London his solemn protest against such principles as those which the noble Viscount had avowed. I was sorry that M. placed the matter so very much on the ground of mere expense ; as this afforded a fair opportunity for placing in contrast the comparatively trivial consider- ation of pounds, shillings, and pence, with the incomparably higher one of 374 ME1\I01RS OF PR. WARDLAW. the religious and moral improvement of the community. The high words which passed between the Premier and Lord Aberdeen, on the charge by the latter of breach of faith, would not serve to put the former into any better humour towards the Church — to Avhich he and his colleagues are evidently disposed to be as chary of their benefactions as their peculiar and embarrass- ing position will allow them to be. Sed haec hactenus. We must talk of the rest, as time forbids my enlarging. I have deeply felt the disappointment of not being in Glasgow during the present week. Will you assure the assembled friends that my whole heart is with them. These are meetings from which I have ever derived the most unmingled enjoyment, not unassociated, I trust, with spiritual profit, and official excitement. I cannot bear to think of what is before you on the different days of the week ; it makes me melancholy. My attachment to the Congregational Union has augmented every successive year. It has been the source of so large an amount of blessing to the churches, and of benefit to the cause of the gospel through the destitute districts of our country ; bringing into eiBcient operation, as it does, the only truly suitable means for the evangelization of those districts. If our friends of the Estab- lishment, instead of boring the administration, and trying to make holes in the exchequer bags, would yield to the constraining power of the love of Christ, and unite on equal terms with their fellow Christians in this good work, their voluntary contributions thus applied, would do infinitely more good than the largest grants they could obtain — even if they had their will — from state funds ; and the more especially, that with the application of the former, as being in accordance with the will of the Lord, there might be ex- pected so much the larger measure of the divine blessing. But I must for- bear. It is my earnest prayer, that of that blessing of the Lord a copious effusion may descend on all your meetings, more private and more public, both of the Union and of the Academy ; and that there may be nothing to interrupt or mar the happy progress of either, or to divide the counsels, and so debilitate the energies of the brethren. Union is strength. May the Lord graciously maintain it, and send prosperity. We leave this — that is Mrs. AY. and I — this evening for Birmingham. I lecture there on the Voluntary question to morrow evening, and at Man- chester on Wednesday evening ; and thence we start for home on Thursday. Your faithful friend. Besides his duties as a delegate from the Scottish Central Board to represent the cause of the Dissenters, Dr. Wardlaw sustained a commission from the Anti-slavery Society in Glasgow to represent its members at the great National Convention which assembled in London in March of this year for the purpose of urging upon the government and legislature the immediate abolition of the system of apprenticeship which had been intro- duced in 1834 as a transition system from slavery to freedom in the West India colonies. Into this service Dr. Wardlaw ANTI-SLAVERY CONVENTION. 375 entered with all his heart. Writing to his daughter he says, •' You would have felt a warm interest in witnessing the meet- ings of the delegates. It was a truly animating, I might without extravagance call it a morally sublime spectacle, to see 400 gentlemen and ministers from all parts of the empire assembled with so much spirit and resolute unanimity, not for the attain- ment of any object of self interest, but for carrying out a purpose of philanthropy so pure and unmingled as that which is brought into exercise on the question of negro freedom. We went in procession to Lord Melbourne's, marching two and two from Exeter Hall to Downing Street. When those of our number who were in front looked back on crossing at Whitehall, ' what a length of tail behind!' It excited great stir, and many a ques- tion was heard as we passed along."* Whilst in London on this occasion Dr. Wardlaw delivered a Lecture in the Weigh House Chapel, which was immediately afterwards published under the title, " The Importance of the Church Controversy and the ]\Ianner in which it ought to be conducted : A Lecture," &c. This Lecture ought to be read by all who would form a just estimate of its author's conduct in relation to the Voluntary Church Controversy. It is a calm, clear, dignified and eloquent apology for himself and his associates in that controversy ; setting forth at once the principles on which they acted, the spirit in which they desired to proceed, and the ends at which they aimed. The lecturer shows that " the controversy ought to be maintained with a just sense on our minds of the importance of what we are about — of the true value of the privileges for which we contend;" that it should be maintained " as a controversy not against persons but against systems;" that it should be conducted " with a due combination of firmness and gentleness — of resolute adherence to truth, and 'the meekness and lowliness of Christ;' " and that it should be carried on " in the spirit of faith in God — in a religious rather than in a political spirit." The lecturer concludes with an eloquent and stirring address to the Dissenters of England. * Letter to Miss Wardlaw, 2(1 April 1838. 376 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. Just as Dr. Wardlaw and his friends were leaving London to return home it was announced that Dr. Chalmers had arrived to deliver a course of Lectures in defence of Church Establish- ments. The immense sensation which was produced by this course — a sensation to which the wondrous eloquence of the lecturer, rather than the profundity or the power of his argu- ments, contribated, suggested to the leading Dissenters in London the desirableness of having a counteractive provided in the form of a course of Lectures, in which the other side of the question should be exhibited and the reasonings of Dr. Chalmers refuted. The moment this was thought of. Dr. Wardlaw occurred to the minds of all as the proper party to be engaged for this work ; and measures were accordingly taken to secure his consent. The matter was at length taken up by the deputies of the three denominations representing the Protestant Dissenters, and a formal resolution passed that such a course of Lectures should be delivered, and that Dr. Wardlaw should be requested to deliver it. To this request, backed as it was by numerous private solicitations. Dr. Wardlaw could not but accede. What were his feelings in reference to the task thus proposed may be gathered from the following sentences, written while as yet he had only learned that such a proposal was intended : — " I know no work at the present crisis which, properly executed, could be more important ; and notwithstanding my strong desire to sit still at home and pursue with regularity other works in which I am engaged, such an invitation would strongly tempt me — even at the risk of forfeiting, with all churchmen at least, any little credit for humility I may possess. Cope with Dr. Chalmers ! they will say. . . . Seriously, this is the most unpleasant aspect in which I can view the proposal'. It would be hypocrisy were I to pre- tend great fear in entering the lists even with such a champion, when I am so fully conscious of having God and truth on my side. But it has, or rather would have, a very self-sulBficient appeai'ance."* To another member of his family he wrote, * To Mrs. Eeid, 22d May 1838. MISSION PRIZE ESSAY. 377 after the proposal of the deputies of the three denominations had been acceded to by him " The Society for the Protection of Rehgious Liberty in London has announced a prize essay on the subject of Church Establishments and Voluntaryism, as you must have seen or heard. I had a letter requesting me to be one of the adjudicators. This I have declined — on the grounds of my having accepted an adjudicatorship in the Mission essay ; and one is quite enough. But since then I have received an invitation from the deputies of the ' Three Dissenting Denominations ' to deliver a course of lectures on the subject in London, in the spring of 1839. And after two days' deliberation, I have, just before begin- ning this epistle, sealed and addressed a letter of acceptance. I fear you, or if not you, not a few others, may think that I would need to study Rom. xii. 3 as it stands. However, I am confident of having truth and the God of truth on my side, and desire to address myself to the assigned task under His guidance and in His strength, I would not forget to say, ' T^^the Lord will, I shall live and do it.'" The " Mission Essay " here referred to was a prize essay for which the sum of £200 was offered by some liberal friend of missions. Dr. Wardlaw's co-adjudicators were the late Dr. Welsh, Dr. Bunting, and the Reverends H. Melville and T. S. Crisp. The task thus imposed was a toilsome and anxious one, and made a serious demand on the time and thoughts of the parties on whom it was laid. In addition to this Dr. Wardlaw had many literary projects before him, on some of which he had already entered, and others of which he was very anxious to begin ; and with all this upon him it shows how great was the importance he attached to the Voluntary Controversy that he was willing to undertake such a duty as that which the London Dissenters had requested him to undertake — a duty which not only imposed on him much labour and anxiety, but also obliged him to postpone indefinitely the completion of works on which his mind was set. That in this he acted on his ruling principle of doing whatever work his Master seemed 378 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. to lay to his hand, there can be no doubt ; but Avhether the Church would not have been a gainer had he devoted the time consumed by this engagement to the finishing of some of the works he had already on hand may be fairly asked. After his return home from London, "the even tenor" of his ordinary domestic life was interrupted by the marriage of his daughter Agnes, who was united in the autumn of 1838 to Daniel Gunn, Esq. This gentleman had some years before this been, for several successive winters, resident as a boarder in Dr. Wardlaw's house ; so that he was intimately known to the whole family. Having in the interval settled in the United States, he carried his bride from her home to the distant region of " the Far West," the State of Michigan. Here was a fresh trial to the tender heart of her parents ; but they were comforted by the assurance that they had entrusted their beloved child to one whose worth they thoroughly knew, and in whom they could wholly confide. They Imew also that though far from them, their child was near to God, and that at the throne of the divine grace they could meet day by day and realise the blessed assurance that a bond united them which no distance could weaken, and which death itself could not break — that they were (to use the words in which Dr. Wardlaw himself expressed his feelings in some lines written in his daughter's album before her departure) — One by a tie which time nor space Nor death itself can sever ; One in the bond of heavenly grace ; , One now and one for ever. 879 CHAPTER XV. A.D. 1838— A. D. 1840. " I HAVE fairly begun writing- for London." So Dr. Wardlaw wrote on the 24tli of December 1838. This shews that he had determined to prepare himself carefully for the duty he had undertaken ; for with him it was not usual to commence writing anything he had to deliver so long beforehand. He indeed looked on the task he had imdertaken as in many respects a serious one. " I feel," he writes at nearly the same date, " an almost shrinking responsibility connected with the service — an almost depressing fear that I may not do it justice. Pray for divine aid to me. To have such an opportunity of pleading the cause of our Lord's spiritual kingdom is no light matter."* In this spirit of earnest, serious conviction and conscious respon- sibility did he address himself to the duty he had imdertaken. He could not have entered upon it with a surer presage of success. Urged by the multiplicity of his engagements, he in the meanwhile felt constrained to resign the office he had so long held as secretary of the Glasgow Auxiliary to the British and Foreign Bible Society. This he did at the beginning of 1839. His resignation was accepted, but the committee unanimously agreed that the following should be inserted in the minute-book of the society respecting him : — And the Society cannot but record, along with their reluctant accep- tance of a resignation, tendered as they are aware through necessity of cir- cumstances, their deep sense of the obligations under which they have been laid by his very eminent services, prolonged for a course of about thirty years, during which, by constant attendance, exact preparation of business, * To Sir. J. S. Wardlaw, December 1838. 380 MEMOIKS OF DR. WARDLAW. judicious counsel, extensive correspondence, frequent composition of the Annual Report as well as other papers, and much miscellaneovis expenditure of time and attention in committees ; he has not only devoted not a little of his valuable time and excellent talents to the service of the Society but contributed in a high degree to the promotion of that noble work of Bible circulation upon which they know well his heart is set, and in which the best interests of our country and of mankind are so deeply involved. They cannot but add, that the truly Christian spirit which he ever mani- fested amid his manifold labours was calculated both to illustrate and adorn the cause he was so strenuously advancing, and to cheer as well as guide his brethren of the Direction amid their frequent deliberations and occasional perplexities. Though no longer secretary, he stih conthmed to act on the committee of the society, having been elected one of its vice- presidents. After several alterations and much correspondence, the time for the delivery of th^e Lectures on Church Establishments was fixed for the month of April. The place selected was the Freemasons' Hall, a place capable of containing between seven and eight hundred persons, and having many associations belonging to it connected with former efforts in the cause of rehgious freedom. At the time appointed the lecturer was ready and at his post ; and the first Lecture was delivered to a large audience, the numbers of which increased rather than diminished as the course proceeded. It was in many respects a very different audience from that which had gathered round Dr. Chalmers. There were no princes of the blood present, no peers of the realm, no prelates or high ecclesiastical dignitaries. But there were masses of the earnest, thoughtful, practical, middle class — that class which forms the backbone of English society, and by which all that affects the political interests of the country is, in the main, ultimately determined. Several members of the House of Commons attended the course from its commencement to its close ; nor w^ere there wanting many whose earnest look and high intellectual bearing bespoke the descendants of the men to whom no partial judge has assigned the honour of having " with the zeal of martyrs, the purity of the early Christians, the skill and the courage of the most renowned warriors, gloriously suf- fered, and fought, and conquered for England the free constitu- LEGTUKES ON ESTABLISHMENTS. 381 tion she now enjoys."* Before such an audience Dr. Wardlaw might well feel some anxiety hi appearing ; but nothing could be more cordial than the reception he met with, and nothing more enthusiastic than the plaudits with which he was continually cheered as he advanced. In the estimation of all who heard him, he discharged nobly the duty which had been imposed upon him, and more than equalled all the high expectations that had been formed of him from former efforts. At a meeting of the Committee of Deputies from the thi-ee denominations, held on the 3d of May 1839, after the Lectures had been delivered, a resolution was unanimously passed, in which they " cordially ex- pressed their admiration of the arrangement of the subjects, the comprehensiveness of the topics, the accumulated information presented, the happy discrimination of the arguments, the logical and unanswerable refutation of Dr. Chalmers and other oppo- nents, the exposition and defence of the Voluntary principle, the luminous and eloquent style in which they were expressed, the scriptural basis on which the whole superstructure w^as reared, and peculiarly of the courteous yet unflinching temper always evinced, and the Christian charity blended with high and fixed determination uniformly displayed." At a dinner also of the Religious Freedom Society at the London Tavern on the 15th of May, when his health was proposed along with that of Dr. King and the Voluntaries of Scotland, the mention of his name is reported to have been received "with deafening applause." f As it was deemed desirable that the Lectures should appear from the press as soon as possible, they were printed almost immediately on their being delivered. They came out in an 8vo volume of 391 pages. This edition was almost instantly exhausted, and in the course of the same season a cheaper edition Avas issued, to which the author furnished a few corrections and additions. Taking both editions, between thirteen and fourteen . thousand copies of the work were sold in a few months. The Lectures as published are eight in number. In the * Bfougham's Speeches, vol. ii. p. 53. t Piitriot Newspaper for 16th 'Slay 1839. 382 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. first the author defines terms and settles his general position ; in the second he determines the legitimate som^ces of argument and grounds of decision, and enters upon the scriptural argument ; in the third he pursues this argument and answers objections ; in the fourth he considers the legitimate province of the civil magistrate in regard to religion ; in the fifth he expoimds the objects of tlie Voluntaries and the means by which they seek their attainment ; in the sixth he maintains the efliciency of the Voluntary principle, and vindicates it against misrepresentations and objections; in the seventh he argues the independence of principles on statistics, and enters upon the evils of Establish- ments ; and in the eighth he continues this subject, illustrating the manifold evils, political, social, and religious, that result from such institutions. In discussing all these points he makes con- tinual reference to Dr. Chalmers, whose lectures he had been spe- cially engaged to answer. In seeking to form a just estimate of these Lectures of Dr. Wardlaw there are different aspects under which they may be viewed. They may be regarded simply in their polemical aspect as a reply to Dr. Chalmers ; or they may be regarded as an authoritative exposition of the principles, and views, and designs of the Voluntary Church party ; or they may be regarded as a formal defence of the principle of voluntary contribution for the support of Christianity, as distinct from the principle of a State establishment and endowment of Christianity ; and under these different aspects different judgments may be formed as to the author's success. With regard to the first, few I presume will call in question the completeness of Dr. Wardlaw's triumph over the reasonings of Dr. Chalmers. Whatever may be thought as to the merits of the position the latter undertook to defend, it will hardly admit of a doubt that the grounds (so far as they are peculiar to himself) on which he sought to defend it have been proved by his opponent to be utterly untenable, and that the entire line of his defences has been levelled with the dust. Of the genius dis- played in Dr. (Jlialmers's Lectures I say nothing ; hut when his MEKITS OF THE WOKK. 383 argument is divested of the attractions which were thereby cast around it, and reduced to its naked syllogistic bareness, he must be obtuse indeed who does not perceive its fallaciousness, espe- cially after reading Dr. Wardlaw's strictures. As an exposition of the principles, views, and designs of Voluntary Churchmen, Dr. Wardlaw's Lectures are entitled to unqualified commendation. In regard, indeed, to some of the positions he has maintained, it is true that all who disapprove of the establishment of Christianity by the civil power will not accord with ' him ; but taking the Voluntary Church party as a whole, I venture to say that a more just, comprehensive, and perspicacious statement of their case in all its bearings, never was and perhaps could not be submitted to the world. In regard to the merits of Dr. Wardlaw's book as a piece of argumentation in support of the doctrines it was principally designed to defend, the same unanimity of opinion cannot be expected. I feel assured, however, that all will admit the exceeding ability by which his volume is characterized — the ease and purity of his style, the perfect pellucidity of his state- ments, the comprehensiveness of his acquaintance Avith the sub- ject, the exquisite ingenuity and acuteness of his reasoning, and the unfailing courtesy and serenity of his manner. Beyond this I will go no further than to say, that, saving on one point, .1 think his logic so unimpeachable, that I cannot conceive by what process it could be legitimately convicted of any serious flaw. The one point on which I crave permission to reserve favourable judgment is that touching the province of the civil magistrate in religion. On this point Dr. Wardlaw had abstained in former publications from attempting any discussion — resolved, as he says in a letter to a friend, to keep himself to the Scripture argument against establishments. To this resolu- tion it was of course impossible for him to adhere, Avhen sum- moned to appear as respondent to Dr. Chalmers ; but that such a necessity should have been laid upon him I cannot but regret, as what he has written on the subject of the civil magistrate's 384 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. office in relation to religion is by no means equal to the other parts of this volume. The conclusion at which he arrives is the extreme one of Voluntaryism, viz., that " the true and legi- timate province of the magistrate in regard to religion is to have no province at all " — a conclusion so startling and unwelcome that it had need to be founded on very cogent reasons to com- mand our assent. On what grounds, then, has Dr. Wardlaw rested this conclusion ? In the first instance, on the assertion that Scripture has confined the magistrate's functions within the sphere of civil matters. But has not the lecturer stumbled here at the very threshold ? If the magistrate have no province in regard to religion at all, with what consistency can he be appealed to the Bible, the standard of religious truth and duty, to determine what his proper province is ? or if he may be sum- moned legitimately, as a magistrate, to learn his functions from the Bible, how can it be justly said that he has nothing what- ever, as a magistrate, to do with religion ? But waiving this, let us come to the question. What saith the Bible in regard to the functions of the civil magis- trate ? On this point, Dr. Wardlaw is far from being explicit. He asserts the incomiMency of the civil magistrate to decide for his subjects what is religious truth, and constantly affirms that all that is properly religious lies between God and the conscience. I presume that no modern ad\rocate of civil establishments of religion will deny or question either of these positions. All he will plead for is, that the magistrate may lawfully, for the great ends of civil government, provide the means of religiously edu- cating the people — a claim which neither interferes between the conscience of the people and God, nor assumes to, determine for the people what is truth in religion. It would not be fair to represent men of Dr. Chalmers's way of thinking on this sub- ject, as if they contended for the right of magistrates to compel men to believe, or pretend to believe, a given set of dogmas ; when all they assert is the right of the magistrate to make pro- vision for the religious instruction of the community, leaving it free to all to accept that instruction or not as they please. On OFFICE OF THE IMAGISTRxVTE IN RELIGION. 385 this point, I frankly confess I cannot see how the negative can be maintained, as an abstract general proposition, without reducing the functions of the civil magistrate to those of a mere policeman, set up to enforce the will of the majority. If govern- ments are to proceed on the recognition of moral distinctions — if they are bound to enact only what is consistent with moral truth — if, above all, they are to receive and obey the Bible, and recognise its declarations in their enactments — then they not only have a province in regard to religion, but it very greatly concerns them that their subjects should be instructed in those principles which can alone enable them to appreciate aright such legislation. Moreover, if government is to be regarded in th^ light of a trust reposed in the hands of the magistrate for the welfare of the community — not merely their protection from robbery and wrong, but their welfare in the healthy development of all their faculties of social improvement — it is surely most un- reasonable absolutely to forbid the magistrate to use the only means by which such a result can be certainly attained. Of all tyranny the most exorbitant is that which ties a man to an end, but refuses to him the means by which alone that can be reached — not only commanding him to make bricks without supplying him with straw, but forbidding him to use the straw even when he has managed to procure it. Of this worse than Egyptian tyranny are those theoretically guilty who would bind the magis- trate to secure the order and well-being of the community, and yet forbid him under any circumstances to provide that education by which alone this end can be effectually secured. It is usual with those who take the extreme views adopted by Dr. Wardlaw, to lay stress on the question. Who is to determine what is to be taught for religious truth to the community ? There is no doubt a difficulty here ; but it is one which surely has been immensely exaggerated both theoretically and practically. In this country the omniscience of Parlia- ment is as much a principle of government as its omnipotence — in the modified sense, of course, in which alone such langnage can be used of any human institution. We proceed continual! v 2 c 386 aiEMOlUS OF DIx. WA1U)LAW. on the cissnmption that tliere is nothing on which Parhament may not arrive at full and accurate knowledge. On all questions of science, of art, of business, of diplomacy, of warfare — on ques- tions of medicine and metallurgy, of engineering and education, of manufacture and painting — on every subject, in short, that concerns the welfare of the community. Parliament is continu- ally called to pronounce decisions involving the assumption of all but infalhble capacity for determining the truth. It wall not be easy to shoAv why a hodj, in whose powers of ascertaining truth in all other departments of knowledge the community implicitly confides, should be pronounced helplessly incompetent i^ the department of theological truth. It is no doubt possible that Parliament may err in the opinions it may authorise to be taught to the people ; but the probability of this is not so great as to render it incompetent for Parliament to make the attempt ; and if liberty be left to all who choose to dissent -from the opinions taught by the government teachers, every freedom seems to be secured to the community which on grounds of general policy can be required. The only secure and consistent line of argument on this subject seems to be that of those w-ho admit that the magistrate as such has to do with religion ; who, on the ground of this, summon him to the Bible, that he may learn there what true religion is, and what he may legitimately do in regard to its interests ; who admit his obligations to provide for the moral and religious education of the community ; but who stipulate that, as in this the Bible is his authority, so he shall scrupulously refrain from infringing upon any of its prescriptions or on any of the rights conferred by it on the people of Christ, in the scheme and apparatus of religious education he sets to work. To those who are agTeed on these principles, the only further question of any moment is, What saith the Scripture on the subject of establish- ments and endowments of Christianity as a mode of promoting the religious education of the community ? And in answer to this question, the reasonings of Dr. Wardlaw in the earlier Lectures in this volume, confirmed as they are by the facts of ENGAGEMENTS IN LONDON, 387 tlio concluding Lectures, will be found most valuable, as shewing that such institutions cannot be set up without doing violence to express injunctions of Scripture, superseding chartered rights of the followers of Christ, and entailing innumerable evils on the Christian cause. Besides delivering his Lectures, Dr. Wardlaw was frequentl}^ engaged, whilst in London at this time, in public religious ser- vices. He preached the annual sermon for the Orphan AVork- ing School ; he appeared as the representative of the Scottish Congregational Union at the meeting of the Congregational Union for England and Wales ; he took part in the annual meeting of the London Missionary Society in Exeter Hall, where " he was received with inmiense cheering, which continued seve- ral minutes ; " * and he preached in several places on behalf of the Glasgow Theological Academy. For this last object he succeeded in obtaining £170. " In acknowledging," says the secretary in the Report at the close of the Academic session, " this important aid, the best thanks of the committee are due to their esteemed brother for the readiness with which he under- took the great trouble of pleading the claims of the institution in so many places of worship, at a time when otherwise occupied with an arduous but honourable undertaking; in this as in many other instances greatly adding to the obligations under which the Academy is laid to him." Whilst a sense of duty called him to these public services, the claims of private friendship and affection were not neglected by him when in the metropolis. His old friends were visited, and many happy hours spent in their society, though in some instances the mission which had brought him to London was not one in which they could rejoice. To one friend he per- formed an important service of brotherly kindness, of which that friend gives record as follows : — " When, in 1839, our amiable and only daughter was united in marriage to the Rev. James Legge (now Dr.), before his departure for Malacca as a missionary to China, Dr. Wardlaw * Patriot Newspaper for IStli May 1839. 388 MEMOIRS OF DR. WAEDLAW. was in London delivering his course of Lectures on Ecclesiastical Establishments. I had not sufficient command of my feelings to perform the marriage ceremony ; and to whom could we look so naturally to unite our dear children as to one whom they had been taught from their earliest years to love and respect? To a note expressing the fervent wishes of all parties concerned, I received the following characteristic and generous reply : — " Yes, my dear friend, I do accede most cheerfully to your request, by which I feel myself greatly honoured. But ought you not yourself to have mustered courage sufficient to unite the dear couple ? Blessings on them ! and on their dear parents ! I understand, and so does my better half, the trial of se]>aration which awaits you. But, dear friends, it is a great honour to have our children, when God has qualified them by his grace and otherwise, engaged in such a service. Look upward to the source of all sympathy, and doubt not that you will have strength equal to your day. " May all the blessings of the new and well ordered covenant rest on you and yours, and remain with you for ever ! And may the dear young couple about to become one, realise that true and blessed imity which may render them bright examples of conjugal happiness, and which may at the same time shed a peaceful radiance on the path of their beloved parents as they descend into the vale of life ! — Ever, my very dear friends, yours to love and serve, Ralph Wardlaw. " I need not say with what kindness and delicacy of feeling the Doctor performed the interesting duty assigned to him, nor how much it contributed to the happiness of our circle to have him with us on such an occasion. Though very unwell, he exerted himself to the utmost to make the day one of sanctified Christian joy." * From London Di\ ^Yardlaw returned to new labours at home. Li the course of the preceding year whilst passing- through Manchester, he had been urged by the friends of the late Dr. ]\I'A11, whose recent removal had created so sad a blank in the religious circles of that busy town, to undertake the editing of some of his Sermons, and the preparation of a Sketch of his Life and Character to be prefixed. " I have got," says he in a letter to his son, " a charge laid upon me, most unexpected and most inconvenient when my hands were already so full, but which I could not find in my heart to decline, from the manner * Eeminiscences by Dr. Morison. BIUGIIAPHY OF M'ALL. 389 in which it was pressed upon ma by the relatives and trustees and other friends of the late Dr. M'All — I mean the editorship of his MSS., of which it is intended, in the first instance, to publish as many as will fill two octavo volumes. I have to superintend the press, and what is the most trying and respon- sible part of the work — to prefix a kind of prefatory Sketch of the Doctor's Character, &c. — not a Life, for everything of that kind he interdicted, though some very brief memoir cannot by possibility be avoided. In some respects the work delights me, but it will encumber me, and I feel the responsibility rather heavy for me. I shall have to correspond in the first instance with a number of his earlier and later intimates, that 1 may have before me the materials from which to form my estinjate of his character — comparing the views of others with my own. May I receive grace and wisdom from above for these multiplying labours." To this work he could do nothing until his London Lectures were off his hand ; but no sooner were they through the press, than he set himself to the duty which he had thus engaged to perform. With this he was occupied during the remaining part of the sununer and autumn of 1839. The burden of editing another man's writings is always a toilsome one, and this was rendered especially so in the present instance, by the fact that of the Discourses left by Dr. M'All, not one had been prepared for the press, and nearly all of them had been written very rapidly to meet the exigencies of the occasion. To this h'mw labor, however, Dr. Wardlaw cheerfully submitted, and the volumes appeared in November, carefully and correctly edited. It is with the Sketch of the Author's Life and Character prefixed to the first volume alone that 1 have here to do. In this a brief but attractive narrative is given of Dr. M'All's personal history, followed by a truthful if not complete analysis of his mental and moral peculiarities. In some respects it must be admitted the biographer has failed to catch the nicer shades of feature in his subject, and to d&full justice to some of the singular endowments of that extraordinary man. Nor is this to be wondered at 390 JIEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. when we consider that Dr. Warcllaw's opportunities of personal intercourse with Dr. ]M'All had not been very numerous ; that the constitution, physical and mental, of the latter was altogether peculiar, giving to his whole character an idiosyncrasy so deter- mined, that it required to be made the subject of special study to be justly apprehended in all its shades ; and that no two men of high abihty could well be more diverse from each other in natural temperament and tendency than Dr. IM'All and his biographer — the latter calm, cautious, equable, and reflective ; the former impetuous, versatile, daring, and intuitive ; the one mastering knowledge by patient discursive investigation ; the other subjecting to himself the domain of thought, by rapid and resistless incursions into it from every side. Notwithstanding these disadvantages, however, Dr. Wardlaw has acquitted him- self well as the biographer of Dr. M'All, and has presented a sketch of his friend which all may peruse with interest, and to Avhich no serious exception can be taken on any ground. In the summer of 1840, Dr. Wardlaw visited Dublin as the deputy from the Congregational Union of Scotland to that of Ireland. Whilst there he delivered the charge at the ordination of two young men who had completed their studies at the Theo- logical Institution connected with the Irish Unions. This charge was soon after published. It is entitled " The Ministry of the Gospel the service of Christ : A charge addressed to Mr. J. Hodgens and Mr. J. D. Smith, at their ordination in Dublin, June 10th, 1840." Like all its author's productions of a similar kind, this charge is distinguished by affectionate counsel, copious biblical instruction, and animating exhortation. The general scope of his remarks may be gathered from his leading divisions. " If you duly serve the Lord Christ, then, 1. The loill of Christ will be your rule ; 2. The love of Christ will be your principle ; o. The glory of Christ will be your end ; 4. The example of C'hrist will be your pattern ; 5. The grace of Christ will be your confidence; and, 6. The approbation of Christ will be your ainn" Not long after this there came a severe trial of affection and HIS SECOND SON. 391 of principle upon Dr. Wardlaw and his family, in consequence of his second son resolving to devote himself to the work of a mis- sionary in India. What made this the greater trial was that Dr. Wardlaw, seeing the excellent endowments of his son, his sincere piety, and his extensive attainments in general and theo- logical knowledge, had, with a fondness altogether natural, allowed himself to indulge the hope of seeing this beloved son associated with himself in the ministry of the gospel as co- pastor with him of the church in West George Street Chapel. Perhaps he had suffered this desire to take only too strong a hold upon his mind, considering that his son had never ex- pressed any preference for such an arrangement, and considering also the extreme uncertainty which attaches to every thing dependent on a popular election — an error Avhich in so wise and judicious a man can he accounted for only by the strength of parental affection, and which no generous mind will be disposed to censure. Be this, however, as it may, his son's decision to go to India summoned him to break in pieces the pleasing picture he had been indulging himself in contemplating, and to submit at the same time to another breach in that family circle, within which his tenderest affections were centered. It was a sore trial to natural feeling ; but it Avas not greater than the faith and piety of those who were called to pass through it could bear. A fond sister, indeed, in the poignancy of her first grief at the thought of being called to part with such a brother, had said to him that if he carried out his resolution, " it would kill papa ;" but when this was reported to Dr. Wardlaw, he gently rebuked the too ardent feeling wliich had prompted the exclamation, and wrote to his daughter thus : — " You should not, my beloved child, have spoken to him of ' killing his papa.' That was in itself far too strong ; and it was calculated to interfere too much with the working of higher motives." And in the same strain, he replied to the letter in which his son, who was then in London, announced to him his desire to go abroad as a mis- sionary. B92 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW, To Mk. J. S. Warolaav. And now, beloved boy, for the subject that occupies the chief part of your epistle. On that subject you wish to be considered as quite serious. I believe you to be so ; and far be it from me that I should treat it in any other spirit than that of seriousness. I was pretty well aware of the leaning of your mind ; but was hardly prepared to find that leaning so strong — approaching so near as it seems to determination. But determination I certainly should not like it yet to be ; nor would mamma. We are very sorry that Anna, in the plenitude of her filial affection for her parents, should have written to you in the terms you mention. That is a motive which, in what degree soever it may legitimately be appealed to, and allowed to oper- ate, shall never be urged by me — let me say by xis. I give you abundant credit for the absence of ^parricidal intentions ; and to assure you that, whatever might be the feelings and the struggle of nature on the supposition of matters coming to the issue now in hypothesis contemplated, it would not kill me. 0 no. We have learned a better lesson. We are accustomed to pray for the spread of the Gospel, and the universal establishment of the Redeemer's kingdom. God has already once tested the sincerity of our prayers. Suppose he should be pleased to apply the same test again ; are we to say No ? He has put honour (for such we do esteem it) upon our family ; and should he propose the honour again, are we to decline it and say — " Send by the hand of him whom thou wilt send ? Go to any family but ours for additional agents in thy work. Let us have our own way as to them." "That be far from us." No. If from his providence, taken in connexion with the strength and constancy of your inclination, it should be plainly evinced to be his will that another of our family should be devoted to the advancement of his cause in the evangelization of the world, and in- troducing the glory of the latter days, we trust we shall have grace given us in sufBeient strength to overpower the resistance, strong, tender, and resolute as that resistance might be — a subject on which I wish to be silent lest I should appear to give too much countenance to Anna's apprehensions and grounds of dissuasion. I bless God for the unity of sentiment and feeling on the subject between your dear mamma and myself. Our hearts beat in unison respecting it — whether viewed naturally or spiritually — we agree in admiring the principles and feelings elicited by the interesting subject in your letter — the self-difE deuce — the natural affection — the devoted and self-denying spirit which, in every part of it, it breathes. We unite in blessing God for such a son. But, my dearly beloved boy, while I frankly and at once admit the force of much that you say, you must by no means consider the point as fixed. ..... There is nothing in this letter incompatible with the wish to which Dr. Wardlaw still clung, that some arrangement might be reached which would make it plain to his son that the Great Head of the Church had work for him to do in his native city, and among his own people and kindred. Of the difficulties that lay in the way of accomplishing that de- KESOLYES TO BE A MISSIONAliY. 393 sire he was Dot inconsiderate ; but as he ardently wished them to be overcome, " the wish became father to the thought" that they would be overcome, and he was anxious his son should not commit himself to any irrevocable decision until this matter should be finally concluded one way or the other. He accordingly wrote to him in such terms as the following : — I wish much to come to some definite understanding with you regard- ing your future prospects. If your desire after foreign labour is to be grati- fied, then, on many accounts, the sooner the determination to that eflect is announced, at least, whatever interval may elapse before its execution, the better. I should not like that even the slightest appearance should be presented to the public, of what in itself would be so utterly /«^se, that you had resolved on abroad, after trying Sind failing at home. But the question must be considered as still an open one — not by any means foreclosed. There are not a few among ourselves who are set upon the scheme of having you with your Dad ; although, with my full approbation, they have felt the propriety of "dealing prudently." To them, every hint of your fixing elsewhere has been quite startling ; and inquiries, rather in the style of marvel and disappointment, have frequently been made after you. You are wanted ; come home. ........ Now, what may be in the minds of individuals in the church at present — whether any serious thoughts exist on the subject, and are in course of circulation, / know not at all. I should be the very last to wish you to remain with me, unless there Avere a decided and cordial desire of you on the part of the church, /or ^our own sake, and not merely for mine. And in so large a body there will always be variety of tastes and fancies, such as to render an approach to unanimity in any case whatever uncertain. It was not the will of the Lord that this desire of his heart should be gratitied. His son's wish had from the first been for foreign labour, and it was only to gratify his fatlier that he delayed oftering himself to the Mission Board ; and as the con- gregation did not unanimously go into the proposal that he should be his father's colleague, the latter saw in this the finger of Providence pointing out to him the necessity of no longer offer- ing any impediment to his son's following the course on which his heart was bent. He accordingly gave his fall consent to the necessary steps being taken for his son's becoming a missionary of the cross to the heathen. Nor was this the only ofl'ering he was called to make at this time to the missionary cause. With one daughter already 394 MEMOIRS OF DK. WAKDLAW. on the field, lie was summoned to give up another to the same work — his youngest child, Miss Jessie Wardlaw, who was married to the Rev. William Thompson, one of the London Missionary Society's agents, on the 10th of September 1840. As her husband was appointed to the same station as that where her elder sister and her husband had been for several years labouring, the pang of separation w^as somewhat alleviated by the thought that she was going among near and dear friends. It was hoped also that ]\[r. John Wardlaw would also be ap- pointed to the same station when his preparatory studies were completed, and already Dr. and Mrs. AVardlaw, satisfied that there was right principle in the surrender they had made, and that they could look up to Him for whose sake they had made it, and ask his grace and blessing, were beginning to please them- selves with the prospect of "a mission family ov family missio7i being placed at Bellary," on which their natural and spiritual affections should delightfully concentrate. Writing to his son after Mrs. Thompson's marriage, he says, " I need not tell you how blended have been your dear mamma's feehngs and my own already in parting with your beloved sister ; in whose union, at the same time, with one in every way so eminently worthy of her, and on whom our parental affections have so cordially fastened, we have had so very much reason for satisfaction, neither need I say how blended owx prospective feelings are. But the blessed cause is eminently worthy of the sacrifice, both already made, and about to be made — the sacrifice of the feel- ings of nature at the shrine of divine grace. It is our earnest prayer that we may be enabled to take the view of such ar- rangements of Providence Avhich the congratulations of Christian friends present to us — that the Lord is honouring and hlessing us. So he is. But he ' knoweth our frame.' He has him- self given all their tenderness to the fibres of the parental heart. He has made that tenderness the image of his own. He will not frown on our natural feelings, therefore, when we seek to have them kept in subordination to those which ought still to bear the ascendancv." DEATH OF MK. REID. 395 The pleasant anticipations whicli had cheered the heart of Dr. Wardlaw and his partner in sending another child to the East, were not destined to be reahsed. Ere she and her husband landed on the shores of India, the hand of death had broken up the contemplated mission family by the removal of him who should have been at the head of it, Mr, Reid. Of this most painful dispensation. Dr. Wardlaw received intelligence on the afternoon of Sabbath, j\Iarch 14, 1841. The following letter to his daughter Mrs. Gunn contains the particulars of this trying event, and will show also with what feelings it was regarded by the writer. Linn, March 17th, 1841. My beloved A g. — .... The paper and wax, my clearest child, will have prepared you to hear of death, and of death in the circle of our own kindred, either by blood or by affinity. The tidings are of death, they are from a far land — from India — from Bellary. Your excellent and much-loved brother- in-law, Joh)i Reid, is in heaven. I like to give you this impression of the event at the very outset. It is the cheering one ; and, having it first in your mind may serve to sustain your spirit in reverting, as we must do, to those aspects of it which are of a gloomy and afflictive character. While his whole course has been such as to leave us not the shadow of a doubt as to the truth of what I have affirmed concerning him — that he is in l^ven — that he is gone to be with Christ, which is fa.r better — there being a way to the blessed abode of himself and his redeemed from every part of our world ; — still there are those who remain below, to whom the event is neces- sarily a source of the deepest affliction and distress. First, among these stands our sweet and dearly loved Marianne, now a desolate widow, with her five fatherless children ! and now too, let me add, on the mighty waters, and, if all be well, nearly half way back to her native home ! The facts are these : — Marianne herself, as Ralph, I presume, in his last letter would in- form you, had been (as she had more than once been before) alarmingly ill. Just as she got a little better, and was no more than able to write, came a letter from her to the friends in England, forwarded by them to us, announcing that John had been, in his turn, so very ill, that, by repeated blistering and salivation, he had been reduced to a state of such prostration of strength as to be unable to rai.«e himself in bed without aid. But the letter, at the same time, intimated a turn to the better, and a letter from a neutral quarter a few days later, announced the continuance of the favour- able symptoms, so that we were in sanguine hopes of the next accounts being of recovery. These hopes, however, have proved delusive. The disorder had taken an unfavourable turn again, and he sunk under the thorough exhaustion of nature's energies. He died on the 8th of January. We have as yet no details of his dying hours. We look for these with longino- interest. Letters from Mr. Crisp of Bangalore, and INIr. Sewell of the same station, of which John has sent us extracts to day, announced the mournful event to the directors. The letters speak in the very highest terms of Mr, 396 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. Ileid's eminent excellence as a missionary, and the icarmest of their aftec- tionate personal attachment to him. According to Mr. Crisp's letter, your dear widowed sister had heen very graciously supported under the heaviest of earthly bereavements, And, as (providentially I cannot but feel) Mr. Hands was about to sail to this coun- try, it was thought desirable that such an opportunity^for her return should not be lost. jMr. Crisp writes : — " I hear she is to leave Bellary on the 26th inst. (Januai'y) escorted by our dear brother Mr. Taylor of Belgaum. She purposes coming by way of Bangalore, and Mr. Sewell and myself will go out to meet her ; and hence Ave shall accompany her towards Madras, making arrangements that she may have all needful attention at every part of the road." And Mr. Sewell says, " Mrs. Reid and her family will probably accompany Mr. Hands to England." This probability is now, from other communications, understood to be a certainty. We may look, therefore, for the beloved " widow and fatherless," whom may He who is " the father of the fatherless and the widow's judge" take under his gracious and almighty keeping, and bring them safe ! — in the mouth of JMay or of June. From the medical statement, however, of her health as well as his, we are not without our anxiety — an anxiety from which we cannot now be relieved till the arrival of the vessel. We got the melancholy tidings on Lord's-day, after the afternoon service ; and had it confirmed by a letter from John, which we found at the post-otiice on our way home. And now I turn to another interesting and beloved pair of surviving sufferers. 0 ! it goes to my very heart to think of the pang of bitter bitter disappointment, which must have been endured by dearest Jessy and her amiable and excellent associate. It was one of our comforts in parting with t.hen\ and one of theirs in parting from us, that they were going where they would enjoy the delightful reciprocations of kindred affection, and co-operate, with united hearts, in the best of works — and to find all, a blank ! one gone to heaven, and the rest on their way whence they themselves had come ! 0 for all the strength of grace to keep their hearts from sinking. The Lord, to whom they have given their lives, will be with them. I should rather say has been, I trust, with them ; for by this time the first pangs must be over. What a checquered scene is this vain world ! How short our vision ! If indeed v:e saw as God sees, there could be no trust. I have felt my own ispirit, on this occasion, strongly tempted to rebellion. I pray against it ; pray for me. Your precious brother John's letter, breathes the true spirit of a missionary. He longs now the more to go, and desires to regard him- self as he finely, and I think according to the true spirit of the apostle's phrase, expresses it, as " baptized for the deadj' ofiering himself to fill up the ranks of the fallen. And, if it nnist be so, who among us should wish to hold him back ? We give him up to Christ. If he emulates the apostle, he must not " count his life dear unto himself " in his service and for /u'*- glory. As a most appropriate sequel to this letter, 1 append the following, addressed to his son, to whom tliis concluding allusion is made. When my readers have perused this noble letter, they will, 1 am persuaded, thank me for inserting it. LETTER TO IIIS SON. 397 Linn, April 10th, 1841. My ever and very clear John — I should sooner have written to you, but for the meetings of the week that is now closing, by which successive days have been so completely filled up ; and previously I bad diiferent engagements which made me not unwilling to allow dear Anna to be my substitute for the time. Yet many a time have I longed to blend my parental with your fra- ternal feelings, on an occasion in which, on other grounds besides those of nature, you cannot fail to experience a peculiarly powerful and tender inte- rest. The recent event has been one in all its aspects touching and lament- able. And yet, did we see all the bearings of events as they are seen by the omniscient eye, we should be sensible that the second of these epithets is not the right one. In the light of heaven it is seen far otherwise than as a rea- son for lamentation. I do not mean merely because, as the hymn runs : — " "WTien the soul from prison fled, Hasting homeward to return, Mortals cry a man is dead ! Angels say a child is born." Not only because every ransomed spirit is there, " welcomed from a world of woe — welcomed to the land of rest ! " but because there is, we may pre- sume, more seen there of the connection between the links in the great chain of providence, and thus what we mourn as unpropitious and distress- ing, is there, in the light of clearer knowledge, hailed with approving accla- mation, not only as introducing another kindred spirit to the purity and joy of the heavenly paradise, but as contributing in reality to the glory of Jesus, and to the progress and ultimate triumph of his truth and kingdom below. I shall not again go over the various aspects of the event that has drawn from so many eyes the tears of bitter affliction ; nor touch again the character of him, the early close of whose honourable and eminently useful career has seemed to us so full of mystery . . We bless God for the support and comfort afforded to the members, and especially to the aged heads of that circle, [Mr. Reid's family], under the recent heavy stroke of the divine hand. And now, my beloved boy, I turn my fond heart to you. I need not assure you how deeply and tenderly we have all felt for you, in the peculiar position in which you now stand. From my knowledge of your character, I was full well aware of the nature of the impression which our very dear friend's departure would make upon your spirit ; that what to some minds might have operated as a dissuasive would to yours have only the effect of an incentive. I approve and admire this, my beloved boy ; it is the spirit of the Christian and of the true mis- sionary of the cross. Jesus has told us, that " he who comes after him, must hate his own life'''' — that is, hold it as nothing in comparison with the love, and smile, and honour of his Lord and Saviour — "else he cannot be his disciple." Thus must not only every missionary, but every disciple of Jesus, be in spirit and purpose a martyr. You have given your life to Christ ; and precious, 0 how precious ! — I say it with a full heart and a full eye — as that life is in my sight, and in the sight of her who is ever the sharer of all my parental emotions, whose heart beats in unison, and whose tears, both of sorrow and of joy, flow in unison with my own ; yet should I be ashamed of you, could I have fancied for a moment that any such event could have inspired one feeling of shrinking hesitancy in your bosom. No ; 398 JIEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. I know you better. You have more, I trust, of the spirit of him who saiJ, " none of these things move me ; neither count I my life dear unto myself." Your expression, that you now regarded yourself as " baptized for the dead,'''' brought a gush to my eyes, in which I can hardly say whether delight or sadness preponderated ; but they were both there, and my heart clung more fondly than ever to my beloved boy for his spirit of conscientious and self-sacrificing devotedness. You know that we have given you, as you have given yourself, to the Lord. And should his providence still so order it — that is, should he give us continued evidence of his seeing foreign ser- vice to be that in which you will contribute most to his glory and the good of souls — we have the full assurance that, when the hour of trial comes, he will give grace the control of nature, and make us experience — and you with us — the faithfulness of his promise, "As thy days are, so shall thy strength be ! " Enough then of this. There, meanwhile, let it rest ! Amidst these trials Dr. Wardlaw had also to contend with personal suffering, occasioned by a repetition of his former symp- toms. These, however, though such as to alarm his friends, do not seem to have greatly oppressed his own mind. " They have been," he writes to his son, "I thank God, but slight, and the measures of the doctor arc more of a precautionary character for the sake of preventing their increase, than indicative of any immediate apprehensions. Dr. A. has put me on a system of caution and care and reduced labour, and avoidance of close and especially anxious mental application, &c. I preached only twice these two past Sabbaths, and though in preaching yester- day morning, I did feel, before coming to a close, that the effort was more exhausting than usual, I had no uneasy sensations whatever, and am disposed to imagine that the feelings of ex- haustion and effort may have arisen from the medical treat- ment." The general good health which Dr. Wardlaw enjoyed, not- withstanding his liability to such attacks, he attributed in no small degree to his residence in the country, where he not only escaped unseasonable visitations, but obtained the prodigious advantages of fresh air, pleasant scenery, and gentle excitement alternating with serene repose. Hitherto, his residence in the country had been at Linn House, a pleasantly situated dwelling some miles from the city, of which he and his family were very fond. But this year he was compelled to change his residence. BANISHED FROM LINN. 399 for a reason which he thus pleasantly announces in a letter to his son. We are banished from Linn, Jack ! Mr. G. has got a tenant to take the house and land together ; but as I made a proposal equivalent to that, it is more than conjectured, there is some little reason at least to believe, that particular considerations have had some weight in turning the scale against us ! He wishes to have the vote connected with Linn on the right side i On the whole, he has treated us shabbily somewhat, considering our three years' occupancy, and the offer I made. You know it is not my way to indulge in the acGusat07-y style, without knowing all circumstances ; but I do think in the present instance there is probably some good ground to acatse- a-tory for our disappointment. His next residence was at Barlanerk, a house about the same distance from Glasgow as Linn, but in a different direction. 400 CHAPTER XVI. A. D. 1841~A. D. 1844. Neither famil}^ trial, nor personal infirmit}^, nor the stern decree of the physician that he must avoid hard mental labour, conld keep Dr. Wardlaw from the toils of the study. The interest he felt in his work, the sense of dut}' under Avhich he continually acted in reference to his engagements, and the habit he had formed of continuous, steady application, combined to keep him continually in harness. And as ever happens with those who are willing to work, and able to work successfully, he had many duties laid upon him which did not properly belong to him, and which might have been quite as well discharged by less occupied men. At this period, very much of his time and attention was engrossed by the perusal of the essays which had been sent in as competitors for the prize, offered to the best essay on Christian Missions to the Heathen. The number of these was great, and thej possessed all possible degrees of merit or de- merit, ranging from the noble compositions to which the first and second prizes were assigned, down to productions of the most contemptible puerility. Besides the time spent on the perusal and the consideration of the essays, so as to do equal justice to all, there was the large amount of correspondence with his coadjudicators requisite, in order to their coming to such a decision as could lie announced to the public and to the compe- titors. To all this Dr. Wardlaw cheerfully submitted as a sacrifice to a good and holy cause ; and doubtless he felt himself more than rewarded by the publication of two such essays as m'neile's lectures. 401 those to which the prizes were assigned, and b}^ the consideration that the decision of the adjudicators had fallen on two of his own brethren, for both of whom he entertained tlie most cordial esteem. In the spring of 1841 he was not a little occupied with the affairs of the Irish Congregational Union, and its diffe- rences with the Irish Evangelical Society. Without ceasing to be the friend of the latter, he M'armly espoused the cause of the former, and both by pen and voice strove to advance its interests. It would not interest the readers of this volume to detail the merits of the question between these two socie- ties here ; suffice it to say that Dr. Wardlaw acted as one of a conference which met at Liverpool in June of this year, and which after a careful survey of the whole case, proposed a plan on which the two societies might co-operate without mutual interference. Dr. Wardlaw appeared again this -year as an advocate of the Voluntary Principle in Religious Matters, by publishing " Letters to the Rev. Hugh M'Neile, M.A., on some portions of his Lectures on the Church of England." The Lectures of Mr. M'Neile were delivered in London in the course of the preceding year, and were designed partly to supply some points omitted by Dr. Chalmers, especially bearing on the pretensions of the Anglican Church, and partly to reply to some of the rea- sonings of Dr. Wardlaw in his Lectures on Church Establish- ments. A large and brilliant assembly was convened to listen to the lecturer, who put forth all his powers for the occasion, and seemed, from the applause that greeted him as he pro- ceeded, to have met the wishes and expectations of his auditory. Having been present during the delivery of some of these Lec- tures, I may be permitted to say that I do not remember ever witnessing a more remarkable instance of the power of elocution than was then furnished. The material of the Lectures was slender enough ; the thinking was loose, the information super- ficial, the reasoning feeble; but the gesture, the action, the enunciation, were superb. As a defence of Church Establish- 2 D 402 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. ments, Mr. M'Neile's was but a poor performance after the lec- tures of Dr. Chalmers, as people very soon found when his book was published; but when delivered with a port and an elocution which a Kean or a Kemble might have envied, I do not wonder :at the rapturous applause with which his Lectures were received. In one respect it was hardly worth Dr. Wardlaw's while to spend much time in replying to such a Avork as Mr. M'Neile had sent forth ; but in another respect it was of importance that it should be noticed, for an opportunity was afforded by its appear- ance of still further indoctrinating the public mind with just principles on the important topics on which the lecturer had touched. In the Letters which Dr. Wardlaw addressed to Mr. M'Neile, how^ever, he confined himself exclusively to the scrip- tural argument which the latter had attempted to rear in favour of civil establishments of religion, and to the strictures which he had offered on some parts of Dr. Wardlaw's Lectures. The Letters are five in number. The first is chiefly of an introduc- tory character, relating to the proper standard of appeal in such questions, and correcting some errors in Mr. M'Neile's state- ments on this head. In Letter Second, Dr. Wardlaw takes up his antagonist's doctrine respecting the Jewish nation as a type of the concrete visible church of later times, and his notion that the Corinthian church, whose corruptions Paul denounces, is to be viewed as the proper model, according to apostolic appoint- ment, of wdiat a Christian church should be ; and to these monstrous absurdities he replies with a patience and gentle- ness that are marvellous, and a gravity that is almost amus- ing. In Letter Third, he examines and largely refutes Mr. M'Neile's' " confident appeal " to the Parables of the Mar- riage Supper, and of the Tares in the Field, in favour of his doctrine of an impure church being accordant with the primitive model. In Letters Fourth and Fifth, he replies to Mr. M'Neile's strictures on his own reasonings concerning the relation of the Jewish Theocracy to the question of civil establishments of reli- gion, and concerning the province of the civil magistrate in reli- SERMON ON REVIVALR. 403 gion. In these Letters the author's wonted acuteness, discrimi- nation, and sagacity, are remarkably displayed ; whilst there is the most careful avoidance of every thing in expression and allusion that could appear inconsistent with respect and even esteem for the person of his opponent. The circulation of these Letters was extensive and rapid. " The third thousand of the Letters to M'Neile," writes the author on the 10th of April 1841,* " is just printed off." They were issued in a cheap form, with a view to secure their wide diffusion, and this end was happily attained. In June of this year Dr. Wardlaw spent some time in Lancashire on his way to London, where a service of a peculiarly interesting kind awaited him. Whilst in Lancashire he took part in the ]\Iissionary Anniversary at Liverpool on the 13th, and three following days ; was present at the examination of the Blackburn Academy, where his nephew, the Rev. Gilbert Wardlaw, was theological tutor, on the 16th and 17th ; attended the Missionary Anniversary at Manchester on tlie 20th and fol- lowing days ; and returned to Liverpool to take part in the conference on the affairs of the L'ish Societies in the course of the following week. When at Manchester he preached a ser- mon which, at the urgent request of many who heard it, was soon after published. It is entitled " The Revival of Religion : A Discourse of which the substance was delivered in Mosley Street Chapel, Manchester, at the Anniversary of the East Lancashire Auxiliary Missionary Society, June 22d, 1841." The text of this discourse, which was condensed from three previously delivered in Glasgow, is Hosea xiv. 5-8, and its main design is to present a just and scriptural view of religious revivals — a subject which at the time was exciting much atten- tion in both parts of the Island, and regarding which some very unsound and mischievous notions were afloat. With this view the author in this discourse first takes a general view of revival in religion, as its nature and indications may be collected from the imagery of the text ; then enters into some practical details * To Mr J. S. Wardlaw. 404 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. as to the most eligible means for effecting and maintaining such a revival ; and, finally, specifies the results by which its reality must be evmced, and its character tested. The discourse is marked by a happy combination of ardent piety and zeal with scriptural intelligence, practical sagacity, and soundness of mind ; and the publication of it rendered good service to the cause it was designed to promote. From Lancashire Dr. Wardlaw went up to London for the purpose of taking part in the ordination of his son as a mis- sionary to India. This interesting, and to him especially deeply affecting service, took place on the evening of Wed- nesday the 11th of July, at New Court Chapel, Carey Street, Lincoln's Inn. The part allotted in the engagements of the evening to Dr. Wardlaw was the giving of the charge to the newly ordained missionary, which he did in a manner that called forth the sympathies whilst it excited the admiration of all Avho were present. His address was founded on Acts xxii. 21 : " And he said unto me. Depart, for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles ;" and was occupied chiefly in illustrating the passage in its bearing on the case of a missionary sent forth as Paul was, under the auspices of the Divine Redeemer, to distant lands to bear to their inhabi- tants the glad tidings of salvation. Only as he approached the peroration did the speaker venture to make any direct or length- ened allusions to the circumstances in which he was placed in relation to the individual to whom his discourse was specially addressed. As he came to these his voice faltered for a moment, and the blinding tears filled his eye ; but recovering himself instantly, he gave utterance to a burst of manly pathos and eloquence which touched all hearts, and which very competent j adges pronounced one of the finest things of the kind that had ever been pronounced. There are few passages in British oratory finer than the concluding sentences, though I can give them only from a short-hand report of the discourse. My son, He whom you serve has said, " Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." Fidelity is one of the first and ORDINATION OF HIS SON. 405 most essential qualitications either in a minister of Christ at home, or in a missionary abroad ; fidelity even to death. When Herculaneum and Pompeii were disinterred, the skeletons of Roman sentinels are said to have been found standing at their respective posts ; the bones of the dead, the memorials of the resolute fidelity of the living. There they stood, simply because there they had received their orders to stand ; and not all the accumulated horrors of that tremendous day, when amid portentous darkness, thunderings and lightnings and earthquakes, boiling streams and suftbcating vapours, strange sights and stranger sounds, those two cities, like another Sodom and Gomorrah, were buried beneath falling ashes or engulphed in a fiery deluge— not all the horrors of that tre- mendous day could shake in them the soul of the stubborn Roman, or conquer the force of the discipline, by which the man was absorbed in the soldier. When all was in motion around them, the instinctive love of life hurrying every living thing from the devoted spot, these breathing statues remained unmoved amid •' the war of elements," and died at their posts ; and after the laj^se of seventeen centuries, they are brought forth to light — an example of heroic constancy, worthy of a better service than that of Rome and despotism ; for if we cannot eulogise the wisdom of so useless a self-devotion, we cannot but admire the unfailing stedfastness of even mis- taken duty. But such is not yours. There is reason, there is piety, there is benevolence, there is divinity in your commission. Go then, my son. " Fight" this " good fight of faith." " Go in the strength of the Lord God." Your warfaie is for God — for Christ — for truth — for souls — for heaven — for eternity. Its results terminate not with your life — terminate not with time ; they last for ever. Go, then, beloved in the Lord. Should we ever on earth see your face again, after you shall have quitted your native shores, I have no fear of seeing it otherwise than in honour. If you come to us, " bearing in your body the marks of the Lord Jesus," they will be scais, I doubt not, received not in flight, but in facing and daring the foe. With your shield, or on it, my beloved boy. Many and urgent were the applications made to Dr. Wardlaw for the publication of this charge ; but with these he did not see proper to comply. His reason for this, in part at least, is stated in the following extract from a letter to his son written after his return home : — The thought that you were not going off immediately, sustained me greatly on the evening of your ordination. It was a delightful season. Every one seems to have felt it such. Mr. Binnie was in ecstasy with the whole, and Dr. Parker* says "he never attended an occasion of the kind with such a depth of pleasing interest." I felt myself that the whole was in excellent keeping ; the various parts harmonising well in their character and general effect. When, on Dr. Parker's expressing a strong wish for the publication of the services, I mentioned the impossibility of trans- fusing into a pamphlet the pervading spirit of a meeting, he said I reminded him of an American minister (whom he named) who, on occasion of a storm arising, left the subject he had begun to preach upon, and gave * A clergyman from the United States. 40(J MEMOIRS OF DU. WARDLAW. scope to the thoughts which the solemn scene suggested ; and when applied to by the body of the students next morning for the publication of his dis- course, told them, he would try to furnish from his recollection the sermon, if tkei/ would engage to furnish the thunder and lightning. Good ! Shortly after his return from England, Dr. Wardlaw was called to perform the mournful duty of preaching the funeral sermon for his old and endeared friend and colleague Mr. Ewing. The death of one with whom he had been so long and so afifec- tionately associated was a dispensation which he keenly felt. In writing to Dr. Burder, he speaks of him as '^ our dear and venerated old friend Mr. Ewing," and adds, " He had been from home for some time on a visit to friends ; had said to one or more of them that he was going home to die ; repeated the same with gratitude to God when he did return, although to friends around him there were no visible symptoms to produce alarm ; and he loas right. Having arrived at home on the Wednesday evening, he died soon after midnight between the Lord's day and j\Ionday, breathing out his spirit so speedily and so serenely, that his last respiration was undistinguishablc, nor was there the slightest discomposure of a single feature. He had just taken a little coffee, and his last audible words were * My heavenly Father is kind, very kind to me ; then trust in God.' It may truly be said, ' Having said this, 'he fell asleep.' " Dr. Ward- law's sermon was from the text, Phil. i. 21 : — " For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain," a verse which, by a pleasing and unintentional coincidence, he had inscribed as a motto on the titlepage of the sermon he had preached nearly thirteen years before for the funeral of ]\Irs. Ewing. After illustrating the two leading topics of the text, as expressing the principles, object, and prime interest of the earthly life of Christ's faithful servants, and as describing their blessed prospects after death, he entered into a somewhat full sketch of the life and character of his departed friend. This was admirably executed ; giving in a comparatively brief, space a very just and comprehensive delineation of his intellectual and moral qualities, and a sober but friendly estimate of his worth as a man and as a minister of PKOPOSED RESIGNATION. 407 Christ. The discourse was immediately afterwards published under the title " The end of Living and the Gain of Dying to the Faithful Servant of Christ : A Sermon preached in the Congregational Chapel, Nile Street, Glasgow, August 8th, 1841, on occasion of the death of the Rev. Greville Ewing," &c. Dr. Wardlaw probably felt the death of his venerable friend and coadjutor all the more, from the circumstances in which he himself was at this time placed. In consequence of advancing age, repeated attacks of illness, accumulated labours arising from extended reputation and influence, and the shock which his feelings had sustained in the disappointment of his hopes that his son would be associated with hira in the pastorate, he had been led to think of resigning his connection with the church, and confining himself to the duties of the Academy, the labours of the desk, and such occasional pulpit engagements as he might be called to fulfil. A proposal of this sort could not but greatly agitate the church over which he had so long presided, and the great majority of which were devotedly attached to his person and his ministry. Nor was the anxiety confined to them. A large body of persons were in the constant habit of listening to Dr. Wardlaw's preaching, who did not form part of the church ; and to them the prospect of his resigning was peculiarly dis- tressing, inasmuch as with him would be removed the only tie that bound them to the place. Meetings of the church were accordingly held for prayer and deliberation ; and a separate meeting of the members of the congregation, as disftnct from the church, was also convened for the purpose of expressing their feelings on the occasion. From this latter, which was held on the 21st of December, Mr. Samuel Higginbotham in the chair, there emanated the following document : — The Rev. Dr. Wardlaw. Glasgow, 22d Dec. 1841. Rev. and Dear Sir — We the undersigned. Members of the Congregation of West George Street Chapel, have heard with feelings of the deepest regret and concern of your proposed resignation of the pastoral charge of the church and congregation. Without entering into any discussion of the reasons which may have influenced you iu taking this step, and without the least intention or desire 4(J8 MEMUIUS OF i)R. WAKDLAW, to interfere with the church in the management of its affairs, we take leave to state our very strong feelings, on the one hand, of the great advantage, not only to the church and congregation, but to evangelical religion, of your continuing pastor of the church, and on the other, the disastrous conse- quences likely to result from your resigning the office, the duties of which you have so long, so ably, and so zealously performed. Strongly impressed with these feelings, we trust, that by the appoint- ment of an assistant agreeably at once to yourself and to the church, the labours of your office may be so lightened as to secure a continuance of your highly-prized and valuable ministrations. — We remain, with much esteem, Rev. and Dear Sir, your faithful and obedient servants. Signed by 152 Male and Female Members of the Congregation. The proposal contained in this document of engaging some one to be an assistant to Dr. Wardlaw was not carried out ; but it was thought desirable, that some one, agreeable alike to him- self and the church, should be sought for and invited to become his colleague, so as to relieve him from the more onerous duties of his pastoral office. Nothing, however, was done in the meantime, and his health and spirits having greatly revived, the matter was soon after allowed for a season to drop. The reader has already been informed of repeated attempts to tear Dr. Wardlaw from Glasgow and to transplant him to the south of the Tweed. Another and a still more tempting proposal of the same kind was made to him at this time from the Committee of Education of the Lancashire College, for which a splendid edifice had just been erected in the vicinity of ]\Ianchester. Of this I cannot give a better account than will be supplied by the perusal of the correspondence which took place on the occasion : — Liverpool, April 22d, 1842, My dear Sir — As chairman of the Education Committee of the Lanca- shire Independent College, I am requested to enquire whether you will .jillow a deputation, consisting of Dr. Halley, Mr. Kelly, and myself, to wait upon you for the purpose of presenting for your consideration the Theo- logical Chair in that Institution. The Committee are of opinion that a free and unreserved conversation, on a matter of such vast importance as that to which they are anxious to direct your attention, is much better than any other mode of communication. If, therefore, there is any ground of hope that the proposed interview may have a termination favourable to our views, we shall be obliged by your naming the earliest period at which you could conveniently receive us. INVITATION TO LANCASHIKE COLLEGE. 409 I need not say, my dear sir, with how much pleasure I discharge this trust, and with how much truth I am your most faithful friend and servant, Tho. Raffles. The Rev. Dr. Wardlaw. Barlanerk, May 21st, 1842. My dear Friend — You will not lay to my charge having taken too little time to consider the proposal contained in your letter of April 22d. I fear, on the contrary, I shall come in for a pretty heavy charge of having taken more than enough, especially when jou find my reply, after all, such as to hold out no encouragement. The situation which it was the object of the proposed deputation to " present for my consideration " is, without doubt, in every view of it, regarded in itself, a very tempting one ; nor will I deny that there are personal considerations, connected with my present position, that serve to enhance the temptation. But it may not he. With- out prosing, and going about the bush, there are three reasons, each of which would of itself be sufficient to dictate a negative answer: — 1. Al- though I would not, with a false and hypocritical humility, speak of my- self as in all respects destitute of suitable qualifications for the sphere of official engagements which you bring before me, yet there are some points, in which, from my knowledge of myself, and of the nature and extent of my attainments, as well as of what is justly looked for in such a sphere, I am deeply sensible of incompetency for the satis-factory fulfilment of its functions. Into any statement I do not enter. 2. In my advancing years, I do shrink from the increased amount of varied and active exer- tion which the sphere in question must require, and from the augmented load of deep and solemn responsibility thence arising upon my conscience, I have been, and am rather longing for the time, when it may please my gracious Master to open my way honourably to a release from the public duties of my ministry, at least so far as the weight of pastoral responsibili- ties is concerned, and to give me the opportunity of doing aught in my power, while it may please him to spare me, for the benefit of his cause, by more private studious occupations ; and the more so, that for some years he has seen meet to unfit me for some of the desirable activities of a pastoral life. 3. Some time ago, when a proposition of a similar kind was presented to me from another quarter, and when the church of which I have so long had the pastoral care dealt most honourably and generously by me, I came under an obligation to them, in declining that ofler, not to forsake them for any other that might present itself ; by which I feel myself bound, in all honour, and truth, and gratitude, sacredly to abide. I wished to have given you the precise terms in which I then took upon me that obligation, and my having, by some fatality, laid too carefully by, and forgotten where, the correspondence on the occasion, has been partly the cause of my very culpable delay in answering your communication. And now let me conclude, my dear friend, by assuring yourself and the members of your " Education Committee," of the gratitude which I very deeply feel for the honour they have put upon me — of the great delight it would have given me, but for the nature of their object, to see three so highly valued and esteemed friends and fellow-servants of our common Lord, under my roof — of my very sincere regret and sorrow for the circum- stances which have induced the necessity of your looking out for a new 410 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. theological tutor, the sad incapacitating visitation of one so dear to me by the bonds of both nature and grace — and of my most earnest prayer, that the Church's Exalted Head may guide you to such a choice as shall, under his auspices, render your new and extended institution an eminent and per- manent blessing to his glorious cause, both as it respects his gospel, and those principles of congregational dissent which we regard as so closely connected with that gospel's success and triumph. — Believe me, my dear friend, yours with affectionate esteem, The Rev. Dr. Raffles. Ralph Wardlaw. Liverpool, June 8, 1842. My dear Doctor — Your letter, declining the overtures which we were prepared to make to you, in reference to the Theological Chair in the Lan- cashire Independent College, in such a way as to forbid the indulgence of any hope on our part of the ultimate accomplishment of our wishes, was duly laid before the Educational Committee of that institution. I need not say that it was heard by us all with deep regret ; and it was not till we had been forced to the conviction, from a careful consideration, and re-con- sideration, of the reasons which you adduce for your decision, and the decided way in which they were stated, that to urge the matter still further on your attention would be both useless and indelicate, that we were con- strained to abandon the idea which we had for sometime fondly cherished, and to which an earlier expression would have been given, if our peculiar circumstances had permitted us to do so, of seeing a name so highly and deservedly honoured by the churches of Christ, at the head of our new and important institution. But Vi^e must bow to that which we have no power to control, assured that we have as much of your influence as you can bestow in our favour, and that is not small, for we know the efficacy of prayer, and can in some measure estimate the value of the good wishes and favourable opinion of those to whose judgment the Christian public are accustomed to defer. I wish I could better express than I fear I have done, all the deep regrets and affectionate and respectful sentiments which on this occasion I was charged by the Committee to convey to you ; but I trust I have been enabled to say enough to impress you in some degree with their views and feelings in this matter, while for myself I am as ever, with the highest regards, my dear Doctor, most faithfully and affectionately your friend and servant, Tho. Raffles. Rev, Dr. Wardlaw. Whilst this correspondence was pending, Dr. Wardkiw was summoned by a call from his fellow-citizens to undertake a task from which he naturally shrunk as one of great delicacy and difficulty, but which was urged upon him in such a way as to render it almost impossible for him to refuse. This was to deliver a series of Lectures on the subject of Female Prostitu- tion ; and the request that he would do so came in the shape of a memorial signed by eleven hundred of his fellow-citizens, and LECTURES ON PROSTITUTIUN. 411 backed by a recoramendatioD signed by thirty-eight ministers of the gospel of various rehgious denominations. The parties from which that request emanated were moved by a consideration of the growing extent of the evil in question, and the enormous mischief v/hich such a state of things was entailing both physi- cally and spiritually on the community ; and they were led to fix on Dr. Wardlaw as the fittest person to address the public on the subject by their confidence in his sound sense, delicate feeling, and good taste. It was to him far from pleasant to have his name associated in any way with a subject of this sort ; but regarding such a call as he had received as laying on him an imperative duty, he sacrificed his own feelings and set himself to discharge the task which had been assigned him. The first Lecture was delivered on the evening of the 30th of May, when the Hon. Sir James Campbell, Lord Provost of the city, took the chair ; and two others followed on the two succeeding evenings ; the audiences being throughout the whole com- posed exclusively of males. " The painful duty," he says in a letter dated June 10th, " I had to discharge last week, I got, thank God, comfortably through. The first Lecture was two hours and a quarter ; the other two one and three quarters each. They were well attended to the close, and well received. I shall be obliged, I believe, to put them to press ; for which I am just preparing them. I felt quite strong at the time, but experienced a good deal of languid exhaustion for a day or two after." At the request of the Society for the Protection of Females, these Lectures were re-delivered some weeks later in Edinburgh, where they were spread over four evenings, the first having been found too long for one address in Glasgow. They were imme- diately afterwards published under the title of " Lectures on Female Prostitution : Its Nature, Extent, Effects, Guilt, Causes, and Remedy," &c. " It is a subject," he writes to his son, " with which the public association of one's name is not in itself very pleasant, though I hardly know why, if good may be done." The judgment of the virtuous public generally on this work 412 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. may be furnished by the foUowhig extract from a review of it in the Christian Guardian : — " We can employ no language sufficiently strong to express our admiration of the manner in which the author has executed his delicate task." The same critic commends this volume as the most masterly production on this very melancholy theme in our own or in any language. And now the time had arrived when Mr. John Wardlaw, who had since his ordination been engaged at Haileybury Col- lege in the study of the Oriental languages, was to leave for the place of his destination as a missionary. Painful beyond any- thing he had hitherto experienced was it for Dr. Wardlaw to say farewell to this beloved child ; but keenly as he felt the trial he never either attempted to turn his son from his sacred purpose, or murmured at the frustration of his own most cherished hopes regarding him. The following is the strain in which he uttered his farewell : — Ardrossan, Wednesday Night, June 22, 1842. And now the time is very near of your quitting your native shores for the far distant East ; and while we at home are lamenting your leaving us, the dear ones there are anticipating, pensively on our account, but joy- fully on their own, your joining them ; and the prospect of your joining them is, at the same time, a comfort and a sweetener of the bitter to tis. It is this, along with the one delightful thought of the Master for whose glory, and the cause for whose advancement, you are going " far hence unto the Gentiles." that sustains our heavy-laden spirits. But you have enough to oppress you in your own feelings without my trying to lay upon you the burden of ours. No, my lad ; I will rather encourage and cheer you on. God has been showing me the truth of his declaration in this as in other departments of his procedure. " My ways are not your ways, neither are your thoughts my thoughts." All that I will now say is, that there have been few, if any, of the divine dispensations, in the course of my pilgrimage, that have been the occasion to me of greater wonder, and to which I have felt greater difficulty in bringing my mind to a full, believing reconcilia- tion, than the present one. My plan seemed so natural, and so good a one, that I have been apt, in the plenitude of my presumption, to marvel why the blessed God has not seen it as I saw it. Still, however, I have the fullest conviction that, were it within the bounds of the possible for me to have for one instant the eyes of God, the glance into futurity of that one instant would settle all my misgivings, silence all my murmurings, and fix me in admiring and adoring satisfaction and gratitude. But I am only, I daresay, repeating what I have said before. The lesson, however, is one which can never be too closely, or too constantly present to the mind. It FAMILY CHANGES. 413 is our only peace in regard to all that is future, as well as all that is dis- tant, " we walk by faith, not by sight." We must never let slip the remem- brance, that while we cannot see an hour into the future, the Supreme Governor looks from eternity to eternity, and that while there is nothing too vast, neither is there anything too minute for the attentive care of his providence. Thursday, July 23d. Fareivell! farewell!! FAREWELL!!! my beloved boy. All unite with warm and full hearts in commending you to the divine care and blessing ; but we do hope to see you back again I know not how to stop, but stop I must. Again, farewell — God bless you ! God bless you ! — Ever your own fond Father, R. W. Whilst called to part with this member of his famil}' Dr. Wardlaw had the mournful pleasure of welcoming back under the parental roof his widowed daughter Mrs. Reid, with four of her children, the eldest having been placed at school near London. It is not always that such an addition to domestic cares would be welcomed as a privilege, but Dr. Wardlaw, in whom the parental feehng amounted almost to a passion, seems to have found it such. " All Marianne's four children," he writes from their sea-bathing quarters at Ardrossan, " are taking and enjoying the sea-bathing. They are all well. I only wish I could pop down little Jane into the midst of the Peckham-rye friends;* they would hardly recognize her. It is really quite exhilarating to look at the dear child — so lively, so healthy, and so good ! — as indeed they all are. W^e quite enjoy our second nursery ; and I hope we may, without its being any proof of second childhood coming upon ourselves." The following letter will sufficiently detail what remains to be recorded of Dr. Wardlaw's history for this year : — To THE Eev. J. S. Wardlaw, Bellary. Barlanerk, August 27tb, 1842. My dearlyloved Boy — .... It was a sad farewell. All farewells between kind friends are so. But the bitterness of parting was alleviated by the thought of the ei'rand on which you were leaving us, and by the assurance, both in your behalf and our own, that He in whose service you were going, had said, " I will never leave thee, I will never for- sake thee." I doubt not He has been keeping his word of promise in the * The family of Mr. Reid. 414 MEMOIRS OF Ul!. WAKULAW. experience of yourself and your fellow-missionaries. He is not one of those who " keep the word of promise to the ear and break it to the heartr Your letter by the pilot cheered, while it saddened us. It was probably the last we should hear of you for some months ; and while it gave us the assurance of your keeping well amidst abounding sickness, and of your being sustained by those scriptural views of your service, which are so pregnant with conso- lation and delight, it at the same time closed with a " heart ready to hurst /" Even this, however, had two sides, a painful and a pleasing. It was pain- ful to think of your being thus overwhelmed ; but it was pleasing to reflect on the warmth and force of the love by which this was occasioned. I have begun this late on Saturday night, when I am tired, having written an entire lecture yesterday, and an entire sermon to day, and I feel it trying my eyes. I think I shall stop till to-morrow evening. Sabbath evening. — And now I am, as usual, somewhat exhausted by the delivery of the said lecture and sermon, and the other services of the day. But it is a gratification to hold a little fellowship with you, and a greater to think of the gratification it will impart to you in a distant and strange land. This will prevent my feeling the duty a task. For myself, I am vastly well ; and I must tell you, of course, what I am about. A letter from Sir C. E. Smith on the subject of the propriety of the English dissenters giving their pulpits to the anti-patronage deputation of the Scottish Church, drew forth replies which were diflerent in tone and character on the two sides of the Tweed ; from Dr. Smith, Dr. Harris, and Mr. Murch, in the south ; and from Dr. Brown and myself in the north ; the former favourable, the latter, and more especially my own, on the opposite side. These all appeared with the circular to which they were replies, in the Voluntary ; and they have run the round of the public prints, and caused no little hue and cry. Your good Dad has been praised and spattered for his views, according to the predilections of different parties. You may see the correspondence. I am still clear of all doubt that I am in the right. Then came an address of the central board, in consequence of the rescinding by the General Assembly of their pulpit-closing edict of 1799, dissuading Dissenting ministers from interchange of pulpits with ministers of the Establishment at all, i.e., not as anti-patronage deputies, but simply as ministers, a very diflerent matter, you will admit. I could not go in with this, and wrote reasons of dissent. Dr. Brown, Mr. Alexander, and others, took the same ground with me, unknown to each other. This, too, has made a little stir. The Scottish Guardian, in commenting on Dr. Brown and myself, ventured, inter alia, to charge us with being " ioisound to a certain extent on the cardinal doctrine of the AtonementP This drew a letter from each of us to the editor, and each of these his comments. I have this day announced my purpose to deliver next Sabbath evening, instead of the monthly lecture, a discourse on the principles of Christian coni- 97iunion. And it is my purpose to intimate then a series of monthly lec- tures on Atonement, and its kindred doctrines. Thus there is even some- thing now, drawing one off" from regular work. But these points are im- portant and useful. I am getting on with Church Government,* and am * Dr. Wardlawhad been requested bj' his bretliren in the Congregational Union to prepare a treatise on this subject, to wliich lie here alludes. SERMON ON COMMUNION. 415 putting my materials in order for dear John Reid's Memoir, which has been unavoidably too long postponed. While at Ardrossan I visited Helens- burgh, and preached John Arthur's collection sermons. Two or three weeks after mamma and I went to Rothesay to the ordination of Mr. M'Gill over the church there. Week before last we had the ordination of Mr. Thomson in Nile Street. The services were on the whole very interesting. Father Mattlieiu has been here consecrating the new Catholic chapel, ad- ministering the pledge to a good many thousands in the cattle market, and there, too, (although folks allege he is not to blame for this) deluding poor creatures into the fancy of their obtaining miraculous cures. A woman was actually carried in to him from Shettleston, and others from other places. If he did not previously encourage this delusion, he certainly did not de- cidedly and sufficiently undeceive such as looked for the cure, but left them in the fancy of their having got it, which assuredly he might have prevented had he pleased. Odd cases occurred, of lame folks under the fancy, for the time, of their having got the cure, hobbling along a little bit by themselves, and then being obliged to betake themselves to the noddy, and others get- ting on somewhat better for a while by being oxtered (you are a Scotchman) on either side, while their proper crutches were carried behind them. 0, how unlike the '■'■Rise and walk'''' of Omnipotence ! I must now draw to a close, my beloved boy May the God of the covenant abundantly bless my boy, and make him an abundant blessing ! and the same fervent prayer be mercifully heard and answered for the beloved friends, with whom he is about to be associated in the labours of the Gospel ! I need not say how fondly your dear mamma and all here unite in heartfelt wishes for your preservation, and ■well-being, and success. — Your ever most affectionate father. The sermon referred to in this letter on Christian Com- munion was piibhshed shortly after it was delivered. It is on the text Rom. xv. 7, " Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received its to the glory of God;" and is occupied in the illustration and proof of the following propositions : — 1. There subsists a universal spiritual union among all whom " Christ has received;" 2. The visible communion of believers ought, in the principle of it, to be co-extensive with their spiri- tual union ; 3, The external communion of the church should be made, as far as possible, to correspond with its real spiritual union — it should be the communion of those only whom " Christ has received;" 4. While those wdio are received to the fellow- ship of the churches of Christ should be " in the faith," these churches are by no means warranted to refuse such as are " weak in the faith;" 5. There are differences of judgment now sub- sisting among Christians, which are of such a nature as to neces- 41G MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. sitate distinct association, whilst the}'- yet sliould not preclude general communion ; 6. In the character of those who are admitted to Christian communion there must be manifested a sincere and earnest desire to know and to do their Lord's will ; and 7, In carrying out in practice these principles of Christian communion, it is necessary for us to distinguish between men and systems. The publication of this admirable sermon was seasonable and serviceable. It showed distinctly that there was nothing incompatible in the most decided Voluntaryism with the most comprehensive catholicity of feeling and action ; it tended to take off the edge from some injudiciously conceived proceedings of the Scottish Central Board, in which the overture of the Church party towards conciliatory measures was treated with suspicion and hostility ; and it conduced not a little to that good feeling with which the Dissenters generally hailed the secession of the Free Church from the Establishment, which soon after took place, and to that friendly understanding and co-operation which have since happily subsisted between all the non-established churches of Scotland. In the preceding letter Dr. Wardlaw also refers to his having been drawn into dehvering a course of lectures on the subject of the Atonement, in defence of himself against the charge of " un- soundness " on that cardinal point. These he continued to deliver once a month in the close of 1842 and beginning of 1843, and they were immediately after published in a small post-octavo volume of 285 pages. In this work the author defends the views as to the nature and extent of the atonement which he had advanced in previous publications ; but he enters into the subject more fully than he had before done, and pursues his investigations more into the regions of abstract metaphysical theology. The point on which he most puts forth his strength is the extent of the Atonement, with more especial reference to the view of those who, whilst admitting the infinite intrinsic worth of our Saviour's sacrifice, hold that it was, in the original pur- pose of it by the divine mind, limited in its destination to the elect. In opposition to this view Dr. Wardlaw maintains that EXTENT OF THE ATONEMENT. 417 the original destination uf the atonement was conmiensurate with its sufticiency, but that it was Hniited in its application by a decree subsequent in the order of nature to its primal appoint- ment. Here it is obvious the discussion is restricted within very narrow limits. On the ground of practical apprehension the difterence between these two theses is simply this : — that on the one we must say that the atonement is a remedy sufficient for all, but destined by God's purpose in election only for some ; on the other, we must say that the atonement is a remedy destined for all, but rendered efficient only for some by God's purpose hi election. And as this exceedingly narrow distinction rests solely on the order of the divine decrees, the whole controversy comes ultimately to depend on the speculative enquiry — " Whether, in the purpose of God, according to the order of nature, election precedes atonement or atonement precedes election." This is Dr. Wardlaw's own statement of the question at issue between him and his opponents ; and this statement they accepted as just, for in two reviews which appeared shortly after the publication of his work — the one in the United Secession i\Iagazine, and the other in the Scottish Presbyterian, the supreme importance of this question in an argumentative point of view is admitted by both writers. Both these reviews are ably written, especially the latter, which is the production of one evidently much more antagonist in his views to Dr. Wardlaw than is the author of the former. To both Dr. Wardlaw felt it necessarj^ to offer a reply, which he presented in the form of a preface to the second edition of his Discourses. This preface, which extends through 87 pages, is chiefly occupied with the strictures of the reviewer of the Scottish Presbyterian, to whose objections and arguments Dr. Wardlaw replies with minuteness and care. It may be doubted how far such transcendental discussions on questions of biblical truth, as those in which Dr. W^ardlaw and his reviewers have indulged, are legitimate or i)rofitable. But if they are to be permitted, may we always have them con- ducted, as they were on both sides in the present instance, by men able to tread with a firm step on those dizzy heights of 2e 4 IS MEMOIRS OF mi. \vai;d]>aav. specukition, and to scan with a keen yet humble eye the deep things of God ! Between two such men as Dr. Waixhaw and his reviewer, on such a question, I shah not presume to hold the balance so as to assign to each his due in point of ability. All I shall venture to say is that I do not think the former ever dis- played greater power in any of his writings than he has shown in this preface ; which, viewed merely as a piece of dialectic and polemic writing, it is worth the while of all learners to study as an exercise, and of all proficients to read as a treat. In the midst of the occupation which the Atonement con- troversy had brought upon him. Dr. Wardlaw was called to perform the melancholy duty of preaching the funeral sermon for his old and valued friend Dr. Fletcher, who died on the 8th of June at Stepney, near London. Though he had refused several invitations to the south this year, resolved, as he himself says in a letter to his son, " on being this summer and autumn, at least, ' a keeper at home,'" the request that he would undertake this duty was one he could not decline. He preached the sermon in Stepney Chapel on the forenoon of Sabbath the 18th, from the text Isaiah XXV. 8. On his way home he re-delivered it in Manchester, to gratify numerous friends of Dr. Fletcher, who was well known and highly esteemed in Lancashire. It was soon after pub- lished under the title, " The Final Triumph of God's Faithful Servants : A sermon," &c. A vein of sublime and elevating thought pervades this sermon, and the sketch which it furnishes of Dr. Fletcher is alike skilful and touching. The preacher had hardly returned from London when he Avas again summoned to perform a like office for another friend. The summer of 1843 was rendered memorable in many circles by the melancholy loss of the steamer Pegasus, which struck upon the Goldstone Rock, off the coast of Northumberland between night and morning of the 20th of July. Among those who perished on that mournful occasion was Dr. Wardlaw's colleague in the academy, the Rev. John Morell Mackenzie. The strong attachment felt for this most loveable man, and the high sense entertained of his genius, attainments and worth by LETTER TO DR. liEUGH. 419 all who knew him, made his sudden and unexpected removal be felt as a most painful bereavement by many, and by none more than Dr. WardlaAv. On the Sabbath morning after tidings of the sad event had arrived, Dr. Wardlaw took for his text the words, " And Aaron held his peace;" and on the afternoon of the following Sabbath he more particularly improved the dispen- sation by preaching from Daniel xii. 13. The sermon was printed immediately after, and bears the title — " The End, the Time of Divine Interpretation ; and the Duty and Peace of waiting for it : A sermon," &c. Nearly one-half of this sermon is devoted to a sketch of the life and character of Mr. Mackenzie, executed with a just appreciation of his qualities, and in the spirit of a sincere and admiring friendship. I turn now to Dr. Wardlaw's correspondence to supply what remains to be narrated of the period embraced in this chapter. To THE Ei:v. Dr. Heugh.* Barlanerk, Sept. 24, 1843, Lord's Day Evening. My very dear Friend and Brother, — You have, no doubt, experienced many mingled feelings from what you have seen and heard during your loug absence from home. You have been in localities that are rendered sacredly interesting by various associations — especially to the mind of the Christian — and few of these, if any, can sur- pass, to a Calvinist and a Presbyterian, the place of your longest residence, Geneva. I look forward, as many others do, to a treat from you on your return — verbal or written, private or public — of important and interesting information. I doubt not, that, after all, to one who has roamed the con- tinent, and roamed the world, we might apply with truth the words of the song to our own, our native land — " There's no place like home!'''' Take in all considerations, the balance, I fancy, and I hope, will be on our country's side. This is rather, I confess, a selfish hope. Why should I not hope, for the sake of others, that there are places which surpass it in privilege, and in the right improvement of privilege 1 Certainly, at any rate, it should be the wish and the prayer of every Christian, that the whole world were placed in this respect on an equality, not by oitr sinkinff, but by others ris- ing— that the privileges enjoyed by us should become the commune bonum of the whole race. Some are alarmed, as if there were symptoms of our sinking — sinking again into the darkness and abject spiritual bondage of * This was written whilst Dr. Heugh was from home, on that visit to Geneva, of which he has given so interesting an account in his volume, entitled, " Noticey of the Stale of Eeh"gion in Geneva and Belgium." 420 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. Popish superstition. I woukl fain disbelieve this, and fancy it impossible that a system of darkness should again rise to prevalence and domination in an age of light. Yet. when one looks at some of the Puseyites individu- ally, men of acknowledged literature and science, drivelling as they do on some points — when we see such a man as Dr. Pusey himself writing, with such mysteriously-solemn, long-visaged and head-shaking gravity, things so self-contradictory and so absolutely infantile, on the vi-ords, " This is my I'odi/,'" and putting himself, and endeavouring to put others, into a perfect agony of dread, lest he should be found doubting the mystery of the real presence, when the Divine Master so plainly affirms it — when, after all, the words, even to the understanding of a child, are so perfectly simple ; and when we add to this the very palatable nature, in many respects, of the Romish system, especially as it externalizes religion to such a degree, and to such a degree flatters and fosters the pride of self-desert in the natural mind, we feel that we can hardly hold our confidence, on the mere ground ot the illumination of the middle of the nineteenth century, that that sys- tem may not yet gain the ascendancy, and " all the world again wonder after the Beasts But one recoils with a shudder from the very thought, and says emphatically ^^ God, forbid !^^ Let us rather cherish the hope, that the prevalence of Puseyism may rouse the indignant spirit of another Luther, to stir against it the slumbering zeal of insulted Protestantism, and work out a second reformation, with less of Popery in it, than, alas ! remained in the first, and more of the spiritual independence of the Church. It is well that this latter principle is, on our own side of the Tweed, gain- ing ground so decidedly. Dear me ! how have I got into all this 1 I cannot say, as good John liunyan does — " Still as I pulled it came," for, really, it has come without pulling. It was not, ever so remotely, in my head when I began to write. You will be able to tell us something of the progress of Voluntaryism, or of Anti-State Churchism on the continent, for there, as well as here and else- where, it is "progressing, and this itself is not like an approximation to the assumption anew of the Romish " yoke of bondage." To come nearer home. I was on Friday evening, by invitation, a guest and a speaker on a very interesting occasion, of which you will no doubt hear at large from other quarters — Dr. MitcheWs Jubilee — the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of that godly man's ministry. What an even thread that excellent man and minister has been enabled to spin ! What an honourably consistent character he has maintained ! What an active and useful ministerial course he has pursued ! What an amount of affection and esteem he has drawn towards him ! Has he an enemy ? has he ever had one ? But he has failed, and is failing. May his Master be with him to the end, and then take him to Himself ! And thus, my beloved brother and friend, may it be with us all ! I presume you will be looking homeward before your synodical meeting next month. Whatever diversity of sentiment there may be between us, my dear friend, on points of present controversy, and how important soever we may respectively consider them, yet I cannot regard the difference as by any means vital, or on either side endangering salvation ; and there- fore it is my sincere and earnest prayer that the Church's exalted Head may give to both parties the spirit of mutual forbearance, and keep you LETTER TO REV. J. S. WARDLAW. 421 united ! Far from my heart be the pleasure that could arise from seeing a body of Christians distracted and torn, even though a body differing from my own ! The Lord keep you united for action against the common enemy ! You may possibly have heard that the church under my care gave lately a unanimous invitation to Mr. Alexander of Edinburgh, to be my co-pastor and successor. He has seen it his duty to decline acceptance, and to abide in his present sphere. I read his letter to the church to-day, after the Lord's Supper. I mention this, because there have been some groundless reports afloat about it. I have scrawled a rather lengthy epistle to you after the fatigues of the day, and it is time forme to be done. Farewell for a little, my dear brother. May a gracious Providence give you a safe convoy to your own home, and to your own ilock. Both, 1 cannot doubt, are longing to see your face ; and I trust they will see it in the full flush of restored and confirmed health and vigour, and I and many more will cordially sympathise in their delight. Mrs. W. unites with me in kindest regards, and best wishes. — Ever affec- tionately yours. To THE Rev. J. S. Wardlaw. Vestry, Glasgow, March 28, 1844. j\Iy dearly beloved John — You see where I am writing. I have come into town by the early omnibus, having a number of calls on the sick to make, besides two committee meetings, a funeral, and my class. I shall take a few minutes before setting out on the first description of my engagements. The subject of a coUeagne has been for a little while in abeyance. In England the difficulty and obstruction still lie on the subject of baptism. And, by the way, I fear that Dr. Halley's Congregational Lecture on that subject will occasion fresh controversy on that qucvstio admodinu vexata. . . A publication is about to issue from the press just now— a book for the times — Essays on Christian Union, by eight ministers of different denomi- nations, each Avriting his own essay on his own department of the subject, without seeing any of the others. Dr. Chalmers, Dr. Candlish, Dr. Balmer, Mr. James, Dr. King, Dr. Wardlaw, Dr. Struthers, and Dr. Symington of Paisley, are the eight. I sent in mine a few days ago ; subject, "J. Catholic Spirit, its consistency with cojiscientiousness.^' I do not know, of course, how the eight will amalgamate. I cannot but long somev/hat to see. In the boxes now sent out, you will receive copies of the new edition of the Atone- ment Lectures, and of Revieioers Reviewed. I hope the latter may please you, as you are so strongly predisposed to be pleased with anything of your poor dad's. I must set about a paper for the approaching anti state church conference in London, whose sittings begin on the 30th of April. I would like to go myself ; but the state of your mamma's health, and my academy duties, as well as other considerations, render this undesirable. But I have been applied to for one of the papers that are to be read as a permanent record of the principles of the convocation. It is to be on the principle of an establishment and the unscripturalness of state support in any circum- stances. I wish I had a little more time for it. In the class, I find it necessary to depart from my ordinary course, and to introduce a part of it, with some additions, out of its place, that, namely, which relates to Divine 422 MEMOIRS OF DU. WAKDLAW inflxience in regeneration — tite doctrine of election and final perseverance, t£-c. ; a heretical tendency, I am concerned to say, having discovered itself to some little extent on such points among the young men, springing up from the Morrisonian controversy, and from the tendency to jump to extremes. We finish their own discourses to-day, and I shall begin on Monday to lecture daily, while I am at home, for the remainder of the month of April. The weather this month has been very unpropitious for the seed time. There is very little in yet — either in field or garden. These two last days, however, have been fine, and we seldom in this country suffer from a late spring — if it please the God of the seasons to favour us with a good summer. 42^ CHAPTER XVII. A.D. 1844— A.D. 1848. In the letter at the dose of the preceding chapter mention is made of some heretical tendencies having manifested themselves among the students in the Academy on the subject of Divine Influence in Eegeneration, and cognate subjects. To counter- act this Dr. Wardlaw, according to the intention intimated in the same letter, delivered a series of lectures on the points on which they had gone astray ; but, unhappily, without all the effect that he desired. Some, whose faith in Calvinistic views had been shaken, were by these lectures re-established in their original convictions ; but the majority of those who had become t-ainted with the heretical views remained obstinate in their error. Under such circumstances there remained no course open to the Committee of the Institution but to dismiss from it those who persisted in holding opinions alien from those which every student in entering it was understood to avow. This was felt by all to be a very painful duty ; but fidelity to their trust left the Committee no alternative, after all means of recovering the young men from their error had been tried in vain. This act of needful discipline led to the discovery that it was not within the Academy alone that erroneous sentiments on the subject mentioned existed among the Congregationalists of Scotland. Both in the West and in the North it was ascer- tained that there were ministers who not only countenanced the expelled students by their sympathy, but who shared with them in their heresy ; and as discipline had been exercised upon the minor offenders, it was thought that consistency required that 424 i\rEMOiKS OF dr. wardlaw. the greater should nut be allowed to escape. A corres[)on- denee Avas accordingly entered into i)rotessedly between the churches in Glasgow and certain churches in the neighbourhood whose pastors were charged with holding the erroneous views ; and this ended, after much and anxious discussion, in the Glas- gow churches withdrawing fellowship from those in Hamilton, Ardrossan, I'ellshill, Cambuslang, and Bridgeton, The whole of the correspondence was printed, and fills an octavo pamphlet of more than 200 pages closely printed. It presents a length- ened theological debate on very abstruse questions, conducted on the one side by a master of polemical science, and on the other by men whose every letter proves more and more clearly how incompetent they were even to comprehend the reasonings to which they struggle to reply. The correspondence was published in order that the other churches in the Union might have an opportunity of judging for themselves, and of determining whether they would adhere to the churches in Glasgow or to those from wdiich these churches had withdrawn. To some this was a somewhat perplexing (piestion ; not that they hesitated as to which of the opposing opinions they approved, but because they had serious doubts as to whether the Glasgow brethren had followed a wise and legi- timate course in the plan they had adopted in dealing with the errorists. On this account several of the pastors declined to bring the matter before their churches at all, and hence from these churches, including some of the more important in point of numbers and influence, no response whatever was given to the implied appeal of the churches in Glasgow. This gave Dr. Wardlaw and his friends uneasiness. But what could be done ? Was not silence in such a case better than censure ? And in the excited state of feeling which then prevailed in the Western churches, what good could have accrued from a response which confined itself to an expression of agreement in doctrinal senti- ments with the Glasgow churches, but expressed no approval, or perhaps, expressed disapproval of their method of vindicatiug their attachment to these sentiments ? Better surely let the NEW VIEWS CONTROYEIfSY. 425 storm pass over, and then show by deeds which party they adhered to than enter npon cxpUmations which woukl only have entailed a fresh correspondence, and might have ended in an- other split. Such at least was my own feeling in the matter, and such the conviction on which I acted. Cordially at one with Dr. Wardlaw in his doctrinal views, I yet could not see the wisdom or propriety of involving churches in a controversy upon such abstruse questions, when the point at issue was not whether the churches held the views stigmatised, but simply whether the jjastors of these churches held them. In all our churches up to this time, the points in question were points on which it was understood that forbearance was to be exercised with those who could not see their way to Calvinistic views ; and in all our churches such forbearance was, I presume, actually exercised. It was only with pastors that it was not a point of forbearance. Ours is a Calvinistic body, and therefore those who stand forth as its teachers must be Calvinists. But the proper parties to judge of this are, I take it, the pastors of the body, to whom each candidate for ordination has to make his confession before he is ordained, and who, consequently, are the only parties competent to call the individual to account for any departure from that confession he may afterwards make. As it was their sanction which first gave him the status of an orthodox minis- ter of their body, so they are the only parties competent to deprive him of that status if he shall afterwards swerve from his orthodoxy. Had Dr. -Wardlaw and his brethren conferred with the erring pastors in their own name, and had they, on finding them persistent in error, withdra'WTifrom all wztmsferia? fellowship with them, their course would, in my humble opinion, have been unimpeachably correct, and might have been followed with most beneficial results. As it was, I cannot but think harm was done. Churches were nominally involved in a dispute which, after all, was really a dispute between their pastors. The cor- respondence is professedly that of the churches ; but it is absurd to suppose that such letters were hi any just sense those of the church members. I ipiestion if one in ten of these fully com- 426 MEMOIRS OF Ul{. \VAKDLA\V. prelieiided the letters when they were read to tlieiii. Tho people simply on both sides adhered to their pastors. Yet the effect was that they were made to separate from each other ; and so the denomination lost several very respectable churches, some of which, it has since turned out, never, as churches, held the views imputed to them, and for holding which they were cut off. I have dwelt the longer on this occurrence, because it seenjs to me to contain a lesson which may be of service to Christian churches and pastors. I now turn to other and more agreeable details. " I hope to be ready with the memoir in the course of the present month or so," writes Dr. Wardlaw in January 1845.* " I am ashamed of the delay ; but so many things have come athwart my course from time to time My monthly lectures have for the last eight months been on Josejjh. They bring overflowing audiences. I intend, when the course is finished, in four or five more lectures, putting them to press." In these words the writer indicates part of the literary work which he soon after placed before the world. The memoir referred to is that of his son-in-law the Rev. John Reid. This appeared in the course of the season in a thick volume post octavo, the greater part of which is occupied with letters and other writings of the subject of the memoir. Dr. Wardlaw's part of the work is gracefully and skilfully executed ; and the entire memoir furnishes a beautiful picture of Christian sincerity, intelligence and devotedness, as well as a valuable chapter in missionary history. In the Biblical Review it was characterised as a work " fit to be a companion to the lives of David Brainerd and Henry Martyn, and which in some respects presents a more valuable model for the formation of missionary character than even theirs." The Lectures on Joseph were published in connection with some on the concluding part of the history of Jacob — so closely entwined in the sacred narrative with the history of his favourite * To Uk: Kcv. J. S. Wardlaw. PUBLICATIONS. 427 son. Thoy appeared in a volume of 426 pages small 8vo, with the title, " The Life of Joseph and the Last Days of Jacob : A Book for Youth and for Age, &c." As a specimen of the author's more popular pulpit expositions, this volume possesses much interest ; but it cannot be regarded as contributing much to his reputation either as a theologian or as a preacher. It contains many wise and instructive admonitions ; is throughout fehcitous in expression and scriptural in sentiment ; occasionally it presents a graphic description or a striking analysis of character ; but as a whole does not rise to the level of Dr. Wardlaw's other expository writings, and hardly reminds one of the force and penetration of his theological and ethical disquisitions. In the course of 1845 a small volume was published in Glasgow, part of which is from Dr. Wardlaw's pen. It is en- titled " Select Remains of the late Rev. Alexander Campbell, Pastor of the Congregational Church, Greenock. With the Sermon preached on the Occasion of his Death, by the Rev. R. Wardlaw, D.D., and a Memoir by the Rev. John Kennedy, A.M." Mr. Campbell was the son of the Rev. J. Campbell of Oban, in whose defence Dr. Wardlaw had appeared on the occasion referred to in an earlier part of this volume. He was a young man of singular excellence and promise, and his early death was sincerely mourned by all who knew him. Dr. Ward- law's sermon is on 1 Cor, xv. 55-57, and is an eloquent and impressive illustration of the following positions : — 1, It is from actual sin that death derives his power ; 2, It is from conscious sin that death derives his terrors ; 3, It is by the death of Christ that death is bereft of the power ; and 4, It is by faith in the death of Christ that death is bereft of the terrors. A season of peace and a desire for reconciliation had suc- ceeded the agitated period of the preceding fifteen years in Scotland. With the secession of the Free Church the Voluntary controversy began to languish ; and, though meetings still continued to be held of the Voluntary Church Association, it became gradually more and more evident that the former en- thusiasm of the people in the cause had departed, and that the 428 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW, public were more disposed to watch the results of that mighty movement on which the Free Church had entered than to encumber its leaders by any further controversy. The alarming progress of popery and infidelity also aroused in the bosoms of the evan- gelical community a sense of the necessity of union among the spiritual followers of Christ, that they might the better defend the citadel of their common faith against its deadliest enemies. Long experience of controversy, too, brought with it a natural longing for repose, and they whose very keenness of conflict had arisen from a unity deeper than their discord (for had they not belonged to the same kingdom they would never have cared to contend so earnestly about its interests), felt, now that their weapons were sheathed, a craving to give that unity manifestation and deve- lopment. Hence, movements of various kinds began to be made towards friendly intercourse and co-operation among Christians of all denominations. Early in 1845, an opportunity for one of these Avas afforded by the jubilee of the London Missionary Society — a society from the first catholic in its constitution, and throughout catholic in its spirit and working. " Both in Edin- burgh, and here," writes Dr. Wardlaw to his son in India,* " the jubilee of the London Missionary Society is to be kept in a very pleasant w^ay. IMinisters of all denominations are to preach in their own pulpits one part of the same day, and on the other part to exchange pulpits with one another, making a thorough intermixture, and giving an exhibition of Christian unity for an interesting general object. The day fixed in both cities is the second Sabbath of February. Collections will be made in all the places — Free Church, Secession, Relief, Congre- grational. Baptist! The same week a public meetivff, in which a minister of each denomination will take part ; and several prayer meetings, and two or three meetings for young people in different quarters. I trust the demonstration will do good in different ways." Good it undoubtedly did. The time was one of much pleasant communion, which left a salutary influence be- hind, and, as ever liap})ens in such cases, tended greatly to « 1st June 1815. EFFORTS FOR UNJTY. 429 strengthen the tendencies it was intended to gratify. In the course of the same year another influence towards union among Christians emanated through a vokune of essays on that subject, contributed by ministers of different denominations, and published through the hberal zeal of an excellent and well-known Christian gentleman of Glasgow. To this volume, as already mentioned by himself in one of his letters in the preceding chapter, Dr. Wardlaw was a contributor; the others being, as he also states, Dr. Chalmers, Dr. Balmer, Dr. Candlish, Mr. James, Dr. King, Dr. Struthers, and Dr. Symington. In this volume there is appended to one of the essays, that by Mr. James, a letter from Dr. Patton of New York, in which the idea is thrown out of a convention of delegates from all evangelical churches "for the purpose of setting forth the great essential truths in which they are agreed." This happy and noble thought proved a fruitful seed. It took root in not a few minds, and ere the year closed a formal movement was made towards an organised union of all evangelical Christians by means of the conference, which was held at Liverpool in the month of October, and which ended in the formation of the Evangelical Alliance. To the circular convening this conference Dr. V/ardlaw's name was appended with those of other ministers of various evangelical denominations ; and he was present dur- ing the sittings of the conference which lasted for several days, and took a lively interest in all its proceedings. On his return he drew up an account of the conference, which, after being- read from the pulpit he sent to the Scottish Congregational Magazine, where it appeared in the number for November of that year. His attachment to the Evangelical Alliance continued unabated to the last, and he repeatedly laboured to advance its interests both by voice and pen. I must now turn from these more public details to glance for a little at Dr. Wardlaw's domestic circle. Very unexpect- edly it was this year enlarged to almost its original extent by the return of jMr. and i\Irs. CTunn from America, and of j\Ir. J. S. Wardlaw from India. To the pleasure, however, of receiving back these beloved children there Avas a sad drawback, in the cir- 430 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAAV. cunistancc, that botli ]\Irs. Gnnn and Mr. Wardlaw had returned in bad health — the former nearly entirely prostrated, the latter suffering severely from an affection of his eyes. The following letter addressed to Mr. and IMrs. William Wardlaw belongs to this period of its writer's history. Vestry, July 15, 1845. My dearest Bairns — Having intended to write in the forenoon, before coming in to town, and not having got the intention accomplished, I seize upon the time between the close of two committees and the hour of the evening omnibus, to fulfil it. . . We are all, through mercy, well, excepting dearest A(/., who has, during the past week been, I fear, rather losing than gaining. The doctor has again ordered her to keep her bed for a time, and not to leave her room, far less come down stairs, or attempt going out. This forenoon, before I came away, which was at three o'clock, she had fallen on a comfortable sleep ; before which she had taken the ver?/ little food she did take with some little relish, which she has not felt at all for some time ; and indeed she can hardly be said to take any thing. I am in the expectation of find- ing her better to-night on going out. The weather, too, promises to-day (St. Sivithins day !) more favourably. Let us commend her to the care and blessing of our gracious covenant God, and leave her with confidence in his hands. He does all things well, although not always according to either our natural wishes or our judgment of what is best. We have a letter from Jessy to Ralph, dated on the 14th of May. She herself not unwell, but tveaJc. It was just about the close of the hot sea- son ; after which, we may hope, her strength would improve. John — dear John — had left them on the preceding day. She is sorry she cannot say improved either in vision or in general health. Here, too, we must trust. The voyage home, we may hope, will, by the divine blessing, be the means of re-establishing both sight and vigour. He will probably, if all is well, be in London in the course of next week. I think he must. I shall address a letter to meet him there ; where he will, of course stop, to consult Dr. Ware. This is a mysterious providence, of which we do not yet see what may be the intended results. It is a severe trial to Thompson and Jessy — more so than to us, to whom he is coming. We have John Kennedy with us. He gave us two exceedingly good sermons on Sabbath, and is to take the Thursday evening service, and the whole of next Sabbath too. So you see I am enjoying myself. It is a pleasure to be a fellow-hearer with my people for the time. Yet there should be no pleasure greater than proclaiming salvation to fellow-sinners — publishing the tidings of mercy. Mr. K. will remain with us during the week. He goes down to Helensburgh for a little recreation and studious retirement next week--to be a few days with Mr. Paton, and, I suppose, ten days or a fortnight altogether. What the result of his visit may be, I cannot conjecture. I must have done. I am glad, for your sake, as well as for cur own, and for the country's, that the weather is so promising. It is always plea- sant when what we wish for our own enjoyment is at the same time in har- mony with the public good. DEATH OF UH. HEUGH. 431 Blessings — the best of blessings on you, luy dearest son and daughter. 0 how it delights and cheers my old heart — and another old heart besides mine, beating in happy unison — to think of your now double union, in the bonds of nature and of grace. Do not you feel what an additional zest spiritual enjoyments give to temporal ? And what a blessed thing to be going through life, not with the mere idea of some day parting, but, though parting there must be, with the sweet assurance of meeting again in the mansions of the redeemed family — "one in Christ, and one for ever !" All would desire their warmest love to be joined with my own, were they here — that may be taken for granted. Remember us also kindly to I\Ir. and Mrs, Gardner. — Your most affectionate Papa. Through the divine blessing on the means used, Mr. Ward- law's health and eyesight were in a short time sufficiently re- stored to admit of his returning to his post in India. Before doing so, however, he was united in marriage to ]\Iiss Anabella M'Keand, the daughter of one of the deacons of the church in West George Street — a union which afforded the liveliest satis- faction to Dr. and Mrs. Wardlaw, who had known the object of their son's choice from her infancy, and had loved and appreci- ated her the more the longer they had known her. Mr. Ward- law returned to India with his wife in the summer of 1846. Shortly before they left for the East, Dr. and IMrs. Wardlaw had to bid them farewell, having to set off for Ireland, where the former was engaged to preach at several places,, and to attend the meetings of the Irish Congregational Union. On his return home. Dr. Wardlaw was called to take part in the funeral ser- vices of his old and valued friend Dr. Heugh. He preached in the evening of the Sabbath in which these services were held, and his sermon was published immediately after, along with those of Dr. Taylor and Dr. Brown, who had preached in the former parts of the day. The text is 2 Cor. v. 4, which he regards as on the one hand expressive of the Christian's natural aversion from dissolution ; and on the other, of his victory over that through the hopes of the gospel. It may be doubted whether this is the exact meaning of the Apostle in this part of his writings ; but the sentiment itself is a true one, and it is in this sermon illustrated with its author's usual felicity. The sermon includes a brief but cordial eulogy on his departed friend. 432 MEJrOlRS OF DII. WAFxDLAW. Soon after this, Dr. Wanlhuv came once more before tlie public as a controversialist b}^ ])ublishing a revised edition of his Dissertation on Infant Baptism, to which he appended " Stric- tures on the views advocated by the Rev. Dr. Hallej^ in his volume entitled, ' The Sacraments,' on John's Baptism, and on the Scriptural requisites to Christian Baptism." The work of Dr. Halley, in which these views are advanced is the Congre- gational Lecture for 1844 — a work of rare ability in every point of view, the product of ripe scholarship, directed by sound judgment, vivid intelligence and penetrating acumen. In this work the author maintains that the baptism of John was so far identical with that of Christ as to be held valid in the Christian community, so that those who had received it did not ^-equire to be rebaptized on becoming Christians, provided they had re- ceived it anterior to the institution of Christian baptism, and not (as Dr. Halley supposes may have been the case with tlie disciples mentioned, Acts xix. 1-7) after John's baptism had been superseded and rendered invalid by that of his superior. He also maintains, that under the Christian dispensation, baptism is the designation of learners of Christianity, and cannot be re- stricted legitimately either to such alone as give evidence of true conversion, or the children of believing parents. In contending for this view of the nature and application of the baptismal rite, the author comes into direct collision with Dr. Wardlaw's views as developed in his argument for infant baptism drawn from the Abrahamic covenant, and his volume contains some extended strictures on that argument. The perusal of these gave Dr. Wardlaw much annoyance — not that he thought Dr. Halley's reasonings successful in overturning his own positions, but that he regarded the views advocated by Dr. H. as lax and dangerous, and feared lest the ability with which they were de- fended would tend to make them popular. He accordingly girt himself afresh to meet this new opponent, though well-nigh tired of controversy, and sighing as he buckled on his armour " Am I never to be done with strife? " Of the questions handled in Dr. Wardlaw's appendix, the CONTROVERSY WITH DR. HALLEY. 433 latter is the only one of much weight or interest. Little depends on the identity or non-identity of John's baptism and that of Christ ; and as the evidence for either view is scanty and by no means certain, it might be on the whole better to leave such a dispute alone. Very different, however, is it with the ques- tion relating to the requisites of Christian baptism. If Dr. Wardlaw's views on this head be right, a very large number of Christian ministers are in the constant practice of administering baptism to those who have no title to it ; and if Dr. Halley's views be right, an equally large number are in the habit of withholding that ordinance from parties who ought to receive it, or (what is far worse) administering the ordinance on the 'pre- tence that the parties have the requisite qualifications, when it is well known they have not. Consequences such as these are serious ; and it is of the utmost importance that we should, if possible, arrive at some solid conclusion as to which of the opposing views is the one sanctioned by Scripture. Shortly after Dr. Wardlaw's Strictures appeared, they were replied to by Dr. Halley in a little volume entitled, " Baptism the designation of the Catechumens, not the symbol of the mem- bers of the Christian Church : A Reply to the Lectures of the Rev. Charles Stowel, and to the Strictures of the Rev. Dr. Wardlaw. By Robert Halley, D.D." To this very able work Dr. Wardlaw gave no reply. We are not, however, entitled to assume from his silence that he thought it unanswerable ; for, though he says in a letter written before he had read it, that he would answer it should he "on reading it find it answerable,"* yet, as he was for many weeks at this time laid aside by severe illness, and had many other works to which he was anxious to devote his remaining energies, it is possible that he never found an opportunity for doing what in other circumstances he might have done in this respect. I am led to believe, nevertheless, that Dr. Halley's reply considerably shook his confidence in his former principles ; and led him at least to contemplate with less of blame the practice of those who act on Dr. Halley's principles. To myself Dr. Halley's book seems quite unanswerable. * To Mrs. John Wardlaw, July 31. 1847. 2 F 434 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. The illness which Dr. Warcllaw suffered from in 1847 was a severe attack of the obscure affection in his chest from which he had already suffered so much. He was by this completely laid aside for a considerable time from all public work, and his church were brought to see the necessity of bestirring themselves to make some permanent provision for relieving him from the toils of the undivided pastorate. At a meeting held on Thursday, 22d July, the following resolution was passed : — That while the Church, with uufeigaed humility would bow itself before God, in the circumstances in which it is placed, by the affliction of its beloved pastor, and by prayer and supplication would seek the divine blessing and guidance, the members now assembled appoint three of their brethren, Messrs. Milroy, Govan, and Paton, to wait on Dr. Wardlaw to assure him of their prayers, and to express their profound sympathy with him in this afflictive visitation, and also their sincere and earnest desire to do all in their power to alleviate his sufferings, and to relieve him, in so far as practicable, of his pastoral labours, and to confer with him as to the best mode of carrying their wishes into eifect. Thursday Evening, 22d July 1847. Writing to his daughter-in-law, he himself thus reports con- cerning his health and engagements. Garthamlock, July 31st, 1847. My very dear Annabella — This, I rather think, must be the first India letter from our new residence. After all the ill you have heard of the former,* you will be gratified to learn that we are now fairly settled in one in every respect more comfortable and nice ; — out and in, out-and-out superior. It is an excellent family mansion, from top to bottom — dry and warm, and well-aired — ignite a contrast to Mount Harriet. The country is open all around us, and yet we are nicely sheltered by trees and shrubbery. The garden is extensive, the soil capitally productive, and the whole well walled round. I wish we had you all here just now, among the gooseberries and strawberries. .......... Mamma and I came up from Brodick yesterday week ; the other members of the family, who were down, on Wednesday last. We were there seven weeks. I was kindly ordered by my deacons and people to rusticate for a few weeks, giving myself entire relaxation from my weekly labours. I was very obedient. You will say it was not an order to which obedience was very difficult ; and yet to those whose heart is at all in the blessed work, it ought not to be easy. What I meant, however, was, that I preached only once on a Sabbath evening, for the five Sabbaths I was there. This I did on the invitation of Mr. Campbell, the minister of the parish, in the chapel of the Established Church at Brodick. To have done more would not have been doing my own people justice, as it would have been in contravention of their purpose. ........ * A place called Mount Harriet, which Dr. AV. occupied for a short time. T.ETTEU TO MRS. JOHN WARDLAW. 435 I was desirous this month that you should have a letter from me, as well as letters about me, because I am svire the latter without the former would alarm you much more than I trust there is occasion for. The strong terms in which tender and strong affection, when under the influence of fears about its object, is ever apt to employ, could hardly fail of this effect. My general health is quite as good as ever. When I am seated amidst my family at meals, or around the fireside enjoying myself with them, as you know how, I am at a loss to believe there is anything the matter with me. During the latter part of our stay at Brodick, the pain in my chest was often more easily brought on, and more severe. I had several attacks of it during the night, which gave me my first impression of what the doctors meant by a paroxysm. William — when he and I happened to come up to Glasgow together — having seen me suffering on the way to the boat, called on Dr. Anderson without my knowledge. He saw me. I subsequently wrote to him a note, particularly requesting to know fully and frankly his candid opinion of my case, saying that I trusted I was prepared to learn even the worst, and that he need not shrink from telling it. I have not his reply before me, else I should have transcribed it. The substance of it is, that my note had relieved him from a somewhat painful embarrassment ; that he considered my complaint to be Angina pectoris, arising from an organic disease of the heart ; that the symptoms and degrees of the complaint were very various ; and that as in my case they had continued for so many years, and been so comparatively gentle, intermittent, and slow in progress, there was ground of hope, that so they might continue for years to come ; that he did not, however, expect a cure ; and that such disorders, though not uniformly, yet frequently, or generally (I forget which), had a sudden termination. And then, after enlarging a little, be closes with the decided advice, that I should relinquish, almost entirely, my professional avocations, and betake myself to a calm and quiet retirement. I sent this letter to Mr. Paton, as convener of the co-pastorate committee, and requesting that he would lay it, not before them only, but before the church — its contents being important to the brethren as well as to me, and necessary for the guidance of their conduct as well as of mine. This was done. Brethren Paton, Milroy, and Govan waited upon me with a resolution, expressing the kind interest of the church in my well-being, their sympathy with myself and family, and their determination to do everything in their power that could contribute to my present comfort, and, should it so please God, full restoration. I was a hearer last Sabbath, and, with the exception of administering the Lord's Supper (which I intend to do), shall be a hearer to-morrow, and probably for another week or two. Dr. A. gives me the hope, that by keeping thus easy and quiet for a short time, I may be able to resume my public labours, so far as to take the one half of the day. He positively interdicts more. And very thankful shall I be for this much, which I am in good hopes of speedily enjoying, the more especially that both Dr. Macfadzian and Dr. Mather speak as if they thought that if my disease be indeed the genuine Angina pectoris, it is as yet in a very moderate and mitigated form. I am in my own divine Master's hands. There I unreservedly and cheerfully leave myself, looking to him for grace to do his will while he is pleased to grant me ability, and to bear his will should ho take the ability for active service away — thus alike to glorify him whether activehj ov passiveh/. There is one consideration that comforts 436 MEMOIRS OF 1)K. -WARULAW. me, that should bodily fitness for public labour be withdrawn, I may be able to sit at my desk and wield my ^jeu, instead of plying my tongue. I should find it a harder eifort of self-denial to say, " Thy will be done," were this resource also to be taken from me. But there is no situation of privation or of suffering to which his gracious assurance does not reach — " My grace is suflicient for thee." But '■^ satis jam'''' — and more than satis — of self. What a page and a half of pure egotism ! My reason for it is, that I think it much better that you should k)iow all ; and because I wish you to see, by this long scrihenclum, that I am quite in condition, both of body and mind, to tell it you all myself, and in my own unaltered hand. Keep up heart. I do. The Lord is good. I am not quite an idler. I just despatched yesterday a long article for the Eclectic Review, on Hagenbach's History of Doctrines — an article which should have been written almost a twelvemonth ago, but has only been got up during my rustication at Brodick. A Voluntary Lecture — on " the Headship of Christ as affected by National Church Establishments " — the first in a series by various ministers, at the request of the Voluntary Church Association in Glasgow, is just about issuing, if it has not issued from the press. I have just begun in earnest yesterday to revise and correct my sheets on Church Government. I have promised a communication to Dr. Taylor* for his Memoir of Dr. Ileugh, at the family's urgent solicitation and his own. I not long since furnished the first of a series of Tracts on the Sabbath, at the request of Mr. Henderson of Park ; and another on a different branch of the same subject has been solicited by the Sabbath Observance Society in London, which I have not yet promised, but should like to get up. And other works I contemplate, should it please God to spare me I have an end in mentioning all these things, namely, that you may see exactly my condition, that I am not laid aside, though for the reasons assigned, taking temporary ease. Mental occupation, if not anxiously laborious, does not, I think, injure me. Anxiety and distress- ing emotion do. .......... . Your truly affectionate Papa. The Lecture on the Headship of Christ, referred to in this letter, was dehvered on the evening of May 2d, 1847. It is designed to meet and to confute the notion, that because Jesus Christ is head over all things — head over the nations as well as head over the church, it follows that magistrates are bound to shew their allegiance to him by estabUshing and endowing his church, or some selected portion of it. Into this subject the lecturer enters with much fulness, whilst he at the same time discusses the topic of our Lord's mediatorial headship in its general bearings, as well as in its Ijearing on Establishments. This Lecture forms a necessary and valuable supplement to its author'8 other contributions to the Voluntary controversy. * Mr. Macffill?— W. L. A. FAILING HEALTH. 437 In consequence of the state of his health, Dr. Wardlaw was unable to fulfil several engagements which he had made in England for the summer and autumn of 1847. Among these was an engagement to preach at the autumnal meeting of the Congregational Union of England and Wales, held at York in the month of October. On this occasion I had the honour of being appointed his substitute, and can testify the deep and earnest sympathy with which that venerable assembly passed the following resolution, on the motion of the Rev. James Parsons, seconded by the Rev. Dr. Halley :— That this meeting expresses deep sympathy with the Rev. Dr. Wardlaw iu that critical state of his health which has deprived it of the anticipated pleasure of his presence and service on this occasion, so frankly promised by that honoured brother ; and would offer prayer for the continuance of his most valuable life and labours, for the benefit not only of his own church, nor even of his own denomination, but of " the truth itself" and of the whole eviingelical community. A few weeks before this was passed, a resolution of a simi- lar kind was transmitted to Dr. Wardlaw, adopted by the Executive Council of the Evangelical Alliance at their meeting of September 29th. It is as follows : — From Minutes of Executive Council. September, 29, 1847. Rev. Dr. Hamilton moved. Rev. W. M. Bunting seconded — That this council receives with feelings of deep and unaffected sorrow the communiction now read from the Rev. Dr. Wardlaw, stating his inabi- lity to become a member of it, from the precarious state of his health, and instructs the Rev. Dr. Steane to assure him of their most respectful and united Christian sympathy in the afHictiou with which it has pleased God to visit him, and their earnest j^rayer both that he may be comforted by the everlasting consolations of the gospel, and that it may issue in the divine glory. Carried. These expressions of fraternal affection and sympathy wei'e felt to be, as they were intended to be, a solace and encourage- ment to him under his affliction, and tended to counteract the injurious effect of some harassing anxieties to which he was subjected, arising from dissensions in the church as to the choice of a co-pastor. As his illness was not of a kind to unfit him for the labours of 438 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. the desk, the preparation for the press of his work on Church Government went steadily forward after this. It was issued in the course of the following year, and forms a post-octavo volume of 379 pages, entitled " Congregational Independency, in contradistinction to Episcopacy and Presbyterianism, the Church Polity of the New Testament." This work had been so long promised and expected, that many of those who desired its appearance, falling into the natural mistake of imagining that it had been undergoing an equally long preparation, seem to have indulged themselves in unreasonable expectations as to what it should contain. They anticipated I know not what new discoveries of reasons in support of Congregational Indei)en- dency, and could hardly be restrained from sounding the trumpet for victory over other systems of church polity before their champion had struck his blow. The result was an equally unreasonable feeling of disappointment when it was found that the book contained nothing positively new — that the argument, how- ever ably put, was substantially the same as every previous writer on the same side of the question had unfolded — and that the very clearness and simplicity of Dr. Wardlaw's ratiocination had only made it more apparent, that whilst it may be convincingly proved, that neither Epis(;opacy nor Presbyterianism, as seen actually to exist, is the church polity of the New Testament, the evidence that Congregationalism, in its extant foi-m, is entitled to that honour is painfully slender. This, to people who had been waiting for years for something which should, as they hesitated not to say, forever demonstrate the apostolicity of the Congregational form of church polity, was mortifying enough ; but the fault lay with those who had formed the expectation ; for a little consideration would have taught them, that on a question which had been thoroughly discussed by the giants of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries there could be nothing left for any subsequent writer to advance that was new ; and a little acquaintance with such discussions might have showed them that wdiat they com}:)lained of as a deficiency in Dr. Ward- law's book is invseparablf from all works on such questions. These CHURCH GOVERNMENT. 439 are all more or less potent in attack, feeble in defence. An Epis- copalian writer has no great difficulty in showing that neither Presbyterianisra nor Congregationalism is the church polity of the New Testament ; but it is not so easy for him to show that Episcopacy is. A Presbyterian marches triumphantly to over- throw Episcopacy and Congregationalism as pretended reproduc- tions of the primitive polity ; but when he comes to prove this of Presbyterianism, the evidence he is able to adduce is feeble indeed. The fate of the Congregationalist is much the same ; he can prove his brethren of other denominations not to be apos- tolic in their peculiar usage and polity, but he makes only a ■ feeble show of evidence when he attempts to prove that he and his fellows are. The lesson which a calm and unsectarian mind would naturally learn from this is to cease from the attempt to prove any existing system of church polity identical with that of the apostolic churches ; to give up the principle that we have in the churches of the apostolic age, the authoritative model after which all other churches are to be constructed ; and to be content with eliciting from the New Testament the great living principles of Christian order and fellowship, and embodying these in such forms as shall seem best adapted, amid existing circum- stances, to give them free and legitimate scope. So long as our information regarding the apostolic churches is so very imperfect as it is, and so long as we can arrive at a conclusion only by arguing from premises, one of which is invariably an assumption of the very thing to be proved, viz., that all churches are to be on one model (for only by assuming this is it possible to argue that what we find recorded in the New Testament of one church was true of all then, and so is binding on all now), the controversy will be an endless one and as profitless as endless. Shortly after Dr. Wardlaw's book appeared it was reviewed in the Scottish Congregational Magazine, in an article which sought chiefly to state the difficulties that lie in the way of any attempt to test existing forms of church polity by a supposed apostolic model. To this review Dr. AVardlaw judged it worth his while to reply in two articles, which appeared in the numbers 440 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. foi- August and September 1848. As it is well known that I was the writer of the review in question, I cannot with any pro- priety discuss the merits of Dr. AVardlaw's reply here. 1 will only say that after carefully perusing it I felt confirmed in my previous doubts rather than shaken out of them ; upon the point 1 mean of the binding authority of apostolic example and usage. Whilst making reference to the Scottish Congregational Alagazine I may state, that to the volumes for 1847 and 1848 Dr. Wardlaw contributed an article on '• The Practical Influence of Christian Hope," (Jan. 1847) and two on " The Triumph of Principle," (Aug. and Nov. 1848). In the summer of 1848 one of Dr. Wardlaw's old and cherished friends, the Rev. Dr. Payne, was called to his rest. How much this friend was esteemed, and how much of congenial taste and ability existed between the two, may bo seen from the valuable reminiscences which Dr. Wardlaw furnished to the ^Memoirs of Dr. Payne — a paper interesting in several respects, but not least for the speculations it contains on some vexed questions in ethics and metaphysical theology. In October of this year a series of meetings was held in Edinburgh for the purpose of celebrating the jubilee of the Churches of the Scottish Congregational Union. In these meet- ings, which were felt by all who were present to be deeply interesting as well as spiritually beneficial. Dr. Wardlaw was able to take an active part. He preached one of the sermons and delivered a lengthened and carefully prepared speech at the public meeting, both of which appeared in a little volume got up to commemorate the occasion entitled " The Jubilee Memorial of the Scottish Congregational Churches." The sermon is on Rev. ii. 4, and contains the illustration (jf a series of observations founded on the text and suited to the occasion. These are chiefly of a practical nature, bearing upon the manifestation of genuine love to Christ and his cause. The discourse is an un- usually long one, but as it was listened to in the delivery by a crowded audience with interested attention, and with a gratifica- tion which had only one abatement, arising from a fear lest so CHOICE OF A COLLEAGUE. 441 protracted an eflfort might prove injurious to the venerable preacher ; so it may be perused in its printed form with liardly less interest and without any such abatement. The speech at the public meeting was on Purity of Church Fellowship, as his- torically distinctive of Congregational Independency. By this time Dr. Wardlaw had materially recovered from the severe attack of the preceding year. Still his health was in such a state that at his time of life it became indispensably necessary that he should be relieved of the greater part of the responsibility and toil connected with his oiBce as pastor of so large a church as that of West George Street. Unhappily the church did not exhibit more wisdom than churches which have long enjoyed the uninterrupted services of one pastor usually exhibit in such matters ; and their venerable pastor was kept in much anxiety, and subjected to much uneasiness, in consequence of dissensions that arose among them. After a party, however, had seceded, on the ground that a minister to whom they were attached had not been well used by the majority, things got on somewhat more smoothly ; and at length an apparently unanimous call was given to the Rev. S. T. Porter, then at Darwen, Lancashire, to be colleague and successor to Dr. Wardlaw. In this invitation the latter not only cordially concurred, but so anxious was he that the church should not be subjected to the risk of a disap- pointment in this invitation, that he used every means in his power to lead to its being accepted. The following extracts from letters written at the time to members of his family who were absent, will show clearly how he felt and acted in this matter. To Mrs. D. Gunn. Garthamlock, May 23d, 1848. " What of Mr. Porter?'''' you ask, I doubt not, with no little interest. Nothing as yet determinate. At the close of the Lord's-table service on Sabbath, when I presided, he came forward, and asked permission to address a single parting word to the brethren ; the substance of which was, humbly and warmly thanking them for the high honour they had put upon him, &c., and begging they would forbear with him for a few weeks longer, before he gave his final answer to their invitation. He is exceedingly, and very properly, cautious and prudent. The deacons, with concurrence of the 442 MEMOIRS OF DR. AVARDLAAV. church, have augmented their pecuniary offer from four to five hundred, having understood that, with salary and the product of private tuition, he has what amounts to the former sum where he is. He has never said a word on pecuniary matters to them himself. It comes all from one side. He fully knows m>/ wishes and prayers ; and I leave the result in His hands " who doeth all things well." I feel I should violate the spirit of the text so admirably illustrated on Sabbath morning — " Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" — were I to put the question. To what quarter, after Mr. Porter, are we to look should he fail us ? This would be marring the good of the present day, and augmenting its sufficient evil by crowding into it evils that belong, if ever they come, to future days. To D. GuNN, Esq. Garthamlock, May 27th, 1848. This will cut off a pretty considerable slice from my roast — £150 a-year. It is all right, however. It would have been wrong to have thought of a smaller offer to such a man as Mr. Porter ; and to place us on an equality must be regarded, as to me, as more a testimony of gratitude for the past, than as due remuneration for the future. I am delighted with the thought of such a conclusion to our trials and difficulties. God grant that the thought may not prove a delusion, either by the church's disagreement or by Mr. P.'s refusal ! Mr. Porter's " prudence and caution" having been sufficiently exercised, he at length consented to accept the invitation, and in the course of the summer commenced his labours in his new sphere. The understanding was, that the chief part of the labour was to devolve upon him, except in the matter of preach- ing, of which Dr. Wardlaw was still to take a nearly equal share. When this is considered, and when it is borne in mind that it was Dr. Wardlaw whose toil and ability had been instru- mental in raising and sustaining so large a congregation, it will not be surprising that it should have appeared to many of his friends that the arrangement which gave Mr. Porter £100 a-year more than he received was not an equitable one ; but to this Dr. Wardlaw not only cheerfully acceded, but when any im- pugned it, he was prompt to take up the defence of those by whom it had been made. It is only a bare act of justice to him, in anticipation of wliat followed, to print the following extract from a letter to his son in India bearing on this point. . . . . And this naturally leads me to a part of your letter on which I feel anxious to do my worthy deacons justice. You are hard upon theui. THE SALARY QUESTION. 443 I am not going to justify them out and out in every point ; but what they have done I wish to set, so far as motive is concerned, in its true light. Well, the case stands thus : — It had been agreed that the two pastors should be equal — £400 each. That was right. Mr. P. was no stripling, but a minister of somo years' standing and eminence, and a family man, with a wife and four boys. The deacOns were anxious — and who was not ?—^first, to have the agitations of the church, which had been of such long continu- ance, settled ; and secondly, to secure the services of so suitable a man. This was more than natural. Now they had heard, on what they could not but hold as good authority, that between salary, private tuition, and other sources, this was little more than Mr. P. had for the support of his family whei-e he was. Conceiving Glasgow to be, all in all, a more expensive place to live in than Darwen, they felt, in these circumstances, that it would hardly be reasonable to expect that he should make the change without some better temporal prospect. They felt that it was for them to consider, not what he should look for^ but what tlie church should offer. They knew, of course, that an addition to his stipend would be no deduction from mine, and that my £400 would go as far when he was getting five, as when he was getting /o?«?'. You must put the offer made to him then, with the solici- tude and hearty concurrence of the church, to the account of their great solicitude to secure their man. Your dear mamma thinks — and I do not say she is wrong — that they should have divided the other hundred, and still kept us equal ; they had not, however, thought the additional /r/^y a suffi- cient consideration to settle the point with him, on his balancing the two situations, in a pecuniary point of view, and so to secure him, so far as motives of that description (and they could not but have their influence) were concerned. Whether an offer of £450 would have been equally sure to attain their end, is what cannot be ascertained. And their question, as I have said, was — not what he would accept, but what they should ofer. Look at all the circumstances, then, and look at the motive ; — and though your mind may not be changed, you will at least judge and censure less severely. How few are the churches that give £900 a year for pastoral care. Such was the man whose colleague Mr. Porter had become. Who could have dreamt that, before two short years had passed, the union ho had thus generously striven to consummate would be violently rent asunder through this very Mr. Porter's attempt- ing to brand him before the public as a greedy and unprin- cipled money-seeker? 444 CHAPTER XVIIL A. D. 18^9— A. I). 1853. Before proceeding to detail the events which made the year 1849 so memorable in Dr. Wardlaw's history, I must lay before the reader a few passages from his correspondence, which will exhibit better than any words I can use the state of his mind at this time. To Mk. and Mks. Gunn, Garthamlock, Jan. 19, 1849. I dined yestersday at Mrs. W.'s. Dr. Macfarlane would have been there, but was detained at Linlithgow to attend the funeral of Mr. Smart, the United Presbyterian minister there. And hereby hangs a most remarkable coincidence of circumstances. His father, whom I knew well, preached a sermon, his last — on a text relating to death and heaven, which has strangely made its escape from my treachei'ous memory ; and on the following day, I think, having come into Glasgow from Paisley, dropped down in London Street, and almost immediately expired. This, his son, preached on Sabbath last oh the same text, and, in a few hours after — before Monday morning, dropped down of the same disorder, and immediately expired ! Strange and striking ! Oh, how little we know of what is before VIS ! how near we may be to eternity, when we are least thinking of it. And how well and wisely ordered this is ! Let us learn to be ever on the watch, and ever ready ; and let us not " lie against the truth," by indulging, in times of abounding disease, when the wasting pestilence is abroad, that mortal apprehension, and tormenting fear, Avhich is so inconsistent with the proper tendency of our faith, and which gives so false and discouraging an impression of it to the world. Why should believers in Christ be thus " subject to bondage 1 " We have just read Baptiste Noel's book. If you have not yet got hold of it, do try to procure it. I trust he is raised up for a great work. He will present a rallying point for others. And yet I can hardly fancy for the formation of a Free Episcojjal Church — the sentiments he avows in various passages being so very much of a Congregationalist complexion. Dan will be delighted with the full and faithful expos^ of all the wens, and wrinkles, and distortions of his favourite old lady I Mr. Noel comes thoroughly CORRESPONDEKCE. 445 and manfully out — no compromise, no trimming, no hesitancy. His mind, evidently after long and mature deliberation and research, has been fully made up. He is a nolde-minded and excellent man ; and both from his station and his character, his book will command attention. I had a note from him, hoping it would give me some satisfaction to know that my volume on Establishments had been amongst the means of bringing him to his present convictions. I answered it as humbly as I could, and had another note in reply, expressing gratification, and entreating my prayers. He is meeting with his share of abuse ; but he can stand it. 2 Cor. i. 12. I have just finished, too, the volume on Presbytery, &c., by the Duke of Argyle, in whom, from circumstances of which, I think, you are aware, I cannot but feel a peculiar interest. It is a well-written book ; and it is pleasant to see a youthful mind in high life devoting its powers to such subjects. It breathes the spirit of evangelical religion at times in a degree that inspires the fond hope of his being in earnest, and on the right ground. He does not understand, however, the line of demarcation between Church and State so well as Mr. Noel ; and, from the seeming mistiness of his conceptions on this great point, I rather think he hardly does the Free Church full justice on one or two important particulars. His Grace will get it. He has begun, I believe, to get it already. But he is a Duke ; aud if he is a good man besides, he is doubly fortified. And now, dear united two, I intended some little fun with you. But it is now Saturdag, this letter having been begun last night, and it must l)e deferred, as I have my entire sermon for to-morrow yet to write. To James Ogilvie, Esq., Edinburgh. Garthamlock, February 14th, 1849. My very dear old Friend — We long to hear how you are. Will James or Charles have the goodness to write and let us know. We fondly trust the tidings will be such as it will give either of them pleasure to impart, and us pleasure to receive, — that our heavenly Father may be pleased to restore you to a comfortable measure of bodily soundness, and still to spare you, and bless you, and make you a blessing. Both your fond sons will heartily say " Amen ! " to the wish and prayer. Yet what a delightful thing, my dear friend, to stand on Calvary — the " mount of the Lord, where the Lamb was provided for the burnt-offering " — and, clinging to the cross, and looking up with the steady eye of faith, though through the melting tears of penitence, to him who there made the atonement — to look forward thence to " the better country, even the heavenly," with the eye of assured and joyful hope ! It is from that point alone that we can get a view of heaven. You have long settled there — long pitched your tent beside the cross, and enjoyed the " good hope through grace." And what good hope can there be for sinners but through grace ? And this good hope has sustained and cheered your heart amidst many and heavy trials. You have not been without your mercies in the course of your pilgrimage ; but to you, more than to many, your path has been through a " valley of tears." These tears will all very soon be wiped away. And then, dear friend, what a source of delight it will be to look back on earth in the light of heaven — on time in the light of eternity ! and to see, in a way and in a degree in which we cannot see them here, wisdom, and 446 MEMOIRS OF DH. WARDLAW. faithfulness, and love in all the divine dealings with us ; and most of all the three, it may be, in those very scenes which here were to us the darkest and most difficult of reconciliation with them. We shall then see all the dealings of Providence as parts of the administration of grace — all subserv- ing and working out its blessed ends — all links of a chain, adjusted, with the skill of a divine artificer, for at once holding us to God, and drawing us to heaven. The review will fill us with " wonder, love and praise ! " There is a passage — of six verses only — which contains, I think, a richer variety of comforting and cheering topics of Christian meditation, than perhaps any other portion of Scripture of the same length. It is in the first Epistle of Peter, chap. i. verses 3-9. Try it hy its clauses. God be gracious to you, and cheer the evening of your day of life with the light of his all- gracious countenance. All here unite in tender sympathy, and in very best wishes for yourself, and for James and Charles, and all connected with you. — Your truly affectionate friend, Ralph Wardlaw. The frame of mind indicated by this letter is that best adap- ted for sustaining as well as profiting by affliction. It was not long before the writer was called to pass through trials which must have put his faith and patience to the utmost test. The first that came upon him was occasioned by the death of his daughter Mrs. Thompson, which took place at Madras whither she had come on her way home with her husband and children.* Of this painful dispensation, the following letter contains a full account. To Mr. and Mrs. John Wardlaw. Garthamlock, April 18th, 1849. My very dear John and Annabella — Whatever subject may have the second place in now writing to you, there can be no hesitation about which should have the first. You were of course in possession of the heavy tidings before us. You were more fully aware of the state of the beloved invalid, and were therefore, I cannot doubt, more prepared for, and less startled by those tidings, than we were. The letters from Ghooty gave us a view and impression of her enfeebled and exhausted state, such as we never at all had had before, nor were anticipating. They awakened lively appre- hensions, but still they left us hope ; and anticipating the influence of change of air, and of the sea voyage, which others had so often experienced before, when similarly reduced, we fondly cherished it, and flattered our- selves that, under the blessing of God, on the sedulous and aff"ectionate care and nursing of so attached a husband, all might ultimately be well. And dear William's first letter from Madras, informing us of their arrival there — even although intimating various relapses on the journey, and one between the date of their arrival, February 5th, and the date of the letter, * Of the last hours of this amiable and excellent lady, her father drew up a brief accoimt, which was inserted in the Scottish Congregational Magazine for 1849. DEATH OF MKS, THOMPSON. 447 February 20th, still left us the hope, that He who had brought them thus far would still support life, and minister to recruited strength, and give us the fondly anticipated delight of in due time welcoming them and theirs under the parental roof. And in this state of suspense, between hopes and fears, we expected to remain for months ; and should have so remained, but for the circumstance of the special Government express affording the oppor- tunity of putting an end so sadly to that suspense and solicitude. The letter containing the mournful intelligence was dated the 24th, the day after the peaceful departure to a better, and happier, and more permanent home, of the dearly loved object of our anxieties. It was a heart-rending- disappointment. I need not say how dearly she was loved. Your own hearts can tell you that ; for sure I am you both know well how dear to your parents' hearts you both are yourselves. Your dear mamma — Jessy's own — has felt the bereavement very keenly. Her whole heart had been occupied with the fond anticipation of being nurse herself to her invalid child, should she still be found to require it. She is recovering her tran- quillity, but the dashing of these fondly cherished images of the future did greatly cast her down. But we trust we have learned in some measure the lesson of submission — the lesson taught us in the all-perfect example of him who said — " The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it ?" — " not as I will, but as thou wilt." Blessed Redeemer ! Thou didst drink that bitter cup, brimful of the curse, to take the bitterness and the curse out of ours, nay, that a cup might be put into our hands brimful of blessing ! It is a delightful thing to think of our being under the pro- vidence of Christ, in whose hands the entire government of our world has been placed. He will ever direct his providential dealings in subserviency to the purposes of his grace. We desire to say — " It is the Lord." She was the object of Christ's love, as well as of ours ; and if, in the exercise of that love, he has been pleased to take her to himself, " that where he is, there she may be also," what right have we to complain 1 Our love would have kept her on earth ; his love has taken her to heaven. Is not his the best 1 Assuredly sAe thinks and feels it so. When those we love are thus taken from us to be with him, we mourn, we weep ; and we are not for- bidden. Our tears — the tears of nature's sorrow have been hallowed — " Jesus wept !" But either to murmur or to wish them back would be wrong. The one would be to prefer our own happiness to theirs ; the other would be to prefer our own will to God's. And we desire not to overlook causes of gratitude — as first, that the sad close did not come while on the journey — and still more, that it did not come on ship board, but under the roof of Christian friendship and brotherhood ; and further, that wheu it did come it was so peaceful, both as to body and mind. She " fell asleep." Deeply and tenderly do we feel for her bereaved husband, " the desire of whose eyes" has been '' taken away." God be gracious to him ! Oh how changed the character of our anticipations, in looking forward to a meeting with him and his precious pledges of a love thus early dissolved ! And, dearest, we feel for you. The parting was sad at the best. How much sadder has this association rendered it ! Howkeenly Dr. Wardlaw felt this bereavement maybe gathered from the followmg incident: — " On one occasion I witnessed an 448 MEJIOIRS OF ])R. WARULAW. outburst of feeling, which even his strong hand could not con- trol. It was shortly after the death of his beloved daughter Mrs. Thompson. Before sitting down to morning worship, Indian letters arrived, and the very sight of them opened the wound afresh. He took the w^ell-known family bible, and turn- ing to me, said, ' you will pray this morning.' ' It is your turn, Doctor,' I replied. ' I cannot,' he said — and. rising from table, he rushed to the window, wdiere he sobbed and wept like a chiLl, and it was some time before the service could be resumed."* Severe as was this trial, there was one in store for Dr. Ward- law still more unexpected, and in many respects still harder to bear, and which came upon him a few months after. It is with intense reluctance that, I approach this repulsive subject. I would fain pass it over in silence if I might, so strong is the feeling of disgust and indignation with which I have never ceased to regard the attempt which was at this time made to blast the fair fame of a faithful and devoted and venerated servant of Christ, and to embitter with calumny and insult the last days of one of the kindest and gentlest of men. But the subject cannot be passed over ; it is part of Dr. Wardlaw's history, and must be narrated — let those who have made it so bear the blame. I will, however, spare myself and my readers as much as may be the disgusting details. Towards the close of the year 1849, it began to be whispered about that a charge seriously affecting Dr. Wardlaw's integrity in money matters had been brought against him by one of his own congregation. At first the voices were vague and ambiguous which scattered the rumour; but presently it assumed a more definite shape, and at length it was understood that his accuser was a Mr. Higginbotham, and that the accusa- tion brought against him was, that he had availed himself of his influence as pastor over a widow lady, a Mrs. Connell, who had been for some years deceased, to induce her first to lend, at a low rate of interest, a sum of money to him, and afterwards to make over part of it to him as a present. This charge referred * Reminiscpncos by IJcv. J. Kennedy. ATTACK OK II IS OIIAKACTER. 449 to a transaction which had taken place nearly thirty years before ; and the only foundation on which the part of it affectinii," Dr. AYardlaw's integrity rested, was found in some incidental expressions used by liim in a letter to ]\Irs. Connell acknowledg- ing her gift. On the ground of these expressions in connection with the receiving of the money, first as a loan, and subsequently as a gift, Mr. Higginbotham charged Dr. AVardlaw with being- worse than a felon, and with resorting to the worst practices of the confessional. Had Dr. Wardlaw been a })olitic man of the world he might have quashed this business in the outset, and defied his accusers to make out any case whatever against him ; for he had in his own possession the whole correspondence between himself and Mrs. Connell — that lady having returned him his letters, that her kindness might, if he pleased, remain a secret with liimself. But in the simplicity and sincerity of his heart, imagining that his accuser was in reality distressed with what he thought a piece of misconduct on the part of his minister, Dr. Wardlaw jilaced in his hands all the correspondence, and thus feathered the arrow that was aimed at his own heart. In his letter acknowledging Mrs. Connell's gift, he wrote, "It lias been' done in a way like yourself. And when I reflect on the footing on which you yourself placed it, by the touching allusion you made to the case of Paul and Philemon, ' Albeit I do not say unto thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides,' my feelings are of a peculiarly humbling, yet interesting description." On these expressions, his accusers — overlooking in their passionate haste that they do not contain a suggestion from Dr. Wardlaw to Mrs. Connell, as to the ground on which she should place her donation, but simply express the feeling of humility and interest with which the fact that she had herself placed it on this ground filled him — constructed the infamous charge by which they hoped to blast his character and drive him from his place. On first receiving intimation of this charge. Dr. Wardlaw referred it to the judgment of the deacons of West George Street Church. Before them, 'My. Higginbotham produced his indict- 2 (1 450 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. meiit, which he managed to make somewhat vokiminous, and this with Dr. Wardlaw's rephes the deacons carefully perused and considered. The result to which they came, w^as a verdict of acquittal of their pastor from the gross and outrageous charge which his accuser had endeavoured to fix upon him. Had Mr. Higginhotham stood alone in this assault, no great harm would have been done. Dr. Wardlaw's feelings had been wounded and the minds of his deacons disturbed, but his accuser did not possess sufficient weight to render any assault he might make seriously detrimental to Dr. Wardlaw's reputa- tion. People, however, were naturally led to ask, what could have induced Mr. Higginhotham, who was not in the remotest degree personally interested in Mrs. Connell's pecuniary affairs, after so great a lapse of time to rake up a charge of this sort against Dr. Wardlaw, and it was shrewdly suspected that some- thing ulterior was aimed at by him, and that he was not alone in this attempt to damage Dr. Wardlaw. The justice of these surmises was very soon vindicated ; for in the progress of the discussions which ensued, it became apparent that Higginhotham had acted simply as fugleman to a body of malcontents, who had allied themselves to compass Dr. Wardlaw's removal from his office as one of the pastors of West George Street Church, in order that the sole pastorate might fall into the hands of Mr. Porter. That Mr. Porter himself was cognizant of this design from the first I am not authorised to state ; but he was not very long of openly espousing the side of the party opposed to Dr. Wardlaw and avowing his full belief of all the charges they had brought against him. In the meanwhile the deacons had laid before the church their decision in the form of certain resolutions, and the church had come to a resolution expressive of satisfaction with what the deacons had done, and declining to enter into any further exami- nation of the case. It was thought desirable also that some public expression should be given of their unabated confidence in and attachment to Dr. Wardlaw, and for this purpose a testi- monial was rapidly subscribed for among the members of the CONDUCT OF MR. PORTER. 451 church and congregation. This, which consisted of a costly and magnificent piece of plate, was presented at a meeting lield for the purpose in the City Hall, Glasgow, at which as many were present as could be crowded into the place, including ministers of the city of all denominations. Amidst demonstra- tions of the most enthusiastic admiration and esteem, Dr. Wardlaw stood up to acknowledge the testimonial, which he did with that graceful simplicity and unaffected humility by which he was so prominently characterised. After this demonstration, following close on the decision of the church meeting, it became sufficiently clear that Mr. Porter could not continue to act as colleague to Dr. Wardlaw. A few (lays later, he accordingly addressed to the church a letter, in which he avowed his belief of all the charges adduced by Higginbotham against Dr. Wardlaw, declared it impossible for him to remain any longer the colleague of such a man, and for- mally resigned his charge. Mr. Porter doubtless expected that the effect of this would be to create an extensive secession from the church, at the head of which he might establish himself in a new and numerous charge. The actual effect was, that the church accepted his resignation ; and, after hearing Dr. Wardlaw in reply to the charges Mr. Porter's letter contained, passed the following resolutions : — That the statement just submitted by Dr. Wardlaw (a painful duty im- posed upon him by the conduct of the late co-pastor Mr. Porter) is perfectly satisfactory, and a complete refutation of the grievous charges brought against him, and thoroughly confirmatory of the report formerly submitted by the deacons ; and the church now resolves that, resting satisfied with the conclusive character of the resolutions agreed to by the deacons, it cannot but regard it as most unjust towards Dr. Wardlaw, to take further cognizance of the matter ; and acting on this judgment, the church would now renew its expressions of unabated confidence in, and love towards their honoured and much esteemed pastor. That it is the opinion of the church, that ]Mr. Porter's letter deserves the severest censure, because it contains an atrocious libel against Dr. Ward- law, to whom it imputes the vilest motives, because also of its shameful in- sinuations against the deacons as well as of its obtrusive and ill-timed advice to the members of the church as to the manner in which they should judge their pastor ; and because the spirit of the letter is bad, being quite wanting in, or rather quite opposed to those feelings of justice, of humanity, and charity, which ought to characterise a Christian man. 4o2 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. Mr. Porter's next step Avas, in conjunction with Mr. Hig- g-inbotliam, to rush into print. If be could not oust Dr. Ward- law from the pulpit of West George Street Chapel, he showed himself resolved to do what he could to damage him in the esteem of the public. To this attack a reply was soon after issued by Dr. Wardlaw and the deacons, entitled, " Vindication of their Pastor and themselves from the charges of the Rev. S. T. Porter, in his recently published Letter, including Dr. Ward- law's own statement, and other documents. By the Deacons of West George Street Congregational Church." A pamphlet of "Remarks" on this by Mr. Porter followed; in which, with characteristic obduracj^, he contents himself with simply repeat- ing, in still stronger terms, his offensive charges, as if no refuta- tion of them had ever appeared. Here the discussion terminated, so far as Dr. Wardlaw and the church in West George Street were concerned in it. When the matter was thus fairly before the public an unani- mous verdict of acquittal was pronounced upon Dr. "Wardlaw ; and from all quarters, expressions of confidence, of sympath}^, and of congratulation poured in upon him ; whilst the conduct of his quondam colleague was reprobated in the strongest terms. Never was a more unequivocal and universal testimony given by the public through its accustomed organs on any question sub- mitted to its decision.* On calmly surveying this whole matter, it is impossible to express in too strong terms the censure which the conduct of ^Ir. Porter and his coadjutors merits. Even assuming that Dr. Wardlaw had been guilty to the full extent of their allegations against him, the course they pursued was reprehensible ; for what good end was to be served by dragging from the obscurity in which it had so long lain, the error of a good and venerable man, who, in a moment of infirmity, and under the pressure of * Several hundreds of letters were addressed to Dr. Wardlaw on this occasion from all parts of the United Kingdom, couched in terms that must have soothed and cheered his spirit. Among other addresses which he received was one from the Congregationalists of Loudon, bearing the signatures of all their most honoured ministers, and several of the best known among the lav members of tliat body. INIQUITY OF THE ATTACK. 453 necessity arising from tlie expenses insuperable from a large family, might have unduly availed himself of his position to obtain possession of money from one who was under obligations of a spiritual nature to him ? But when it is considered that of such an offence Dr. Wardlaw was wholly innocent ; that the sum of what he had done was to accept first a loan, and after- wards a gift of money voluntarily offered, and in acknowledging this spontaneous kindness to use language commending the groimd on which the donor herself had placed her liberality — the ground of obligation to him for spiritual benefit received throughout his ministry ; and that it was only by the most unfair insinuation and crafty special pleading that the semblance of anything mean or covetous could be attached to Dr. Wardlaw in the transactions ; it is impossible to use other language in reference to those who, out of such an affair, sought to extract the materials of ruining the character, marring the usefulness, destroying the comfort, and perhaps shortening the life of an aged, useful and venerated minister of Christ, than that their conduct was to the last degree cruel and wicked and detest- able. I cannot leave this matter without saying that I feel assured this attempt to injure Dr. Wardlaw' s character would never have been made, or, if made, would not have lived for a day, had it not been that an impression had somehow gone forth that he was not altogether exempt from an undue desire for money. Of the existence of such an impression all must be aware ; but never was anything less founded in truth than such an insinuation. Dr. Wardlaw was not a money lover in any sense. That he was not a hoarder the state of his affairs at his death sufficiently proved ; to any charge of this sort he might have replied with Calvin, " Me non esse pecuniosum, si quibus- dam vivus non persuadeo, mors tamen ostendet."* That he w^as not covetous is amply demonstrated by his whole life ; for if he had been so, would he with his connections and prospects have chosen the least remunerative of all the professions? would he have Pr;u'['. in Coinincnt. in Psal. 454 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. linked himself with one of the poorest of religious bodies? would he have refused so frequently to exchange his place in Glasgow for a more highly remunerated office elsewhere ? "would he for so many years have given his services to the Theo- logical Academy gratuitously ? In the face of such facts, the insinuation is monstrous and cannot live. It were well if all who have uttered it were as clear of the charge as he. Throughout the whole of this painful affair, Dr. Wardlaw bore himself with admirable composure and meekness. No one ever saw him ruffled or agitated by any of the rude speeches to which he was exposed, or by any of the infamous charges that were brought against him. The only occasion on which it is re- collected that he shewed anything approaching to indignation was when, at an early stage of the business, one of his family hinted the surmise, then on the lijos of many, that a sinister design was at the bottom of the proceedings against him, of which his col- league was not wholly ignorant. Such a suggestion his guile- less and upright mind repelled as incredible, and it was not till the conviction was forced on him, that with deep emotion he admitted there w^as ground for the surmise. As an evidence of the serenity of mind he was able to maintain, even at the most trying crisis of this business, I may adduce the following letter written to myself: — Garthamlock, February 11th, 1850. My dear Friend — I did not require any assurance from others of your willingness to serve me in present circumstances. I could not doubt it. All the past assured me of it. I have, then, to request of you, that you will favour myself and people with your valued services in the morning o.nd afternoon of t\iQ first Sabbath of March. I take the first Sabbath of the month, because as it would be unseemly, and on diftereut accounts imdesir- able at present, that I should be entirely idle on the day you are here, we may make the most of you, by having two services from you. I would say morning and evening, but that having just begun a new monthly series in the evenings, I am rather wished not to interrupt it. I trust the day will suit you. You have, if I mistake not, discontinued your own monthly evening lecture. Porter has puhUshed, or rather I should say printed for circulation. You have I daresay had or will have a copy sent you. One came out to me on Saturday. But my considerately kind wife wisely kept me in ignorance of it for that day. And even yesterday morning, when I expressed, in talk- ing with her before getting out of bed, my doubts about their publishing, or BENEFITS OF THE TKIAL. 455 at least about the extent of such publication, she simply replied that she thought I was tuistaken. She never let on, as we Scotch folk say, wishing me in ignorance till I should be done with my day's work, but so far her good intention was foiled. I heard all about it between the morning and afternoon. It did not at all disturb me. I have not yet looked at it, having this and one or two other notes to send into town by Mr. Thomson. But theyi I must have at it. I am to meet with my deacons on the subject on Wednesday, when all will have been or will be arranged for a reply. Ever truly and affectionately yours. The calmness he maintained, however, throughout this vexing and painful business, was in no respect that of insensi- bihty. On the contrary, he deeply felt the position in which his assailants had placed him ; but he derived support which more than counterbalanced all the vexations arising from this source, in the testimony of a good conscience, and in the privilege of access to a throne of grace. Writing to his son in India he thus expresses himself regarding the trial through which he had just I say to you, what I have said to others — that three things have sus- tained me, so that folks who apprehended I must have sunk, have marvelled to see me keeping up so entirely and cheerfully, and both bodily and mentally so well. The three things have been — a clear conscience, the throne of grace, and Christian sympathy : of the last I have met with an amount beyond all my most sanguine anticipations, both by numerous letters from East, West, North, and South, and otherwise : perhaps I should add a^fotirth thing, the sympathy has not been Christian alone, but jiuhlic. And to a public man as deeply involving his influence and usefulness, that is no small matter, how much soever friend Porter may affect to despise it. I thank God for it. It is incumbent not only to " provide for honest things in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men." All, my dearest lad, is working and will work for good. Last monthly evenmg lecture presented a most interesting and gratifying manifestation of the state of public feeling. What an overflow to be sure ! And our ordinary congregations are better than before. It may seem mysterious that the Lord should sutler his faithful servants to be exposed to such trials when age and infir- mities are already pressing upon them. But in this as in every- thing else his grace and his wisdom reign and are made manifest. It is by such fiery trials that the real worth of the goodly is made apparent — that their fitness for heaven is promoted — and that the esteem in which they are held on earth is made conspicuous. 4.j(j IMEMOIRS OF DR. WAUDLAW. I believe Dr. Wardlaw never knew before, and but for this never Avould have known in this workl, how deep and how extensive Avere the respect and the love in which he was held b}' gocd men of all classes, and in all parts of the kingdom. It seemed also as if the Lord had been pleased to make this trial the occasion of granting to his servant fresh vigom- and energy, so as to enable him to finish his course triumphantl3\ His general health for some time after was evidently improved ; he suffered less from the attacks of his peculiar malady ; and an increased vivacity and spirit seemed infused into his whole activity. I remember his alluding to this one da}^, while we were walking in the park, during a brief visit he paid to me in the month of April 1850. " I had begun," he said, " insensibly to sink into the old man, and to feel as if I must now take re- pose ; but this recent affair seems to have quite revived me, and called forth a vigour I did not think I possessed. My divine Master still seems to have some work for me to do on earth, and he is graciously pleased to give me strength for the doing of it." Having engaged to preach one of the sermons at the anni- A^ersary of the London Missionary Society, he went up to London for this purpose in ]\ray. His reception by the brethren in the South was of the most enthusiastic and gratifying descrip- tion. AVhen he appeared at the pubhc meeting of the society, his rising to speak was the signal for " three successive rounds of cheers, each succeeding the other in intensitj'', the assembly in all parts rising from their scats, accompanied with waving of hats and handkerchiefs." * He was also invited to a public break- fast, when a large number of ladies and gentlemen assembled to do him honour ; and some of the foremost men in the religious circles of London came forward to give utterance to their un- abated admii-ation of and attachment to him. His whole visit to the metropolis, indeed, at this time partook of the nature of an ovation, as if the generous people of the South wished to repair by their kindness the wrong which his assailants (who were both Englishmen) had attempted to do to him. * Patriot, 13th M.iv 1850. VAKIOUS LABOURS. 457 Besides preaching his sermon for the Missionary Society, which was a very long one, from the text Luke xii. 49, 50, he preached twice each of the three Sabbaths he was in London, and several times on week-day evenings ; and on his way home he spent some time in Manchester, where he preached five times. He returned to Glasgow in comparatively vigorous health, so as to be able to resume the entire duties of the pul})it wdth only occasional help. " So you see," he wrote to his son on his re- turn, "I have got some ^ fuzion in me yet; Jack. Seriously, I cannot but feel as if the promise were verified in my experience, ' As thy days, so shall thy strength be.' " During the j^ears 1850-1852, this happy state of renewed vigour continued, and Dr. AVardlaw was enabled not only to dis- charge the ordinary duties of his office with comparative comfort and ease, but even to undertake extra duties to which he was called. On the evening of Nov. 6th, 1851, he preached a sermon in the United Presbyterian Church, Eenfield Street, on behalf of the Out-of-Door Preaching Society, which, at the request of the members of that society, he published under the title of " The Call to Repentance." A few weeks after the delivery of this sermon he was summoned to London to preach the funeral sermon of one of his oldest ministerial friends. Dr. Philip, for- merly of Aberdeen, but for thirty years before his death super- intendent of the missions of the London Missionary Society in South Africa. This sermon appeared from the press immediately after. It is entitled, " What is Death ? A Sermon delivered in Poultry Chapel, London, on the evening of Thursday, Nov. 27th, 1851, on occasion of the recent death of the Rev. John Philip, D.D., with an Appendix, containing additional particulars of Dr. Philip's early life and labours." The text of this sermon is Gen. v. 27, the last clause ; and the preacher dilates on death as the dissolution of a union — as the execution of a sentence, or the infliction of a penalty — as an end — as a beginning — and as the seed time of a future harvest. A large part of the discourse, as well as a lengthened appendix, is devoted to the history and characteristics of Dr. Philip, Neither of these two sermons in 458 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. their respective kinds is inferior to any of tlie author's pre- viously pubhsheJ discourses. The death of the Rev. Christopher Anderson of Edinburgh, an old and esteemed friend of Dr. Wardlaw, which took place in the early part of 1852, gave occasion for his again appearing before the public with a funeral sermon. At the request of Mr. Anderson's friends, he had preached in Albany Street Chapel, Edinburgh, on the occasion of his decease, and the sermon w^as, at the instance of the same parties, soon after pub- lished. It is the elevated meditation of a ripe saint on "the Christian's Final Home." During the winter and spring of 1851-52, Dr. Wardlaw delivered at his monthly lecture a series of discourses on miracles ; and these he in the course of the following summer threw into the form of a treatise, which appeared in September 1852. In this volume (which is dedicated in language touch- ingly cordial and affectionate to his old and beloved friend, the Rev. Dr. John Brown of Edinburgh), he discusses the whole subject of miracles, shewing their possibility, their probability, and their certainty — examines minutely the reasoning of Hume against their credibility and evidential validity — vindicates the miracles of the New Testament, and especially the miracle of Christ's resurrection — refutes the hypothesis that miracles may be per- formed by inferior agencies, and examines the passages commonly adduced from Scripture in support of this — and concludes by an examination of the more recent forms of infidelity in relation to the subject of miracles, as developed in the writings of the Ra- tionalists and ]\Iythists of Germany and the Spiritualists of Britain and America. The treatise is written with all the acuteness and vigour of its author's best days. Much of it, in- deed, must have long been in a written form ; for having been accustomed to lecture to his class on the evidences of Chris- tianity, the argument from miracles necessarily had been fre- quently discussed by him. But there are portions of the book which, as they contain strictures on works only recently pub- lished, must have been written for the first time for this volume ; UNEXPECTED REJOINDER. 459 and in these there is no less vigour and acumen than in the other parts of the treatise. I can say this without prejudice to the opinion that his strictures on Strauss and the RationaHsts labour under the disadvantage of his having studied their views at second hand, and in some instances through an imperfect medium. On the whole, the work must be regarded as a solid, judicious, and most able defence of the main pillar of the Chris- tian evidences. And so the public appear to have viewed it, for a second edition of it was called for in the course of a few months from its first publication. From an early period of his ministry. Dr. Wardlaw had taken a lively interest in the conversion of the Jews ; and this he maintained to the last. In March 1852 he went up to London to preach the annual sermon for the British Society for the Jews, taking Halifax and Barnley in his way, at both of which places he had Sabbath engagements. Before leaving home he took part in the ordination of Mr. Benjamin Weiss as a mis- sionary to the Jews ; and on this occasion a somewhat amusing incident occurred, which gave birth to the following letter. In his address, Dr. Wardlaw had avowed his belief in the restora- tion of the Jews to their own land, and had dwelt a little on this subject with evident interest. He was followed by the Rev. Dr. Macfarlane of Erskine Church, who, absorbed in the meditation of his own approaching address, had not been con- scious of what Dr. Wardlaw had said on this topic, and being of a different opinion, he gave utterance to a rather emphatic pro- test against such notions as had just been advocated. Dr. Wardlaw sat very meekly under the castigation his friend was unconsciously administering to him, and went home doubtless a little wondering in his mind at what had happened, but resolved to take it all in good part. On being informed, however, of what had taken place, Dr. Macfarlane immediately wrote to him, explaining the circumstances, and expressing his regret at the seeming disrespect with which — most unintentionally — he had treated him. The following is Dr. Wardlaw's reply : — 460 MEMOIRS OF DR. M'ARDLAW. To THE Rev. Dr. Malta rlane. Garthamlock, March 17th, 1852. My dear Friend — Not the less dear, let me first of all assure yoii, for what has happened. I am sorry you should have thought it necessary to come to the confessional. But, since you have, I grant you full absolution — most heartily. Ha, ha, ha ! 0 it vras so droll ! I should not have Avanted the joke for something. It came out so thunderingly :—" Don't mind the nonsense that old man has been talking about your people's returning to their own land. No, no ; nothing of the kind. Something- far better than that is in promise for them," &c. &c. My dear friend, I receive your explanation with the most undoubting confidence. It Avas the fact of contradiction, but not the spirit of contra- diction. I can quite easily understand, when you were about to speak yourself, your mind wandering for a little after what you had to say, or thinking what part of it, if any abridgement should be requisite, it would be best not to say. Your wandering only chanced at a somewhat unfortu- nate moment. And while I enjoy the fun myself, I can quite sympathise with your unpleasant feeling, from the impression on other people's minds who have no opportunity of hearing your explanation. But you may com- fort yourself with the reflection, that the point is very well known to be a disputed one — that doctors are often known to differ — and that one doctor has just as good a right to speak out his views as another. I congratulate myself on not having misbehaved, by laughing out in the face of the congregation. Smile I did, and with a somewliat comical expression, I daresay — ha, ha, ha ! once more. It is now getting late. But if I let this and other notes stand till the morning- — having to go in to town immediately after breakfast — I may not get them written. Good night, then. Sleep in peace. All have joined in the laugh ; and all join heartily in affectionate good wishes for Mrs. M. and yourself and family circle. My very kind regards to an older friend, who, I was glad to hear from his son on Tuesday night, had again rallied, and was considerably bevier. Mrs. W. and I leave for the south on either Friday or Saturday. I shall be absent for two Sabbaths. — Your attached friend, Ralph Ward law. From Dr. Morison's reminiscences, I borrow the following- notices relating to this period of Dr. Wardlaw's history. " In April 1852 I consented, at the earnest request of friends, South and North, to become the representative of the Congregational Union of England and Wales to the Congrega- tional Union of Scotland, held that year in the city of Glasgow. My dear wife accompanied me, and we were kindly invited to become the guests of Dr. and Mrs. A\^u-dlaw at CTarthamlock, some miles out of Glasgow. I think we never before had enjoyed such ripeness of ('hristian intercourse. It was our last DK. morison's reminiscences. 461 interview with Dr. Wardlaw ; and it had so much of heaven about it, that we now see why it should be so ordered. We . were not to meet again on earth, and therefore it was granted to us to have so sweet a foretaste of the perfect fellowship of the skies. " On my return home to London, I wrote one of those facetious notes, which familiar and long-cherished friendship will sometimes dictate. It was a sort of family picture, play- fully struck off, imder hnpulses of which the heart is never ashamed. To this rhapsodical epistle, after some delay, 1 received the following reply, which will not only shew the con- fidential terms on which we held intercourse, but the great talent in letter-writing which Dr. Wardlaw possessed. His affecting reference to what might be his next removal from Easter House may be regarded as almost prophetic : — " Garthamlock, June 1st, 1852. " My very dear Friend — You are well enough aware of the reason why my better half employs her worse as a substitute ; if indeed that ought to be called a substitute, which forms part of herself. But I am verily ashamed, when I look at the date of your letter — ' l9t7iAjjril /' — and such a letter, so well entitled to an imi^iediate reply. I fear yourself and the other dear portion of your conjugal unit may have been recollecting that there is, among the wise man's proverbs, one that says — ' A man that hath friends should show himself friendly.' And yet I have such unmisgiving confi- dence in the substantial reality of the friendship between us, and at the same time in the amplitude of your Christian charity, that I will not lengthen my pleading for your extension of that charity, in the present instance, to one who is a genuine friend '^for a' that ;" — Yes, and I might add the remainder — ' A' that, an' a' that, And twice as meikle's a' that.' Your letter I read aloud to what you call — and I do feel, I trust thank- fully feel, call truly — " the happy group," whilst seated round the table at our morning repast. It made us still happier. How could it fail ? To be loved by those we love is one of the chief fountains of earthly joys — aye, and will be of heaven's — though thei'e there will be a higher style of loving. To have the warm afiections of such hearts as yours poured out to us in terms so glowing as those employed by you, how could it fail, by drawing forth a reciprocation of the feelings towards friends so eminently worthy of them, and drawing forth at the same moment a fresh gush of mutually fond emotion towards one another, while reading the successive touches of your graphic pencil in sketching the characteis of the domestic group — all looking at each other— with eyes glistening with fun and fancy 462 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. as well as fondness — each expecting what was to come next — How, I repeat, could it fail to make us happy ? The eye of your imagination is upon us. You glance at each, as his or her character comes out. You share alike in the spirit and in the delight. You mark the difficulty the patriarchal reader has, in getting on to a close, amid so many laughing, and applauding, and commenting interruptions. I trust whatever we might think of the fidelity of the sketches of each other, we all successively were humble enough to feel our own to be those of a friend ; not purposely flattering, but affectionately partial. When I say this, you will not understand me as including the inferiores ; for I am not sure that ' old stately Neptune,' his ' little saucy companion,' and ' friendly grimalkin,' quite clearly compre- hend your meaning. The second, I think, would have been very apt to have caught a saucy snap at you, if he had. As for poor grimalkin, she surely must have gone out of her wits, to have heard herself exalted to such an ele- vation— designated in terms meant no doubt to be complimentary in no ordinary degree to her — ' a true type of those who educated her and taught her manners !' But if grimalkin would have lost her wits under such flattery, how much more highly flattered still must the ' patriarch' and his ' Victoria' have felt themselves, that no type could be found sufficiently dignified to shadow them forth beneath that of a mewing, frisking, mouse- catching puss ! " Thank you, dear friend. Your ' nonsense,' as you call it, is the non- sense of love. And when you say, ' Enough of this nonsense, forgive it and forget it,' I can only say, the former is very easily complied with, but not quite so easily the latter. " Easter House, June 4th. " The previous portion of this epistle was penned between the times of carts leaving Garthamlock for this, and their returning, after I had written my minutes for the church-book, in prospect of the monthly meet- ing of the deacons in town the same evening. Mrs. W. and part of the family had come over hither in the morning ; and I, with the remainder, followed at dinner-time. I wrote therefore, as you may suppose, in the very midst of bustle. I have now got my study so far into order, with the exception of the arranging of the books, of which Ralph, whom you so truly characterise as ' saying in his very look, ' Can I do anything to serve you 'I ' takes the entire charge ofl" my hands. I need not say, that, eager a^s my beloved characteristically is to have everything as quickly as possibility admits into order, there is still, with all hands at work, a little, or rather not a little, to do in that way. But the house is excellent, and makes promise of all comfort in due time. And my next flitting, I think it more than likely, may be both a more distant and a more permanent one. And though consciously unworthy of a place within the very threshold of the house of many mansions, I fondly and humbly trust it may be, through the merits and love of my divine Redeemer, to have my residence there. How blessed the hope ! — ' Good hope through grace ' — the only good hope for poor guilty creatures ! " On Wednesday I wrote a single short business note, with my desk on the top of a box of books ; but I was fain to read and take pencil jottings for future writing. I am putting to press " On Miracles," converting the monthly discourses recently delivered on that subject into a treatise form. I have felt as if it were a duty to do something towards restraining the LETTER TO DR. MOTIISON, 463 prevailing speculation of the day — appearing as it does under somewhat novel forms. I am adding here and there, of course, what would not so well have suited popular discourses. " Happy we all were to hear of your own and dear Mrs. M.'s safe arrival at — home ; for, whatever enjoyment we may have amongst friends whom we love at a distance — and, for my own part, I have had much, and very sweet I have felt it both south and north — yet it is no good sign when home is not felt to be home. Painful recollections and associations with it there may be ; but even these, as they have arisen from the strokes of a Father's hand — all for our good — have something pleasingly hallowed in them ; so that, at the very moment when they are making the tear steal to the eye, and tremble there, the smile of devout satisfaction and filial delight and joy is playing on the lips. Have not you felt this 1 " We trust, dear friend, that your beloved wife's cold, though not when you wrote quite gone, has long since entirely left her, and that she is in the full enjoyment of health. Long may that precious gift be spared to you — and you to her. When Solomon says, ' He that findeth a wife, findeth a good thing' — is it always true ? Alack-a-day, for some folks ! I presume the word good must be rmderstood before wife, from the latter clause : if the thing found is good, the wife must be good. I cannot but think that both you and I (to use a Scotch phrase) have, in this respect, '■fa' en on our feet' Your good lady, let me tell you, is, and has ever been, a mighty favourite with mine, and not less so with mine's worse half. What think you 1 — in my introductory lecture to my class, on my return from London in the beginning of November last, just after our visit to Brompton, your better half had an honourable place. I must tell you how, just for the fun of the thing. I was using some little jocose freedoms with seme of the nonsense we have had imported from Germany, or of recent native growth. So here goes the passage : — I had cited a passage from Dr. Chalmers's Life respecting an interview he had had with Coleridge. It concluded thus, ' You knew that Irving sits at his feet, and drinks in the inspiration of every syllable that falls from him. There is a secret, and to me, as yet, unintelligible com- munion between them, on the ground of a certain German mysticism and transcendental lake poetry, which I am not up to. Gordon says it is all un- intelligible nonsense. And I am sure a plain Fife man, as uncle ' Tammas,' had he been alive, would have pronounced it the greatest hiff he had ever heard in his life?' I am very much inclined to agree with these three eminent authorities — Dr. Chalmers, Dr. Gordon, and ' Uncle Tammas." And the passage I have just read amused me not the less, that, just before reading it, I had heard a good Scotch lady, in London, distinguished by no small portion of what in her own country is called gumption, use the very same designation respecting the particular description of speculations of which we now speak, pronouncing them — sweepingly enough, it may be ad- mitted, but with no small amount of truth — ' mystified huff' .... I must confess, with regard to many besides Coleridge's, of the metaphysical and mystical speculations of our '■great thinkers,' that, like Dr. Chalmers, '/ am not yet up to them' nor ever, I now fear, likely to be ; for, I confess, at my late hour, I feel no great ambition to try — even the fable of ' the fox and the sour grapes notv/ithstanding.' " I trust, my loved and esteemed friend, your better half, will not be dis- pleased, or mortified, or angry ivith me, at being thus classed with such little men as Dr. C. and Dr. G. and Uncle T. 464 ]\IEMOIKS OF DR. WAUDLAAV. " I must have done with my nonsense, ami set in earnest to something more serious — my Sabbath preparation. " 3Irs. W. and all here unite with me in warmest regards and best wishes for Mrs. M. ami yourself, your son (God's best blessings be on him !), and your domestic circle, and those loved ones abroad — to whom, when you write, do remember us with all afiection. — Your ever attached friend, Ralph Wahdlaw. " When we received this most dehghtful and characteristic letter, we Kttle thought what hitter sorrows were in reserve for us towards the close of 1852. We had not heen strangers to grief, having heen hcreaved of dear children at all stages, from early infancy up to the age of twenfy-tliree ; on all which occa- sions we had heen so(jtlied and comforted hy the tender ajid seasonable communications of our dear friend Dr. Wardlaw, or of his amiable and excellent wife. I)ut a furnace was now being- heated for us, which was more than ever to try our faith ; and, 0 that it may ' be found nnto praise, and honour, and glory at the ajipearing of Jesus Christ!' While our youngest son, Alexander Waugh ]\[orison, who had been cut down in a few days by rheumatic fever, lay dead in our house, the mournful intelligence of the decease of our most precious daughter ^Irs. Legge reached us from Hong Kong. It was a season of intense agony, in which our poor weak faith must have utterly failed, but for the consolations which poured in upon us from the fountain of divine love. Never did any of Christ's unworthy servants owe more to the sanctified sympathies of God's people than we did. Nearly three hundred letters, from distinguished ministers or private Christians, were sent to comfort our broken and bleeding hearts. Amidst this outburst of generous compas- sion, no letter we received tended more to recall us to great prin- ciples than Dr. Wardlaw's. I give it now to his attached friends, that they may be pleasingly reminded of that fine combination of head and heart by which this eminent servant of Christ was dis- tinguished ; and of that exquisite power of comforting mourners which God had bestowed on him, as a gift of inestimable value. " Easter House, December 24th, 1852. " 0 my dear friend, or rather friends, for you are both dear — very dear — and on such an occasion, I cannot address either of you separately, sharing alike, as you have both so long done, the joys and the sorrows of life — what a shock the letter received this morning has given us ! LETTER TO DR. MORI SON. 465 In conseqvience of the information sent to our Jubilee Committee, I was about to write, making inquiries as to the state of your dear departed son, the notification of whose being seemingly at the point of death bad startled and aflected us. I was prevented from doing this on Wednesday evenirg by the sudden illness of my beloved wife, with giddiness near to fainting, followed by extremely violent sickness and retching, from the effects of which, however, though it left her excessively exhausted, she has now, in a great measure, recovered. The notification referred to prepared me in some degree, when I found the black-bordered letter on my desk, for the former part of its contents. And even when reading it, my heart bled for you — all the sympathies of a father and a friend being awakened within me. But when I came to the second portion of the letter, the first sentence of it thoroughly unmanned me. 0 my beloved friends, this is indeed heavy ! the tiding of your precious only daughter's death arriving at the very time when you were shedding the tears of bitterness over the corpse of a beloved son ! When I try to imagine your case my own, my heart is like to break for you. I went up with the letter to my dear wife, who was obliged to be in bed till after breakfast a short while, and we wept for you together. And be assured we bear you on our spirits at the throne of the divine grace. What mysteries there are in the ways of Providence ! They are, indeed, unfathomable ! Will it not be a part of the blessedness of heaven to look back on all the way by which our covenant God led us through the wilder- ness below, and to read his Providence iii his otvnllyht? I cannot but think it will. And when we do read it in that light, we are likely greatly to change our minds in regard to the particular stages of our journey suitable for Ebenezers. We rear them now at those points where we have received special favours — instances of peculiar prosperity and blessing. There, and in that light, we may come to see that we had better reasons for setting them up at the times and places of our deei^est trials. 3fust it not be so, when we come to see the connexion between these trials and our safe arrival at our Father's house ; when we see more clearly than the feelings of nature, and our unbelieving surmises allow of our doing here, to what degree they have been oiu- safety for eternity ? The aifections of nature, however, are of God's implanting. And in no case can they be too strong, if, in their exercise, they are just kept within the limit of " Thy will be done ! " — if nature is not allowed to take the ascendency of grace. Ah ! but just there — as you now cannot but feel — lies the difficulty. It is the difficulty ; and He who has implanted the affections, knows well how to make all allowance for their afflicted exercise. When, " by his strokes,'' He " takes away the desire of our eyes," he means it as a trial ; and it is just the tenderness and force of those aftections that render it a trial. And while we feel this, is it not a delightful thought that one of the evidences that they ought to be strong is, God's having made them in his world the image of his own affection for his children ? — an image which it is their very force and tenderness that renders suitable : — so that the very strength of your feelings becomes a commentary, written in your hearts with the finger of God, on such passages as — " Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him ; " and, " As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you." 0 the conde- 2 H 466 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. scending tenderness of such assurances ! — how they go to the heart — how tliej soothe — how they cheer it ! Yet still there is mystery. Still there are " clouds and darkness round about him." The question will force itself upon us — " If he indeed loves us, why are we thus 1 " How agonising the doubt which such a question awakens ! and how agonising afterwards the pang of conscience for having admitted the doubt, amidst the jjromises of a faithful God ! — " Ye have heard of the patience of Job ; and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is vert/ pitiful, and of tender mercj/." Job himself saw this, to his humiliation and his delight, even before he was called hence. You may see it ere you die too. But even if not, you will see it in heaven ; see it when reading Providences, as I have said, in God's own light there. Meanwhile, you must "walk by faith," and seek the faith by which to walk. And look at the mercy that mingles with j^our heavy trials. What a load must have been lifted from your spirits, by the manifestation, so satis- factory, of your dear son's penitence, and faith, and hope ! And as to your beloved Mary, sAe was one whose "title" you could long "read clear, to mansions in the skies." And she seems to have had the peace and comfort of reading it clear to herself. Be comforted, dear friends. God has been loosing ties to earth, and fastening them in heaven. We need them more there than here. He has been giving you new interests in your Father's house. It cannot now be veri/ long ere you and we join those who have gone thither before us. And when our time does come, the delight will be the greater, that there are those whom, instead of leaving behind us in a world of sin and sorrow, we are going to join in the land of sinless, stainless purity and joy. Look upward then, and look forward. All has been, is, and shall be well, in the ordering of Him who " knoweth the end from the beginning ;" the ordering (how pleasant and consolatory the thought !) of our divine Mediator himself, in whose hands, in that capacity, "All power in heaven and earth" has been lodged ; and who, we may rest assured, will never allow any of the arrangements of his Providence to interfere with, and thwart the purposes of his grace, but will make " all things work together" for their final and full attainment. Most deeply do we feel for the bereaved and afflicted husband and his motherless family. May the same comforts we seek for you be also his ; and may his children follow their departed mother in the paths of faith and love, and holiness and happiness. Remember us with warm sympathy to the Dr. when you write. And now, farewell ! " The Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort be with you." We fondly trust, that, ere the 16th of February, you may be so far com- posed, as to be able to gratify us, even though the season of the year is not inviting, for your complaint especially, with another visit. We look for you, and do not anticipate any objections on i/our part to the arrangement, as our gucxts again.* Our friend Dr. Burder has not yet said, at least so far as known to me, whether he and INIrs. Burder can come. We mean to try to lodge them and you together for the time. And if you come you will * The doctor here refers to the memorable gatherirg which asFembled in Feb- rn.irv 1853, to celebrate his Jubilee. JUBILEE SERVICES. 467 lay your account' for stopping over the following Sabbath, and giving me part of the day. At that distance of time, such a trip among Christian friends may do you both good. I am writing noic on Saturday, having half written this last evening, when the hour of prayer struck. It is more than time I should be at the morrow's work, having all my morning lecture, and part of my afternoon's discourse still before me, at midday. I need not say that Mrs. W. and all my family cordially join me in every assurance of affectionate sympathy, and best wishes and prayers. Your truly attached friend, Ralph Wardlaw." The allusions in the close of this letter will prepare the reader for what I have next to refer to — the celebration of the jubilee of Dr. Wardlaw's pastorate. On the 16th of February 1853, the church over which he had been first ordained com- pleted the fiftieth year of its existence, and he completed the fiftieth year of his oversight of them in the Lord. A coincid- ence of this sort is of the utmost rarity. Few congregations enjoy the labours of the same man for fifty years ; and for a church and its pastor to celebrate their jubilee together must be allowed to be one of the rarest events in the experience of Christian communities. Such an occurrence it was becoming and proper to celebrate with unusual solemnity, and accordingly preparations were made for holding a series of meetings, in keeping with the nature of the occasion, and such as should stamp it with memorable interest. It was resolved also by the Church and congregation to commemorate the event by raising a monument that should perpetuate Dr. Wardlaw's name and worth in the city where he had so long and so usefully laboured. With this view a large sum of money was collected, with which it was determined to erect a building to be used as an edu- cational establishment in a destitute part of the city, and to bear the name of " The Wardlaw Jubilee School and Mission-house." On Sabbath the 13th, Mr. Binney of London preached in West George Street Chapel in the forenoon and evening; and Dr. Wardlaw himself preached in the afternoon ; his text was Acts XX. 26, 27. On Wednesday forenoon. Dr. Harris, Principal of New College, London, delivered a discourse in the same place to a large audience, including most of the ministers of the city, 468 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAVV. and several of the professors from the university ; and in the evening of the same day an immense assemblage convened in the City Hall, at a festival in honour of the occasion. Speeches were delivered by W. P. Paton, Esq., who occn})ied the chair, and by the Rev. Dr. Robson, Rev. J. R. Campbell, Rev. Dr. King, Rev. Norman M'Leod, and the Rev. Dr. Urwick ; addresses were read from the church to its pastor, to which Dr. Wardlaw replied at length — from the ministers who had studied under Dr. Wardlaw — from the students at the time under his tuition, and from the sister churches in Scotland, to the church in West George Street, Glasgow. Mr. Binney said a few words, and read a letter from Dr. Morison of London, whom a severe accident had prevented being present. The whole proceedings were of a most animating and elevating description, and whilst they must have filled the bosom of the venerated man, in whose honour chiefly they were instituted, with holy gratification, they were felt by all who were present to be eminently profitable as well as pleasant. One thing which contributed materially to the unalloyed pleasure of this celebration, was the fitct, that, since the unhappy occurrences of 1850, a season of pecuhar blessing had been enjoyed by the church and its pastor. Not only had his health and vivacity been wonderfully revived, but his preaching had been crowned with special tokens of the divine blessing, and the church had been favoured with a period of unbroken har- mony and lively fellowship. " The church in West George Street," he wrote in 1851, " never was, I think, in a more united and mutually loving state. Our deacons' meetings are now, as of old, characterized by affectionate, easy, open, cheerful confidence — scenes of real Christian conviviality and mutual incitement to love and good works. And the members are attached to their pastor, and among themselves keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace."* And so it continued to the end a season of sweet communion and profitable co-opera- tion, " the clear shining after rain," graciously vouchsafed by * To Rev. J. S. Wardlaw, July 19th, 1851. GROWING INFIRMITIES. 469 the divine ]\Iaster to his servants, that associations only of a pleasant and joyful character should mingle with the recollection of the concluding term of their intercourse together on earth. And now the close of that intercourse was drawing nigh. After the Jubilee services, Dr. Wardlaw's health and vigour remained for some time as before. He was able to take his usual share in the meetings of the Union and the Academy which were held in the following April in Aberdeen ; and ho had the gratification of receiving and introducing to the Glasgow public the illustrious authoress of " Uncle Tom's Cabin," on the occasion of her accepting the invitation sent to her from Glasgow through Dr. Wardlaw to visit this country. Even then, however, amid all the cheerfulness which he main- tained, it was evident that his strength was beginning to fail. His old ailment began to trouble him seriously. When at Aberdeen he alarmed me one day as we were walking together along the bridge at the end of Union Street, by suddenly grasp- ing m}^ arm and standing quite still, and when I looked round to him a deadly pallor had overspread his countenance, and he laid his hand on his chest as in severe pain. To my agitated inquiry, he simply said (pleasant even amidst his suffering), " It's 07ily my old bosom friend ; don't be alarmed ; just stand with me a moment, and look as if you were contemplating the view from the bridge." Mrs. Stowe also was led to fear that he was in ill health, " for I noticed," she says, " as we were pass- ing along to church that he frequently laid his hand upon his heart, and seemed in pain. He said he hoped he should be able to get through the evening, but that when he was not well excitement was apt to bring on a spasm about the heart ; but with it all he seemed so cheerful, lively, and benignant, that I could not but feel my affections drawn out towards him." * As the summer advanced these symptoms became increasingly alarming, and his sufferings more severe. In the hope of bene- fiting by change of air, he took lodgings at Strone in Argyle- shire, where he spent some weeks, but without any manifest * Sunny Memories, cli. 4. 470 MEMOIUS OF DK. WAKDLAW. improvemeut. He seems to have felt that his course was now nearly run. His thoughts and his conversation frequently turned upon death, though ever with a calm and cheerful seriousness. His old friend Dr. Muir met him on board the steamer " Thetis," during the month of August, on the occasion of the annual visit of inspection paid by the Glasgow magistrates to the hghthouses on the Clyde. " It was," writes the Doctor, " a fine summer's day ; the number of gentlemen on board was upwards of an hundred ; the gaudy vessel, with her colours flying, was moving majestically along ; but Dr. Wardlaw was upon a bench on the deck sitting pensive and alone. I sat down beside him, and entered into conversation with him. He said to me of his own accord, ' I am sometimes led to think what a serious thing it is to die.' I replied by repeating the fines of Gray the poet, in his ' Elegy written in a country Church- yard : ' — ' For who to duml) forgetfuluess a prey This pleasing anxious being e'er resigned? Left the warm precincts of the cheerful day, Nor cast one longing, lingering look behind.' But I added, ' our God turns the curse into a blessing,' and quoted, as an instance of it, the words of an aged Christian, in the middle walks of fife, spoken to myself, when he was within a few hours of his decease : — ' Oh sir,' said the dying saint, ' what is death to a believer in Christ ? it is just the outlet from all sin and misery, and the inlet to everlasting life and glory.' To this Dr. Wardlaw listened attentively and assented; but continued more than usually thoughtful during the remainder of that day's trip." But though thoughtful on such a solemn subject, he had no unmanly shrinkings from death, as he had no gloomy dread of its consequences. " Having expressed to me," says the Rev. N. ]\rLeod, referring to the last time they met, " in his own humble way, his longing to realise future happiness, and I having afiuded to the translation of Enoch and Elijah to heaven without suffering, he replied to this effect — 'Do you know 1 envy them not ; I have a great desire to experience all that CLOSING SCENES. 471 the Church of Christ, with its hviiig Head, have experienced, and to enter the grave as well as heaven with both.' " * Hitherto his disease had been supposed to be some obscure affection of the chest or heart; but the symptoms becoming more definite as the disease advanced, his medical attendants were enabled to ascertain that it was a severe case of spinal and renal neuralgia. This guided them to the use of medicines which tended to alleviate the agony of the paroxysms ; but the disease itself was too firmly established in his constitution to be either eradicated or mitigated. On his return home from Strone, it became too evident that it was impossible for him to hold out much longer against the severity of the attacks to which he was subjected. Still he retained so much of cheerfulness, and was so much alive to all that had been wont to interest him, that it was difficult for those who were not constantly with him to realise the fact that his strength was rapidly sinking, and that his end could not be far distant. I spent some time with him, in the end of November, and I can remember the feehng of hopefulness with which I bid him farewell; for during the whole of our intercourse there had been so little of apparent decay and so much of cheerful vivacity, that it seemed impos- sible to believe that he would not yet recover strength for a season before he went hence and was no more. But those who were continually with him, and watched him in his paroxysms of suffering, could not indulge with any confidence in such expectations, and waited with more of fear than of hope the issue of the struggle. So deep was the interest he continued to take in the work to which he had consecrated his life, that it was with difficulty he could be persuaded to take that ease which his state of health rendered necessary. He persisted in attending public worship on the Lord's Day ; and only three weeks before his death he presided at the Lord's Supper, and conducted the service. It was a solemn and memorable scene. " His frame," says an eye-witness, " was bent, his step unsteady, and his features wan * Funeral Surmons for Dr. Wanllaw, p. 134. 472 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARULAW. and shrunk. As he looked round upon the church, seated at the Lord's table, he appeared like a wearied man at the close of a long day's work. Those who have never seen the Doctor at the communion table, can have no conception of the solemnity he threw over that hallowed scene. That afternoon few will forget, as in an audible whisper he spoke of the love of Christ — his sufiferings, and the glory to be revealed. It was the ])arting scene with a church that loved him second only to the Chief Shepherd. And in no more appropriate way could an aged pastor bid adieu to his people. ' I will not drink hence- forth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.' After singing a hymn, he pronounced the benediction, and then his work there was done."* After that day his face was no more seen, his voice never again heard in that place where it had for so many years been his delight, to a delighted and attached audience, to expound the truths of the gospel. He was only able to perform one other act of official duty. On the Thursday following he met the students of the Academy, and read to them two lectures in course on the Wisdom of God. It was with difficulty he got through this duty. His sight frequently failed him as he pro- ceeded, and again and again he took off his spectacles, and wiped them, as if the impediment arose from them, not witting that the shadows of eternity were beginning to stretch them- selves over him. When his lecture was finished, he said, " Gentlemen, next Thursday we shall go on to consider the Wisdom of God in Redemption." That purpose he was not permitted to accomplish. It was the will of the Master that he should go up and contemplate that grand theme amid the per- fect light of the heavenly world, and under the immediate teaching of the Author of redemption himself. After this his sufferings became very severe. His agony often- times was such that tears rolled down his cheeks, and he shrank from subjecting his friends to the pain of witnessing what he endured. But amid all he was calm and self-possessed, and his * Recollections of Dr. AN'ardlaw, in the Young Men'b Magazine ior February 1854. LAST HOURS. 473 faith failed not. His soul was centred on the cross as the basis of his hopes, and his lively expectations ascended to the throne as the consummation of his joys. When death overtook him, and the powers of nature' were fast giving way, the words that were murmured over those eloquent lips on which hundreds had delighted to hang were such as these : — " The Lamb — the Lamb slain for me — the Lamb in the midst of the throne — what a glorious prospect ! I shall see and be with the Lan)b." And so he died, strong in faith and love, and with no shadow on his bright and happy spirit. For the following memoranda of his closing hours I am in- debted to his eldest son : — When Mrs. Wardlaw and I visited Easterhouse, three weeks before my father's death, we remained from Saturday till Monday morning, as he was not able to go to town on Sunday. He was sitting talking with us in the dining-room, the rest of the family having gone to town to attend church, and among other things was accusing himself of being lazy in remaining at home. In a few minutes afterwards he retired to his study, where I followed him in less than an hour. I saw that he had been suffering severely, and on asking him how he felt, he said, " Well, if I had gone to town, I should have been obliged to come out of the church, which might have caused some disturbance, as I have just been suffering from one of the severest attacks which I have yet had. I felt it coming on, and left the room, as I did not wish to give you the pain of seeing your old dad suffer- ing so much as I have just been doing — and I fear that .if this continues to i-eturn with such severity much longer, the tabernacle must soon come down ; but the will of the Lord, and not mine, be done." The first really alarming apprehension which I had was from a note which I received from my sister Mrs. Reid, late on the evening of the 7th of December, in which she expressed a wish that Mrs. W. and I should go to Easterhouse next day, as she thought, from what the medical men said, that they were apprehensive of the result. We went out accordingly on Thursday, when we found that my father had just partially recovered from a severe bilious attack. On going to his bed-side, he repeated distinctly and firmly the 248th hymn of his own collection, — " In all my troubles sharp and strong," &c. ; after which he said, " I have many very strong ties, but to live is Christ, to die is gain." Next day he felt rather easier, and, with somewhat of his usual pleasantry, said to Mrs. W., on her going into his room to ask how he was, " Now, mind, Maggie, you're ane o' my ain bairns, and you're to come up stairs and see me whenever you like." On the evening of Thursday the 15th he had a very severe attack, and to all appearance death was approaching. One of the medical men, how- ever, arrived, and administered a few drops of a powerful medicine, which allayed the strong nervous irritation, and induced an apparently quiet sleep, which lasted greater part of the night ; and on waking, he said to the medical man, " Oh, Doctor, are you here yet ] " He afterwards recognised one or two members of the familj^, myself among the rest, and to the very 474 IiIEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. last he seemed to recognise my dear mother. Al)Out half-past six on Saturday morning (17th December), and just half-an-hour before his death, he got out of bed, and said to my mother and Alexander,* " Dearest on earth, I am going — Alexander, let me go." The nervous effort was over immediately, and it was with great difficulty that my mother and Alexander managed to get him again into bed. I was called about seven, and was in my father's room in less than five minutes, but the last struggle was over, the spirit having returned to its God and Saviour. Dr. Wardlaw died within a few days of completing his seventy-fourth year. It is easier to imagine_than to describe the effect in Glasgow of the tidings that Dr. Wardlaw was no more. In all circles the event was talked of as a public calamity ; and in many it was mourned over as if the stroke liad fallen on one of their own. On the following Sabbath reference was made to it by most of the ministers in the public service ; and by Mr. Forbes and Dr. Macfarlane, who occupied the now vacant pulpit in the forenoon and afternoon of the day, special and touching allusion was made to the loss which the church had sustained, and to the worth of him who had been removed. The funeral took place on the following Friday. A select body of friends assembled at Easterhouse, whence, after prayer had been offered by the Rev. W. Swan, Secretary to the Con- gregational Union of Scotland, and the Rev. Dr. Muir of St. Enoch's, the old and esteemed friend of the deceased, the remains Avere conveyed to West George Street Chapel, There an im- mense assemblage had already been convened, and an appropriate service had been conducted, consisting of an address by the Rev. Alexander Thomson, Dr. Wardlaw's colleague in the Academy, accompanied by suitable exercises of a devotional kind. A funeral procession was then formed, headed by the Lord Provost and magistrates, and including nearly all the ministers of the city of all denominations, besides many from other parts, several of the professors of the university, many of the leading merchants and professional men, and hundreds of the * Christian Alexander, for umny years a superior domestic in the family, and one whom Dr. Wardlaw greatly esteemed for her exemplary Christian character, and her zeal and fidelity as a servant. She was strongly attached to him, both as a master and a spiritual teacher, and during his last illness she was most imtiring in her attention. FUNERAL. 475 citizens of all grades, who sought in this way to do honour to the memory of one whom they regarded as an ornament to their city and a bulwark of their common faith. Amid the solemn tolling of bells, and through streets crowded with spectators, looking on in reverent. silence, and in many cases through tears, the long procession wound its way to a commanding spot of that Jioble necropolis which forms one of the finest features of the metropolis of the West. " They laid him on the brow of the hill. The winding walks leading up were crowded, and only a few could get round the cave's mouth ; but as they lowered him into his long home, amid profound stillness, the vast company bared their heads, and bade a long adieu to Glasgow's most distinguished citizen. He rests near some he once loved and esteemed — honoured fellow- workmen under the same Master. Peace to his ashes ! " * On the Sabbath following the pulpit of West George Street Chapel was occupied in the forenoon by the Rev. Dr. Brown of Edinburgh ; in the afternoon, by the compiler of these memoirs ; and in the evening by the Rev. N. M'Leod, minister of the Barony Parish, Glasgow — all of whom sought to improve the solemn dispensation, f An immense audience, admitted by ticket, and including the magistrates and some of the principal persons in the city, was present at all the services. All were in deep mourning ; and the still attention, broken sometimes by an irrepressible burst of feeling, as the words of the preacher touched on the prominent theme of the day, showed how truly the heart was represented by the garb. If in some respects the scene was saddening, in others it was sublime. Friendship and love were there to bewail their loss, but the representatives of one of the greatest cities in the world were there also to do homage to his memory, and to give pledge that his name should never be forgotten. * Eecollections in Young Men's Magazine, f These Discourses, with Professor Thomson's Address, and Dr. Macf'arlane's Tribute to Dr. Wardlaw, delivered on the previous Sahbath, were published in a small volume entitled " Discourses and Services on occasion of the Death of the Kev. Ralph Wardlaw, D.D." 476 CHAPTER XIX. CHARACTERISTICS. Dr. Waedlaw was about the medium height. His frame was firmly knit ; his Hmbs were symmetrically formed ; and his whole figure bespoke vigour and activity. His head, which was not very large, was principally developed in the superior and ante- rior regions ; his forehead was smooth and high though not remarkable for breadth ; and the general contour was graceful, and indicated refinement and intelligence rather than force or massiveness. The features of the countenance were regular, and their prevailing expression Avas benign and serious. Unusually bushy eyebrows cast a slight tinge of severity over the face, which only modified without destroying its general graciousness. The lips presented a striking and characteristic expression of combined suavity and firmness. In early hfe he was said to be handsome ; and this those who knew him only in advanced life can easily believe. Many portraits of him have been engraved ; but only three are in the least degree deserving of being referred to. These are one by Paillou pubhshed in 1822 ; one by Bonnar in 1838 ; and one by Macnee taken in the latest years of his life. The last, which was painted for the Theological Academy, is a noble portrait, admirable as a likeness, and illustrious as a work of art. Providence, which had assigned him originally a sound and healthy body, had placed in it an equally sound and healthy mind. His was eminently what he himself used ever to hold up as a blessing of the last importance, the " sana mens in corpore sano." His natural endowments both of mind and of manner CHARACTERISTICS. 477 were of no ordinary kind. His mental development was at once large and symmetrical. He united strength and grace in a degree seldom exemplified. His faculties were diversified, but all acted in harmony and under excellent control. He was master of them; not tliey of him. Even those powers which were most largely developed in him, and which he was most fond of indulging, were never permitted to carry him off into excess or irregularity. Over all there ever presided a calm but regal Will that had respect to principle and purpose. Hence he could at any time bring all his powers to bear upon his subject, with a singular concentration and intensity. He had no occasion to wait for the afflatus or inspiration of genius. The whole man with all his powers was there, ready to apply himself with full force to the work in hand. From this arose at once his power to do so much, and the fact that he always did his work well. Whilst another man might have been labouring to bring himself to the point of beginning, Dr. Wardlaw was already in full work, his whole mind concentrated on what was before him, and his facile pen speeding in graceful and uniform characters across the page. I do not know that he was ever behind with any \A'ork which he had undertaken to do : he might often be hard pressed to accomplish it, but he always did it, and that in a manner worthy of himself. There was nothing eruptive, nothing fitful in the action of his mind. It was not the volcano bursting after long intervals of repose into tempests of flame and shaking the earth with its thunder ; it was the quiet and steadfast star that always shines in the same place with the same lustre, and to which men learn to look as to a guide that never is unsteady and never disappoints. The most prominent feature of Dr. Wardlaw's mind lay in his rare powers of analysis and ratiociuation. His intellect was eminently dialectic and diacritical. Those faculties which lead men to be historians, or naturalists, or poets, or men of science, he either did not largely possess or did not care to cultivate. He was not given to the minute observation or careful collection of mere facts. His mind did not readily occupy itself with 478 me:\iotrs of dr. wardlaw. deductive processes, whether exercised upon concrete pheno- mena or on the abstract relations of number and space. He had httle of the creative facult}", and was at all times more disposed to note the distinctions of things than to trace their analogies or resemblances. His peculiar walk was that of the philosopher and the critic. The qualities that go to furnish men for these departments he possessed and had cultivated to a high degree. His power of analysis was great : he could separate an entangled mesh of thought with marvellous perspicacity, and discriminate conceptions from each other with a fineness of perception that was sometimes too acute for ordinary faculties to follow. He had no pleasure in seeing things hazily or merely in the mass ; it was needful for him to ascertain them with precision and to mark clearly both their individual propor- tions and their relative bearings. On this he thought no pains too great to be spent ; and when he was satisfied that the subject was one on which no amount of penetration or research that he. could put forth would secure for him clear and definite concep- tions regarding it, he judged it better to let it altogether alone than to have only a confused, illogical and incogitable notion of it. To this power and this love of analytical investigation he added comprehensiveness of survey and sagacity of decision. There are men whose acuteness is wonderful, but whose mental eye is merely microscopic : men who can make great discoveries among the Infusoria of thought, but for whom the field occupied by the larger objects [s too extensive to be included within their survej^ It w^as not so with Dr. Wardlaw. His view w^as penetrating, but it was also extensive. He deliberated as well as analysed ; and calmly contemplated the whole field of obser- vation before he ventured upon a decision. His induction was . wide no less than discriminating. With patient diligence he collected all that could be ascertained upon any subject, weighed the whole in the scales of a nicely balanced judgment, and refused to come to a conclusion until he was satisfied that every thing that ought to have entered into his estimate had received due attention. And in coming to his decision he was aided by strong CHARACTERTSTTCS. 479 native sagacity and shrewdness, which prevented his being easily- imposed upon by the mere appearances of things, or being readily drawn into the error of over-estimating the premises on which his conclusion was built. Hence the logical accuracy which formed such a marked characteristic of his reasonings, and the solidity and soundness which usually recommended his judgments. A mind thus endowed was naturally fitted for the investi- gation and exposition of moral and religious truth ; and to this department Dr. Wardlaw from an early period devoted his best energies. He found peculiar delight in the exercise of his reason- ing powers upon those questions which are to be determined by a weighing of probable evidence ; and it was beautiful to see the skill with which he apportioned to each scale its proper contents, and the steadiness with which he held the balance that was to deter- mine which had the preponderance. Had he been led to devote himself to the legal profession he would undoubtedly have risen to high distinction, and his name might have gone down to posterity with those of Slansfield or Denman as one of the most perspi- cacious and at the same time most refined of judges. But he had chosen another and in the most weighty respects a higher sphere of labour, where there was also ample scope for the exercise of his peculiar abilities. Here he shone with few to rival him. When some diflficidt or intricate question in Avhich he was interested came to be handled by him, his treatment of it was sure to be such as to afford to all who could enter into it a logical treat ; and though this in itself was a tendency capable of being used for evil as well as for good, there were certain moral qualities associated with it in the mind of Dr. Wardlaw which made its operation in him ever lean to the better side. He had a sincere love of truth for its own sake, and an honest desire to apprehend it. He was calm and candid in his estimate of opposing probabilities. He exercised great caution in coming to a conclusion ; and was almost timid in expressing an opinion where he had not enjoyed the fullest opportunities of judging. By these influences, combined with his strong religious sense of responsibility, he was, though a singularly dexterous contro- 480 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. versialist, and disposed to find peculiar gratification in the exercise of his reasoning powers, preserved from that mere intellectual gladiatorship, and that craving for victory rather than love of truth which too often ensnare the expert disputant and lead to a mischievous abuse of his powers. But whilst the ratiocinative and critical faculties constituted the main strength of Dr. Wardlaw's mind, there were other qualities which lent grace and refinement to all his intellectual exercises. He was gifted with an exact and elegant taste. His sense of the becoming and the beautiful both in reality and in sentiment was quick and just. His fancy, if not rich or copious, was lively, natural and refined. Like many men of acute intellectual powers he possessed also a felicitous and playful wit ; the exercise of which, however, he reserved for moments of social hilarity — never using it as an instrument of assault, never indulging it for mere purposes of display, never making any use of it when business of serious import was in hand, and never in his most unrestrained moments allowing it to trespass beyond the limits which the strictest propriety of taste and feeling im- posed. To a character thus strong and graceful by natural endow- ment were added those advantages which education and religion confer. In all those branches of knowledge which are usually studied at our Scottish schools and universities Dr. AVardlaw had made respectable proficiency, and in some his attainments were greatly beyond the average. Without pretending to be a profound scholar he was familiar with the learned tongues ; and though bis natural tastes and tendencies did not lead him to pay much attention to natural science, he was not indifferent to the importance of that department of knowledge, nor ignorant of the splendid advances which the genius and methods of its votaries have of late years enabled them to make. In philosophy and polite literature, however, he was most at home ; and with nearly all the great English writers in these departments he was well acquainted. I believe Cowpcr was his favourite among our poets, and Dugald Stewart among our philosophers. All CHARAOTERISTICS. 481 our great ethical writers had been carefully studied by him ; but with none of them was he fully satisfied, for which he has him- self stated his reasons in one of his pubhshed writings. In theology his reading, if not very extensive, had been carefully selected ; and every part of the field minutely and anxiously sur- veyed. The writings of Dr. Edward Williams, Andrew Fuller, Archibald M'Lean, and some of our older Scottish divines such as Ricaltoun, he held in pecuhar estimation, and upon them many of his own opinions were formed. But his tastes were not contracted in this department ; he was ready to receive further light from whatever quarter it might come; and to the last was fond of seeing whatever new accessions had been made to the stores of biblical or theological learning. To this brief analysis of Dr. Wardlaw's intellectual charac- ter I am happy to add the following observations from the pen of one of his sons. These whilst they corroborate some of the preceding observations, supply so full a sketch of Dr. Wardlaw's moral and religious character, that I feel exempted from the duty of attempting any analysis of that : — " His mental (yperations loere rapid. In a very brief space he grasped a subject, and had it fully before his mind, surveying it at every point. In unison with rapidity of thought, he pos- sessed— partly from natural gift, and partly as the result of prac- tice— a Y>Qcn\mr faciliti/ in composition. The matter flowed from his pen, apparently without effort, in a steady and almost unin- terrupted stream. The movement of his mind was not variable and fitful. There was no violent paroxysms of excitement. It resembled rather the tranquil but ever onward flow of the deep river. And every thing that came from his hand was marked by the utmost accuracy and beauty of finish. Scores of manu- scripts still exist as they came originally from his pen, without a blot, a mistake, an erasure — I might almost say without the omission of a point. Even his letters, written very many of them at midnight, after a hard day's work, and when " the dews of kindly sleep" were falHng on his eyelids, are distinguished by 2 I 482 MEMOIRS OF DH. WARDLAW. the same correctness. Of the manuscripts referred to, two were generally the work of a day ; for he rarely began his pulpit preparations before the Saturday morning, beyond making on the preceding evening a few ^jottings'' in pencil. Occasionally the Saturday found him with three entire discourses before him for the Sabbath, barring the said jottings, which were usually very brief. Still, by writing a little between the services on the Lord's Day, he got through them all, each being written fully out, and delivered them also. Such efforts were of course rare. Often repeated, he must have sunk under them. Even the ^physical labour was beyond what most men could endure, to say nothing of the strain on the mental energies. On such occasions he wrote alternately a portion of one discourse, and then a portion of another, resuming the different trains of thought in each of the three at pleasure. He had the same control over his intellectual faculties, as over his moral feelings. There was a remarkable power of concentrating thought on any subject with which the mind was occupied. Even amidst noise, which to most would have proved painfully distressing, he could calmly pur- sue his work. I have known him frequently, in former years, on Saturday evenings, writing away, apparently quite undisturbed, when, as children, we were, with some of our youthful com- panions, romping ' with lively din' in the lobby close by his study door. He generally allowed one or more of us to sit beside him in his study ; and would, with knid and cheerful indulgence, pause in his writing to answer any question put to him regarding the lesson we were conning, or the book we were reading. Even in his busiest times he seldom appeared as if he had more than ordinary to do. There was never any fuss ; and he w^as never confused or distracted by the number of his engagements. He always found a little time — Saturday itself not excepted — for quiet and cheerful recreation with his family after meals ; and when he left the study for the parlour, he had the power of leaving his work so completely behind him, that one might readily have supposed that his labours were over. On the other hand, when in the study he was there in earliest, CHAKACTERISTICS. 483 never frittering away time in busy idleness, but intent on some important theme. His study was no ' Castle of Indolence'— ' a pleasing land of drowsy head ; ' or a place of mere literary self-indulgence. He never gave himself up to what a certain great man has called ' a glorious lounge ' — spending the livelong day in luxurious ease over some amusing volume — though none enjoyed more than he such a volume as an occasional break in the labours of the day. He generally sat to a late hour — usually far beyond midnight ; but he was not, on that account, a late riser. When well he was, I think, in his study about seven o'clock in winter, and about an hour earlier in summer. A quiet season was then spent in private meditation and prayer, accompanied, if I mistake not, by the perusal of a portion of the Hebrew Bible or Greek Testament ; after which he very often spent the remainder of the time before breakfast in useful reading. His reading, I may here observe, was rather select than exten- sive. He was altogether more of a thinker than a reader ; and when he read, it was usually with some definite and practical object in view beyond that of mere information. While he kept up a pretty fair acquaintance with the general literature of the day, his reading had, for the most part, a direct bearing on the work in wliich he happened at the time to be more imme- diately engaged. It is worth notice that he had little rehsh for the theological writings of our continental neighbours. Of some, indeed, he could not fail to think highly ; but there were few in which he found much to admire, which was not be found, though with less of a pldhsophic garb, in the best productions of our own divines ; and he always said he never could discover, even in the best, the wonderful depth and striking beauty which seemed to meet the eye of others, and to call forth their won- dering admiration and fervent eulogy. " Nothing, I may further say, was done by him in a per- functory or careless manner. An oft-repeated maxim with him was — and it was one he sought to impress on us : ' If a thing is worth doing at all, it is loortli doing icell / and this principle, in union with the natural elegance of his mind, gave to all he 484 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. undertook the completeness and finish to which allusion has been made. He loved order. A literary litter had no charms for him. Piles of books, pamphlets, and papers, commingled in confusion dire — a ^rudis indigestaque moles — how pleasing soever it may be to some, was his abhorrence. ' If slovenly habits,' he would sometimes say, ' and indifference to external neatness and order, are distinctive characteristics of genius, I, for one, must put in a very slender claim to it.' His work moved on most smoothly and sweetly, when the room was duly arranged, the hearth swept, and the fire burning cheerily. A chaos with- out was in danger of marring the order and harmony within ! "■ It is worth while noticing also, that he had none of those peculiarities which give a man the character of being singular or eccentric. There was not about him a vestige of anything of the kind. Still there was an easy freedom in his whole style of action. There was no pedantic stiffness ; no troublesome for- mality ; no determined adherence to a set of rigid and unal- terable rules. Without such rules, under the influence of cer- tain great principles, he pursued ' the even tenor of his way ' with a quiet and beautiful regularity — his course reminding one of the calm, tranquil, and steady movement of a planet in its path. " Of his mind generally — viewed both in its intellectual and moral developments — we may say, that it was singularly loell balanced. As has been justly remarked, its distinguishing- characteristic was its ' completeness.' There was a harmonious adjustment of the parts ; and an admirable unity of action in the whole. But there was more. There w-as power as well as beauty — strength as well as symmetrical proportion. The best proof of which is to be found in the results of its operations, as they appear in the many and varied productions of his pen. This, however, is ground on which I must not venture. " If not dipoet, he had — as many little effusions, which still remain, will testify — much of the real spirit of poetry; and possessed a mind susceptibly alive to the beauties and sublimities of nature. His love for natural scenery could not, perhaps, be CHARACTERISTICS. 485 called a ixission ; but it was something akin to it. It had a peculiar charm for him ; and in its contemplation, his soul was often filled with intense delight. He never enjoyed himself more than when, with some of his family, he paid a visit to those parts of the Scottish Highlands, where the varied elements which comprise fine scenery are so strikingly blended — where, ' in spite of sin and woe, traces of Eden are still seen.' And nothing seemed more to refresh and exhilarate his spirit. Amid such scenery he was always inspired, more or less, with a devotional feeling. He did not gaze merely to admire and wonder, but to adore — to adore that glorious Being who formed all — the Great, the Beautiful, the Good ; and his bosom would swell with deep emotion, as he ' looked through nature up to nature's God,' and thought of the lavish munificence which had encircled with such sources of deep and pure enjoyment creatures who forgot the blessed Author of the whole, and, regardless of ' the riches of his goodness,' were living in rebellion against him. His own thoughts were ' full of God ; ' and, viewing ' God in Christ' as he surveyed the glories of his creative power, there was a thrill of holy joy — his heart responding to the language of his favourite Cowper, which he often quoted : — ' His are the mountains ; and the valleys his ; And .the resplendent rivers ; — his to enjoy, AVith a propriety which none can feel, But who, Avith filial confidence inspired, Can lift to heaven an unpresumptuous eye, And smiling say — ' My Father made them all.' ' "No feature in his character was more marked than humility. Nothing seemed to 'puff him up.' Amid all the admiration and praise of which he was at times the object, he still remained unaltered, manifesting the same lowliness of spirit. That there were no vain thoughts, who will venture to affirm ? He would have been the last to do so. But whatever may have been seen by the eye of the ' Searcher of Hearts,' to human eye nothing of the kind Avas apparent. Without the slightest air of condescen- sion, he could stoop to ' men of low estate,' and the humble cottager equally with the man of learning or wealth was at home 486 JIEMOIRS OF DR. WAKDLAW. in his presence. I have been much struck with this when visiting with him the houses of the poor. He was never guilty of the Httleness of acting the great man. There was too much real greatness for that. He detested too every thing hke show of superiority^ or the assumption of imjierious airs. This was never more manifest than in his bearing towards his domestics. He seldom used language of command, but spoke rather as one requesting a favour, and he never had anything done for him without some expression of thanks. Living as he did under a powerful and abiding impression of the infinite disparity between the creature and the Creator, he felt all distinctions betw'een puny mortals themselves sink into nothing. His impression too was associated with a strong sense of personal unworthi- ness in the sight of God, and of much failure in the intensity of devoted service demanded by a Saviour's love. I have heard surprise expressed that he should remain so little affected by human applause. The wonder ceases with the knowledge that such sentiments as these were ever in active and powerful opera- tion. To those who mingled with him in familiar intercourse, their reality was most apparent ; and never were they in more vigorous exercise than when recent events called forth such a large amount of admiring homage. The spirit of deep humility breathes sweetly in every part of his private correspondence. " With humility was naturally associated a spirit of gratitude — gratitude both to God and man. In the thought of the divine goodness his eye filled, and his heart overflowed with emotions of thankful praise ; and none felt more deeply, or acknowledged more fervently any kindness, however insignificant, shewn by Christian friends to himself or any of his family. He had at the same time a keen sense of injury, and especially of ill-requited kindness; but none could forgive with more full and cordial sincerity. Yet he was slow to take umhrage, holding and acting on the principle, which he often inculcated, ' Never to take offence excejjt when offence was manifestly designed,' and he strove to put the most favourable construction on every action. When others were disposed to be ' in dud^reon hidi,' he would make an effort CHAKACTEKISTICS. 487 to look at the matter in the best light, still lioirnvj that there was no insult intended, and prepared to accept of any explanation. And often he avoided taking offence by adhering rigidly to another principle which was often on his lips, ' Never judge till you are quite sure you have all the circumstances hefore you neces- sary for a correct judgment.'' It was impossible to abide by a principle more firmly than he held to this, and not in theory only but in practice. To use his own expression, ' It had been driven into him by long experience, and was so strongly fastened, that the application of it did occasionally almost fret and annoy con- fident accusers and su specters.' Full many a time, I well remember, when one or other of us was in the act of uttering some philippic, prefaced of course by an emphatic must he, but resting on what seemed to him very slender evidence, though to the excited speaker most satisfactorily conclusive, he would gently interpose the remark, ' Why must be ? — patience a little, pray. Wait till you know all the outs and ins of the matter, and then, if need be, condemn.' Young spirits could at times ill brook this severe philosophy, but they had abundant proof of its soundness, finding, after all their confidence of being right, they were in most cases in the wrong. While himself slow to take offence, he had a most sacred regard for the feelings of others, and a sensitive dread of giving offence. The thought of having wounded the feelings of any one, and especially of a friend, he could not bear ; and if he in the least fancied that he had done so by word or deed — if he thought for instance that he had given pain by anything like apparent neglect, even to the poorest of his flock, he could not rest till he had repaired the wrong, real or imaginary. " He was remarkably free from selfishness. I never knew one more gf). The wants of others were always considered before his own — others first, himself last, seemed his unvarying principle of action. We all felt this, and could not but admire the readiness he ever manifested to deny himself, and sacrifice his own comfort in order to promote the comfort and happiness of those around him. It was seen in unnumbered matters of 488 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. minor consequence, but which, though trivial in themselves, often afford the best means of testing character, and developing accurately the real feelings and motives by which a man is actu- ated. " Another feature of character with which I have been struck, was the entire absence of that petty jealousy, often infecting otherwise noble minds, which has a sensitive dread of losing its own greatness in the rising reputation of others. He was never happier than when uniting with his brethren in shewing ' honour to whom honour is due.' He was wont to speak in terms of admiring eulogy of distinguished ministerial cotempo- raries ; and never did I hear from his lips a word which could be construed into anything like an attempt to depreciate their excellences, or detract from the praise bestowed on them by others. And I may but add that he had a word of praise for every one who could possibly deserve it. Amid many defects and faults he generally discovered something to admire or approve ; and when others were criticising and condemning some individual who had been unfortunate enough not to please their fastidious tastes, he would invariably come to the rescue — reminding the fault-finding criticisers of what was good, and dealing a kind and gentle caution to them not to forget their own failings, and the greater advantages they had enjoyed. This was never more apparent than in the case of young men enter- ing on the ministry. If they preached the gospel, and did so in a simple and unpretending manner, he never could abide severe remarks upon them. He was in fact the most lenient critic in the congregation ; and though many shrunk from the idea of preaching before him, had they known him as well as I did, they would have discovered that they had reason to fear any one rather than him. * " Naturally of a generous disposition, and realizing as a Christian the truth of the declaration, ' It is more blessed to give than to receive,' his heart was ever open to the claims of charity, and his hand ever ready to supply the wants of the poor and destitute. None really deserving could plead for help CHARACTERISTICS. 489 in vain. At times he was imposed upon, feeling may have gained the victory over judgment ; but this is a sin which may be pardoned in a world so full of cold and heartless selfishness- Deep indeed were his compassions for the woes in all their varied forms of suffering humanity. Yes, he had a ' tear for every tear ; ' and while his eloquence pleaded the cause of the sufferer, it was a heartfelt pleasure to afford relief. He frequently spoke of ' the luxury of giving,' and it was the genuine expression of his inmost feelings. To him it loas a luxury to give — a real luxury — whether in the cause of general benevolence, or for the higher purpose of imparting those spiritual blessings which he regarded as the only true cure for the miseries of fallen and guilty man.* " He had a profound and solemn reverence for the Bihle ; and no one ever yielded a more entire and implicit surrender of his mind to its dictates. On all points connected with religious faith and practice it was the source of final appeal. Thus and thus alone was truth to be found — truth ' from the sempiternal source of light divine.' He bowed at once to the voice of the heavenly Oracle. It had spoken and all doubts were dispelled — all controversy ceased. It was hardly possible to adhere with more rigid severity than he did to the great principle of making the Bible the touchstone by which to test every doctrine, and by which it must stand or fall. One word of Scripture was to him worth volumes of the most refined and elaborate speculation. He could plunge as deep as most men into the abyss of metaphysics, and ' reason high ' on all the mysteries of nature and of God ; but it afforded little satisfaction to his mind, and he would fall back with child-like docility on the plain and simple yet sublime discoveries of that Book which, though scorned by ' the wisdom of this world,' he believed to contain the expression of the Divine mind on all these great * I cannot refrain from adding to the above statement, that I have it from the best authority, that Dr. Wardlaw was in the habit of expending somewhere about a fifth of his annual income in acts of charity and benevolence. Cases have come under my own notice, where his liberality was largely displayed in a way of which the world kne^ nothing. — W. L. A. 490 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. questions which bear on man's spiritual being — liis present character and relations, and his future destiny ; and in this belief he rejoiced to view with humble gratitude his obligation to it — feeling, to nse his own words, ' that there is the same kind of mental greatness in disdaining the teaching of omni- science, as there would be in disdaining the support of omni- potence.' " His deep conviction of the divine origin, and consequent paramount claims of the Bible, gave, in his view, importance to every doctrine it contained. This it was, I am well assured, rather than a love of discussion, that brought him so often into the held of controversy. It was the powerful and settled impression, that ' the faith once delivered to the saints' had God for its author, and that hence no one of its principles could be of trivial consequence, and no one of its requirements a matter of indifference, that made him so ready to ' contend,' and so firm and earnest in the conflict ; one of his great axioms being, ' Whatever God lias tliouglit of sufficient moment to reveal, must be of sufficient moment for ics to consider, to adoj/t, and to maintain.^ None was more ready to acknowledge the distinc- tion between the essential and the non-essential in regard to the matter of salvation, but he held all essential to the individvMl, as far as light was given him to understand the teaching of the inspired record ; and compromise was not to be admitted, from a spirit of indifference, or any other motive whatever, in the smallest iota of divine truth. All he deemed inviolably sacred; and he felt it to be the duty of the Christian, and especially of the Christian minister, to endeavour in a right spirit, ' the spirit of love, and of a sound mind,' to bring others to accept those views which seemed to him to harmonise most nearly with the dictates of inspiration. In all he did there W'as sincerity — sincerity conspicuous to every one who knew him well, and not admitting of a doubt. He advocated no cause merely for a name, nor, indeed, from any motive but a deep and fixed per- suasion of its rectitude and importance. It was the same as re- gards argument. He never sought to defend a point to gain a CUARACTEIIJSTICS. 491 victory. His aim was truth. He not unfrequently remarked, ' We are very apt to deceive ourselves, but I think I may say that truth is what I supremely desire. The man who shows me an error does me a kindness. I feel that I can thank him for it. It is a great thing to have the mind open to conviction.' He -weighed the opinions of others with patience and candour; and if convinced of an error, lui never seemed reluctant to acknowledge and retract it. " He greatly admired simi^licity ; and in this respect he was himself a model of what he admired. There was nothing about him artificial; all was easy, natural, unaffected. Affectation in every form he ' loathed.' 1 know not anything which more offended his feelings — especiaffy in one who ' ministered and served the altar.' Under ordinary circumstances, it rather pro- voked the smile of pity as a foolish and contemptible weakness ; but when it appeared in the pulpit, he beheld it with sentiments of indignant sorrow and ' implacable disgust.' He never could condescend, for the sake of poi)ularity, to any of those arts of oratory to which many, alas ! resort. Every feeling of his nature, as weU as every principle of his religion, recoiled from the thought of such a thing. At the same time, he did not despise popu- larity, as some affected to do — often in an inverse ratio to the probability of their obtaining it. While he never courted it, he deemed it important as a means to an end. ' It has a value,' he would say, ' not for its own sake, but as a help to usefulness ; and aiming at usefulness is the best way to secure it, in the only form in which it is worth possessing, as an aid to the more ex- tensive benefit of others. The longer I live, the more fully am I persuaded of this.' " The predominant influence in him as a preacher was a heart- felt desire to glorify God by ' winning souls' to Christ. This was the main end at which from the first all his preaching aimed in union with a desire to instruct believers ; and, by unfolding the rich treasures of divine truth, to build them up in their most holy faith. To these two great and kindred ends all else was subordinate, ' as the small dust in the balance.' In seeking to 492 MEMOIRS OF DR. WARDLAW. unveil the hidden depths of God's word, to analyse and discuss its more important doctrines, he doubtless went at times beyond the reach of many of his auditors. He made it, however, his study to come, on every subject, as far as possible within the range of the understanding of all his hearers, by presenting abstruse and difficult questions in the most simple and tangible form. He never affected depth or subtlety, and had no fancy whatever for ' ideas looming in the mist.' He could neither speak nor write on a subject till he had completely grasped it — till he had it fully before his mind's eye, and had surveyed it in every light ; and thus the sole aim with him was to give it such shape and dress as would render it most easily apprehensible by others. And it seems to me, that if he had one faculty more powerfully developed than another, it was the fticulty of thinking clearly, and of giving distinct and loell-defined expression to his thoughts. In this none excelled him. Differ from him you might in sentiment, but there was no mistaking his meaning. And subjects Avhich, under the treatment of many, only became invested with greater obscurity than before, was made in his hands to stand forth in the most transparent light. He was always of opinion that ' a minister should endeavour to bring a people up to his standard rather than sink to the level of theirs' which latter he thought a far more common evil than that of rising beyond the average comprehension of ordinary congregations. His impression was, that the complaints of preachers shooting over the heads of the people arise, in some instances, from an affectation of profundity, which consisted, after all, only in otitree modes of expression and fresh-coined terms ; in others from indistinct understanding of the subject on the part of the preacher himself, and in others still from inability to present thoughts in distinct and simple phrase, the obscurity in each case arising, as Hael says, ' not so much from the height of the flight as from the moistness of the atmosphere.' Gifted as he himself was, and feeling the importance of enlarging and elevating the views of his people, he ventured in almost every theme within the compass of God's word : and if occasionally some could not follow him in CHAEACTERISTICS. 493 his more elaborate disquisitions, still there was, in every dis- course, such a ' sweet savour of Christ,' and so much intro- duced at various points apprehensible by any attentive mind, that none could fail of profit. It was ^ fixed principle with him, never to preach a sermon in which the grand doctrine of a free salvation through atoning blood was not so announced that no one could depart, and say he had not heard the gospel. Brief the statement might be, but it must ho, plain, decided, faithful ; and the thought of having in any measure failed in this respect was anguish to his spirit. I am not, however, aware that there ever was failure. I never heard a sermon thus defective ; and others who sat under his ministry years before such matters engaged my thoughts, have testified the same. And who that enjoyed his ministry can fail to remember the strains of affec- tionate and pathetic earnestness in wdiich he unfolded the message of saving mercy, and pleaded with sinners to be ' reconciled to God.' ' I am a behever,' he was wont to say ; ' I am a believer in the omnipotence of love ; and would add, ' Draw- ing with the cords of love is God's usual way of bringing sinners to himself; it should be ours in seeking to bring sinners to God.' And under the influence of this feeling he sought to present the great doctrine of the gospel in the most attractive light — not by hiding, in any degree, what is obnoxious to ' the carnal mind,' but by setting forth, in a spirit of tender interest in the welfare of those he addressed, their reasonable- ness; their adaptation to the character and wants of man, and to the claims of the blessed God ; as flowing from the fulness of divine love, and designed to impart present blessing, as well as future and eternal happiness ; — endeavouring, at the same time, in terms of considerate kindness, to remove erroneous concep- tions, to subdue prejudice, and gain for the truth at least a calm and thoughtful hearing — his motto being ' We persuade men.' The love of ' God in Christ ' was ever a favourite theme, though by no means to the exclusion of the ' terrors of the Lord.' On these too he frequently dwelt, but touching them with sentiments of solemn awe, and in accents of deep and tender emotion ; — and 494 MEMOIRS OF DK. WARDLAW. only that he might prepare the way for a more powerful and thrillmg exhibition of ' the depth of the riches of divine mercy.' I cannot forget the horror he expressed at a practice which got for a time into vogue with many good men in America, and which had its imitators in our own country — of preaching the law without the gospel — condemnation and death without the provided deliverance ; and, to use their own expression, keeping men in hell for a time, that they might the better afterwards appreciate the value of the offered mercy ! " * From the numerous tributes, public and private, which were paid to his memory, it would be easy to select many expres- sions illustrative of the esteem and honour in which Dr. Ward- law was held both by individuals and by public bodies. But were I to begin to select from these I should not know where to end. I content myself, therefore, with simply asserting that he carried with him to the grave as large a share of veneration and grateful esteem as can be expected to fall to the lot of any man ; and that, though he doubtless had his failings as well as others, few men have occupied so prominent a place in the public eye in whom it would be so difficult to point to any thing that indicated either intellectual deficiency or moral infirmity. * Eeminiscences by tlic Eev. J. S. Warfllaw. APPENDIX, A, p. 3. Dr. Wardlaw's Descent from James V. James V. of Scotland had a son named Robert Stewart, whose mother was Eupheme, daughter of Alexander, Lord Elphinstone. Robert Stewart was for some time Abbot of Holja-ood, but having relinquished the clerical life after the Reformation, he was created Earl of Orkney, and married Lady Janet, eldest daughter of Gilbert, third Earl of Cassilis. By her he had a family of sons and four daughters, the youngest of whom, the Lady Barbara, was married to Hariy Halcro of Halcro in South Ronaldshay, a lineal descendant of the ancient princes of Denmark. It was their grandson whose daughter was married to Henry Erskine, the father of Ebenezer Erskino. The descent then stands thus : — James V.=Eupherae Elphinstone. Lady Janet Kenneily=Eobert Stewart, Earl of Orkney. The Lady Barbara Stewart=Harry Halcro of that Ilk. I Halcro= i Hugh Halcro=Margaret Stewnrl. Henry Erskine of Chirnside=Margaret Halcro. i Ebenezer Erskine=Alison Turpie. James Fisher=Jean Erskine. ! Anne Fisher= William Wardlaw. EALPH WAEDLAW. Dr. Wardlaw was thus ninth in descent from James V., the " re- doubted Roy " of Sir David Lindsay,* and the most popular of all the monarchs of the house of Stewart who occupied the Scottish throne. * " Kedoubted Roy, your ragement I have read.'' Answer to the King's " Flyting.''' 496 APPENDTX. B, p. 38. PORTEOUSIANA. After an introduction in wliich the author disclaims all intention of setting up for a poet, he enters on his theme by addressing- Pr. Porteous thus : — " Although the Eeverend Mr. Peddie Has answered you so well already, And giv'n you such a hearty scrub, I can't refrain a parsing rub." He then reminds the Dr. that his conduct has been such as to cause him to forfeit all the respect which otherwise his age and standing- would have entitled him to receive, especially from . the young, and proceeds to describe the spirit which had presided over the composition of his pamphlet. In vain does Candour "robed in pure ethereal blue" offer to guide his pen ; he angrily repels her and accepts as his adju- trix — " Dread Malice with snaken twisted hair And cheek of brimstone hue, With streaming eyes of squinting glare Fringed round with morbid blue." Her the Dr. welcomes as his " favourite sprite," and so " The two their heads together laid. And schemed their cursed plot ; The demon Malice dictated And Doctor Porteous wrote." After dwelling on this theme for a little in lines of another measure he thus continues his satire : — " Oh ! Reverend William Porteous, D.D.* Just like a school-boy on a play-day, Unmindful of the oil of birch You set yourself your skull to search. Lift your wise wig your pate to scratch Where schemes of mischief ever hatch. And beat your brains and chew your pen To tease and bite your fellow-men. The school-boys break an egg and run — But yours is no such boyish fun. With thought deliberate and calm You stifle every rising qualm. And ruminate on murders foul, And mix for characters the poison'd bowl." * To be pronounced 7nore Scottico, "Day-Day." APPENDIX. 497 A few lines in a more serious style follow, in which the first three verses of Psalm xv. are vigorously versified and applied to the case of Dr. P. The author then relapses into his easy Hudibrastic amble, and offers to the Dr. a more truthful introduction to his pamphlet than what be had actually written, suggesting that he should have blazoned forth a patriotic desire of bringing all Dissenters under suspicion as unfriendly to the constitution, as the real motive by which he had been prompted to attack " a nameless party of the Burgher sect." Then come the following lines which are directed against the substance of the attack itself:— " Who dares deny the Doctor's loyal, Firmly attached to all that's royal, Famed for officious forward zeal In what regards the pul)lic weal. He is like the senseless snarling tyke Who worries rogue and friend alike. He marks his time, nor will omit it, A was an apple-pie, B bit it. Perhaps the reason may be pride. That when a man has changed his side. Of mercy he is at once bereft Against the party he has left. And turns more violent by far, And wages more relentless war 'Gainst his old friends than e'er he roused Against the cause he has espoused. * * * The servant of the Prince of Truth In hoary age or spring of youth Should like his master never cease To strive for unity and peace. Your pamphlet proves that you inherit Another Master's different spirit. Even from the titlepage to finis The real question never seen is. And yet you seem so wondrous warm And fancy such a deal of harm, One hardly can believe you know You're beating at a man of snow. 'Tis full of dark insinuations. Of studied, false interpretations. Wilful mistakes in stating facts, Perversions of the simplest acts. And then withal so passing weak That he who can believe you speak In earnest, must be sorry for ye. And pity much your upper storey. 2 K 498 APPENDIX. Because you are a cburch and state man You think yourself a very great man, And 'mong Seceders vaunt and strut, Like Gulliver in liilliput. But Gulliver's superiority, Though also used to please authority. Was exercised, himself assures. For objects nobler far than yours, While Gulliver his engine plays To quench the all-devouring blaze. Our Doctor thinks it glorious game To rouse anew the bickering flame. To blow Contention's glowing coal. And fire the fuel of the soul," The author next proceeds to argue that if the powers of the civil magistrate in ecclesiastical matters were such as Dr. Porteous pleaded for, it would be competent for him in any case to interpose his autho- rity so as to control or contravene the decisions of a church court. This is followed by a graphic description of a case, put merely as a supposed case, but one which I believe in all its substantial features actually happened, in which a magistrate is represented as command- ing a presbytery to refrain, on pain of civil penalties, from pronounc- ing sentence on a party under their jurisdiction, who had been guilty of gross immorality. The consternation produced in the reverend body by such an exercise of civil authority in sacris is thus described : " Each at his neighbour wildly stares ; The quaking clerk lets go his pen, And quaking takes it up again. In mute amazement still they sit, Not one presuming even to spit. Slow from his seat with rolling eyes Now see the Moderator rise. His wig a little turned agee, On's chin a soil of brown rappee, First chews a quid to oil his jaws. Then speaks with frequent hems and haws, ' Sir Bailie, sir, you're surely wrong ! I'll prove by reasons clear and strong, From which you'll be convinced, I hope '- ' That I have power to make yoic stop. So pray don't say another word, 'Tis not in vain I bear the sword, And if you don't submit at mercy, The City Guard shall soon disperse ye.' " After dwelling on this theme for some time, the author proceeds to counsel Dr. Porteous to expend his zeal and energy rather in heal- APPENDIX. 499 ing the wounds and r^oving the defects of his own church than in maligning other ecclesiastical bodies, '' Your poor old mother, worthy dame, Is much disordered in her frame ; Low- stooping on her gilded crutch, Uncured by even the royal touch. * * * * Here, then, dear Doctor, if you will, Here's room to show your healing skill. A loving son like you I'm sure. Must wish to find a mother's cure ; Nature commends, my dearest sir, For other's sake neglect not her, She gave you birth, she gave you pap, She nursed you fondly on her lap, With knowledge stored your growing mind. From Whitburn brought you to the Wynd, And still your toothless age she fee'ds, With care supplying all your needs. And can you with averted face And ruthless bosom slight her case ? Oh let compassion stir your heart Advice and medicine to impart. On means of cure devoutly think. Nor vainly waste your pen and ink ; Administer a purging potion, And scour her well with Rowland's lotion., To purify her blood within. And heal the pustules on her skin. Ply well with balsams, drops, and pills. Each patent cure of human ills. And if you feel a twitch of pity Spare not the grand Elixir vitfe. Thus might you prove your wish sincere To bring the poor Seceders near." Dr. Porteous's pamphlet had showed an abundant willingness to wound the objects of his attack, and a somewhat prurient tendency to play the Inquisition if he only had the opportunity. Those whom he assailed, therefore, felt that they had reason to congratulate themselves that he had not the power to carry into practice his own suggestions for the preservation of religion and loyalty in the land, It -was some feeling of this sort which seems to have prompted the following Ihies : " God prosper long our noble King, Our lives and safeties all. If Dr. Porteous were but he. What skaith would us befal. 500 APPENDIX. We soon should feel the knott